Computer-buying advice, please

I need to finally break down and get a new laptop. Don't need anything too fancy, but I don't want anything too cheap, either. I have $500 to spend. Any of you technophiles out there know what I should look for? I'm not going to be doing any heavy lifting. Just need a good computer on which I can surf the ’Net, watch an occasional movie and do some writing. Any help is appreciated.

 

Do. Not. Buy. Mac.

 

I like Dells. We use them at work and have had good luck with them. And, according to their website, they're having a sale now:

http://www.dell.com/us/en/home/laptops_great_deals/fs.aspx?refid=laptops_great_deals&s=dhs&cs=19

For $500 you're going to be getting a bare-bones machine. I'd suggest a netbook, but you mentioned watching movies and most of those don't have DVD players.

 

For $500, this would be the only Mac he'd get:

 

I'll attest to this. I'm on a Dell right now, and I've used Dell for as long as I can remember. If smart about it, don't go looking up porn or something ;D, then you'll be fine.

 

True. I was just about to say that. Most of those damn things cost a fortune.

 

I assumed Macs would be out of my price range. I'm perfectly happy with a pc.

 

I got a very nice Sony Vaio with a large screen that works great for iirc $450 for Christmas this year.

 

Regardless of what you may have read or heard from advertisements, friends, etc., you are almost guaranteed to find a better deal by shopping at your local electronics store (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.), rather than buying online.

When I bought this computer, I paid $650 at Best Buy. When I went to compare the price online at dell.com, I plugged in the same exact specifications to the one I purchased as Best Buy. Dell.com wanted slightly under $1,100 for the same computer.

Obviously, you have to take into account that Dell was going to offer me a better warranty incase of theft, damage, etc. But for nearly $400, I took the slightly worse warranty from Best Buy.

 

Love, love, love my Sony VAIO laptop.

 

Bought my Compaq Presario for $480 after rebate at Office Depot in 2007. I've been mostly happy with it -- never lost anything, it always starts up and I've been able to watch and burn DVDs any time. I don't do anything major: writing and surfing, mostly.

I had an HP desktop before this, and never had any problems with either (well, the old one got fried by lightning once and I had to replace the monitor. But that wasn't the computer's fault.)

That said, I'll save up for a Mac for my next computer.

 

Here you go: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9368169&type=product&id=1218092959299

And then take the $150 you have left over and go buy beer, or in other words, spend as you please.