Need Laptop For Online Classes

[TERIDEEH]

I need to buy a laptop to tak online classes to complete my masters.....I am a special ed teacher and a single mom in Indiana......need to be conservative with my $$....but need to get enough to meet the university needs.........any suggestions???

[damnyou]

Can you please update some of your requirements on the basis of this

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=9671467&postcount=8

thanks

[NamelessMC]

Best Buy has a Compaq Presario with a dual core processor, 3gb of ram, a 250gb hard drive. It comes with all the features of a basic entry level laptop- DVD burner, wireless internet ready, Windows Vista with free Windows 7 upgrade.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9454253&type=product&id=1218106990994

Staples has an HP Pavilion G60-441 US which comes with an Intel dual core (slightly better than AMD's), the same amount of ram and a slightly larger hard drive. The shell is about the same, considering they're both made by HP. This one is $449 no rebate.

http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&partNumber=800737&cmArea=CIRCULAR

It's hard to find a good dual core laptop under $400, but that one should meet all the University requirements.

Two things-
None of these bad boys come with AntiVirus or Office software, but do not fret!

As a former Best Buy/current Staples employee, I can tell you what they don't allow us to say on the clock:

1) Free antivirus is just as good if you're careful as the paid stuff:

http://free.avg.com/

I use AVG personally. I've used Avira Antivir but got tired of the "buy me please" pop ups. Do not combine Anti-Virus programs or your computer will go bonkers. Other free ones include: Avira Antivir, AdAware SE, Malwarebytes.

2) Open Office.org! Open Office is an open source office suite that was originally designed for Linux, but most Linux programmers have to earn their 9-5 money working on Microsoft compatible software, so the developers of Open Office made it Windows compatible. It is 100% compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and it is 100% Free. Before you knock it for being free, it is just as good as Microsoft Office 2007 and in some ways better. I'm still not used to the Office 2007 UI.

http://www.openoffice.org

[flltmmomof4]

which would you recommend for a 10 yr old who needs a laptop for school?

[saiyan]

A lightweight netbook.

[Loan_Crusader]

go to the public library

[flltmmomof4]

I don't think the public library will allow him to watch DVD's. He needs something portable, yet have the ability to handle multi media. I went with the Compaq at Office Max for $399.99.

[PhoenixFP]

I need to buy a laptop to tak online classes to complete my masters.....I am a special ed teacher and a single mom in Indiana......need to be conservative with my $$....but need to get enough to meet the university needs.........any suggestions???

It depends a lot on what your online classes require. I know the local Community College by my house only requires a 1GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, an internet connection, and the ability to play audio and video. Obviously, this isn't hard to do and probably isn't anything near what they actually require.

If you could help us a ton by stating a budget (say, $500?) and what your university has set as requirements, it would be a LOT easier to help find you something.

which would you recommend for a 10 yr old who needs a laptop for school?
What 10 year old needs a laptop for school? That's really stupid. No 10 year old should have their own computer, much less a laptop. It's a good bit harder to supervise their usage if they can be mobile. By the time they're 12 they'll have discovered the depths of the internet.

[saiyan]

Best Buy has a Compaq Presario with a dual core processor, 3gb of ram, a 250gb hard drive. It comes with all the features of a basic entry level laptop- DVD burner, wireless internet ready, Windows Vista with free Windows 7 upgrade.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9454253&type=product&id=1218106990994

Staples has an HP Pavilion G60-441 US which comes with an Intel dual core (slightly better than AMD's), the same amount of ram and a slightly larger hard drive. The shell is about the same, considering they're both made by HP. This one is $449 no rebate.

http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10051&partNumber=800737&cmArea=CIRCULAR

It's hard to find a good dual core laptop under $400, but that one should meet all the University requirements.

Two things-
None of these bad boys come with AntiVirus or Office software, but do not fret!

As a former Best Buy/current Staples employee, I can tell you what they don't allow us to say on the clock:

1) Free antivirus is just as good if you're careful as the paid stuff:

http://free.avg.com/

I use AVG personally. I've used Avira Antivir but got tired of the "buy me please" pop ups. Do not combine Anti-Virus programs or your computer will go bonkers. Other free ones include: Avira Antivir, AdAware SE, Malwarebytes.

2) Open Office.org! Open Office is an open source office suite that was originally designed for Linux, but most Linux programmers have to earn their 9-5 money working on Microsoft compatible software, so the developers of Open Office made it Windows compatible. It is 100% compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and it is 100% Free. Before you knock it for being free, it is just as good as Microsoft Office 2007 and in some ways better. I'm still not used to the Office 2007 UI.

http://www.openoffice.org


Tired of Avira buy me nag screen? Go ahead and disable it then.

http://www.elitekiller.com/files/disable_antivir_nag.htm so simple to do.

I use Avira Personal Free :wave:

[flltmmomof4]

What 10 year old needs a laptop for school? That's really stupid. No 10 year old should have their own computer, much less a laptop. It's a good bit harder to supervise their usage if they can be mobile. By the time they're 12 they'll have discovered the depths of the internet

My 10 year old needs a computer for 5th grade. He is homeschooled due to a disability and needs the ability to watch DVD's while taking notes, etc....not that I need to explain myself, but he does not do much on his own and definitely does not have the ability to be mobile with his laptop. Careful with your words, please.

[PhoenixFP]

If he needs to watch DVDs while taking notes, get him a desktop.

I still stand by the idea that no 10 year old needs their own computer, much less a laptop.

[flltmmomof4]

I bought a new laptop and gave him my old one. We start school on Monday and everything is set except getting his new desk put together.