Need a new laptop

Brandon Rice

Brandon Rice

Distributed Producer
Ok, so, my laptop is on it's last legs. It's about four years old, and it runs fine, but it's falling apart (CD Drive doesn't work, sound card is screwy, etc. etc.) What would you all recommend? I can spend a max of $1200. I also do not want to go the MAC rout. Any ideas? Thanks.

This will be an editing machine, so it needs ample power, and RAM.
 
Try building one on the HP site. I went that route and was quite satisfied with the power, quality, and price.

Remember: 7200 RPM HDD. Be sure.
 
Yeah, 7200 for sure. I use an external drive for my mediafiles, but for running programs, I need the speed too!
 
If you are going to store media files on an external drive than memory is more important that drive speed.............Get at least a Gig.
 
Yeah, my specs (hardware wise) I want at least a gig of RAM, and a 7200 system drive (Don't need a large one, it only needs to hold programs). And a decent video card/display.
 
For $1200, you may run up against a wall when it comes to screen size. Personally, I think it was worth spending extra for a bigger screen.
 
1200 is going to be tough for a video editing laptop. if you're using it for that- I'd suggest you save a bit more. if its not for video stuff, hp's are great
 
Zach Lien said:
1200 is going to be tough for a video editing laptop. if you're using it for that- I'd suggest you save a bit more. if its not for video stuff, hp's are great
Click to expand...

Say, hypothetically, that I had more to spend, what would you suggest?
 
well you want it to last you a long time right? realistically, i would say you should look at spending 1,800-2000. it really isn't that much more- especially considering you'll be using it a lot i'm sure
 
briceman said:
Say, hypothetically, that I had more to spend, what would you suggest?
Click to expand...

I have:

P4 2.8HT
ATI 64MB video card
1GB RAM
60GB HDD (7200)
DVD+/-RW drive
17" widescreen monitor

After rebates, it ran about $1550.

Vegas runs like a dream on it, unless I try to edit VOB files directly from a DVD -- the DVD drive is too slow for that.
 
Ok, I went to HP.com and built a computer, it comes out to $1,488. I can afford that. Here are the specs.

Win XP Pro.
Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz.
17' Screen
1GB DDR RAM 533Mhz
60 GB 7200RPM HDD
DVD/CD-RW
Wireless Integrated
128 MB ATI Graphics Card

How does that sound?
 
Ok, I'm getting ready to purchase the HP this morning. If anyone has any other ideas, or thinks I should not go ahead with this purchase, please let me know. Thanks!
 
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