Need help choosing laptop

[j_soape]

This fall I am leaving to go to college and I'm having a hard time picking out my laptop. I'm not set on any one brand although I have been looking at a ThinkPad. My minimum requirements are 1gig of Ram, Centrion Duo but I'm not too sure at what speed I should go with, somewhere around 100GB of hard drive, DVD burner. I would also like a tv tuner so I can watch TV on my laptop but it is not necessary. Security is also an important thing to me. I don't want random people in my dorm room messing with my comptuer but I'm not sure what to do about making it secure. And a screen atleast 15". I plan on buying a docking station and external keyboard and mouse. What are my choices? BTW I would like to stay under $2000 for the laptop.

[thefultonhow]

If you're looking at a ThinkPad for under $2000, you'll probably have to get them to custom-build you one, because the ones with a DVD burner and 100 GB hard drive are way above $2000. I assume you're looking at the T-series, as the widescreen Z-series doesn't have Core Duo versions yet.

You may want to see what deals your college has; a lot of them have deals with Dell, but mine has a deal with IBM/Lenovo that let me get a ThinkPad T43p at a considerable discount off retail.

Some laptops offer an optional TV tuner, but ThinkPads do not. I know the Dell laptops have external USB TV tuners, so something like the Hauppauge WinTV-USB2 will serve the same purpose.

For security, usually you don't have to worry about people getting on and messing with your computer. People generally have their own. But you do have to worry about theft, so get yourself a good cable lock and use it religiously. Also make sure not to leave your laptop in a public place, locked or not -- if you're in the library and have to go to the stacks or the bathroom, shut your laptop off and take it with you.

In terms of screen size, resolution is more important than the actual size. My ThinkPad has an SXGA+ LCD, so I have more screen real estate (1400x1050) than most 15.4" widescreens (1280x800). If you're getting a ThinkPad T60, the 14" screen version is much more portable than the 15" screen.

If you only have USB devices, there's no reason to get a docking station. Yoou only really need one if you have a parallel, serial, or DVI device that you need to connect. I got mine because I have a parallel printer and a DVI LCD that I connect up to my laptop. Keep in mind that they are nice for convenience, but are also expensive, at $200 or so retail-priced. However, I would strongly recommend that you still get the external keyboard and mouse.

In terms of other options, you may want to look at Dell Latitudes (the D820 is probably the model you'd want) and Acer Travelmates (The 4674 is a good option). ThinkPads are the best laptops, but you willl pay for having that distinction, so if you can't get a suitable ThinkPad in your budget, the Dell and Acer models are also options.

[j_soape]

After looking around on the interent I came across a Toshiba Satellite A105-S4022. How good are Toshibas? This model has everything that I want I think. Also, what about an insurance policy on a laptop?

[thefultonhow]

I personally have had some very bad experiences with Toshibas. Their quality is hit-and-miss, but more importantly if you do have a problem, their support is pretty bad. There are plenty of people who swear by them and a lot of their models are pretty much problem-free, but I personally will never buy or recommend a Toshiba again after what my family has gone through with them.

In terms of an insurance policy, an accidental-damage-protection (ADP) plan from the manufacturer is your best bet. I have one (ThinkPad Protection) on my current IBM, and had one (CompleteCare) on my Dell. They're usually about $100-150 extra, and most manufacturers offer them either upfront or as an add-on.

[j_soape]

Well after looking the Acer seems to be a better deal than the Dell. But if I chose that one how would I get an extended warranty? Could I buy one directly from Acer or does it have to go through Newegg, who's three year plan is $399?

[thefultonhow]

There is a way to extend your warranty on their support website. You should probably contact them directly to ask about whether any of their support extensions include ADP, though.