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Post by musicfan on Oct 27, 2017 7:36:05 GMT -5
HI everyone...we need a new laptop for the house....
duties will be email, bills, storing videos and pictures of the kids, music (editing is a maybe) so need storage...ans my wife will be taking it with her when she travels for work (air traffic controller)
we have had windose before and they all turned to crap...but so has our 2009 macbook pro....so open to any and all
suggestions are appreciated! trying to keep it under 1k if possible.
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Post by vneal on Oct 27, 2017 7:39:55 GMT -5
I say spend a grand or less --get the color that floats your boat and plan to replace in 4 1/2 years.
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Post by drtrey3 on Oct 27, 2017 7:44:08 GMT -5
The last one I purchased for work had a built in solid state drive. I like the way that makes the computer boot and load Windows MUCH faster. Check into that as a feature.
Trey
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Oct 27, 2017 10:11:37 GMT -5
I really should buy a Mac. Bought an HP in the Spring and returned it within a week because the battery would not hold a charge for more than an hour. Then replaced that with a Dell.
The Dell's battery is better, but the darn thing takes forever to load anything. It's got a bunch of memory and a fast processor, but it sucks.
Was in the $600 range.
Pretty much just using it for taxes and Dirac, so kept it.
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Post by millst on Oct 27, 2017 11:33:56 GMT -5
I was just looking into brand reputation for laptops the other day. Low: Acer, HP, and Lenovo (still recovering from Superfish fiasco). High: Asus, Thinkpad, and Apple. Dell is recommended quite a bit, too. Personally, I hate the XPS15s we have at work.
In general, I'd say that all laptops are problematic. You aren't likely to find any with universal acclaim. Apple was the closest for a while, but not as well-respected lately.
You really need to decide on Mac vs PC first. Totally different interface and it drives the hardware choice.
-tm
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Post by rbk123 on Oct 27, 2017 13:16:19 GMT -5
Dell XPS and Macbooks are similar in the sexy aluminum high build quality, if that's what you're after. I don't have a brand or model recommendation, but what I do recommend is that every 3-6 months or so you blow out the exhaust ports and connectors with compressed air. Most laptop failures are due to heat, and those are because of dust clogging the exhaust fan/ports as well as collecting on any heatsinks or the devices on the PC board. You should do this for home PC's too (particularly to save the power supply) but this thread is about laptops.  |
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Post by garbulky on Oct 27, 2017 14:08:32 GMT -5
I would definitely look in to solid state hard drives.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Oct 27, 2017 14:40:19 GMT -5
I'd go for the Microsoft Surface line of products. For storage, use either the Cloud or an external HD.
If you have not been using Windows since 2009, Windows 10 is actually really good. Very stable, very customizable, and the Surface lineup is great.
I bought a Surface Pro 3 on closeout, but instead of the optional flimsy keyboard - I got a Brydge keyboard. It makes the Surface like a regular laptop with touch screen and keyboard. And, I can disconnect the keyboard and still use it (it's BluTooth connect to the Surface).
I considered other laptops, including others in the Surface line. But, the Pro 3 + Brydge is awesome. The Pro 3 is no longer available but other models like it are.
Mark
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Post by Soup on Oct 27, 2017 15:03:37 GMT -5
I'd go for the Microsoft Surface line of products. For storage, use either the Cloud or an external HD. If you have not been using Windows since 2009, Windows 10 is actually really good. Very stable, very customizable, and the Surface lineup is great. I bought a Surface Pro 3 on closeout, but instead of the optional flimsy keyboard - I got a Brydge keyboard. It makes the Surface like a regular laptop with touch screen and keyboard. And, I can disconnect the keyboard and still use it (it's BluTooth connect to the Surface). I considered other laptops, including others in the Surface line. But, the Pro 3 + Brydge is awesome. The Pro 3 is no longer available but other models like it are. Mark What features were most important for you? |
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Post by klinemj on Oct 27, 2017 15:26:54 GMT -5
I'd go for the Microsoft Surface line of products. For storage, use either the Cloud or an external HD. If you have not been using Windows since 2009, Windows 10 is actually really good. Very stable, very customizable, and the Surface lineup is great. I bought a Surface Pro 3 on closeout, but instead of the optional flimsy keyboard - I got a Brydge keyboard. It makes the Surface like a regular laptop with touch screen and keyboard. And, I can disconnect the keyboard and still use it (it's BluTooth connect to the Surface). I considered other laptops, including others in the Surface line. But, the Pro 3 + Brydge is awesome. The Pro 3 is no longer available but other models like it are. Mark What features were most important for you? So first, I came from using a Google Nexus 10 Tablet. And, from that I learned that I really like the overall size of it. So, I wanted something at least that large (from a screen POV) but not much larger. Second, I had grown used to the touch screen on the tablet but also liked using keyboard for some things. So, the combo was important to me. Yet, I wanted a real keyboard. The touch-screen alone was just not good enough, esp. when it comes to cut and paste ease. the Surface + Brydge fits the bill perfectly for me. Third, I wanted the ability to run MS Office programs, like Excel. I am retiring soon and want to use the new device like I'd used my work laptop in the past as an alternative to my tablet for some uses outside work. So...a Surface allows me that in 1 device. When I am at meetings for my volunteer work, I can take notes in Office tools yet also be able to do later editing on my home PC's in the same software. Very handy... Fourth, I wanted it to be more compatible with my other PC's - all Windows 10. I wanted this for familiarity of interface no matter where I am - and Windows 10 i great at this. And fifth and finally - I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg, yet have the computing power I needed. For most of my needs (MS Word/Excel/PPT, e-mail, web browsing, etc) - not much is really needed. And for storage, the cloud and/or a NAS is more than sufficient. I DID NOT need intense graphics support, RAM, etc. And, I didn't need it to be able to connect via my phone plan - when I can't get wifi to tap into, I can use my phone as a wifi hotspot and tap in. And, I wanted light weight. The Surface/Brydge combo does all that... Mark |
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Post by knucklehead on Oct 27, 2017 15:29:14 GMT -5
Regardless of what you end up buying load Linux on it and you won't look back. You will not need a firewall or anti-virus programs any longer. I've been using Linux for almost 2 years - it's fast and has yet to break down or go to the BSOD. I have Ubuntu 16.04 on my HTPC and a Dell Latitude D3300 laptop with Linux Mint. I like the Mint desktop over Gnome used in Ubuntu but both are easy to use. I get a little frustrated with the photo editing with Gimp - for that usually I use Win 10 with a program called PolyView. Handy and simple photo editor. Too bad it doesn't work in Linux. The only other thing I use Win 10 for is to program my Logitech universal remote.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Oct 27, 2017 15:58:37 GMT -5
Regardless of what you end up buying load Linux on it and you won't look back. You will not need a firewall or anti-virus programs any longer. I've been using Linux for almost 2 years - it's fast and has yet to break down or go to the BSOD. I have Ubuntu 16.04 on my HTPC and a Dell Latitude D3300 laptop with Linux Mint. I like the Mint desktop over Gnome used in Ubuntu but both are easy to use. I get a little frustrated with the photo editing with Gimp - for that usually I use Win 10 with a program called PolyView. Handy and simple photo editor. Too bad it doesn't work in Linux. The only other thing I use Win 10 for is to program my Logitech universal remote. I was considering Linux, but once I got W10 - the instability and BSOD issues have gone away (knock on wood...but...3 desktop PC's and a Surface for, in total, of...how many years since W10 came out? And, add onto that the prior W8...same thing...no BSOD). I like what have have with my R-Pi-3 that is ultimately Linux based, but...for daily use, W10 works great. Mark |
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Post by MusicHead on Oct 27, 2017 22:24:04 GMT -5
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Post by pknaz on Oct 28, 2017 1:18:42 GMT -5
As someone who works for Microsoft, I purchased a MacBook Pro as my work computer (We get to use whatever we want). I was given a Surface Book and a Surface Pro when I started last year. I've used my fair share of other "name brands" - my last MacBook Pro is still running just fine (Mid 2009) and I gave it to my niece when I upgraded this fall to a 2017.
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Post by johnnyd70 on Oct 28, 2017 7:46:22 GMT -5
As someone who works for Microsoft, I purchased a MacBook Pro as my work computer (We get to use whatever we want). I was given a Surface Book and a Surface Pro when I started last year. I've used my fair share of other "name brands" - my last MacBook Pro is still running just fine (Mid 2009) and I gave it to my niece when I upgraded this fall to a 2017. One thing to consider also - At work I use a Windows laptop with some low-res monitors. Occasionally get eye strain. Logging into work from home via VPN and Windows virtual desktop with my MBP with Retina display, sooo much better. Less eye strain, just as fast or faster. I prefer OSX to Windows but that’s more of a personal preference. With OSX I get more done with fewer clicks; seems to have a better workflow, but again, personal preference. Point is, consider the display resolution also. |
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Post by Priapulus on Oct 28, 2017 8:29:23 GMT -5
I use my iPad for most of what I used to use a computer for. It's the easiest, conpact, most convenient solution, unless you need a word processor for writing a book...
Sincerely
/b
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Post by wilburthegoose on Oct 28, 2017 9:04:48 GMT -5
I work in IT (InfoSec) and kinda know this stuff. 1. Buy a laptop with an SSD. 2. Get as much memory as you can. You can probably add memory to a stock PC very easily. 3. I'm an Intel fan, but AMD works if the price is right. 4. Don't spend too much money. The laptop will be worth much less in about a year. Definitely a depreciating asset. 5. Make sure the wireless card supports AC. Earlier this year, my ancient laptop crapped out - bought a Dell with a 7th gen Intel i3. Swapped in my SSD from the laptop that crapped out. Cost me about $400, and works great. Similar to this: Dell Laptop at BestBuy |
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Post by klinemj on Oct 28, 2017 9:59:00 GMT -5
Frankly - none of the data looks very good to me! When the best is 10%, and most of the rest around around 20%...that's not very good. That said - any portable computer tends to take a beating vs. a desktop due to all the carrying around/getting dropped, being in very hot and very cold cars and exposed to a lot of humidity, etc. Mark |
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Post by MusicHead on Oct 28, 2017 10:30:43 GMT -5
Frankly - none of the data looks very good to me! When the best is 10%, and most of the rest around around 20%...that's not very good. That said - any portable computer tends to take a beating vs. a desktop due to all the carrying around/getting dropped, being in very hot and very cold cars and exposed to a lot of humidity, etc. Mark I agree Mark, laptop computers are in general way more prone to fail than others. Too much heat in a confined space, constrained air circulation, thrown around in bags, backpacks and the like... In many cases their Achilles Heel is the Hard Drive, which is from a 3rd party anyway. Even the breakage rate of the best performers in the list would be considered unacceptable in almost all other industries. I have also seen other rankings that were different, for example from Square Trade based on the data they have from their extended warranties. The data in this ranking is "self reported", which adds another layer of subjectivity. Personally, I considered laptops almost disposable. I always buy them on sale and a generation behind. Never spent more than $500 on any one of them. Last one I got is an Acer 17", with an i5 processor, a discrete nVidia card with 1GB RAM and a 500GB HDD. We use it as a second PC on the kitchen counter. Only rarely we lug it around. Being chugging along for over five years now. Case in point, it replaced another 17" laptop from HP, which died of "natural causes" after a few years of sitting on the same counter. One day it just did not boot. It was not the HDD, as I salvaged that and I am still using it as an external HDD in a case with USB. |
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Post by cobra5wood on Oct 28, 2017 10:47:10 GMT -5
When I recently needed a smaller(13") laptop for surfing/occasional travel, I found a bargain at Dell Auction. For $235 including tax and shipping my reconditioned Dell has an Intel I7 chip, 4Gb Ram, 320 Gb Hard Drive, a DVD player and came loaded with Windows 7 Pro and Microsoft Office Suite. Warp speed on the cheap!
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