For the computer-literate - is this a good laptop?

[Robert Kirkland]

http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sea ... 5&CatId=17

Preferably for everyday computing and some MMOs..

[Blue Lemma]

I've been looking at laptops a lot lately, so I had to offer my opinion

One thing to note right off the bat: The computer you listed is a refurb, so the quality may be hit or miss. It says they give you a limited 3 month warranty, but a new laptop will almost always be of higher quality and life, and offer at least a year warranty. Not to say refurbs are automatically bad, but I've had mixed experiences with refurb equipment.

As for the specs, here are some links to a site that does benchmarking:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Athlon ... 987.0.html
Essentially, that processor is a low-end processor for a laptop, and it may not be great for gaming. But I don't know exactly what you're going to play :p

If I were going to buy a laptop, I'd look for something like an Intel i3/i5 at least, or a comparable AMD. Here are the specs for a middle-of-the-road i3, if you're curious:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core ... 767.0.html

Graphics card:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Radeon ... 664.0.html
They give some framerates and benchmarks on that page, so it should give you an idea of what to expect.

My impression: I'm not very impressed by the laptop's features, but for the price, it might be a decent option.

(edit: If I were going to get another laptop now, I'd give this one a look: http://www.compusa.com/applications/Sea ... CatId=2510 The difference in price might be an issue though.)

Hope that helps

[shiki]

Gateway makes some good laptops (typing this up on one of their best, as a matter of fact), but the OP's laptop is probably not one of them.

You'll want an Intel CPU (Core2Duo, i5/i7). AMD hasn't made a good mobile chip in years; they often suffer from heat, power, and performance issues.

Beware of refurbs: some people have good luck, but others receive DOA of faulty products.

The other specs are good: 4GB RAM and 500GB HDD.

Blue Lemma's laptop is probably a better choice.

ASUS, Toshiba, Lenovo, and Gateway are all good, in roughly that order. Go with one of those brands, an Intel CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a GPU ("video card") that is known to perform well with the programs you intend to run. Do not just go by benchmarks; ask owners of the same GPU what the real-world performance is like. For laptop gaming, the GPU is all that matters so long as the rest of the system isn't completely ancient or underpowered.

Take notebookcheck.com's benchmarks with a lot of salt.

Great forum for your laptop-buying questions: http://www.forum.notebookreview.com/

My girlfriend bought this laptop, based partially on my recommendation: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220758. Hers is new, not recertified, though it cost a couple hundred more new. This laptop has surprisingly good graphics (Sims 3 at high settings with no issues), and is no slouch in any of the other departments. Check the battery life: we usually get a good 8 hours out of a full charge. ASUS is very high-quality, and they have good warranties and customer service. If you are okay with recertified, I would highly recommend this deal.

If you are uncomfortable with refurbs or recerts, get a SquareTrade warranty. Inexpensive, but comparable to Best Buy Black Tie Protection.

[Robert Kirkland]

I would, and honestly, I would, get a laptop like the ones both of you have recommended, but my budget is sadly $400 so I probably can't get anything decent. FML