Im a middle school student needing a laptop

[Garbo]

Im a 14 year old boy just about to go into 8th grade. They are going to start allowing laptops at my school so my parents are letting me buy one.

I'm looking for a good, reliable, stylish(Meaning thin if possible), and cheapish laptop. I would like for it to be $800 or less. The Macbook air is acceptable though.

I would love to hear your opinion on these two laptops and any other laptops that would be better. Please tell me the reasons though.

So far what I have found that I want are these two laptops.

Acer Ultrabook

Macbook Air

[edit1754]

The Sony Vaio SA has an AMD Radeon 6630M (if you'd like a GPU capable of some moderate game performance) and a 13.3" 1600x900 resolution display (lets you fit more onscreen than the 1366x768 of the Acer does)

Newegg.com - vaio sa

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If you don't need the GPU performance, look at the Lenovo Thinkpad X220, which offers excellent durability and a nice IPS display.

Follow this link, select the cheaper base configuration, scroll over to "Display", and select the "Premium" display with 2x2 antenna option. Then configure everything else as needed and apply coupon code X220SAVE.

The "Premium" display option is the IPS display, which is one of the best displays available on an ultraportable for this price. It has excellent contrast (deep blacks) and very wide viewing angles (the image doesn't wash out when you tilt the screen). The stock display is, however, very poor in quality. The X220 shouldn't be bought in any configuration that doesn't include the IPS display. Don't forgo the IPS display upgrade either for budget-related reasons or to trade it out for another upgrade.


You can also get a much bigger discount on the X220 through the Barnes n' Noble discount, if it doesn't expire by the time you buy. Follow this link, create a free account, log into your free account, click the "Free ecoupon" link, select the X220, and proceed just like you would using the previous instructions. Apply the coupon code it lists to your final configuration.

[pepper_john]

thinkpad X220, though people either love its style (dark classical) or hate it (from 2000).

[idiot101]

Rather than ultrabook, why not look and a thin and light with decent performance.

The Thinkpad X220 with the IPS display (or the upcoming Thinkpad X230 available in June) comes to mind.
or you could go in for a cheaper Toshiba R835
Amazon.com: Toshiba Portégé R835-P94 13.3-Inch Laptop (Magnesium Blue): Computers & Accessories
Toshiba Portégé R835-P89 13.3-Inch Laptop (Magnesium Blue): Computers & Accessories
or the Acer 3830T
Fry's - Acer AS3830T-6870, Intel Core i5-2430,13.3" Screen Display, Notebook With 4GB Memory , 500GB Hard Drive,W7 Home Premium
And put in a nice SSD(Samsung 830). You also get a full assortment of ports.
Please read the reviews.

When do you need to buy the laptop? You could also see what AMD has to show with their new Trinity line of processors sometime in June/July. They will offer decent gaming with the integrated graphics. You could also wait for the Ivybridge upgrades to the existing ultrabooks.

[pianowizard]

I recommend AGAINST both the Macbook Air and any kind of Thinkpad. Many of your classmates will be bringing Macs to school and I don't think you look "cool" if you look like a copycat. On the other hand, you would really stand out with a Thinkpad, but Thinkpads designs look too old for a 14-year-old kid.

I recommend the Dell XPS 13 and the HP Folio. Both are around $1,000 new, but can be had for just under $800 through eBay or the Dell Outlet (the HP Outlet doesn't seem to have the Folio yet).

[Mr.Mischief]

I think the XPS 13, HP Folio 13, and Macbook Air are all good options.

Just remember, chicks dig Apple products

Dell XPS 13:http://www.laptopmag.com/review/lapt...s-13-2012.aspx

HP Folio 13http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptop/hp-folio-13.aspx

MacBook Air 11:http://www.laptopmag.com/review/lapt...inch-2011.aspx

MacBook Air 13:http://www.laptopmag.com/review/lapt...r-13-2011.aspx

[pepper_john]

on the other hand, x220 certainly looks muscular
 

[lebob23]

a boy should not have a mac let alone an air, what kind of gender roles are we teaching in this country

boy, get this

[ZaZ]

I think you should look at a ThinkPad too, not the X220, but the X130e. It's inexpensive and is a bit more rugged than your typical portable. Plus, I think you can get it with a red lid, which lends a bit of style. Check the outlet for better pricing too.

[Jarhead]

Definitely would look at getting a Thinkpad. Unless you are already comfortable with OSX, I don't see a legitimate reason to switch (the only other argument would be if your work requires it, but I don't see many 14yo boys in IT ). Either the X220, X120e (can be had for cheap), or the X130e will serve you well. X220 has the display with the best colors (IPS option), and for 11.6" I think that 768p is good enough. I don't see a situation that you'd encounter where an Ultrabook would be a better choice than a thin-and-light like a X220. For basic tasks, an Ultrabook basically amounts to nothing more than an expensive toy (the tiny weight difference between a MBA and a X220 isn't enough to justify the purchase imo).

Thinkpads are basically tough as nails, and you'll have no problem if you accidentally drop a Thinkpad (something like sliding off your desk; not so much falling out a 4th story window haha).