HELP! Intel i5 Processor? 4GB RAM? 500 Hard Drive?

After graduating from high school the graduation gift is going to be a laptop for college. I've currently been researching the different types of processors and amount of hard drive and RAM and I don't know what is necessary for this college laptop. I'm planning on having Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office 2010, and Windows 7 on my laptop. I've seen that the i7 processor is the best, but I can't afford the price of that. I have a roughly 900-1000 price maximum for my laptop and the laptops with the i5 processors run $800 without customization. With the i5 processor, 4GB Ram, and 500GB Hard Drive, the end price is $988.00. Would you think that an i5 processor would be necessary for me? I'm not planning on playing any kind of downloadable games on it either. If I would downgrade to an i3 processor, I could add more RAM, and Hard Drive space. Which should I do?

Computer LINK

 

After graduating from high school the graduation gift is going to be a laptop for college. I've currently been researching the different types of processors and amount of hard drive and RAM and I don't know what is necessary for this college laptop. I'm planning on having Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office 2010, and Windows 7 on my laptop. I've seen that the i7 processor is the best, but I can't afford the price of that. I have a roughly 900-1000 price maximum for my laptop and the laptops with the i5 processors run $800 without customization. With the i5 processor, 4GB Ram, and 500GB Hard Drive, the end price is $988.00. Would you think that an i5 processor would be necessary for me? I'm not planning on playing any kind of downloadable games on it either. If I would downgrade to an i3 processor, I could add more RAM, and Hard Drive space. Which should I do?

 

Have a look at the stock at Dell Outlet. You can get better value for money. Preferably a Latitude with a 3 year warranty that will see you through college. And an i5-540M should be fine for your needs.

John

 

Thanks John! But some of my buddies were saying that if I'm not going to be doing any gaming on it, the i5 will be unnecessary. I'm also wondering what is the difference between the Latitudes, the Studios, and the Inspirons? Does one offer a better experience than the others? Also, are there any better processors than the Intel I series? I know that the i7 is the best, but is there a processor that is better than the i3 but the same price range?

 

well the main thing is what will you use your laptop for ?

having it be roughly just a college laptop ie mostly using web browsers watching some movies now and then and not really much gaming , then you shouldn't even have the need to spend more than 5-700 on a laptop.

Buying a i7 or even a i5 isn't necessary for you because you wont be doing anything that requires that much power, and opting for more than the standard given memory is bad for your choice as well.
Since you wont be gaming either you shouldn't need a 1gb GPU and could basically get away with a standard gpu.

i would suggest an i3 cpu with a 2-4gb standard memory (do not choose to pay more for memory on dell websites they overprice that like crazy) and a standard gpu.

I think either this ;

Inspiron 14R : The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

Studio 14 : The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

would be best suited for you , it will be enough to do what you need to do also be good enough for some media viewing and such.

Seriously if you on a budget and you dont need a laptop for gaming r extensive work then opt for the regular stuff becasue its pretty good as is, you dont need a i7 or a 1gb hd 5650 , you prob wont even use 40% of its capabilities. Save yourself 300-400 bucks and keep it for a rainy day trust me being in college it can come like a lightning strike when you least expect it.

Edit; also make sure you look at the coupons given form this site, you can save a few hundred sometimes on some good laptops.

trust me an i3 is more than enough, you can even go for a regular P6000 processor its more than enough for what you need to do. why buy a expensive Ferrari when your gonna be driving 20mph all the time ? save the money for another day and get yourself a decent laptop that wont be overpowered and overpriced to do normal day stuff.

 

well the main thing is what will you use your laptop for ?

having it be roughly just a college laptop ie mostly using web browsers watching some movies now and then and not really much gaming , then you shouldn't even have the need to spend more than 5-700 on a laptop.

Buying a i7 or even a i5 isn't necessary for you because you wont be doing anything that requires that much power, and opting for more than the standard given memory is bad for your choice as well.
Since you wont be gaming either you shouldn't need a 1gb GPU and could basically get away with a standard gpu.

i would suggest an i3 cpu with a 2-4gb standard memory (do not choose to pay more for memory on dell websites they overprice that like crazy) and a standard gpu.

I think either this ;

Inspiron 14R : The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

Studio 14 : The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

would be best suited for you , it will be enough to do what you need to do also be good enough for some media viewing and such.

Seriously if you on a budget and you dont need a laptop for gaming r extensive work then opt for the regular stuff becasue its pretty good as is, you dont need a i7 or a 1gb hd 5650 , you prob wont even use 40% of its capabilities. Save yourself 300-400 bucks and keep it for a rainy day trust me being in college it can come like a lightning strike when you least expect it.

Edit; also make sure you look at the coupons given form this site, you can save a few hundred sometimes on some good laptops.

trust me an i3 is more than enough, you can even go for a regular P6000 processor its more than enough for what you need to do. why buy a expensive Ferrari when your gonna be driving 20mph all the time ? save the money for another day and get yourself a decent laptop that wont be overpowered and overpriced to do normal day stuff.

 

Please do not cross/double post. I am going to merge your two threads.

 

Inspiron and Studio notebooks are consumer quality notebooks, with cheap plastic cases and glossy screens that are difficult to view outdoors. If price is more important that durability or quality, and you're the sort of person who treats a notebook very carefully, you might just get away with a consumer quality notebook. Actually, the most recent Inspiron R line is much improved over the very flimsy feeling last generation. Go to a bricks and mortar retailer to look at them.

Latitudes are high quality business notebooks. The E4310/E6410/E6510 have metal cases and standard 3 year warranties, with much better customer service. The screens are anti-glare, so they are somewhat viewable outdoors. The case quality is much higher, which matters a lot if you carry your notebook with you a great deal.

I'd advise you to compare an Inspiron 14R against an E6410. Keep in mind that the consumer models typically have 64-bit operating systems as standard, while you have choice between 32-bit and 64-bit with business notebooks. Keep in mind that a 64-bit system allows you to fully use more RAM, but also requires more RAM. When it comes down to it, 64-bits only makes sense if you want to fully use 4GB of RAM, although I personally wouldn't go to 64-bits until I upgraded to 6-8GB of RAM.

 

But keep in mind latitude costs much more than both studio or inspiron.
you can opt for vostro v13 instead,its light nice build quality and a decent matte screen.
Latitude starts at 939$ while studio starts at 500$ also you can always opt for complete cover in consumer series. Even XPS is a good bet.
FIY latitude 6410 starts at 1800$ in india... will buy one on my next visit to US.

 

The Vostro V13/Latitude 13 is a dated subnotebook with very limited battery capacity. Unless you really need the world's thinnest subnotebook, don't bother with it.

No, the Latitude E6410 starts under $700.

Not really. The XPS line seems to be on the way out, and has dwindled to just one 16 inch model, which technically has a 15" screen.

 

If You are looking for a good dell laptop for general college work you do not need very strong specifications. Be careful with getting too good computer - it may be even hazardous. Not all dells are capable to have corei7. My friend decided to get one in his Dell Studio and you have no idea how hot was his laptop up to the piont when last week it just went on fire! Seriously. It burned inside and gave him a fright when he saw fire and smoke comming out from his keyboard just next to the topuchpad. Dell Inspiron and Studio does not have good enought cooling systems for that processor.