Heather
Thinking of buying this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Toshiba+C855D-S5109+Laptop%2C+Office+Home+%26+Student+2013%2C+Internet+Security+Software%2C+Sleeve+%26+Flash+Drive+Package/9999200800050017.p?id=pcmprd199700050017&skuId=9999200800050017
Thought it would be great because it comes with the case, flash drive, security software & most importantly microsoft office. I have never tried aToshiba brand computer. Are they reliable? Is 4GB of Ram & 500GB hard drive enough for me? I don't plan on doing any gaming. Just school work + facebook.
Office Home
the office home
Answer
Those deals are to draw you in. The case is more of a slip cover then a true case. No padding or protection. You need to check if Office and security software are trail version, most are just for 30 or 90 days. If it is a student version then it will be limited compared to the full version.
The lappy itself is OK but it will struggle under any multitasking. If you keep the back ground programs to a minimum you should be alright.
The last thing is it is a Toshiba. They should be avoided because of their heavy modification of Windows and the drivers. If you remove some of the bloat they install, you can cripple the system.
Check out these two HP. They start at $530 and would have better performance. They are not power hoses but I consider them the lowest I would recommend for someone.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-ENVY/C9W57AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000fb8mNv9y;sid=NID2W1inOb6JXwkRbh2qz4GoAJwzDmy78dUe8LW2AJwzDtPc7Kuhl6jI?HP-ENVY-15z-j000-Notebook-PC A8-5550M APU HD 8000 Series Graphics 6GB DDR3 750GB 5400 rpm HD
This HP can be customized. Upgrade the Graphics to 1GB AMD Radeon HD 8670M Discrete. Do not get this one unless you get the graphics upgrade. It brings the cost up $580
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-Pavilion/C8F68AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000126GzpjJ;sid=wOckgE5TxtvuuRxANE-PCJZc9Pvh1XpPBbJgQ7vGyjypK_TAAlGILMhM?HP-Pavilion-15t-e000-Notebook-PC i5-3230M 4GB DDR3 500GB 5400 rpm HD
No matter which one you buy, follow the directions below to keep back ground programs to a minimum and that will help performance.
What slows a lot of puters down are the amount of programs that are running in the background. Download and install CCleaner from Piriform. Once you have it installed click on tools and then startup and see what is being started when you power up. You should have no more then 5 to 10 programs running at startup for optimal performance. I have seen up to 50 programs being started when the user turned on the system. One of the programs that I found that hinders HP lappy is the support assistance. Check and see how many of the manufacturers bloat is in the start folder. Also, just about any program that you install today puts itself in the start folder. They all want to start so they can phone home. You can use the disable feature of Cleaner to stop the program from loading at startup. The great thing about the disable feature is that you can come back and add the program back to the startup if you want it. If you use delete then it is gone and you will have to add it back manually.
If you have a large number of programs running and need help deciding what to disable, then look in the bottom right corner of the window. There is a button that says save to text file. Click it and then post the text file, we will see what we can help you with.
Tip DO NOT disable or delete anything that has anything to do with the touch pad or the video card. I learned the hard way on that one.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
This program can also keep your hard drive from being loaded down with junk from the internet. You should read the home page of CCleaner and see what other things it can do for you.
Those deals are to draw you in. The case is more of a slip cover then a true case. No padding or protection. You need to check if Office and security software are trail version, most are just for 30 or 90 days. If it is a student version then it will be limited compared to the full version.
The lappy itself is OK but it will struggle under any multitasking. If you keep the back ground programs to a minimum you should be alright.
The last thing is it is a Toshiba. They should be avoided because of their heavy modification of Windows and the drivers. If you remove some of the bloat they install, you can cripple the system.
Check out these two HP. They start at $530 and would have better performance. They are not power hoses but I consider them the lowest I would recommend for someone.
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-ENVY/C9W57AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000fb8mNv9y;sid=NID2W1inOb6JXwkRbh2qz4GoAJwzDmy78dUe8LW2AJwzDtPc7Kuhl6jI?HP-ENVY-15z-j000-Notebook-PC A8-5550M APU HD 8000 Series Graphics 6GB DDR3 750GB 5400 rpm HD
This HP can be customized. Upgrade the Graphics to 1GB AMD Radeon HD 8670M Discrete. Do not get this one unless you get the graphics upgrade. It brings the cost up $580
http://www.shopping.hp.com/en_US/home-office/-/products/Laptops/HP-Pavilion/C8F68AV;pgid=c7twGfjc0ptSRpIq7ZUcoGXQ0000126GzpjJ;sid=wOckgE5TxtvuuRxANE-PCJZc9Pvh1XpPBbJgQ7vGyjypK_TAAlGILMhM?HP-Pavilion-15t-e000-Notebook-PC i5-3230M 4GB DDR3 500GB 5400 rpm HD
No matter which one you buy, follow the directions below to keep back ground programs to a minimum and that will help performance.
What slows a lot of puters down are the amount of programs that are running in the background. Download and install CCleaner from Piriform. Once you have it installed click on tools and then startup and see what is being started when you power up. You should have no more then 5 to 10 programs running at startup for optimal performance. I have seen up to 50 programs being started when the user turned on the system. One of the programs that I found that hinders HP lappy is the support assistance. Check and see how many of the manufacturers bloat is in the start folder. Also, just about any program that you install today puts itself in the start folder. They all want to start so they can phone home. You can use the disable feature of Cleaner to stop the program from loading at startup. The great thing about the disable feature is that you can come back and add the program back to the startup if you want it. If you use delete then it is gone and you will have to add it back manually.
If you have a large number of programs running and need help deciding what to disable, then look in the bottom right corner of the window. There is a button that says save to text file. Click it and then post the text file, we will see what we can help you with.
Tip DO NOT disable or delete anything that has anything to do with the touch pad or the video card. I learned the hard way on that one.
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
This program can also keep your hard drive from being loaded down with junk from the internet. You should read the home page of CCleaner and see what other things it can do for you.
Should get a laptop for college?
Josh
I got accepted to Normandale Community College, and I'll be a Freshman, too. I'm wondering if I should get a laptop during the summer. Should I?
Answer
You should definately get a laptop. You can get a cheap, but well functioning laptop for between 300-400 dollars, especially online. It won't have too much memory, or processing power, but it ill still get everything you want done unless you are doing serious programming/gaming/graphic design. It will last you throughout the 4 years of college. without any trouble so long as you get a decent one like a lenovo or HP.
It will be worth it, especially today, where many teachers like to post things online, and expect you to do research online. I understand that you probably have a desktop at home/in your dorm, but you can carry a laptop with you wherever you go. For example, you can carry it to your classes and do your work right on it, this will make your life easier through less stuff to carry around (no notebooks),
it will allow you to stay organized, and find notes/documents easily, and it will help keep you from ever losing anything. I don't know if these are issues for you, but they are for me.
Finally, you can use it at any place when you have a free moment to work ie: the library, cafeteria, student lounge, and out in town. Also if you ever go away any where for a trip you can always have your work with you.
All in all my basic points (that I may ave been confusing on) are: it's extremely useful, relatively cheap compared to what you are already paying for college, and it will last throughout your time in college, allowing it to definately become worth the money over time.
Hope this helped! Good Luck in college!
You should definately get a laptop. You can get a cheap, but well functioning laptop for between 300-400 dollars, especially online. It won't have too much memory, or processing power, but it ill still get everything you want done unless you are doing serious programming/gaming/graphic design. It will last you throughout the 4 years of college. without any trouble so long as you get a decent one like a lenovo or HP.
It will be worth it, especially today, where many teachers like to post things online, and expect you to do research online. I understand that you probably have a desktop at home/in your dorm, but you can carry a laptop with you wherever you go. For example, you can carry it to your classes and do your work right on it, this will make your life easier through less stuff to carry around (no notebooks),
it will allow you to stay organized, and find notes/documents easily, and it will help keep you from ever losing anything. I don't know if these are issues for you, but they are for me.
Finally, you can use it at any place when you have a free moment to work ie: the library, cafeteria, student lounge, and out in town. Also if you ever go away any where for a trip you can always have your work with you.
All in all my basic points (that I may ave been confusing on) are: it's extremely useful, relatively cheap compared to what you are already paying for college, and it will last throughout your time in college, allowing it to definately become worth the money over time.
Hope this helped! Good Luck in college!
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Title Post: Laptop for college? Help!?
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Rating: 100% based on 9998 ratings. 5 user reviews.
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Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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