The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Daddy wants a new laptop.
ElJeffe
Registered User, ClubPA regular
Registered User, ClubPA regular
So I will probably be coming into some money soon, and I've decided my kids' 50 year old computer and my wife's pathetic netbook are not cutting it. I would like to get a laptop. Problem is, I've been so far removed from being in the position to actually get a computer that I have no idea what kind of specs are reasonable anymore. Anybody want to help give me an idea what I should be aiming for? Qualifications:
- Budget somewhere in the $400 range, maybe a little more. $500 is a hard limit.
- Used mostly for web-surfing and word processing, so crazy graphics capabilities are not important. I will occasionally use Photoshop, but nothing crazy, so that's more a frill than something to design around. I would like something that can stream fullscreen video if possible, which comes in handy at times.
- Large screen is important. 15" minimum. I like to be able to see what the hell I'm working on.
- Weight isn't really a concern. I'll mostly be using it at desks and tables, so I don't need to worry about it fracturing my thigh bones or setting my crotch on fire.
- Needs a DVD drive. I am not buying a laptop without a goddamn DVD drive.
- Battery life is nice, but most of the time I'll be within range of an outlet, so not a big deal.
I'm guessing something with, like, 4GB RAM and a 500GB HD? Is that reasonable?
Anyway, what should I be looking at the build this critter at a reasonable price?
Thanks!
- Budget somewhere in the $400 range, maybe a little more. $500 is a hard limit.
- Used mostly for web-surfing and word processing, so crazy graphics capabilities are not important. I will occasionally use Photoshop, but nothing crazy, so that's more a frill than something to design around. I would like something that can stream fullscreen video if possible, which comes in handy at times.
- Large screen is important. 15" minimum. I like to be able to see what the hell I'm working on.
- Weight isn't really a concern. I'll mostly be using it at desks and tables, so I don't need to worry about it fracturing my thigh bones or setting my crotch on fire.
- Needs a DVD drive. I am not buying a laptop without a goddamn DVD drive.
- Battery life is nice, but most of the time I'll be within range of an outlet, so not a big deal.
I'm guessing something with, like, 4GB RAM and a 500GB HD? Is that reasonable?
Anyway, what should I be looking at the build this critter at a reasonable price?
Thanks!
I submitted an entry to Lego Ideas, and if 10,000 people support me, it'll be turned into an actual Lego set!If you'd like to see and support my submission, follow this link.
ElJeffe on
0
Posts
As far as what to look at: my general experience with Lenovo laptops has been really positive. They're reasonably priced, built with reliable parts, and are just generally good laptops for the price. My wife and I have been through 3 or 4 of them, I think, over the last 7 years (upgrades, not hardware failures). Toshiba also makes a nice laptop but they tend to be a bit more expensive than Lenovo for the same hardware.
Surprisingly, Best Buy is an excellent place to buy laptops. I know, I was shocked too, but they usually have a better or at least comparable price with Amazon, Newegg, and the other online outlets. If you catch them during a sale or are willing to take a floor model you can probably even knock $100 off the price. And, with laptops, it's really nice to be able to go and get a feel for the keyboard and how heavy the thing is.
In your price range processors are all going to be basically the same. It's been a while, but I think the AMD E6 is better than the E1 series and if you can find something with an Intel i5 in there, get that one.
I'd take a look at the Lenovo G500 with an i3-3130M. I realize it butts the top of your price range, but I think the value is quite good for the money.
Path of Exile: snowcrash7
MTG Arena: Snow_Crash#34179
Battle.net: Snowcrash#1873
Slight but on topic hijack, have you used one of those? Do they support someway of inputting a middle click equivalent?
I just picked up a Vostro 2520 for much the reasons ElJeffe is using it. To my dismay the driver can't use the "both buttons at once" is middle click option despite it being there. It'll catch the input as distinct but won't do anything assigned to it. I think I'm going to returning it over this issue.
What pisses me off is I had this issue with the last notebook I bought from them after I upgraded to 64 bit. It's been a chronic problem with them. I should have known better.
Dell refurb. Ignore all other choices. get it from their outlet. They're highly rated and pretty reasonably priced. They often have sales and coupons to make them silly priced(and sometimes quickly sold out).
DVD drives are surprisingly hard to get on budget dells, but my father just ordered one last night around your price range with one. Check their outlet out.
dell refurb. Just do it. dell refurb.
"but I want a new laptop"
edit: if you can live with never having photoshop, I would say get a tablet. Thats my new answer to anyone saying "I need an email/browser machine". It'ill do netflix, amazon instant, some cable networks (depending on area), and everything on your HTPC/fileshare, and because its in your hands it's a bigger/better quality then from a tv/laptop monitor. The only reason I didnt demand my father start using a tablet instead of buying a new laptop is he wanted quicken still.
I have no problem with a refurb. Do those come with an OS, though? If I need to shell out another $100 for a copy of Windows, that sort of kills the price appeal. I guess while I'm at it, what OS should I be trying to score? 7? 8?
(Also, that Lenovo looks sexy and is awesomely priced. Sort of wish I had the money right this moment.)
I will probably head down to Best Buy, though, if only to feel the hardware and scope some deals.
Windows 8 is faster on the same hardware than 7, but it has some significant changes in the UI that you'll find with even a cursory googling. Compatibility-wise, anything that runs on 7 should also run on 8. I'm not aware of anything that's sold outside of the Microsoft Windows App Store that requires Windows 8 to run. The performance boosts aren't enormous or anything and there are a number of spots in Win8 where performance is terrible (the immersive UI control panel comes to mind, and anything involving Windows Update) so it's basically a wash and down to what you personally prefer (and what comes on the laptop you get).
The one thing to steer very clear of is Windows 7 Starter. I've only ever seen it on super-low-price laptops and netbooks, but if you stumble across a latop with Win7 Starter Edition on it, know that you will end up having to buy a full-price copy of Windows eventually. Starter is crippled in ways that are marginally tolerable on a netbook and not at all on a full-size laptop.
On your purchase, every screen in a consumer laptop will be 1366 x 768 in that price range. 720p video killed every other resolution. Business laptops will sometimes have the 1600 x 900 resolution. You may be able find some within your price point in the Dell Outlet. I only bring this up because you mentioned photoshop. You can still hook up a monitor, of course.
Also yes, laptops always come with an OS. In the exceedingly rare case one did NOT come with an OS, this would be clearly stated wherever you're looking to buy stuff. I had an opportunity to try Windows 8 for a while, and while I was initially angry about aspects of it, after a couple hours of fiddling with it, it wasn't thaaaat much worse than Win7 (which remains my preferred OS). Also yeah, I don't know if anything currently being sold would even have it, but avoid Win7 Starter Edition if you happen to run into something with it. To give you one silly idea of how limited it is... you can't even change the desktop background. Why.
Your price range is fairly reasonable I think your only obstacle is screen size and DVD drive, since all the cheap laptops are migrating away from physical media (hell, even my $1200 laptop doesn't have a DVD tray)
I think your best deal will be a Refurb, because the $500 price point retail is pretty much not going to meet all your reqs unless you get a great online deal or something
we also talk about other random shit and clown upon each other
So recently I actually haven't even gotten it yet, and have never owned a Samsung laptop, so I can't really recommend it at the moment. But, the reviews were solid and the hardware specs looked like a good deal so I figured I'd slip this in among the other recommendations. Maybe others have had experience with this to give you more detailed info.
Edit: This has a 14" screen though, so maybe it's not for you.
@DevoutlyApathetic No idea, sorry. I tend to use a mouse with laptops for anything that might require a middle-click anyway
Path of Exile: snowcrash7
MTG Arena: Snow_Crash#34179
Battle.net: Snowcrash#1873
(bluetooth keyboard for word processing on tablet, or swype, which new users equals speeds of average touch typers(25-30wpm I think?)But I get it, and understand completely so nevermind :P
Yes you are forced to get win7 or 8, otherwise the price goes up. Feeling up the hardware is a great idea, nothing like spending a chunk of change on a laptop, and then hating the keyboard.
(at least now)Dell refurbs come with 90 day call support, and 1 year waranty base. Everything in the computer that was broke was "replaced" anyways, theres no real fear of a breakdown that you wouldnt have buying new. You can go "scratch and dent" too, they usually arent badly marred and are just as cheap.