[mekrob]

Hey, I'm in college right now (upcoming sophomore-geophysics and other sciences). I have a ThinkPad R52 right now which was issued by my college (UNC). It's getting a little wrecked because of some stupidity on my part. I was planning on getting a new laptop anyway by next year, one that is a bit smaller; ThinkPad's are awfully bulky to be carrying around campus. But the destruction of my current one is pushing that date forward. What would be the best one? I'd prefer it to be at or under a grand (approximately), but under 2k would be fine if the laptop is well worth it. My first thought would be a iBook (roughly $1100).

[Lighthouse]

I use an iBook as my workhorse and get a new one every three years. The OS is great, it never crashes and it is damn fast. No problem with viruses or worms.

My son is a Windows fan. He uses a Dell (don't ask me which one) with similar specs. Looking at how much time he is spending to administer this thing (dealing with viruses and worms, reinstalling Windows XP, changing this setting and fiddling around with that setting whenever he needs to do something else ... you get the picture ... ) I'm happy to have chosen an Apple and strongly recommend it.

[mmasters]

Get a Gateway, they're putting out some of the best quality laptops at the moment. They got a kick ass new one too where you can swivel the screen and write on it, great for presentations! Bill Gates is currently using one.

[mekrob]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mmasters', 'G')et a Gateway, they're putting out some of the best quality laptops at the moment. They got a kick ass new one too where you can swivel the screen and write on it, great for presentations! Bill Gates is currently using one.

[rwwff]

If you are getting a laptop, what I do is go into the big office supply store and/or the big computer store and look at the very low end price wise, somewhere in the $500-$700 range, and if its by a half way known company, HP/Compaq IBM Sony, etc; I get it. I buy absolutely nothing else with it. No extended this, no special case that. Just the box, and get out of there as clean as can be. Only rule on "specs" for the laptop is at least 512 meg RAM. Thats plenty, after you strip out all that gunk-ware that is preloaded to autorun.

Next step, after it does its initial configuration, spend the next hour or so stripping out all the try-then-buy software that gets installed on these things; then install AVG, Open Office, and GIMP, and its good to go.

(A lot of family and friends have me do this for them... so I'm pretty used to the drill)

[rwwff]

I'd also seriously look at a Palm/PocketPC critter on Ebay too. Being solid state, they have the potential to last far past TSHTF and can be loaded with various useful documents and software (spreadsheets, topo maps, nav software, ballistics computers, etc...)

[emersonbiggins]

I second rwwff's suggestion on a PPC. I have an Axim x51v right now that runs Windows Mobile 5.0 and has Pocket Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It also has a full VGA screen (640x480), which actually translates to a perceived *higher* resolution than even many flat panel monitors, mainly because of the small (4") screen size. It also has built in WiFi (802.11b) and Bluetooth, which put it head and shoulders above an iPod for functionality's sake, IMHO. The solid state nature of the device is derived from its internal flash ROM/RAM and SD/CF compatibility. I have a 2GB SD in mine right now, and am able to watch DivX videos and listen to mp3s with no discernible lag.

The only drawback to the PPC that I can think of is that it's murder to type on one using the stylus, but you can get a roll-up BT keyboard to solve this problem quite nicely.

[Peak_Modernity]

Check out www.sagernotebook.com while your looking. I have the 3880 and it's great. I can play a good number of recent games, but it also gets almost 4hours on the battery. It's almost the perfect balance of power and portability. Right around $1500 depending on how you configure it. Specs of mine below.

15.4 wide screen glossy 1280X800 (they are running a special right now to upgrade to 1920X1200 for free)
1.86ghz Pentium-M
512 memory (2gig possible)
80gig 5400rpm hd
128mb Invidia Ge-Force Go 6600 graphics card
A,B, and G Wireless
4 in 1 card reader
Built in video camera
DVD Super-multi drive (can burn almost anything)
A ton of ports, none on the back either

[Peak_Modernity]

I forgot to mention, check out www.notebookforums.com for tons of laptop reviews and information. Good luck.

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rwwff', 'I')'d also seriously look at a Palm/PocketPC critter on Ebay too. Being solid state, they have the potential to last far past TSHTF and can be loaded with various useful documents and software (spreadsheets, topo maps, nav software, ballistics computers, etc...)

[rwwff]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rwwff', 'I')'d also seriously look at a Palm/PocketPC critter on Ebay too. Being solid state, they have the potential to last far past TSHTF and can be loaded with various useful documents and software (spreadsheets, topo maps, nav software, ballistics computers, etc...)

[tsakach]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rogerhb', 'B')atteries die after around 3 years.

[rogerhb]

Now that would have been impressive at 20,000ft in an enclosed space.......

[Doly]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('tsakach', '
')Dell is recalling 4.1 million notebook batteries because they can "produce smoke and catch fire".

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', 'N')ot anywhere near the probability of a hard disk crash. We get those calls every day.

[strider3700]

I write software for rugged handheld PPC's Think ipaq with keyboard in a water/dust proof case. The things are tough as hell and should last 5-10 years except for the batteries. They also cost about $4000 each depending on options.... I've got my take home one when the SHTF but I can't imagine the regular consumer market deciding one is worth keeping.

What ever you get had better be able to accept AA or AAA rechargables though. none of our devices are rated for more then 2 years of daily use on the batteries.