Laptop to take to uni...

[nick.killick]

Hi all, I'm kind of lost at the moment. I've been looking around for a laptop to take to university in September, and although I should be taking my desktop rig as well I'll be back and forth between my parents' homes in Shropshire and Sussex so need a laptop that I can take with me everywhere and is powerful enough to handle most things I may think to throw at it.
Looking at getting a Santa Rosa laptop with 2.0 GHz processor, 2GB RAM and an nVidia 8600 if possible and hopefully around 3hrs battery life, but at the same time I'm looking at a budget of £700. Quite tight I realise but I'm willing to go over if it's worth it.

I've been looking at the Samsung R70, which is a little lacking on the RAM but I can upgrade that myself for about £30 to 2GB. A 1.8 GHz processor I can live with but I don't know how well the nVidia 8400 GPU will hold up. I can get that for about £660
laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_R70_Laptop_NP-R70A001-SUK/version.asp

The higher end of the scale I was looking at a Rizeon FL90 E, configured with a 2Ghz processor, 2GB RAM and the nVidia 8600 GT and 1GB turbo memory which seems to be a rather good addition... that all coming to about £780...
rizeon.com/rizeon_fl90e.php

My big question(s) are, is the extra >£100 worth it, would I need that much power and could you suggest any possible alternatives? I've been looking around but it's a fair bit of ground to cover and never having a laptop before I don't know what exactly I'm going to need. I'm not a huge fan of this 'compromise' thing though if I can help it

[staffsMike]

check out this thread from a few days back

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=110800

He managed to haggle the final laptop he choose down to £709 i think. pretty much what you're after.

[herulach]

I know i sound like a stuck record whenever this comes up, but you really dont need a laptop. You'll almost never take it to uni, and throwing a desktop in the back of a car 3 times a year isnt too onerous a task.If you really want one go for it, however, i'd say keep the cash for now, and if it turns out you really do need one, pick one up later in the year.

[nick.killick]

I'll be studying computer science so it would be quite useful using the same system consistently, wherever I am around the university, at either of my parents' house or wherever I need to get work done (or play)

[staffsMike]

I always have a laptop with me when i'm away at uni..however, i don't often take it into uni.

I just like laptops..expensive habbit though

[nick.killick]

I'm rather inclined towards that view at the moment, Mike. Never had a laptop before so I guess I'm after any excuse to get one... I had a look at the Dell Inspiron 1520, but it seems that the Rizeon laptops are a lot cheaper for the same spec... I think

[staffsMike]

yeah the rizeons are cheap thats for sure but deal thay syd got in that thread above has 2gb of ram but 1.8 for £709.. id be inclined to get that.

[nick.killick]

I don't get how he got that laptop down to £709 I've tried with the Vostro and Inspiron and each time it hits close to £800 if not over. With the Vostro I only upgraded hte GPU to the 8600 and downgraded the business hardware support from 3 years to 2 and it still comes up to £800
Exactly the same sort of situation with the Inspiron. I haven't even upgraded it as much as Syd's quote for £774 and mine still goes to £800. Has the price gone up or something

Unless anyone can point out anywhere else that has a decent lappy that would match what I'm after I'll probably try for the Rizeon FL90, £789

Screen: 15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Glare Type Display
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition
Warranty: 1 Year Collect and Return Insurance Backed Service
Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7300 2GHz 4MB L2 Cache 800MHz FSB
Memory: 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 PC-5300 667MHz - 2x1024MB
Hard Drive: 100GB 5400 RPM SATA Hard Drive
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce 8600m GT 256MB
Optical Drive: DVD Super-Multi(DVD-RAM/-R/-RW/+R/+RW)
Sound Card: High-Definition Audio with 3D Effect & Full Duplex
Wireless Card: Intel® PRO/Wireless 4965AGN network card
Turbo Memory : 1GB Intel Turbo Memory Card - flash memory module

Am I missing something

[Steve B]

if its for uni you could maybe consider buying a laptop bag. i bought a crumpler one off ebay for 35 quid and its been invaluable for my macbook

[nick.killick]

I'm still trying to sort out the laptop at the moment I will definitely be getting a bag though, I'll be moving it around a lot so might come in handy...

[staffsMike]

you have to call and haggle with them... just tell them you only have £700 etc..