VvLadyvV :
I will be connecting my new laptop via HDMI and will be watching most of my shows via Hulu.com. I already have a Roku HD, Netflix and Amazon Prime, but plan on using Hulu.com to watch the daily or weekly shows I usually DVR.
Don't Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime already work with the Roku HD? I did something similar for a client last year, and the only reason I went with a laptop was to be able to receive over-the-air live TV broadcasts with an HDHomeRun. If all he needed were the online services, I probably woud've gone with something like the Roku HD.
Other than that, the laptop will be used for email, social media, browsing/surfing, shopping ... General use. No gaming (not even Facebook games).
What should I be looking for in a processor? (Intel i3-i5-i7??) Graphics/video? Memory? Windows 7 or 8? Etc...
An i3 laptop and its integrated HD3000 or HD4000 graphics should be more than sufficient for these tasks. Unless you're getting something with a low power CPU (Intel CPU model that ends in 'u' or 'y'), skip the i5. It costs $50-$100 more and the only thing it gets you on a laptop is Turbo Boost (dynamic overclocking which speeds things up 10%-25% over an i3 rated at the same speed). Not worth the money IMHO.
Nothing on your list benefits from discrete graphics. All a discrete graphics card will do for you is consume more power, reducing battery life. A few years ago Intel's integrated graphics occasionally had problems keeping up with 1080p, but that's no longer the case. Also, Netflix streamed to a PC uses Silverlight, which currently does not support hardware acceleration on AMD discrete graphics chipsets. So with either an AMD video card or Intel's integrated graphics, Netflix will be decoded the same way - entirely using the CPU (which the i3 is more than capable of handling).
If this were going to be acting as a HTPC for your TV and nothing else, then I'd also suggest looking at some of the netbooks. But since you're planning to use it as a laptop as well, the i3 is probably your safest choice. Intel has done a really good job at reducing idle power draw with the last two generations of i3/i5/i7 CPUs, and so it won't use much more power than a netbook most of the time.
Money is a factor. I know I have to spend more than $400 but don't really want to spend $1000 if I don't have to!
I think 14" is too small, so probably 15.6" screen size would be best for me.
Paradoxically, 15.6" models tend to be the lowest priced. 14" or smaller tends to get into the "portable" category which costs more.
The low end i3 models are frequently on sale for $300-$400. Staples currently has a $75 laptop coupon (exp 3/11) which last week dropped some i3 models down to about $275. Dunno if there are similar deals this week.
http
/www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1260882/
Based on that thread, it looks like the following 15.6" with HDMI out can be gotten for $325 after coupon and rebate. If it's available in your local store (sold out online.)
http/www.staples.com/Toshiba-Satellite-C855-S5194-156-Laptop/product_136822
If that's not to your liking, I'd suggest monitoring the hot deals sections of slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com for any laptops which pop up in your price range. Just make sure it has the following:
- HDMI out (duh)
- i3 or better
- new or refurb (your choice, though I've had good luck with refurbs for "occasional use" laptops)
- bonus points if it has a SSD or combination SSD/HDD. The slowest part of these cheap laptops is the hard drive.
- decent screen. If it's sold by a local retailer like Staples or Best Buy, check it out in store before you buy. Some of the low-end screens are pathetic.
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