New Laptop?

[dArKmIsChIeF]

So I'm going off to college (IIT) and am looking for a new laptop. Being indecisive and a tech noobie, I am really confused by alot of numbers and need help for choosing.

I've got the:

Dell Inspiron 1720
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1
4GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
Glossy, high contrast, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900)
256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)

vs.

HP Pavilion dv9700t
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Processor T5750 (2.0 GHz)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit)
4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
17.0" WSXGA+ High-Defi HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1680 x 1050)
512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GS
320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive

Both are relatively same price (~$1300), and I need help >.<!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dragnskull]

stay the hell away from the HP pavilion DV series laptop.

They have a problem with the videocards going out after the first year or two, ive seen mulitple of them come in, mostly the DV2000 series, but higher series are coming in as well.

the videocard is onboard and the entire motherboard has to be replaced, HP quotes 380 repair cost (give or take), and the part itself is quoted 350 +/- if bought new, 200 if bought used.


its sad cause i -really- like the the hp DV series style, its by far one of my favorite styles, but its just so freggin unreliable.


if you get the dell, get the best warrenty you can. dell is -awesome- when repairing a broken laptop under warrenty.

 

[Gimmi]

dont like the dell video card.

 

[Jenny]

You just need the bare minimum if you're using it just for school.

 

[Wing Zero]

You just need the bare minimum if you're using it just for school.

but then he cant play WoW during breaks/classes :typing:

 

[Dragnskull]

I prefer the HP.

again, that series of HP laptops is prone to videocard failure, which results in a new mobo, which = a new laptop.

 

[Jenny]

but then he cant play WoW during breaks/classes :typing:

The 700-800 dolla laptops @ Best Buy all had good enough specs to!

 

[Wing Zero]

The 700-800 dolla laptops @ Best Buy all had good enough specs to!

LOL WAT. im so out of touch with the PC scene atm ... ****ing metal gear wii

 

[Gimmi]

eww metal gear for wii?
how is it?

 

[Wing Zero]

eww metal gear for wii?
how is it?

bad

 

[Gimmi]

Yeah kindof sounds like it would be more of a ps3 game.