Is this notebook worth it?

[NickThissen]

Hey guys,

I just got an e-mail from my university with an offer for a new notebook. I bought a notebook from them my first year (3 years ago) and it's starting to get a little sluggish so I'm considering it... However, I've no idea whether it's worth it or not!

Here are the specs:
http://w3.tue.nl/fileadmin/stu/noteb...k2010-2011.pdf

They are asking €1.100 for it...! Seems a bit steep no? Sure, it comes with all kinds of software such as Office, Matlab, Maple, Origin, and many other expensive applications, but I can all get them for free for my laptop anyway so I don't have to pay for them... I don't know if the software is considered in the €1.100 price...

Oh yeah, the specs say 5 year insurance and support, but
1) The email says it's only 3 years, and
2) I think it's only for as long as I'm still studying there, which is (hopefully) only 2 more years.

Is it worth it, either considering the software as free or not?

[FireXtol]

Yes, that price absolutely includes the software.

No... probably not worth it. You could get an Alienware for that price.

[Nightwalker83]

I'm not sure what the dollar value is but I agree wither FireXtol! I bought my Asus N60Dp Series for about $1, 500 Australian.

[JuggaloBrotha]

Since you have access to all that software for cheaper than getting it with the laptop that makes the price of the laptop on the high side and I wouldn't get it, now if they offered that laptop without all the software for 2/3's the price then it'd be something worth considering.

[NickThissen]

I checked, and the software is free. It is not included in the price.

I find it strange that all of you are suggesting I can get much better for a similar price. I also asked on a different forum and they confirmed my thoughts that the university would have gotten a great deal on this laptop and there is no way I am going to get a similar one for the same price myself. You have to take into account the fact that these are very well built laptops. They are designed to last up to 5 years while taking it with you every single day. I'm sure an Alienware laptop wouldn't last a year under those conditions.

[Max Peck]

I'm not sure what the exchange-rate is right now but offhand that sounds like about $1500 U.S. I don't think I'd pay that much for a notebook myself but, OTOH, that seems to be a top-end unit. Maybe slightly expensive but it appears to me that it's a complete package they're offering. You might do a little better if you shop around, but it doesn't seem terribly unreasonable.

-Max

[NickThissen]

According to google: 1100 Euros = 1 349.37 U.S. dollars
So 1500 is a bit of an overestimate.

[JuggaloBrotha]

The laptop listed you can probably get for around $900 to $1000 USD, which should be roughly €850 if my math is right. Which is €250 less than you say the school has it listed, if the extra durability is worth the €250 more, then go for it, otherwise find something that's a better deal.

[FireXtol]

You have to take into account the fact that these are very well built laptops.

It's an HP. *cough* http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/l...-win-hp-fails/

They are designed to last up to 5 years while taking it with you every single day. I'm sure an Alienware laptop wouldn't last a year under those conditions.

In 3 years you're looking at a 25% chance of hardware failure on your HP. Enjoy.

The only thing that sticks out about that laptop is the workstation gfx chipset: ATI Firepro 5800. Which is an entry-level gfx solution for work such as CAD, 3d modeling, and similar. Do you use 3D design software? If so, get the laptop, if not, you should probably consider other offerings.

For that price you could easily get a fairly mid-high-end gaming laptop, or a much beefier CPU(i7). Possibly a SSD, a larger screen size, etc...

[dilettante]

Yeah, I'd hesitate to buy another HP myself. I had one that died just out of warranty of a known problem they refused to fix out of warranty.