need a little computer advice...i.e laptop/notebook

[radfringe]

at my new job, they will lend employees up to $2,500 toward a new computer (time payments deducted from paycheck)

my computer at home is only a year old, works fine, has plenty of memory/processing speed etc to run software that I may need to be able to "tele-commute" in bad weather situations - we are researching broadband/dsl options in our area for internet at the moment

here's where I need some advice - there will be times when I will be traveling both in the US and in Europe, possibly Asia or even South America. I'm going to need a laptop

it will need to run programs like photoshop/illustrator, autocad and inventor as well as the usual stuff like MS Office (word, access, powerpoint, excel etc)

the company has all HP computers, don't know if I'm sort of 'stuck' with this brand or not or if I can get another brand of laptop

assuming I'm not 'stuck' with HP brand - what configurations would you recommend? brand? processors?

I already know I want at least a 17" screen and a full keyboard, and if possible to dump VISTA and install XP for the operating system. I'm also thinking of doubling the RAM, as some of the things I'll be working on are either very large files, or will require multiple programs to be running at the same time.

any advice you can give is appreciated

[spinbaby]

1. I'm no help

But I do think we need some kind of computer help forum so the geeks can help out the clueless. My computer dilemma of the moment is that I need some kind of a really cheap laptop or handheld of some kind with wireless capability so I could check email at home without having to run to the desktop pc in the inconvenient basement office. I keep looking at stuff and can't seem to find anything that really fits the bill. I could also use some geekish advice.

[skygazer]

2. Ask and you shall recieve

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=242

[spinbaby]

3. Son of a gun

Who knew?
Thanks.

[Pierre.Suave]

4. Have you considered a ...

MAC?

You can run both Mac OSX and Win XP, travel with it, plug it in on planes even. Plus, you will LOVE the mac, trust me.

You can get a Macbook pro for less than $2500 too.

[Omphaloskepsis]

5. Have you switched to Leopard yet?

My copy is coming today and it looks like it should be a interesting update. The new dock looks craptastic.

[Pierre.Suave]

6. NO

and I wont for a while. I have not heard of anyone without some problem after upgrading.

I will stick with OSX 10.4 for a while.

[Zoigal]

7. Can't go wrong with a Mac

of any type. IMO

[crispini]

8. Are you totally sure you want that large of a screen?

Maybe it won't matter to you, but I have a company issued 17 inch screen and I HATE it. It's far too big to get any work done on planes and it's HEAVY HEAVY HEAVY. I cannot get any laptop bags that I like, which actually doesn't matter since I am forced to use a rolling bag because the thing throws out my back if I carry it. If I have one book and the computer in the rollabag, I find the damn thing hard to lift into the overhead compartment.

YMMV -- but oh, for a smaller size. :D hee.

[LeftyMom]

10. seconded

I have a 15.4 wide. I'm honestly considering buying a smaller one because lugging this thing back and forth to work and school such is a bitch.

[CatholicEdHead]

9. MacBook or MacBook Pro

You can dual boot Windows with BootCamp inside the new Leopard.

If you want to go Windows to the core, look at an IBM Thinkpad, stay away from Gateways (mobo power connectors).

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Is this new computer to do work-related work? Make the company buy one.

If they expect you to have a computer when traveling, they should provide it.

If it's just for you, then I have no real suggestions - it doesn't seem like there are many bad laptops out there nowadays. I'll second the questioning of a 17" screen, though - even a 15" screen can be big and heavy.

Get at least 1G of memory, preferably 2G, a good sized hard drive in the 100G range or higher, and you should do fine.

[UncleSepp]

12. If you're a klutz like me, look into an IBM ThinkPad

I've found them to be much tougher than anything else, which could be good for traveling.

Also, "me too" on the smaller display. Unless you really really need the larger display, it's just going to be heavy, bulky, and suck battery.