I need a new laptop for school!

[TrekTheKaty]

MAC! More expensive in the beginning, but my last powerbook lasted 6 years! When you call customer support, you get California--not India.

No compatibility issues:
No, "it's not our hardware, call Microsoft."
"It's not our software, call your manufacturer."
"It's not our computer, call your internet provider."

Free geek (tech) support at your local Mac store.

[Geonz]

Also think toadly outside the mac/pc thing... there are some interesting little portable 'puters if you're mainly going to do word processing. I love my alphasmart for taking notes (especially at conferences), and then I just upload the stuff onto a real computer. I'm thinking of getting one of those industrial strength do-the-basics 'puters...
Snork... Macs give me all kinds of issues, especially the pains in the pocketbook. I am forever trying to figure out how to*tell* them what to do and they want to tell me what they are sure I want to do. It's because I'm more accustomed to PCs, but if you're thinking of making the switch... be prepared for adjustments.
F'rinstance, I can get OPen Office for free to do all kinds of word processing and everything that Microsoft Office will do on a PC - it's not so good on my Mac, and there isn't a good free word processing option.

[smilingcat]

Hi Sue,

If you are happy with alphasmart but want something more like a full blown laptop. look at ASUS Eee 2G for $300.00. It comes with Linux (or XP I think) and it comes with WiFi, ethernet, web browser, personal manager and Open Office 2.0 (latest release of OOF is 2.3).

I'm really loving my ASUS 900. Its about the same form factor as the 2G. Both will fit in a decent sized purse. I carry a small messenger bag instead. Screen is very readable. I have zero complaints and everyone at my office, full of geeks, are drooling over it.

I will post a picture of my Asus next to my regular sized laptop Dell Inspirion.

I'm just ga-ga wild over my Asus. If you are not familiar with the brand name, they are one of the largest manufacturer of PC motherboards and based out of Taiwan. Customer service is pretty good.

Oh Dell is coming out with sub-note book/tablet computer laptops. Michael Dell was seen walking around with it earlier this year but its not released or just being released?? Another one is Nokia N800 or N810 a glorified PDA.

smilingcat

[mayanorange]

DH has the lenovo tablet- I think 13 in screen- and it's awesome. I love the tablet form- would have been great for taking notes in college. I've been shopping for a commuter work machine the last couple of days (so I can bike from the train a couple days) and am between the Toshiba portege tablet (I love tablet, but I hate that eraser mouse, so no lenovo for me!) and the Dell XPS M1330 (super great prices right now too). My caveats would be I'm limited to Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba or Sony and I am not expecting to be doing much rendering (CAD, Photoshop) or high powered calculations (MatLab, etc). More of a word processor, and excel coming out my ears. If anyone has either of these I'd love to hear reviews.