Laptop advice

I am fairly computer savvy when it comes to desk top models (and I say that with a big grain of salt) but when it comes to laptops I have no idea where to start.
I am fixing to go back to school full time and figure a laptop is gonna be a necessity before too long.
Since I have no idea about wireless internet and all the other things out needless to say I don't know what I want or need.
Gaming is not something I do but I will be working with large files such as 3D cad drawings and modeling. Also a lot of classes will be online and I need a computer to handle all that.
I was shopping and found this model

Compaq - Presario Laptop with AMD Athlon™ X2 QL-62 Dual-Core Processor - CQ60-215DX

I read a lot of the reviews and the vast majority recommend it. I was wondering if there is anything missing from it I will need or something like that.
The only thing I hate worst than wasting money on something too expensive is wasting it on something too cheap.

Will I regret buying this model? Thanks for any and all input.

 

For CAD I would recommend the maximum of RAM and a dedicated video card. Shared video is weak in an environment where video performance will be needed. Gaming is one of these applications, CAD is another.

You might consider checking with some of the current students in this field to see what they are using and why as well as how well the computers perform.

Hope this helps.

 

Here is one for just a bit more money but with many things the one you picked doesn't have.

Wireless N, 4gb ram, 400 gb hd compared to 250, webcam, bluetooth, PCMCIA slot, HDMI output for hd tv, 2 mb cache,
more than double the advertised battery life, best of all it has a really cool design on it.
It would take a fair amount more for dedicated video.

Click image:

Image courtesy of bestbuy.com

 

If your using CAD programs to their full potential, ie 3d rendering etc, then spend the money on RAM, Processor, and dedicated video.

If your serious about investing time and money at school, get the right tools, Bluetooth, web cams etc are fun but won't help you when your waiting 15 minutes for your file to render or print.

Basically, you don't have to spend 2500 bucks, but buy something that when you get going it will keep up with you.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't bring a finishing hammer to frame my house LOL

BoosterBeer 4U2

 

That makes perfect sense to me.
What would be a minimum I should look for?

 

ahh, i will check some video specs for you, are you going to go with cough cough Vista?

max the RAM 4gb at least

Duel core is good, but I am an Intel fan, (personal opinion only, i have had good luck)

Really, to answer a question with a question, whats your budget (give me a max number)? and are you in the States or up here (Canada).

booster

ps it may be tomorrow as it is UFC Fight Night LOL

Someone else may jump in that knows there hardware better than I too.

EDIT - the laptop GregH suggested is super close to what I would choose. 4GB Ram, good video and duel core.

Note - Vista does not play well with over 4GB of ram...

I will keep looking though, give you some options.Beer 4U2

 

I would have loved to keep it under $500 but it may not be possible. I also found this one..

HP - Laptop with Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor T4200 - G60-235DX

I really like the number key pad, that is just about a necessity for me.

I am down in the good ole US of A.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

You certainly can get a laptop for under $500.00 but you can not be too fussy about the specs.

I have been looking at something like what I showed you and found that if you obsess over price versus specs there are really no super bargains out there.
The one I suggested for example, if you were to find similar specs but with an Intel Centrino dual core it will be about $150.00 more......................You get what you pay for.

Hey, if you have $500 to spend then what you found will be fine but a couple of hundred more will take you to the next level.

 

A laptop under $500 could run cad, but it would be slow. If you are going to use it for serious cad use, I would go with a 64-bit environment.

That would mean Vista 64 bit or XP 64 bit. 64 Bit processor, etc.

 

I am running autocad 2007 on my HP G60 laptop w/ 2GHz AMD Turion Dual-Core processor 3gb memory, NVIDIA GeForce 8200M G Display Adapter 250 gb hd. I am running vista 32 bit and Autocad runs without a problem doing rendering! cost 650. The 1st laptop I bought was about the same but vista 64bit. Had to many conflicts with 64 bit return it and got the HP and very happy! I would stay away from 64bit but do make sure you have a Num key pad, a must have using Autocad.
Paul

 

You can get a USB number pad, too, but not as convenient.

 

Why do say you need to have 64bit on a laptop to run Autocad, is that with the latest version of Autocad?

Paul A

 

Paul,

Posters who randomly post an answer like that for their very first post rarely ever come back to respond.

 

There are 2 different versions of the AutoCAD software, one for 32 bit systems and the other for 64. And that is AutoCAD 2010 just to clarify things.