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Which laptop or desktop do i need for high school, and beyond?

Paying several hundred dollars to dramatically improve system performance on a not so old laptop is worth it. its only about $200-$250 to get your computer to be a great one instead of WASTING $1000+ on something you don't even need. Thats why I think you are spoiled.
How hard is it to remove several screws to upgrade your computer? I'll get the service guide link. hold on.

Hard drive install: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/hdd.htm#wp1109848

BOOM! 4 screws, and the hard drive slides out. Then one or 2 more holding the bracket to the HD. Now put the bracket on a new hd, slide it in, and screw it down. I think your capable of that. I am. I know how to remove screws.

RAM aka Memory: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xpsM1330/en/sm/memory.htm#wp1180190
Remove the bottom panel held on with more philips screws (4), and pop it off. the install more RAM. You can clean the fan out with air while your at it.
 
i guess im just going to wait until my last year of high school or the summer when im tranistioning from high school -> college to get a new computer.
but for now im gonna get a samsung monitor
but im not sure.
do you guys think i need a monitor now, maybe after freshman year, maybe not at all through high school??

please continue sharing your thoughts.
so far my choice of iMac has gone from high-end 21.5 inch model to low end 21.5 inch model to macbook pro high end 13" to macbook pro low end 13" to just keeping my laptop and maybe getting a monitor
 
An external monitor could work. The laptop will probably be in your room for the next 4 years all the time anyway. It is a good investment because you could use it down the road when you do get a Macbook.
 
well since it looks like im keeping my current laptop, im gonna need some external speakers that go through a 3.5mm cable so i can use it for my music and plus my 360 if i get one to share with my brother and my xbox because it doesn't look like easycap works with sound.
plus my laptop speakers are really wimpy
 
iperson21 said:
i think i have decided now =D
i am gonna get the macbook pro lowest end, with a HD upgrade to 320GB. Don't want to risk having my HD fill up again.
plus iWork for my school work, an Apple Remote so i can play my music while sitting in my bed, insurance incase something happens, a magic mouse, an mstand by rain design and a keyboard

now i need recomendations on a keyboard.
i really dont want to have to spend 70$ on a keyboard....

update: nvm probly gonna get the keyboard+ mouse from apple.

update 2: changed my mind again, forgetting the mstand, gonna spend those 50$ on a nice lg or samsung monitor so i can expand my workspace, and plus if i get a new computer for college, i doubt they will have monitors higher than 1080p
Click to expand...
Save your money, kid.
 
If you already have a laptop and a desktop, keep them both. I'd love to own a Mac too, but I'll need to find a job first. I'm working on a Dell Dimension 2400. It's at least 8 years old. It came with the standard HDD and 512 MB of ram. I upgraded everything, now it's blazing fast. I'm starting college in 2 years, and I'll buy a MacBook Pro then. But for now, my Dell is holding up really well.
 
JTA60288 said:
If you already have a laptop and a desktop, keep them both. I'd love to own a Mac too, but I'll need to find a job first. I'm working on a Dell Dimension 2400. It's at least 8 years old. It came with the standard HDD and 512 MB of ram. I upgraded everything, now it's blazing fast. I'm starting college in 2 years, and I'll buy a MacBook Pro then. But for now, my Dell is holding up really well.
Click to expand...

Now this is what you call sensible.
 
Buy a cheap laptop. All you do in high school is write word documents and use other office tools.
 
All your gonna be doing is looking at porn, downloading music, going on facebook, and maybe using office/iwork...you dont need anything spectacular. I used a 1999 imac g3 throughout middle school and high school until i got a mbp a few weeks ago for college.

I wish my parents were suckers and gave me anything. I got into georgetown university and my dad gave me a slap on the back and took me to chiptole. If i got into some special program in high school he probably would have just taken me to mcdonalds as a reward.
 
I think that saving the money for a laptop later is a good idea. I'd stick a fresh install of windows 7 on to a new HDD and get some new ram and stick the rest of the money into bonds or whatever so it matures when you go to college, then get a spanking new macbook pro then!

Good luck with your studies and hope you're happy with whatever decision you make.
 
xi mezmerize ix said:
All your gonna be doing is looking at porn, downloading music, going on facebook, and maybe using office/iwork...you dont need anything spectacular. I used a 1999 imac g3 throughout middle school and high school until i got a mbp a few weeks ago for college.

I wish my parents were suckers and gave me anything. I got into georgetown university and my dad gave me a slap on the back and took me to chiptole. If i got into some special program in high school he probably would have just taken me to mcdonalds as a reward.
Click to expand...

:( If it makes you feel any better, I would have bought you a MBP and a massive hug.
 
I made it all the way through high school without a laptop. I used my dad's home PC for projects, and for "group projects", aka procrastinating for hours on end, we either went to an internet café, or my friends brought their laptops.

I passed high school with flying colours. This year I got a scholarship in uni for high grades.

Just pointing out that you don't need a laptop for high school. At least 2 years ago.
 
I would say, since your only in highschool, to get a iMac! Unlike college, (i am currently going into senior year for highschool) Highschool has no real need for laptops unless your school requires one (which I doubt it does being a low funded one). I have had a Vista laptop sofar and I have found NO use for a laptop at school. That being said, you can get a better computer for the money with an imac and is a bit more stable being stationary and not subject to jarring and drops/spills. This would be my suggestion for under 1600( I made this on the apple website and upgraded the processor and ram):

21.5in Imac
3.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 4x2GB
500GB Serial ATA Drive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
8x double-layer SuperDrive
$1,599.00

(comes with wireless keyboard and magic mouse)

If you can afford a 100 dollars more i would suggest a 27-inch: 3.06GHz one as it comes. It is really nice to have the large screen!!!
 
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