Buying a laptop & Microsoft Office - for my son

[Jim Oaks]

I want to buy my son a laptop for Christmas. He's 13. His sister (15) got one two years ago for Christmas from her mom, and my son wanted her to get him one last year but she didn't.

He was with me at best buy last week (When I bought a monitor) and was looking at laptops. I found that he liked the Sony's for their quick linking buttons and any laptop that had a backlit keyboard.

There weren't a lot of reasonable options for laptops with backlit keyboards.

I want him to have Microsoft Office so he'll have Word to do his school reports.

I found (2) laptops at Best Buy I like:

Dell Inspirion I14R-1440PBL (CLick HERE) $580
14" Screen, 4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive

HP Pavilion DV5-2045DX (Click HERE) $750
14.5" Screen, 4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive

I have an OLD version of Microsoft office and I found out it won't work with Windows 7. That means I either have to buy a laptop with the full version of Microsoft Office included (Not a trial), or buy the software. (I could actually use the newer version for my laptop. Especially if the newer versions have a feature for converting word to .pdf)

The HP already has Microsoft Office and Student 2010 (full version) installed and has a backlit keyboard. My brain says this is the best option and my son likes the laptop, but my wallet says I have other gifts to buy.

I could get the Dell, buy the Microsoft Office, and probably still save myself a $100. Then I could probably put it in my laptop too, so it would be a win-win. Basically, I'd be saving a $100 buy not getting the backlit keys.

What do you guys think? Go for broke on the HP, or save some money, get the Dell and a version of Office to put in my laptop as well???

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I was under the impression that you can install any M$ program on only ONE computer. So then my vote goes to the laptop with already installed software. And it seems to have slightly better graphics [your son plays games?].

Richard

 

[rtg143]

Also check here for some good deals. Sometimes they're only for one day. You don't buy there but they post the best deals going every day. http://www.gotapex.com/index.php

 

[Chris.S.]

Before you blow your money on MS Word, make sure and take a good look at this program. It's as good as word, opens word files and is FREE.

http://www.openoffice.org/

As for the laptop, I'm typing on my Dell Inspiron 630M that I bought 5 years ago and it's still running strong. They have excellent customer service as well.

 

[97RangerXLT]

x 2 on open office.

it will do all that MS office will do, and will use MS office files.

Unless HP has got their poop in a group and fixed their issues with the video overheating and croaking the motherboard, I would pass on HP. get the Dell.

AJ

 

[heptofite]

OOo is java based, and prone to more failures than i'd personally be willing to tolerate.
Jim, rather than just showing us the two laptops you've found personally, do you have any specific *goals* for a machine for your son?

I do a fair bit of ordering from dell for work, so there may be a system i am familiar with that would meet your goals that you may not have considered.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I don't want him using it for gaming (although I know he will). He has a Playstation and Xbox for that.

I want something he can surf online with and do school work.

Like I said, he likes the quick button features on some laptops and the backlit keyboard for computing at night. I thought the feature on the HP that allows you to quickly go to your email, internet, or music before the whole computer boots up was cool.

 

[heptofite]

you should check out the dell website, their business laptops, specifically the latitudes, they are about nine kinds of badass.

no frills, no bright colors, just a rock solid powerhouse of a machine.

you can pick up a baseline 5410 for 509

 

[disciplerocks]

I'd stay away from Dell. I have yet to hear a good experience from them. HP FTW! And you should wait til black Friday. I got mine last year at Best Buy for the sale.

 

[02RangerXLT]

HP's are great computers... All of my previous, well, current 3 are HP's... two laptops and a desktop. MAKE SURE you get Windows 7...

Also Jim, on my laptop right now, we didn't pay for MS Office because its highway robbery to buy it new, so we installed Office 2003 on my computer, and it works fine, installed fine...

 

[Jim Oaks]

My MS Office is 2000.

 

[Jspafford]

I bought Heather a Dell for Christmas one year when she was in college. Right out of the box it locked up and was no useable. I called dell and was told to download a 'patch' which took hours to get working.... Merry Christmas right?

Anyway, the computer has always been slow, gets extremely hot, has been through two different chargers and batteries because of not turning on, etc. I would never recommed a dell to anyone I like, but then again, I've had HP desktops since I could type and the one I use now happens to be 6 years old and running like a top.

Backlits keys are worth the money. Better yet, why not build one online to your specs?

 

[02RangerXLT]

My MS Office is 2000.

Hmm... let me see if I still have the files to download 2003... if I find them I'll let you know.

 

[blueranger92]

Open office FTW! It can do everything that MS office can do, and its free, been using it for years.

As for laptops itself, I'm a big fan of Toshiba laptops (a fan boy you could say).
I'm currently on my third one. Haven't had one fail on my yet. My family each owns one. My first one still works great, just hardware is outdated. They can really take a beating. Personally i am not a huge fan of HP.

As for Dell many of my fraternity (engineering fraternity) brothers own one. There main issue is that there hinges on the screen have a habit of coming loose and breaking.

Also another place for a good deal is www.newegg.com or www.tigerdirect.com

 

[Jim Oaks]

Well, it's all kind of funny.

After reading responses so far I have to admit that any computer can be a lemmon. Case in point:

I bought my Toshiba Satellite laptop new in 2005. I've always had problems with it overheating and shutting off. Now 1/2 the screen doesn't work.

My daghter has a HP she got the Christmas before last. The screen/lid is coming loose.

There's probably going to be good and bad with every laptop. I do appreciate all the input though.

I know one thing, I'm not waiting in line on black Friday to buy a computer on sale. That's just nuts.