by sassafrass on August 4th, 2007

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I need to buy a laptop for my 1st year of college... I want one with XP, thats cheap, with everything I need ( I dont really know what I need)... any suggestions on what I should get and what it will need? Thanks =]

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by Tricia on September 24th, 2008
I don't know if the guy can send you anything, he's in Boston, and you may have to wait. He's w/ YouthBuild Boston. I don't know what you need. swhitney@ybboston.org It's repaired computers, but few laptops.
617 445-8887
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by Anonymous on August 5th, 2007
For uni, you want something solid that works, and you don't need a high end gaming machine.

What I would suggest in a laptop:

Ram: 512mb
CPU: 2GHz+

Wireless card/integrated

USB Ports: 2+ (1 perhaps for USB Thumbdrive, and 1 for a USB mouse, if you're not familiar with laptop mouse pads).

CD/DVD Drive (or maybe even burner).

OS: XP (as you suggested)

Screen Size: Anything bigger than 14" is generally good. 16"+ is too big too carry around uni, etc.

Battery Life: 2-3 Hours +. (Some laptops have a battery life of upto 6 hours, with a 9 or 12 cell battery).

Front Audio ports: (When you want to listen to lectures in the library, or you want to listen to something)

hmnn...
Thats about it. Acer and Asus do cheap computers for students. HP, Compaq, Sony, Toshiba are generally high end and are worth more money.

You can get decent 2nd hand ones too.
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- wow thanks! ill get to work on finding and pricing laptops like this. =]
  
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  by sassafrass on August 5th, 2007
- I am fond of the Acer myself. Asus is cheap whereas Acer is merely inexpensive (same price, better computers).
  
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  by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on June 23rd, 2009
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by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on June 23rd, 2009
If you don't know what you need then it's a little hard to help you out. However, you probably don't need a high-end uber-powerful rig either. Hell, you might even be able to get by with a $350 netbook. I know my Aspire One has a lot of chops for it's size and price.
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by tata30 on June 23rd, 2009
Just get a macbook - it will solve all your problems!
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- Unless poverty is one of your problems.
  Don't get me wrong; I think Macs are great.
  HOWEVER they seem to be over-hyped too. Macs do not cure cancer, prevent acne, whiten teeth, or do most of the other things Mac-lovers claim.
  Oh, and I can replace my own battery without having to send it to the dealer. Hell, if my battery goes dead mid-day, I can swap it for a charged one without undoing 16 screws and voiding my warranty. Apple is notorious for hermetically sealing their hardware.
  
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  by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on June 23rd, 2009
- LOL,
  I love your opening statement, jerv.
  I haven't done a lot of research, but apparently, Macbooks are easier to write music on, which is why it'd be my first choice. So I would guess the reason for getting a laptop would be a choice factor in what you buy also.
  
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  by Palavalve SDB on June 23rd, 2009
- I don't do music. However, I *do* pay for my own hardware. No student loans to get me "school supplies", no mommy and daddy, just me and my thin wallet.
  I could get 2 Acers (or possibly 3, if I shop around) for less than the cost of one base-model Macbook. Or I could get an Acer and a used car.
  .
  If you have the $$$$$$$ then Macs really are pretty spiffy, but until Apple does away with their monopolistic price structure, I can't recommend them, especially not to a college student who might be digging change out of the couch to afford a pack of Ramen noodles like many college kids I've known.
  
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  by 8 Jan 2004-10 Dec 2009 on June 23rd, 2009
- Lol.
  And a car.
  Very true.
  +10 metaphorical points.
  
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  by Palavalve SDB on June 23rd, 2009
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by 23Skidoo on March 26th, 2012
I don't know what you need or what your finances are but:

I would go for Win 7 for a few reasons:
1. Microsoft no longer supports XP.
2. Your school probably will assume Win& and any programs they want you to have will probably assume that.
3. You might want other, fun stuff... There's a lot for XP but it's harder to find every day.
4. Any support from the school will probably assume W7 - a good geek will know his.her XP but with each passing year that number will get smaller.
5. A new or newish machine with W7 can be had for a few 100 $$$.

That said - if you really want XP then:

Any machine made in the last 10 years can handle it. So buy as fast a processor, as much RAM (up to 4 GIGs - or 3 if you can find it) as you can afford.

The minimum is probably a 1 ghz, single core processor (cheap as shit so try to go for more like 2.8 or so - you don't need a multi core processor), 512 RAM (go for 2 gigs or 4 - it's also cheap... like $30 of so).

The one that I would recommend is as big as hard drive as you can afford. Even with XP downloading movies, pictures you take, music, etc takes up space. 300gb is a good base. Get more... or two of them if you can.
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- she wanted XP because the question was asked in Aug, '07 ... she's probably graduated by now ...
  
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  by Tom Slick on March 26th, 2012
- :-)
  
  I didn't notice.
  
  Thanks
  
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  by 23Skidoo on March 27th, 2012
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by Divya_J on March 26th, 2012
Well if the budget is issue why don't you go for some Intel Atom processor powered Netbook.
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I need to buy a laptop for my 1st year of college... I want one with XP, thats cheap, with everything I need ( I dont really know what I need)... any suggestions on what I should get and what it will need? Thanks =]

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I need to buy a laptop for my 1st year of college... I want one with XP, thats cheap, with everything I need ( I dont really know what I need)... any suggestions on what I should get and what it will need? Thanks =]

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