Solved! Asus vs HP

[hard08]

I've narrowed it down to two laptops. I'm mostly going to use it for school, web surfing, and watching movies.

The first one is from Asus and it is for $520 with tax and shipping & handling.

ASUS A52 Series A52F-XE5 Notebook Intel Core i3 380M(2.53GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory DDR3 1066 500GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel HD Graphics

The second one is a HP Probook and it is for $590 including tax and s/h.

HP ProBook 4530s XU069UT 15.6" LED Notebook - Core i3 i3-2310M 2.1GHz - 1366 x 768 WXGA Display - 4 GB RAM - 500 GB HDD - DVD-Writer LightScribe - Intel GMA HD 3000 - Bluetooth - Webcam - Windows 7 Home Premium - 6.25 Hour Battery - HDMI

Which one should I buy?

 

[WR2]

In terms of CPU power the i3-380M 2.53Gzh CPU will have a slight performance advantage over the i3-2310M 2.1Ghz even though it's the next generation newer. It's a very small advantage though, small enough to not be noticed in every day usage.

HP ProBook 4530s has several advantages in the stronger HD 3000 on board graphics, a faster 7200rpm HDD and has Bluetooth 3.0. A slight advantage might be the anti-glare LCD screen. It means a 'less bright' screen but also means less glare when you can't adjust the room lights or you have the laptop outdoors in the shade.
Finally, business class laptops have a reputation for having a bit more ruggedness and durability than a consumer laptop.

HP ProBook 4530s Review Based on this review I'd judge the style, fit and finish to be a notch above the Asus A52.

Both will get the job done for what you want to do. But if the higher price isn't a problem I think the ProBook 4530s gets you more for your money and has the edge in durability and longevity.