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New Computer for my girlfriend - Help me save her from the horrors of Apple
MMMig
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Heya folks.
So my girlfriend's in the market for a new computer. She's not a huge gamer but just recently started getting into Hearthstone and wants to try out a moba. I'll show her Skyrim which I'm sure she'll love.
SO, she has a mac that's about 10 years old.
We're looking for a reasonable laptop that can run the current games at medium or lower settings. If it can run them at high settings, great but not necessary. It doesn't have to be a beast. Price range below $1K USD.
Oh and yes, it must NOT be an apple. Sorry, personal vendetta.
For example, my current gaming laptop was $700 bought back in April 2011. And it runs current games on low settings (which I'm fine with).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115987
I'm looking at this right now but it seems it's buggy unless you double up or more the SSD.
This feels like a beast though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317542&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfoItem=N82E16834317540
Other than mild gaming, she only needs it to do normal browsing and general word doc stuff, some streaming, etc.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
So my girlfriend's in the market for a new computer. She's not a huge gamer but just recently started getting into Hearthstone and wants to try out a moba. I'll show her Skyrim which I'm sure she'll love.
SO, she has a mac that's about 10 years old.
We're looking for a reasonable laptop that can run the current games at medium or lower settings. If it can run them at high settings, great but not necessary. It doesn't have to be a beast. Price range below $1K USD.
Oh and yes, it must NOT be an apple. Sorry, personal vendetta.
For example, my current gaming laptop was $700 bought back in April 2011. And it runs current games on low settings (which I'm fine with).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115987
I'm looking at this right now but it seems it's buggy unless you double up or more the SSD.
This feels like a beast though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317542&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&PageSize=10&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&IsFeedbackTab=true#scrollFullInfoItem=N82E16834317540
Other than mild gaming, she only needs it to do normal browsing and general word doc stuff, some streaming, etc.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Witty signature comment goes here...
wra
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When i went looking for a laptop, i needed it to play games and I wanted a larger then typical for a laptop monitor. I set my target price at about 1k. Also factored in was that i knew any laptop i was going to buy was not going to make due with the standard on-board graphics card. I ended up finding an Asus republic of gaming laptop (bought from bestbuy). its played just about anything ive thrown at it and while its starting to show its age (its about 5 years old) its still holding itself pretty well. I'd say with todays tech, you dont need a specific gaming laptop, but you do want a laptop that has a specifically mentioned video card like nvidia or amd that isnt a standard ibm onboard graphics card. i5 core processor is probably good enough but if you can find an i7 in your price range, that probably will be a better bet.
Brand is only so important...yes its important as long as you stay away from brands you have never heard of, and sure, do some research. use amazon to compare the model number to what they sell and see what the customer reviews look like.
The laptop you linked is probably fine, though I would probably get a similar 1080p version instead of the 4K and save a few bucks. A lot of Windows programs are pretty bad at handling 4K, so the only real loss is going from a full SSD to a hybrid drive.
Thanks @a5ehren ! I'll head on over there and get my qs some as!
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wra
Something that will let her play the next 2 or 3 versions of Elder Scrolls that get released, maybe the next Myst and so on.
Good point on the warranties!
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wra
Because that's quite unwieldy as a laptop. They are heavy, you need big bags to hold them, and they no longer fit on airline trays in the economy seats. If your girlfriend doesn't already carry big bags with her on a daily basis, then the laptop will just sit at home, in one spot, all the time, which means she might as well buy a desktop.
There's a reason why the 13", 3lb laptops are the most popular size out there, as that's just about the limits of what's practically to carry with you on a daily basis.
And as chrishallett83 alluded to, does she really need a laptop?
A lot of us in the Tech Tavern have converted over to Windows 8.1 tablets, since we're either playing games on our desktop with a big monitor, or we're surfing the internet on the couch, which is far more enjoyable to do on a tablet than a laptop.
this feels like a PC that you'd want, but have you actually talked to her about it?
Serious suggestion, just ask her "what do you think about the Mac Air" judge by her reaction weather gaming is really what she wants out of it. I'm asking this because you state in your OP that the reason you wont go with the system shes been familiar with for the past decade is because you personally hate it, but does she?
You can dual-boot Windows on a mac laptop and run modern games at medium-low graphics settings. My husband is doing so with a new Macbook Pro. Depending on the game, there might be native mac versions, no dual-boot required.
If she wants to get into MOBAs, the graphics requirements are definitely less than those for Skyrim; I've had success playing League of Legends on fairly old mac laptops.
I suspect someone who's been using a mac for 10 years would probably be happiest with that option...your vendetta against macs might be countered by her longstanding loyalty towards them. I get it can be frustrating--I offered to build my husband a gaming desktop because he plays some graphics-intensive games, but he refused because really wanted a mac instead--but make sure you're listening to what she actually wants before investing in an expensive but not quite desired gaming laptop.
PS: I don't really get the logic of "recently started getting into Hearthstone and wants to try out a moba. I'll show her Skyrim"--Skyrim is nowhere near a moba, and the sort of competitive pleasure you get from Heathstone or mobas isn't available in Skyrim. Not to say she won't like it, of course...but maybe she should play it on your PC before building her computer choices around the a hypothetical need to play graphics-instensive single-player games.
To answer some: She already has a tablet she uses for casual browsing and Hearthstone. So we're really looking for something solid she can use as a main computer. A desktop IS an option and I'm thinking more and more it might be the way to go, but we'll see. A laptop, even if used as a desktop, still has benefits. But yes the price goes up.
Well, the mac she has now isn't really in the best condition. I can't even run Skype.
She's just used to having that really old computer.
I've taken your suggestions and asked for her opinion. She's OK with a semi-bulky laptop as she has her tablet already. She wants to try a moba since she noticed me play (<3). The reason I bring up Skyrim is just something else to offer as well which I think she'd like.
@credeiki You're very right that I've been ignoring her comfort level with macs. Macs are just, all in all, pretty poor multi-use computers when it comes to not just gaming but the overall media experience. She's not techy at all so maybe I'm just being too grumpy about it but Macs REALLY are the devil! ^^'
But aye, if she'd much much rather continue using a mac, ugh..... I gueeeeesssss I can look the other way for... a few years
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wra
Windows makes the most sense for a desktop but macbooks are great.
Guess my point is dont discount macbooks because of company loyalty.
I would ask around your circle of friends to see if anyone has a spare Windows machine laying around (if you're a nerd with nerd friends, there's a good chance someone will). Set her up with an account on there and a week to play around and see if she actually prefers the interface or not.
If she loves it, she should go to Frys or Best Buy or the Windows store or wherever people go to test laptops so she can pick a brand/line/model she prefers using (before double checking reviews and buying it for cheaper online). If she is the one using it, she should be the one selecting it. Be available to help her compare specs, but I have no doubt that even if she's not techy, she still has personal preferences about what device she will most enjoy interacting with on a daily basis. And being untechy honestly makes her more likely to enjoy the machine she chooses via the actual experience of it, rather than feeling proud of making sure she got the most perfect maxed out gaming laptop her money could buy.
If she decides she still wants a Mac, she should probably look into a MBP with a Windows partition for playing non-Mac games. The thousand dollar limit is tougher to hit, but genuinely doable if you buy refurbished, which I would really recommend either way (NOT third party though, Apple-refurbished laptops are in like-new condition, come with a good warranty, and can be bundled with Applecare).
I also recommend, if she decides to stick with Apple, that you are careful not to sound as condescending about it irl as you sound in this thread. That gets old real fast, especially from someone you're partnered with.
I am not an apple fan, but I already miss my old computer. The service is just so much better, and since it is more difficult to fix laptops on your own, it really elevates the experience. I have already had to deal with the track pad settings being obtuse and driver issues I have never seen on a mac. I currently have the choice of either having a working right click or working two finger scrolling.
I would suggest a desktop over a laptop if possible if you go non-apple.
Apple makes good portable devices, and I dont think windows 8 is the most seamless experience, and its going to feel off in all the wrong ways to a longtime mac user.
This part, so hard.
And if you pull the trigger quickly on a y50 you can get it at a great price
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/y-series/y50/
They are certainly more than $1000 though.
Yeah, a Mac for gaming is probably beyond the budget. I bought a Macbook Air for just under that back in 2012 and I pretty much can't use it for gaming beyond basic stuff.
OK so as recommended I went back to the lady and asked for her true heart-of-hearts opinion since I feel like a Disney villain (mwahaahahahah!!!). ^^'
She's OK with a non-apple and prefers a laptop over a desktop because she tends to move around a lot and a desktop is too bulky. She's also OK with a bulky laptop because she already has her tablet for general browsing / facebooking on the couch and stuff.
SO! @Bendery It Like Beckham those look like super sweet options! The Y50s look great but just a wee bit over the price range. We might go with one of the Y40s that are also 30% off right now. i7 with a hybrid SSD and a what-looks-decent AMD graphics card for $700+ total?? Legit.
As for trackpads, since this is going to be her main "desktop" computer I'll recommend a mouse. I've been using my Acer laptop as my main "desktop" for a while now and it's fine with the proper peripherals (big screen tv, etc.).
Thanks again for all the feedback folks!. I realized that I was being a bit too Dr. Doom-ish in my iron fist technology policies.
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wra
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152568
It's been able to handle FFXIV on mostly the highest settings, so it should rock Skyrim just fine. The main downside is it's kind of big, and it doesn't have an SSD or a second internal slot for one.
While I initially enjoyed my giant laptop and it played any game I could throw at it I eventually grew to hate it. First I had to travel with it and quickly realized that running through an airport with a 12lb laptop sucks BIGTIME. Second, any time I was out in public and took the thing out I always looked completely silly.
I'm not saying you should get her a mac (though I would) but I really think a gaming laptop is a bad idea. It, frankly, shouldn't be a thing. They are overly expensive and, by there very nature, negate the primary benefit of laptops (ie: easy portability).
"I'm ok with bulky laptops" is something someone says right up until they own a bulky laptop. I've found almost every person who I've ever known who's bought a "gaming laptop" ends up with it on a single desk, set up with a dock, permanently. They turn their gaming "laptop" into the worlds shittiest desktop.
If you push her into a bulky "gaming laptop", I highly anticipate in 1-2 years a "Why the fuck did you make me buy this dumb-ass underpowered, heavy, no-battery piece of shit with no battery life that can't play games as well as a 5-year-old desktop" conversation.
Now I would say there's also the obvious alternative if Apple killed your parents or something:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/devices/
+
http://www.playstation.com/en-us/explore/ps4/systems/
Now you're under $1,000, you know that games for at least the next 5 years will run, she has a new-ish computer that will run the necessary, basic computer stuff(docs, calendar stuff, skype, etc.)
Really anything that isn't a "gaming laptop" is probably a better idea than a "gaming laptop"
A game console could be a good idea, but keep in mind that you'd be locked out of MMOs and a few PC-only series.
Since you've been talking with her about what she wants you should be in a good place to make a decision.
She uses her tablet when she ever needs to be mobile. So yes the laptop is going to be a mostly dedicated desk computer. I brought up the desktop idea but she prefers the laptop still because when she does need to move apartments and such it's a lot less clutter than a desktop.
From the points above Apple still seems like not an option because of the cost ceiling and what it needs to do. The apple computer just won't be capable enough to handle anything above basic games. The two things Apple has for itself are the user interface and service plan. These though do not outweigh the negatives it has going for it: price, power, portability & compatability combined, which a windows laptop will do.
@Great Scott yes, and we have made a decision! She actually got a little upset since I kept asking about her non-mac decision, saying "I'm not a pushover, I already said to go with a non-mac" ^^'
SO! We're going with the Lenovo Y40. At a 14" screen, less than 5 lbs, running i7 with a decent graphics card and hybrid SSD, it seems like a pretty neat machine.
Thank you guys for taking the time out to read the thread and comment. I must say I hate-Apple a lot less now... or maybe, I understand apple users a little more now.
iTunes though? *shudder*
Thanks again!!
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wra
What the Hell does Dell/Alienware even put into these laptops that makes them so Goddamn heavy? My old desktop PC mobo, with all the fixins', probably weighs a good pound or so less than my current Alienware laptop (which I
I'm waaaay too scared to open the case and see what's what for myself.
all the extreme adds up quickly