Seeking advice on laptops

[lupo pazzesco]

It looks like the specs are what I need, but it's an Acer.

I have not had good luck with Acers, and was hoping to avoid it, but bookmarking for future reference. Thanks!



ETA: Crap, forgot to mention I wanted to try and avoid Acers in my OP. Shall do so now...

[Broomjockey]

I'm looking for something that will allow me to view/create picture slideshows and videos, which mom and I share back and forth a lot. I also would like something more portable than the monster Acer I have right now, for school assignments and such. DVD burner would be good, since I have a lot of videos I'd like to make into discs, and with the music, videos, pics and files I have, I also need a fair amount of video space. And I like to play the occasional video game, though I'm not that into them that I need a system primarily for them, nor do I like games entirely too complex (if that's the work I'm looking for) I like Mystery Case Files games, really, as an example.

My budget is probably going to be about $650, thought, ideally, I'd like to shoot for $550-600, just to keep a chunk aside for a new laptop bag and couple accessories.

This is the important part. You need a system with 2 GB of RAM. You don't want a monster, so 17" is out. I'd recommend a 15", as any smaller and you're going to have heat issues with what you want to do, and you'll be spending more for the smaller size.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115668

This looks like more machine than you'd need, but it's $600, and has a massive hard drive. Take a look, see what you think.

[lupo pazzesco]

I just filed my taxes, and according to TurboTax, my refund should be here in a couple of weeks. I've decided that after paying for some essentials, like an eye exam, glasses, etc, I want to devote the remainder to buying a good quality laptop for relatively low budget. For the last few years, the laptops I have purchased have always been the sale, cheapy, "It's being discontinued so it's only $250" Acers, and I'd like to find one that might last longer, but still do stuff I like/need. My current laptop has a nonfunctining DVD drive, and is rather slow, even after DataJager cleaned it up and fiddled with it for me while I was visiting him and EQ in New Mexico recently.

That said, I'd like to point out that I'm pretty sure everyone here is far, far more technologically knowledgeable than I am. (Seriously, as EQ and DataJager, they tried to help me with my old desktop once, and asked what kind of memory it had. I blinked and said "...it's...black...?")

I asked my stepdad, but he's they kind of guy that sees no problem dropping over $1000 on a shiny new vaio for himself, and that's way out of my price range. I've been doing some research, and have heard some good things about Toshibas, but I'd like the advice of the board. Given my run of bad luck with Acers, I'd like to branch out, in a manner of speaking, and see if there are any other brands that might suit.

I'm looking for something that will allow me to view/create picture slideshows and videos, which mom and I share back and forth a lot. I also would like something more portable than the monster Acer I have right now, for school assignments and such. DVD burner would be good, since I have a lot of videos I'd like to make into discs, and with the music, videos, pics and files I have, I also need a fair amount of video space. And I like to play the occasional video game, though I'm not that into them that I need a system primarily for them, nor do I like games entirely too complex (if that's the work I'm looking for) I like Mystery Case Files games, really, as an example.

My budget is probably going to be about $650, thought, ideally, I'd like to shoot for $550-600, just to keep a chunk aside for a new laptop bag and couple accessories.

So...am I asking for a miracle...? (Probably...) I already know a Mac is out, but while I'm going to look into laptops the next couple of weeks any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!