Laptop for Online College courses

[GoingPostal]

Ok well my sister is going back to college, via online classes. She needs a new laptop and asked what should she get. She will probably have multiple programs open and multiple browser tabs open. I recommended she get something with a intel i5 and 8gig of RAM. My thinking is that the Quad core will help with the multiple programs and the RAM for multiple browser tabs. The degree she is persuing is English / journalism. Her only need is she wants a 17" screen with a budget around $700 which i think is kind of tight for an i5 with 8g Ram. I know we have some tech savy brothers on the boards and would like to get your opinions. main questions are Is this overkill? (would an intel i3 be fine) Is there something else i should consider?

 

[PKNY1]

I think it might be overkill. Consider AMD A series APU's. I've got a HP Pavilion G6 series laptop on which I can play some of the latest games.. (granted minimum-to-medium graphics quality settings). Point being, if I can play games on those.. and found one under $500 on NewEgg refurb.. why not be able to master some college courses?

Why does she need a 17" screen? That's where the $$ goes up.
this one way under-budget comes with 8gb.. although the ram is easily changed out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834257534


here's one with a 17", still come under budget
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834256996



- the links and specific models I linked are just "ideas". Haven't got any direct experience with those exact models. i'm just trying to give you another avenue to explore ! Tech stuff doesn't have to be so pricey, I really hate to watch people overpay for something that is going to probably be out-dated in less than 2 years anyway!

 

[GoingPostal]

Why does she need a 17" screen? That's where the $$ goes up.
this one way under-budget comes with 8gb.. although the ram is easily changed out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834257534

Yeah i hear ya but she wants intel cause "they are better aren't they" I'm trying to tell her AMD just as good at a much better price. wants a 17" she likes multiple windows open and doesn't want them to be "too small." Ive told her to get everything she wants either she's going with a 15" or budget got to go up.

 

[PKNY1]

Why does she need a 17" screen? That's where the $$ goes up.
this one way under-budget comes with 8gb.. although the ram is easily changed out
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834257534

Yeah i hear ya but she wants intel cause "they are better aren't they" I'm trying to tell her AMD just as good at a much better price. wants a 17" she likes multiple windows open and doesn't want them to be "too small." Ive told her to get everything she wants either she's going with a 15" or budget got to go up.

now I remember why I stopped helping my family with technology purchases. lol
be sure to check the usual deal sites like slickdeals.net and groupon. refurb may not be a bad idea. Dell does allow financing so if she really *has* to have it, that may be an option for a more than $700 purchase...and I think there's a student discount involved with them?

 

[zama80]

Dell has laptops with 17" screens at that price. I just got a Inspiron with a i7 CPU, 8GB memory, 1 TB HD and a 17 " screen with a sticker price of 699. I got It much cheaper, but that is about the price area. I have a 17in screen because it is my main computer and the small screens can be tiresome if that is all you use. I still take online classes, so I understand her concerns.


Sent from an NSA proof phone.

 

[PKNY1]

Dell has laptops with 17" screens at that price. I just got a Inspiron with a i7 CPU, 8GB memory, 1 TB HD and a 17 " screen with a sticker price of 699. I got It much cheaper, but that is about the price area. I have a 17in screen because it is my main computer and the small screens can be tiresome if that is all you use. I still take online classes, so I understand her concerns.


Sent from an NSA proof phone.

nice deals on the Dell Outlet

http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&brandid=2201&fid=9191

I can say this: I have bought a few monitors off Dell Outlet and have never had a problem. I believe Dell Business is one of the few retailers who have a zero-dead-pixel policy..

 

[Smoqman]

Apple refurbished MacBook air: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_air

It's a little more than 700 bucks, but they are awesome little machines.


Here's part of the reason we buy refurbished Macs:

http://lifehacker.com/5880966/why-you-should-choose-refurbished-if-youre-buying-apple-products