Need college laptop. Chrome OS or Windows? Needs to last about 5 years. Help!

[Nayko]

Hey everyone, my current laptop is pretty much done for and I need one pretty soon for college. I was shopping around and was pretty interested in the HP Laptop DV6-7138US, but the Best Buy Chrome Specialist guy showed me the Chrome OS and I was pretty impressed for the price. So is Chrome and its Samsung Series 5 500 a reliable computer for 5 years and college or would a Windows be better? My current computer use consists of a few websites, YouTube, once in a while Photoshop, and Microsoft Office for school. But that could change. Also, the freedom Windows has is what I like about it: torrenting and using other programs. Chrome seems generally great for me, but I'm not sure if it is good as my main college computer.


What is your budget?
$1200 max

What country will you be buying this in?
USA

What size notebook do you prefer?
Thin and Light (13 - 14-inch screen)
Mainstream (15 - 16-inch screen)

What brands do you like or dislike?
Like: Anything
Dislike: Apple

Would you consider a refurbished laptop?
Maybe

What are the primary tasks you need this notebook for?
Web Surfing, Office and Productivity Software, Listening to Music, Photo Editing, Movie Streaming and Viewing, Casual Gaming

Where will you be using this laptop?
Will be used different places and Will stay on desk

How many hours of battery life do you need?
4-7

Will you be buying online or in store?
online or in store

Which OS do you prefer?
Windows 7

List the screen resolutions that interest you:
High Resolution (1600 x 900)

Do you prefer a glossy or matte screen?
Glossy or Matte is fine

Is the laptops design important to you?
Yes

Approximately what date will you be buying this laptop?
Around 07/27/2012

How long do you want this laptop to last?
4-5 years

How much storage capacity do you need?
320 GB

Are you interested in SSD for storage?
Maybe

Do you want a built-in optical drive, what type?
No

[Nayko]

allowed to bump? o well.

[shea2812]

Ha ha... i know this post is quite old, but still I wonder what did you you acquire in the end and how was your experience with that. This is still year one after all.

[w_km]

Your requirements for a new laptop are eerily close to new Google's new laptop, so I can now highly recommend to you the new Google Chromebook Pixel

[Kuroi-Tsubasa]

Your requirements for a new laptop are eerily close to new Google's new laptop, so I can now highly recommend to you the new Google Chromebook Pixel

Problem is that this thread was created nearly a year ago, so OP surely has bought a laptop by now .

[kanuk]

Wow, what a necro-bump.

"I need a Babbage Device for my accounting, but I only have fifty farthings. What could you fine chaps recommend?"