laptop for mechanical engineering school

by shimshai Jul 15, 2009 1:58PM PDT

I am looking for a laptop for engineering school. Below are the schools minimum specifications.
Which laptops would you recommend?

Minimum Hardware Specifications:

1.8 GHz or faster Dual Core processor or equivalent.
3 Gb RAM (3 Gb is the minimum required for Vista but we strongly encourage 4 Gb)

120 GB Hard drive

DVD-RW required

Video screen with minimum resolution of 1024x768

DirectX Compatible Video Card with 256 Mb RAM (512 Mb RAM encouraged for longer usability in graphics intensive fields)

IEEE 802.11g wireless capability

Ethernet (network) card

1 Gb minimum USB Flash Drive (thumb drive, memory stick, etc.) to allow easy transfer of files between computers.

Required Operating System:
Windows Vista Business 32-bit. Do not purchase the 64-bit versions of Vista.

Thanks

Discussion is locked

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You just described what a few thousand machines.

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 15, 2009 9:15PM PDT

But read http://forums.cnet.com/5208-19680_102-0.html?threadID=349861&tag=forums06;forum-threads

Next time consider listing a few candidates and more important a state or country.

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Update on descriptions

by shimshai Jul 15, 2009 10:18PM PDT

I have no preference on manufacturer really, other than no emachines or compaqs. I have been anti-Gateway and Sony in the past because of their proprietary nature but have been some good things about them lately.
It is in Memphis, TN, United States
I am researching Dell, HP, Asus, Acer, etc... now and will post some possible candidates later.

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Odd. HP is Compaq is HP?

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 15, 2009 10:23PM PDT

At the office, a billion Dells (well, thousands.) Almost an all too easy choice.

Sony has this one problem I still encounter. If you don't use the supplied OS you may find no drivers for the OS you installed. If you can use it as supplied however it usually is fine.

Try looking at what the teacher has. Get that.
Bob

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But Compaq is the cheap HP

by shimshai Jul 15, 2009 10:39PM PDT

Compaq is the brand they use to designate their lower end, inexpensive machines. They use cheap parts to make cheap machines. Compaq is not = to HP laptops when it comes to the quality of the hardware.

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Really?

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 15, 2009 11:28PM PDT

I found the same ram, cpu, hard disks, dvdrw drives and more parts common to both HP and Compaq. But maybe I'm looking too closely and not listening to the marketing staff.

I'm unsure if I would keep HP on the list if I dismissed Compaq.
Bob

laptop for mechanical engineering school

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