I need an affordable laptop

[Crusader]

Well basically, I need a new laptop for class. My budget is up to $1700Canadian (taxes not included).

What system would you suggest? I'm looking for powerful systems with a good battery life (3.5 hours min) of hopefully 6 hours. I don't want a Celeron based system but I'd be happy with any of your suggestions.

Right now I'm looking at some Toshiba's and their 'M' models look quite appealing but other brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, etc. would probably do fine too.

What I'm looking for:
- 1.7ghz+ processor
- wifi as well as a lan port (don't really need the lan port)
- must have a dvd burner
- 512mb ram
- 60gb minimum hdd (hoping for 100gb but okay with 80gb)
- a video card (intel integrated might do okay)
- battery life of at least 3.5 hours
- soundcard doesn't have to be great (integrated might also do okay)
- minimum 15.4" screen
- don't need a diskette drive
- windows xp home or pro (don't need windows media centre)

Post the model numbers if you've got them too please! (eg Toshiba M70)

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I'm hoping to get one before January.

Thanks for reading guys!

 

[adam_uk]

with the 500 toshnote books that has passed through my hands over the past 2 years they are definatly the best out there.

your looking for about 6 hours of battery life, i would look at a centrino. battery life on those is crazy, DONT GET AN ACER they just cause everyone headaches.

im not sure how much $1700 cad will get me for quids. but check the tosh site and check or centrino notebooks, we have a few tosh a100's at work can get 4.5 - 5 hours out of them on one charge, but they use 12.1 inch screens.

 

[jmweb]

I got a celeron 2.8, 512 mb ram, 40 gb hdd I could sell ya. I have 4-5 batteries for it. Each battery lasts anywhere from 2 hours min - 4 hours max. Its a HP. I used to have to go 12 hours without charging my laptop so I know the feeling of a need for a reliable laptop is.

 

[Crusader]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions so far :D.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions as for model numbers? I just found out I can use my RESP money for computers .

 

[faisj]

why dont you search here: http://www.dell.ca/

I always buy my desk/lap-tops at Dell

 

[commes]

I heard Walmart is going to be selling a laptop for $399 the day after Thanksgiving. Its going to be a HP one, i wonder if my family will think about getting one.

it cant be that great if its that cheap, but anyways glad i got a couple hundred $$$ right now, if i want it i can get it then

 

[ThreeD]

I would look at Toshiba or Asus, they have some really great quality machines for bargain prices. IBM is also a good brand, they're usually somewhat more expensive though. Posting model numbers would be useless in my case, since we use different model numbers here in .eu than you guys in Canada. The Tecra series rocks if you're looking for a 14" screen..otherwise the Satellite series has some good models.

Good luck with your choice, lets us know what you picked up

 

[swimjenni]

I heard Walmart is going to be selling a laptop for $399 the day after Thanksgiving. Its going to be a HP one, i wonder if my family will think about getting one.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/11/01/news/fortune500/walmart_blackfriday/

Looks like its a Hewlett-Packard Pavilion ze2308wm notebook computer for $398.