Help/suggestions on buying a new laptop please! :)

[igotsanevo4g]

Hey yall, ill start off by saying i know alot more about android then i do about computers haha.
Im looking to upgrade from an old compaq presario desktop (2003) with a intel pentium 2.5ghz. I have it dual booting linux/windows, but its still terribly slow along with video/media playback and any type of gaming being unusable.

Here's what i want in the laptop fo sho (besides the usual), HDMI out, 15"+ screen, blu-ray/DVD burner&player, Webcam and Bluetooth.

Heres what would be nice - intel i3+ processor, metal casing, and Windows 7.

My budget is 400-550$. Am i crazy? Because i dont know prices well in the world of laptops/computers and id imagine theres a refurbished one waiting for me somewhere? Or a site with jesus deals? Idk..

Now for the questions, should i get a intel i3 core processor or a AMD equivalent? I understand intel is more pricey than AMD, so what would a comparable AMD processor be?

Where should i shop for this beast?
Are refurbished ones a good idea?
Is my price range nuts for what i want?

Ive searched for answers and shopped around for some laptops, but thats alot of money to be dropping so i figure id turn to the only place i know for answers on this kinda stuff. AC
Hopefully my current PC will soon be a full linux booting relic reserved for dev'in only

Thanks

 

[RHChan84]

Very few computers have metal casing. Macbook pro have aluminum casing but then again they go for a lttle over $1000. Check out Lenovo Outlet - Laptops & netbooks - Discounted Laptops, Cheap Laptops, Refurbished Laptops, Discounted Desktops, Cheap Desktops, Refurbished Desktops a little more then $550. Its $680 for a refurb. Bit they make nice laptops. Check out newegg as well and choose the price range and processor type and see what you get. I like lenovo and toshiba.
I bought a refurb lenovo back when it IBM. I never had problems with it. I had it for 3 years then upgraded just because I wanted to do more like gaming and I wanted a bigger screen. Refurbs are not bad dependin on when you get them. Dell also has an outlet and they have good deals there as well.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e....aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16834200104&token=HRx535X9 here is a dell for your price range.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/e....aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16834220763&token=U0vFD0to for a return ASUS. ASUS makes great laptops but a little higher price range then what your looking for.

 

[RHChan84]

Actually I just looked at MicroCenter and they have a deal of ASUS x52f-x2 on sale for $579.99. With i3 processor, 4gbram and 320 gb hard drive.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

Thanks for chiming in man

The metal case isnt a big deal, and im definately not dropping 1,000 bucks on a mac. They make nice PC's and all but not worth it to me. haha.

Those are some pretty good deals on those Lenovos, but im definately wanting a blu-ray player. I was gonna buy a PS3 just for the blu-ray player before i realized i should just get a new laptop haha. Im hoping to play the blu-rays and out-put it with the HDMI or burn em for viewing later (or on my evo )

Is there any external blu-ray players i could hook up via USB or something too save a little cash? lol, i have no idea if this exists.

I could go into the 600+ range, but id have to save up some and sell a few things like my old PSP and iPod video haha. No work in the winter really :/

Honestly im tempted to save up and get a i5 core HP dv7t from costco that includes a wireless printer for 700$. But then again, thats 700 bucks!

How much better is the i5's or the i7's over the i3's?
Or what would a comparable AMD processor be? (if cheaper)

 

[RHChan84]

It depends on what you want to do. I3 is good for a laptop. If you'd just surfing the web, music, and movies then get the i3. I5 has more power but with that, less battery life. And i7 I think is a bit much for a laptop.

But yes they have external blu-ray players. They go for under 200 and im going to pick one up sometime this year before the summer. ASUS makes a good one that runs off USB power. I believe sony has one but requires a wall outlet to use it.

I would stay away from HP. Eeryone I know that has hp has issues like bad motherboard or bad screens. But it might be user issues as well.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

Not worried about it breaking if i get it from costco, they repleace/take back under warranty EVERYTHING lol.

Yeah, i3 will be fine. Just curious haha

Then shoot ill just pick up an external blu-ray. That'd be sweeeet.

 

[RHChan84]

I prefer not to deal with it breaking then breaking and getting a new one. It sounds great but once you have everything loaded the way you like, it sucks to start over. There are ways around that but it's time consuming.

If you want i5 or i7, go for it, but if you don't need the power of the i5/i7, then get the i3 and get better battery life.

Newegg.com - TOSHIBA Satellite M645-S4065 NoteBook Intel Core i3 370M(2.40GHz) 14" 4GB Memory 500GB HDD 5400rpm BD Combo Intel HD perfect for you. I3 with Blu-ray. You figure $550/600 ish for the laptop then $190ish for the blu-ray. So totaling $740ish. But you can get that Toshiba for $700 with the i3 and blu-ray with HDMI out and esata connection.

 

[igotsanevo4g]

^ Man does that sound good. I need to start saving up my money unless i cut out the blu-ray.

Decisions... Id like to future proof it a little, but i also like money in my bank. Lol.

 

[RHChan84]

Ha yea. If I was in that situation, I would save up and get that one.

You want blu-ray in a laptop, that laptop has it.
You want i3, that laptop has i3.
Heres where it gets better. That laptop has blu-ray built in, no need for cords or extra device to carry around and worry about breaking it.