New Laptop Help

[Jason]

Looking to buy a new laptop for my wife. It will be used at home to run basic programs. Don't need to do any photoshop or video editing. Not a 'gaming' computer. Basically she runs some embroidery software (ran it on a 5 year old computer no problem), the kids school programs, checks email, and bounces around on the internet.

Our price range is 0-700$. Is Pentium sufficient? Should I be looking at i3,i5,i7 and if so why? Are AMD's just as good or close enough that I should consider them?

I know I should get a mac. I know they rule the world and anyone who's anyone or wants to be someone runs a mac. I'm not going to buy one so help me with the pc's please!

Thanks in advance.

[Pickaspotandbreathe]

IMO, you do not need a lot of computing power. An AMD would be fine, and you should easily find one in that price range. Unless you have a pressing need for a mac, then I would stick with windows.

[Bilbo]

I use a Lenovo for school work. It's a great laptop. Also in your price range. Acer is a decent one too.

[bmac]

I just got a toshiba L650, 4gb ram, 250 gb hd, w/ i3 from toshiba direct. Has plenty of power and will do what you have described above. I dont know the difference w/ the processors but I figured I would get on of the newer ones out on the market.

[WCB]

I bought a Dell several months back with the dualcore proc before the I3,5,7 and it's fine. An I3 or 5 machine with as much RAM and HD capacity as you can afford and It'll kick butt. AMD procs are very good also. Wouldn't hesitate in buying one.

[cfortner]

Basically she runs some embroidery software (ran it on a 5 year old computer no problem),

You'll need to make sure the embroidery software will be compatible with newer versions of windows. Also it is likely run from either a serial port or a parallel port, with a newer laptop these ports won't be available, you'll likely have to result to a serial/parallel to usb converter.

[Jason]

Thanks yall.

I am basically finding a AMD or Pentium processor with about 4gig ram in the $500 range. If I jump up to about the 6-800$ range I find the i3, 5, &7's. Doesn't sound like she needs that and while it would be nice to have, a pentium or AMD would be just fine.

Anyone see any reason (other than bigger is always better) that I should spend the extra money on the more expensive processors?

[Loneaggie]

Any current processor will be fine. I would get 4gb memory if you could. It's hard to beat Toshibas in that price range.

[Eldog]

Check Wal-Mart.....................

[Mark44]

buy the most you can buy. tomorrow there will be a program you wish you could run that needs the faster processor. what is okay today is slow tomorrow. so you always buy all the computer you can buy when you buy. it might save you a year or two down the road when you can stay on the "old 'puter" a little longer because she has more horses under the hood than the cheaper model you looked at.

in short, get all the power and speed and hd drive space you can afford now. don't skimp. you won't regret it later.