Member Avatar for Jaseva

I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I don't really care which OS (XP or Vista). Vista would be nice, but it doesn't really matter to me at all. I'm perfectly happy with XP.

I am constantly running Firefox, IE, Thunderbird, Napster, Word, and some smaller programs like Notepad++, AVG, etc. And often use Visual Basic and Photoshop. I'm sure there will be more added to that list as I enter each new term at school.

I used to have a Toshiba and I really liked it. It was fast and could handle alot of open programs at one time. It was a bit big, though - 15.4" widescreen. It seems the smaller you go, the more expensive it gets.

Can anyone recommend a laptop that would suit my needs? I'd like to spend under $1000 and I don't want something too heavy as my books are heavy enough already :p

Any help would be appreciated :)

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Dani AI

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This thread correctly focused on reliability and value — wanted a portable machine for browsing, mail, an IDE and Photoshop, and and steered the decision toward sensible brands. Hardware expectations have changed a lot since 2007, though. For the same mix of tasks today, prioritize fast storage and enough RAM first, then CPU and screen quality.

Practical, modern targets to use when comparing models: a recent quad‑ or hexa‑core CPU (Intel Core i5/Ryzen 5 class or better), 16 GB RAM as a comfortable working amount (8 GB only if you must save money), an NVMe SSD (256 GB minimum; 512 GB preferable), and a 13–15 inch IPS or OLED 1080p+ display with good color for Photoshop work. Integrated graphics are fine for general use, but a modest dedicated GPU helps with GPU-accelerated Photoshop features.

Buy with upgradeability in mind: choose laptops that let you add RAM or swap the SSD, check battery life and weight for daily carrying, verify keyboard feel for coding, and confirm warranty/student discounts. If the budget is tight, consider refurbished business-class units (they often have better keyboards, serviceable internals and longer life). Before purchase, look up the current Photoshop and Windows hardware notes so specific GPU/RAM needs are met.

For current, authoritative minimums and recommended specs for Photoshop and GPU features, see Adobe’s official system requirements. For a practical shopping checklist and explanations of why SSD and RAM matter, a current laptop buying guide is useful: and .

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Member Avatar for Jaseva

Seems I've passed the time limit for editing my original post..

I'd like to add that I'll take actual laptop recommendations or even just the specs I'd need to look for..

Member Avatar for jbennet

yeah if you do want vista youll need a gig of ram - xp will be happy with half that. Take a look at:

toshiba
dell
lenovo
acer
hp

Member Avatar for John A

I recommend either Acer or Toshiba. I've found them both to be very reliable, and decent machines. If it doesn't matter to you about Vista, I'm sure you can save lots of money by opting-out for a cheaper model running XP.

Member Avatar for jbennet

indeed. xp is still good for about 2 years

Member Avatar for John A

indeed. xp is still good for about 2 years

XP is good for as long as your computer lasts. It's never going to stop running, even if Microsoft stops supporting it. And since XP is so good already, I expect lack of support from Microsoft will do little to extinguish XP.

Member Avatar for jbennet

once xp updates stop it wont be long until security flaws become exposed and people get hacked so bear in mind that after 1 jan 2009 youre on your own

Member Avatar for jbennet

good purchase

Member Avatar for John A

Excellent choice. Enjoy your brand new PC! :)

Member Avatar for Jaseva

Thanks. I am so far :)

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