Need a new laptop for < $600. Suggestions?

[merithyn]

Right now, I'm look at the following:

HP Pavilion 17z-e000 series
Operating system Windows 8 64
Processor and Graphics AMD Quad-Core Processor A6-5200 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache) + 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 8670M Discrete
Display 17.3-inch diagonal HD+ BrightView LED-backlit Display (1600 x 900)
Memory 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive 1TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
Primary battery 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Primary optical drive SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
Keyboard Standard Keyboard 
Personalization HP TrueVision HD Webcam w/ integrated digital mic
Networking 802.11b/g/n WLAN

I'd like your thoughts.  It's ringing in at around $660, which is fine, but I'd kind of like to go a bit cheaper.

I need the machine for my programming classes, gaming, general household accounts, and email.

[Barrister]

I'd like your thoughts. 

Do you really want my thoughts?

[merithyn]

I'd like your thoughts. 

Do you really want my thoughts?

Yes. But... keep in mind that my programming classes are mostly set up for PCs, not Macs, so those aren't really an option.

[Barrister]

I'd like your thoughts. 

Do you really want my thoughts?

Yes. But... keep in mind that my programming classes are mostly set up for PCs, not Macs, so those aren't really an option.

Well then, my thoughts go something like this:

1. Buy MacBook Pro
2. Install Windows 7 (dear God, not 8) through Boot Camp.
3. Profit!

[garbon]

Beeb has lame thoughts.

Sorry, Mer, can't help as I'm not up to date on laptop specs.

[ulmont]

I'd like your thoughts.  It's ringing in at around $660, which is fine, but I'd kind of like to go a bit cheaper.

I need the machine for my programming classes, gaming, general household accounts, and email.

I tend to buy more or less this machine (the specs keep getting better, but basically the same machine, AMD chip + Radeon graphics + some RAM) from HP every couple of years for gaming and net surfing.

You could probably drop the RAM to 6 GB and hard drive to 500GB to drop the price down to a base $570, the hp shopping site tells me.

[merithyn]

I'd like your thoughts.  It's ringing in at around $660, which is fine, but I'd kind of like to go a bit cheaper.

I need the machine for my programming classes, gaming, general household accounts, and email.

I tend to buy more or less this machine (the specs keep getting better, but basically the same machine, AMD chip + Radeon graphics + some RAM) from HP every couple of years for gaming and net surfing.

You could probably drop the RAM to 6 GB and hard drive to 500GB to drop the price down to a base $570, the hp shopping site tells me.

Yes, but am I then going to want to replace this machine in a couple of years? I guess the question is, should I splurge on the extra 2 GB RAM and 500 GB storage now?

[ulmont]

Yes, but am I then going to want to replace this machine in a couple of years? I guess the question is, should I splurge on the extra 2 GB RAM and 500 GB storage now?

Storage depends totally on what you do with the machine; from what you've said, I doubt it.  RAM is always fun.

If you're using it for any gaming other than "games that are no newer than when I bought the machine", you'll want a new one in a couple of years for a better processor and better GPU.

[mongers]

Right now, I'm look at the following:

HP Pavilion 17z-e000 series
Operating system Windows 8 64
Processor and Graphics AMD Quad-Core Processor A6-5200 (2.0GHz, 2MB L2 Cache) + 1 GB AMD Radeon HD 8670M Discrete
Display 17.3-inch diagonal HD+ BrightView LED-backlit Display (1600 x 900)
Memory 8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
Hard drive 1TB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
.....
I'd like your thoughts.  It's ringing in at around $660, which is fine, but I'd kind of like to go a bit cheaper.

I need the machine for my programming classes, gaming, general household accounts, and email.

Meri, I pretty much bought that sort of machine 12 months ago at a similar price point, though it had a smaller display, I don't like 17in screens.  I does what I want, with a bit or reasonable gaming on the side (Civ5+expansions) 

edit:
found the spec, broadly similar with a few differences:

Samsung NP305VA-A05UK AMD A8 Processor 8Gb 750Gb 15.6 inch Laptop - Blue
CPU benchmark:
AMD A8-3530MX APU
2575
£399

[merithyn]

Thanks, guys. I may do as suggested and cut the RAM and the storage a bit since I can't imagine ever needing that much. That'll save me a few bucks.

I've had an HP Pavilion for the last four years, and I love it. It's still a decent machine, but the battery doesn't hold a charge and it's pretty slow. I'll pass it on to Riley when I get the new one.

[katmai]

Ask Carter what he just got.

[merithyn]

I ordered mine.

What'd he get?

[katmai]

I ordered mine.

What'd he get?

not sure, just know it was what he spent half of his Fair money on though

[merithyn]

Oh, yeah. He told me when he got the job with you that that was what he was spending the bulk of his pay on. I just wondered if you knew what he got.

[Ed Anger]

I'm going to Staples tomorrow and pick up some of those Lenove i5's for 500 bucks. Fuckers look loaded for the price.