Laptop recommendations?

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Hi! I'm hoping to start the nursing program in January, and need to get a new computer. I'm going to buy a laptop soon. Do you have any suggestions as to which ones are good or which ones to stay away from? What have your experiences been?

I would like to get something that will last a while. (Barring any unforeseen problems, of course!) I don't really play games or anything like that. What I want it for is to connect to the internet, do assignments, research, minor editing of digital photos... I've been searching the forums but haven't quite pulled up what I was looking for. I would really appreciate any information you can give me.

Thank you! :D

Tiffany

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Specializes in 5th Semester - Graduation Dec '09!.

Hi!

I have a Toshiba and I doubt I will ever buy anything else. They are really great!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
Hi!

I have a Toshiba and I doubt I will ever buy anything else. They are really great!

So do I .....love it. I got mine at Wal-Mart for around $900/980. I don't like windows vista but that's a different story.

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Specializes in Accepted...Master's Entry Program, 2008!.

I'm faced with the same issue. I was wavering between Compaq and Toshiba. Apparently Toshiba wins, so I'll give them a second look.

I'm also in the group that doesn't like Windows Vista. I'm going to stick with XP.

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Specializes in Peds ER.
Hi! I'm hoping to start the nursing program in January, and need to get a new computer. I'm going to buy a laptop soon. Do you have any suggestions as to which ones are good or which ones to stay away from? What have your experiences been?

I would like to get something that will last a while. (Barring any unforeseen problems, of course!) I don't really play games or anything like that. What I want it for is to connect to the internet, do assignments, research, minor editing of digital photos... I've been searching the forums but haven't quite pulled up what I was looking for. I would really appreciate any information you can give me.

Thank you! :D

Tiffany

I got myself a Dell Inspiron from their scratch and dent bin, and I love it, and I could NOT find the scratch or dent... so it was a great deal. Just keep in mind: some word processing, some spread sheets, some internet access/surfing, some PDF access. Not doing any 3D modeling or real-time game play (uh huh, like you'll have time for that) or photoshop work, just basic stuff.

PS I stayed with XP as well.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

I'm looking at used ones, have seen quite a few that are only a year old selling for 200-300$ in resale shops, that way I can escape vista as well lol I used to build and program them so I'm not too worried about new as I can replace or repair cheaper than taking it in for repairs

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i just bought a new HP laptop and love it. (my other HP laptop lasted 5 years, no problems, so i trust them). i was skeptical about Vista at first but it's actually great, haven't had any problems with it at all.

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

I had a Toshiba as my first one, I didn't like it. The hard drive had problems within a year of getting it. Happened a few times with that even after changing HD's. I have a HP now, I LOVE it. I mainly love it because I ahve TWO levels of security just incase something bad happens with the OS. There is a seperate partition on the HD that I can boot from and reinstall my original OS back onto the HD. AND they give me the ability to create a boot up disk set. Its 4 dvd's in size. So I can do it via CD or via the boot drive. Toshiba does not have that, they don't have disks that you can reload your OS back onto your computer from. At least they didn't one year ago when I got my laptop. So for me.....its HP. I got a top of the line for 999, dual core, 1 gig ram, XP, etc. Good luck

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I was in such a hurry to get my laptop that I took the first one I saw that met my criteria. I wanted as small a computer as possible. My Sony VGN-T350P is almost dinky. My daughter, when she first saw it, says it looks perfect to take to school. However, I got taken to the cleaners on the price. Along with the programs I wanted on it, came close to $4000. Way too much, now that I look back on it. They came out with the Toughbook after I bought mine. I would rather have something cheaper that I could drop once in a while. But other than that, love my itty bitty laptop!

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

Ive heard GREAT things about Toshiba laptops. Apparently theyre affordable and realiable. I myself have a Dell E1500 Laptop. I LOVE IT! It cost me around $850 and that was with all the upgrades to it so that I can play my hardcore games on it as well. Would recommend Dell to everyone. You can get a basic Dell laptop for around $500.

:balloons:

Happy Shopping..

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.

i have a toshiba tablet pc, and i just love it.

[color=#483d8b]i am an rn, but i am back in school for a more ..... technical degree.

[color=#483d8b]i just *love* that i can write on the screen. i type fast, but not fast enough when numbers and symbols are involved in the math/physics classes i am taking.

[color=#483d8b]it would have been very helpful when taking a/p, patho, anything that wasn't cut and dried verbal learning.

[color=#483d8b]however, i can write on the screen, and i never run out of ink or paper. ok, on occasion, i may run out of battery power, but a car charger adapter has helped with that.

[color=#483d8b]the best part? i can't misplace my notes. or, if i do, i can easily reprint them :)

[color=#483d8b]if you are going to be in school all day, but don't have a place to plug in your laptop, i highly recommend investing in an additional battery.

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I've had 3 laptops in the span of 5 years. Not good.

First was a Compaq, don't recommend them. It was still under full warranty when the hard drive crashed. They flat out refused to pay stating that my warranty expired. Faxed them my papers and they still said the warranty had expired. Finally took it to the computer guy and he called them. Guess what?? After speaking with a man they agreed to pay for it. He told me that 9 times out of 10 with compaq, if a woman calls they will not pay. Sexist pigs.

Next was a Dell Insiron 600m. Ok, but not great. Not fast and customer service stunk. Keys fell off after having it for a few months. Gave up on customer service because I could not understand a word they were saying.

Just purchased a MacBook OSX and I don't think I'll go back to a pc. Was hesitant to purchase a mac because it is different but it's nothing majorly different. I paid approx $1100 but I got a rebate for being a student (I think it was $250) and some other rebates so it was less than $1100. I did get a larger hard drive because I do alot of photo editing, movies, etc. And the great thing about macs is that there's no spyware so over time your computer does not get slower. And the best thing: customer service reps speak english!!!! Battery life is longer than with any of the other laptops I have and it takes literally 10 seconds to load up after turning it on.

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