Just want to preface by saying I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about computers and hardware, but laptops not so much. I got great advice here when looking into a build of my own last year which I'm glad to say thanks to all your attention I now have a fierce long lasting desktop. But now I find myself looking around for a reliable laptop for my girlfriend which she will use mostly for school but on occasion I may need to take to work myself. I don't want to spend over $700, and maybe I could get away with spending closer to $500. I know there are plenty of resources around the internet I could use but between work and family I don't have the luxury of time to be able to zero in on a fitting laptop between all the features and reviews that are out there.
What I'm looking for is a run down of the pros and cons of each laptop make these days, and if anyone here is inclined more toward one make than all the others then maybe you could break down each model (example if Toshiba then Satellite vs Ultrabook)
Most important things are I'd prefer core i5, at least 6 GB RAM, HDMI and bluetooth. Exterior features I'm looking for is a numeric keypad, above average speakers, backlit keyboard would be nice but with a more traditional style keyboard. I notice lots of brands these days are experimenting with different construction in their keyboards - some have the keys spaced apart, some have them so close together it's tough to feel out where one ends and the next begins, and I know some are reviewed to have their keys wear out and lose their "click" much more quickly than others.
Not sure if I need Windows 8 or the touch screen, if any of you think it's the next greatest thing then I will keep an open mind as I know nothing about it at this point, but if not I'm sure 7 would do the trick.
What I'm looking for is a run down of the pros and cons of each laptop make these days, and if anyone here is inclined more toward one make than all the others then maybe you could break down each model (example if Toshiba then Satellite vs Ultrabook)
Most important things are I'd prefer core i5, at least 6 GB RAM, HDMI and bluetooth. Exterior features I'm looking for is a numeric keypad, above average speakers, backlit keyboard would be nice but with a more traditional style keyboard. I notice lots of brands these days are experimenting with different construction in their keyboards - some have the keys spaced apart, some have them so close together it's tough to feel out where one ends and the next begins, and I know some are reviewed to have their keys wear out and lose their "click" much more quickly than others.
Not sure if I need Windows 8 or the touch screen, if any of you think it's the next greatest thing then I will keep an open mind as I know nothing about it at this point, but if not I'm sure 7 would do the trick.
/www.squidoo.com/best-laptops-under-600
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