new computer for university questions

[michaelp]

So my brother is going to University, and since I know a bit more about computers than the rest of my family, I am helping decide on the computer.

Here is the computer we have been looking at:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-14-0-laptop-featuring-intel-core-i5-430m-processor-dm4-1050ca-dm4-1050ca/10146655.aspx?path=c35f3310de73c4a5c83c0c70e1270b30en02

1. Microsoft Office is pretty much necessary for University, right? (My brother won't use OpenOffice. )
2. I haven't heard good things about Best Buy's Geek Squad, so I want to know if what they are offering is worth it.

Recovery Disks for the computer

Norton 360 AV

A "tune-up/optimization"

Doing Windows Updates and updating drivers

Microsoft Office Student and Home Edition 2010

Installation of all of this

For $250.
I was wondering why the recovery disks aren't included. They seem pretty important. Could I just make a recovery disks by making an ISO of the hard drive on first boot?
Don't know if Norton 360 is any good, is it better than a good free AV? (Such as Avira Anti-Vir, AVG, Avast)
The updates and installation is easy.

We were also looking at this computer:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-14-5-laptop-featuring-amd-turion-ii-dual-core-processor-p520-dv5-2028ca-black-dv5-2028ca/10146584.aspx?path=aa40409ad89cc97f9d3bc7dab1746983en02

It's $100 cheaper, and doesn't seem to take away much. Do you guys think this is just as good as the other one?

If anyone else knows of other good University type computers, feel free to suggest them.

P.S. My brother is going for business.

Thanks for any help.

[Insectoid]

Norton, the tune-up and windows/driver updates are all worthless. Recovery discs should come with it always, though it isn't hard to make your own. If you can get similar hardware without the gimmicks, you'll probably pay less.

[michaelp]

Well, the person who helped us said that the only computers in the store that come with recovery discs are Dells.
The same computer was for sale at TigerDirect, maybe they would offer recovery discs with the computer?

[DtY]

michaelp @ Thu Aug 19, 2010 2:42 pm wrote:

1. Microsoft Office is pretty much necessary for University, right? (My brother won't use OpenOffice. )

Yes, Microsoft Office is required if that is all your brother is going to use.

[chrisbrown]

Depending on where he is going, he may be entitiled to Windows for free. Google his school name + "MSDNAA", and if he's entitled then you don't need a recovery disc. There's another option for student-discounted Office but I can't remember it at the moment.

I did some research, and it's actually not a bad machine compared to others in the price range (and I'm strongly opposed to HP's computers). The i5 adds maybe a year or so onto its usable lifespan, and the 7200rpm hard drive is faster than most.

[Tony]

Most Universities will have very cheap (free?) copies of Windows and/or Office available for students. The use of Office really depends on the major and elective courses. As a CS major, the only essays I've had to write were for elective Philosophy courses. Even then, I've just used the same text editor as the one I use to write my code. I don't own Office.

[Euphoracle]

I used AbiWord to do all my "written" assignments for electives in first year. Tbh, buy a decent spec'd non-HP laptop (lowbie laptops tend to have crap build quality but HP imo is the bottom of the bucket), check your school for cheapo copies of windows or install something like ubuntu if you're going in to CS and get a free AV like komodo if you're worried about security. Focus heavily on specs of the laptop more than anything else and don't bother with that best buy geeksquad thing, it isn't worth $250.

[andrew.]

I want to say a few things:
1. Best Buy is right in saying that there is no recovery disc. Many laptops don't come with their OEM discs anymore. One way around this is to download the ISO for your version of Windows and use the key on your laptop if you want to reload it. Or, if you're uncomfortable with torrents, make an image of your computer when you buy it so you can restore to it later.

2. Don't worry too much about the software and OS as that can easily be changed. Focus on choosing the right hardware. Personally, I like MacBooks because they seem that they last the longest (my 2008 MBP runs all the programs I need as well as some games).

3. Don't get the Best Buy Geek Squad crap. Instead, get the office suite yourself. I would suggest using a free alternative to Office like OpenOffice, but if your brother really needs the official MS Office, then buy it. It's still cheaper than Best Buy's BS.

[michaelp]

@chrisbrown: It appears his school has the MSDNAA program, but I couldn't find Windows 7 or Office 2010 in the software list.

@andrew.: I think I will make an ISO of the hard drive before anything else as a recovery disc, should that work okay?

I won't plan on getting the Geek Squad stuff then.
Also, the same laptop went on sale at Future Shop, same price, but includes an Xbox 360.

However, since it seems HP doesn't have a great reputation for their hardware here, we will keep looking around at other computers. If anyone has suggestions, feel free to post them.

[michaelp]

Well, quite the turn of events: We got a Macbook Pro!
The Microsoft Office for Mac was free as well, which was a bonus. Also didn't pay any extra installation costs.
Thanks for all of the help everyone.

[DtY]

michaelp @ Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:21 pm wrote:

Well, quite the turn of events: We got a Macbook Pro!
The Microsoft Office for Mac was free as well, which was a bonus. Also didn't pay any extra installation costs.
Thanks for all of the help everyone.

Don't use Office for Mac! Get iWork, it is at least a thousand times better.

I would advise you to keep Office installed though, whatever you choose to use. iWork has a few problems opening word documents, and for some reason people think it's a good distribution format.

[Tony]

DtY @ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:45 pm wrote:

for some reason people think it's a good distribution format.

Good thing that such people get me those files via email only, and gmail opens those right up in Google Docs. It works wonderfully.

[Kharybdis]

Never buy Hp or Dell laptops. They're too shitty for what they're sold at. Buy Acer.

[michaelp]

I think I'll at least get him to try it first and see if it's okay for him. I'll keep iWork in mind though.

And I haven't found Dell laptops to be bad. We have 2 in our house, one of which I am typing this message on. But I can't remember if they were good deals though for what we got.