With my tax returns this year I'd really like to purchase a laptop but I don't know much about the inner workings of computers. I've looked at a few refurbished sites but I can't decide what specs I REALLY need.

I plan on trying to attend an online college this year which is why I need one in the first place, the desktop I use is over 10 years old and isn't up to date with and microsoft programs. I also want to persue graphic design in my spare time because I always been interested in it and I want to have enough memory and such to support photoshop when I decide to get it.

I don't mind spending a little more for the quality, but I don't want to lose an arm and a leg or it may have to wait another year.

Any websites that would be helpful or and ideas?

I personally love Asus Laptops. Mine I bought for about AUS$900 about 4 almost 5 years ago (It was my tax return present). As a 4 year old laptop it still runs very very well. It does struggle when I have say Lightroom, Photoshop and Itunes Open all at once (But note these are all very heavy programs) I can no longer play most of the newer games on it any more (But that may also be becuase of a very very bad internet connect). My is also quite a Large screen, and something that my laptops always must have is a NUM PAD.

Here is a run down of my specs;

ASUS X73S
CPU: Intel Core i5 2.4 Ghz
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 7
Hard Drive: 1.5TB

This - https://www.asus.com/au/Notebooks/R750JK/overview/ Is probably the recent version of my laptop.

My only other suggestion is to stay away from Touch screens, They have come along way since the last time I was looking but they can have common issues.

I have to second Asus. My old laptop, netbook, and tablet are all Asus products. My roommate's laptop and tablet are both Asus. They're really the best quality for the price because of the way they do business.

Link Tree

I LOVED my Toshibas but my old Toshiba finally died (note that I didn't ever really bother to take great care of it, it traveled with me out of a bag/case to horse farms & work & then a friend of mine ran OVER it with her car).

Even after being run over by a Subaru Impreza it still ran perfectly for another year, my touch screen didn't work anymore but that's understandable.

When that died a few months ago I bought a Toshiba Chromebook. Chromebooks are fairly limited. You can't download any programs but I can use Microsoft Word/Excel/ect online with ease. I also can't download iTunes or Photoshop but I have found ways around that. I got it for school and everything gets saved to my Google Drive which is exremely helpful for me. Mine is refurbised and in tip top condition! I was really nervous about buying a $250 laptop but it's been great for me. I do hope to one day upgrade to a Mac but that wont be until I'm out of school and actually working as an accountant and need to be able to put Quickbooks onto a computer for work purposes.

omg siib. hahahaha xD It's the nokia phone of laptops!!

I have a Toshiba as well that I got new in 2009. It was $600 but half of that was my graduation present. =3 It's still going strong! 

I third Asus, and to stay far far away from HP(the laptop not the game obvi :P).  I had one and it was just problem after problem with that thing.  The main issue being that it would randomly just stop connecting to the interenet.  I sent it back to them 3 times while still under factory warranty to get it fixed.  The product was awful and the service was awful.

Lol Panth, basically! But it works well for what I'm going to need it for (school).

If you don't need something with all the frills it's a great cheap option. If you want the frills bascially go with ANY other Toshiba.

I have a Macbook Pro and I love it. I've had it for maybe 4 years and it still works great. It can be a bit slow, only because you can upgrade Safari and the system with Macs and after about 2-3 upgrades, it'll start being a little slower (opening programs and running with multiple programs...etc.)-- which mine is but it's fine. I am a photographer and designer so I have thousands of photos and Photoshop and just recently have started running out of space. 

As of last year I've started looking at the newer Macbooks and the 15" ones (mines a 13"). They are still about the same price as this one when I got it ($1800 I think). I'm sure you can look at refurbished ones also.

I have a Macbook Pro, and I had another one before this one. I LOVE macs, and I can't stand windows. But beyond that, I'm not really helpful here. Good luck!

I've always had Dell Inspirion which are hardy little suckers. I tend to stick with them because of cost and they are worth it. If I had the money though I'd definately go for a Macbook Pro.

I would say Macbook Pro. I have one and it is a mid 2009 model and it works great! You can find one that is refurbished if you are looking for something cheaper, but be careful who you buy it from! Macbook Air is also a great laptop, and it has awesome battery life! I think it can last up to 12-14 hours.