Comments on: Back-to-school 2009 retail laptop roundup: Asus' K50IJ-RX05 is our favorite entry level model

In our current roundup of retail-specific laptops, we've divided our 30-plus systems into four different price categories, from sub-$500 entry level models to high-end ones that cost more than $1,000.

[pburkeiii]

great line up of some great entry-level notebook computers,
there is a Compaq notebook pictured next to the Toshiba Satellite L505D-S5965 description

[lysdexic]

that is a the Toshiba Satellite L505D-S5965

[ilovecnet94]

i dont know which one to get, a mac or pc.!

You should see microsofts new tv campain. Get a pc, a lot chepear for the same specs

[tjt7a]

I would recommend a macintosh.

[TechnoMan475392]

@ ilovecnet94

Don't even go there. Please.

[imanym]

As a owner of both a Macbook Pro and an HP Business Notebook PC, I will sum it up very easy (or as easy as I can). If you are wanting a laptop that will be upgradeable and enjoy aero and other Winodws features as well as gadgets then get a PC. However be for-warned. Windows can live on any machine and since Mac went the way of Intel they positioned themselves as a PC as well, despite what Mac fanboys and girls may say. Mac Book pros can only be compared to the best offerings of the PC makers market (top of the line Dells, HP's and IBM;s). Where the Mac Book can be compared to the mid level (and some lower level laptops). I purchased a Mac because I really like the shell. The Mac OS is not a make it or break it thing with me, but I did want to see first hand what the fuss was all about. So it is absolutely possible to be a PC on a Mac just not the other way around. If your would like to experience the Mac OS, just remember you have to pay the premium cost of that experiment and at the end of the day YOU need to be happy with your decision, if that is then get a Mac. If you just want a good laptop then get a Lenovo, HP or a Dell and you will be just fine. The PC world has many models and dealers where the Mac world only has one and far less flavors. So if you go PC make sure you remember, "You get what you pay for". One thing to remember 64bit is a must have as well as Virtualization support hardware and software. I must also say that PC laptops have really come a long way in terms of quality and style and will continue to get better, Mac can not compete with that. Mac OS is Swweeeeet, Windows 7 is also Swweeeeet. If I were you I would take a look at the HP Voodoo Envy and see just how sweet a laptop can be (in design and aero is nice).

[lakerfan023]

As a college student myself studying computer science, I can say that the vast majority of students will be satisfied with windows pc (especially when windows 7 is released). I on the other hand love to experiment with computers and bought a macbook pro, as money wasn't a barrier and for the ease of running linux, windows, and mac os x, in one convenient package. If you are going in the computer field and money is no object, then a mac i think will be perfect. However most people should get a pc even if most people in college think macs are cooler.

[tjt7a]

That's not necessarily true. At my school, around 40% of the students use a Macintosh computer. As the Mac prices begin to drop, and Microsoft continues to founder, more and more people are adapting the Macintosh line.

[jakemochas]

there are some better dells out there they could have used in the studio line... but then again they haven't reviewed any dells in the past year (minis, studio, studio xps, etc.)

[Dan_Ackerman]

Uh, maybe you're reading some other Web site...I could eight Dell laptop reviews (to say nothing of desktops) so far this year -- that's a lot for a company that doesn't actually put out that many new products.

[jakemochas]

i agree but two that are missing are the mini 10 (which is the next gen netbook), the studio 14z, and studio xps 13

[jakemochas]

i apologize i meant three

[olsonpack]

Lets see... I could get my kids a sub-par computer for college with a slow processor, that runs a crappy OS, lasts for about two years, and prone to viruses, or I could spend twice the money and they would have more than they would ever need in a computer along with the fun of operating a Mac!

The choice is clear for me. I've never had any issues as the first two of my five kids left for college with MacBooks - no viruses, no sluggish operation, no waiting for anti-virus programs to finish their start-up cycle, no break-downs, easy upgrading, all the media they need, and a computer that lasts the duration of their college experience.

My youngest three can't wait to get their own Macs - and I'll be happy to get them one. And in case you are tempted to write me off as another rich Mac snob, I am actually a cash-strapped missionary who has to be frugal in every purchase I make - going with Macs has saved us money and, more importantly, time over the hassles of owning a PC.

And in case you are tempted to write me off as ignorant because of my occupation, let me also point out that I am the Director of Media, Communication and Technology for an organization of over 1,200 employees, so I experience on an almost daily basis the performance problems of PCs over Macs. I don't have to be a Mac evangelist inside my organization. People are switching over in droves as they get the opportunity to see how much better macs are in a rugged, mission environment.

Oh... and how about the free $289 iPod Touch?

[tjt7a]

I wouldn't go as far as saying that Macs aren't vulnerable to malware, but I do agree that OS X is safer when considering the percentage of malware that exists for the OS X Operating System.

[amigo69]

Why only 'PCs'? Why isn't there any Macs on this line up?

[tjt7a]

I am a Computer Engineering student that started attending University in 2006 with an HP computer running Windows XP. At the time, my computer functioned perfectly well and I started to bring it to class for note taking. After a few weeks, I began to leave the notebook in my dorm room because it was too large to comfortably carry around.(This factor is very important when considering a new college notebook!) Any laptop 15" or greater truely is too big to comfortably carry around from class to class all day. I also found that a battery runtime of less then 4 hours is very impractical. I would need to recharge my battery during class, and that is often not possible in a classroom with very few plugs to a large student body. I eventually installed Ubuntu Linux on it on a seperate partition, and use it as a file server. (for backups)

In late 2008, I purchased a macbook unibody 13" notebook. Not only was it thin, light-weight, and relatively small, it also had a very manageable battery life of ~5 hrs. I found it considerably easier to carry to class and take notes. I highly recommend the new 13" macbook pro (roughly equivalent). I have found that most of the people in my classes that do bring laptops, bring Macbooks or Macbook Pros or netbooks (particularly the Asus 1000h). This is because they are comfortable to carry around, have long battery life, and are easy to use.

I won't consider the Operating System in this comment, because it's only software. You can put whatever OS you want on any hardware. (for the most part) What's important is that you buy hardware that fits the bill.

[brclark82]

Did anyone else notice that almost every single one of these is available exclusively at Best Buy? Not just entry level, but all the categories.

[bjames105]

How about we just get a computer that's affordable, does what you need it to, and has good hardware? Everything on the list. Oh really? Everything on the list. I wouldn't pick any others not stated by Dan unless I had other plans for using a laptop. Macbook? Fits the bill but too expensive (by like 2x). My pc has no good Anti-Virus software! Google "free antivirus" pick the first result, if not just go to www.avast.com and get it yourself. Don't like windows? Go to www.system76.com and buy a laptop with Ubuntu Linux installed. There are endless possibilities for good cheap laptops the normal user is just too lazy to find them. In truth the OSes are really all the same (Linux and Mac crash too) so just get decent hardware and be happy.

[snackslapper]

if i was going back to school i would get a netbook. it's all about battery life and weight. if you are going to take specific classes that require more than what a netbook offers then buy it. searching for plugs is annoying. windows xp is old, but you can allows upgrade next year. i would also buy a monitor for a bigger screen and a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. the keyboard is optional.

[niko_osokin]

@Dan,

*** man? Us kids who are still in school (high school or college) don't want sub-500-bucks laptop. You should be conditioning our parents to spend at least 1000 bucks for a lappy, 'cause anything else isn't gonna be enough.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not for leeching off of parents. However, if they're planning to surprise me with a new lappy, I would be pretty disappointed if I got a freakin' Eee laptop. I wouldn't tell them, but I'd return it and use the money to buy a more expensive, capable laptop.