Is this the computer I should get?

[CDink]

Well, we were looking at that one..but one for the same price at walmart came with microsoft office....but it is less powerful sadly...and a dell..and I'm going to a community college before Film School...so I wouldn't have a student ID to get cheap software ...so it looks like the Dell is my only real choice.

[CDink]

here's both to compare:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... _-05232010


http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-15.6-Ins ... m/13378165


theres a rebate involved with the HP...but tax involved with the Dell......and I need to buy Office 2007 and Adobe Elements...lets keep that in mind.

[Jrecee]

In the pricerange you're looking at I'll give you some advice: Go even cheaper and save your money for a desktop. Your dad wants you to get a laptop for community college for taking notes, so buy a laptop that has enough power to take notes. Any money left over start saving for an editing computer. For under $1,000 you'll be able to get a desktop that runs circles around any sub-$600 laptop.

[jeffro11]

I'm just going to say this once. Editing video on a laptop is a horrendous idea, let alone on a laptop with an integrated Intel video chipset.

[Ziggy]

In the pricerange you're looking at I'll give you some advice: Go even cheaper and save your money for a desktop. Your dad wants you to get a laptop for community college for taking notes, so buy a laptop that has enough power to take notes. Any money left over start saving for an editing computer. For under $1,000 you'll be able to get a desktop that runs circles around any sub-$600 laptop.

That's not a bad idea. You could just pick up a used laptop for pretty cheap. You really don't need much for taking notes, using MS Office, etc. A laptop with a Pentium 4 CPU would do fine. Even if it doesn't come with a lot of RAM, I wouldn't worry, the RAM should be dirt cheap to upgrade to max.

[Ziggy]

I actually just bought that HP laptop from NewEgg that I linked above. I'm kinda in the same bought as you, I need one for school and I have a very limited budget. But I forgot to mention about NewEgg's preferred account. Orders over $500 get 12 months with no interest, makes it a lot easier to swing the money.

About not being able to get student discounts on stupidly expensive software, there are some other options you know. Can you use Open Office? Would you consider getting 'cracked' versions of software?

[CDink]

Well i got an extra hundred bucks...so i think i will be fine getting the HP and programs...still had a little left over for Peace Walker...I honestly think the HP is the logical choice, and then get an imac after college...plus i'll be working this summer so i can save up...as far as cracked software...no i don't care but i don't want to risk spyware and crap by going to the sites....i used to use open office exclusively..

[Ziggy]

I understand your concern for shitware, I have the same concerns. But I'm not willing to pay the crazy prices for some of this software, it's unbelievable.

Anyways, so you gonna get that HP from NewEgg? I think it's a pretty good deal. Try and apply for the Preferred account on NewEgg, if that's where you're gonna buy from. There's a $50 mail-in rebate on that HP, plus the preferred account will give you a $20 credit for the purchase, and you'll get 12 months with no interest (less than $50/month). You'll also get free rush processing which normally is an extra $3.

This is my third "no interest for xx months" on NewEgg, and I love it. It makes buying things that you can't normally afford possible. And believe me, I have no money.

Mine should be here in a day or two, so I'll let you know what I think of it once I get it.

edit: Shit, the price just jumped up on that HP today. I guess yesterday was the last day of the sale. Now it's $780 with a $50 mail-in rebate.

[Jrecee]

If you've decided on mac, and have a limited budget, imac is your only choice I guess. Just keep in mind apple has brilliantly removed the firewire from all new imacs (I mean, who the hell uses imacs to edit video. . . oh, everyone who uses final cut and doesn't have $2500 for a computer?

[CDink]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00318 ... 532&sr=8-8

this has now become an option...quick replies...yes or no....keep in mind my new budget is now 600