The only brand I can actually vouch for is HP. Currently posting from a $500 hp, not sure if it will live up to the standard of my first hp. What I wouldnt get: dell - fuck them - physically fell apart after 3 years. Still use the computer, but it's a franken-desktop. Asus - fuck them, bought an asus tablet and later found out that they used shitt flash memory which limits the read/write speeds, making it functionally useless.
What I'm using now is something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/HP-Pavilion-17-e117dx-17-3-Inch-Processor/dp/B00LNFCADQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1413680681&sr=1-2&keywords=hp
Oh you already bought one. Good luck, regardless of brand most electronics these days seem like absolute garbage.
As far as dual booting, I only use linux; for schoolwork just use libre office and export to pdf if you need to send/submit them anywhere (assuming you aren't just writing not using excel). PDFs make you look more professional anyways. And if you need to collaborate with anyone just use google drive (you can even upload .odt with no problems). I'm not sure whether you need specialty programs or not, for me it was coding stuff which is infinitely easier on linux anyways.
that HP is about the same specs as the Acer I am replacing.
specialty programs-mainly tuning and automotive-related
VAG-COM Volkswagen/Audi group communications
HP tuners-GM tuning/diagnostics software
SCT advantage-Fords that HP tuners cannot do.
and probably more as time goes on
I *have* to have office for school, one of my courses is on how to use powerpoint/word/excel and it has to be done in office 2013.
I had a compaq years ago, (owned by HP) and it was a turd. I've noticed companies usually make 2 different lineups of computers, consumer and corporate...the corporate ones are built to be used, and the consumer ones have lots of nice flashy lights and buttons, but aren't nearly as hard. the dell I got is an off-lease corporate machine, and doesn't have all the consumer options on it...I've seen the precision machines before, they aren't anything like the XPS or Inspiron computers. as soon as it gets here (monday hopefully) I'll post up exactly what it is, and how it compares to samsung/asus/acer/gateway.
ngalo1983, the scams to get this computer have already taken place.
