About Lauren Bennett Expertise I am a computer science major and my dad is an Electric Engineering, so my life has revolved around computers. For as long as I can remember, I have been buying and selling computers. I tend to travel a lot, so I have always had a laptop. I have bought 5 of them for myself, and bought around 30-40 for friends and family. I have dealt with the good and the bad of various version and brand names. If you are in need of buying a laptop, feel free to contact me and I'm sure I will be able to guide you into purchasing the laptop that will be the best fit for you. I will custom build you computers for you to choose from so you can get an exact idea of what to go and buy when you do it yourself and so that you have an exact price. However, I am in the USA and am only knowledgeable about computers here in the US. I do not know about foreign currency or the quality of computer brand names outside the US.
Experience B.S. in Computer Science. Buying and selling for years. Assisting friends/family.
Question QUESTION: Hey, so I need a laptop of course, but I want a decent one. I'm willing to spend just over $1000. My question is will I be able to get a decent laptop to do some gaming as well? I'm in a small town of 3000 people and so that's what I will do on free time. BTW I'm from Canada, (I read your description :P) but our dollar is almost equal now so I thought that might not be an issue. If your guess is off by a couple hundred, that is fine as well. I just need an idea. Thanks a bunch.
-Love Chad
ANSWER: Yes you can certainly get a good computer for around $1,000. However, you probably won't be able to get a warranty as well. That means when it breaks (and yes, all computers break), you'll probably have to pay someone around $50/hr + parts to fix the computer. Would you be willing to spend extra to get a hardware warranty to cover you while you are in college so that if it is fixed, you know you can always get it fixed quickly and efficiently without having to pay any extra?
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Well I know a guy who works with computers in the college so he may be someone to lean on. If I did need get a warranty, how much am I looking at spending?
ANSWER: Just keep in mind that parts can get pricey too.
You are looking at about an extra $120 to get a 3 year warranty.
You are looking at an extra $200 to get a 4 year warranty (but you get $50 Dell gift card with that option)
Let me know :)
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Ya the 3 year sounds good. So, do you think you can give me a specs list. I would prefer it to be customized, obviously, but if I have to I can get a factory piece system. thx.
Answer Components
PROCESSOR AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-56 edit
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium edit
LCD PANEL 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife™(glossy) edit
MEMORY 1GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm edit
HARD DRIVE Size: 120GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) edit
OPTICAL DRIVE 8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability edit
VIDEO CARD ATI RADEON® Xpress1150 256MB HyperMemory™ (Integrated) edit
SOUND OPTIONS Integrated Audio edit
BATTERY OPTIONS 85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery edit
WIRELESS CARDS Dell 1505 Wireless-N edit
Service
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 3 Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor - Next Business Day edit
Dell Recommends
4 Year Limited Warranty
Ultimate peace of mind with an additional year of service!
Help Me Choose
Upgrade to Get $75 in Dell Dollars with 4 Yr Ltd Warranty and At-Home Service [add $90 or $2/month1]
DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESS 6 Months of America Online Membership Included edit
Accessories
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE No Security Subscription (30-day trial) edit
PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD edit
PHOTO AND MUSIC SOFTWARE No Pre-Installed Software edit
Software
ALSO INCLUDED WITH YOUR SYSTEM
Network Card and Modem Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 7.08
Labels Windows Vista™ Premium
(i hope that is readable - it doesn't copy over very well). that is the "older" version - they just came out with a brand new line like 2 weeks ago but they are on the pricier end still.
if you'd like to go with the new one with the intel processor and a slightly better video card, you are looking at like $1330 vs $1010.
