The laptop search

[Bopop4]

As I am going back to school very soon I am in need of a laptop that isn't 10 years old with a startup time longer than a space shuttle.

My needs.

1. Not an HP
2. Reliable
3. Inexpensive

I just need a basic Windows computer, 64gbs of space is plenty seeing as it's just going to be used for things like presentations and Word.


I don't know anything about laptops so suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[ULTRAVIOLENZZ]

Deleted.

Ohh...it can't use Word. Sorry.

 

[Driving Park]

I can't speak to a lot of the laptops on the market, but I can recommend wholeheartedly avoiding Toshiba, or at least their Satellite series. All of the Satellites myself, my family and those I know have owned have been absolutely terrible in every way, with subpar quality hardware prone to catastrophic failure and glitchy, freezy, crashy functionality when everything does happen to be working. Doesn't meet the "Reliable" requirement in the slightest.

Good luck.

 

[sesselpupser]

I only have experience with Apple and Toshiba, and I completely agree with @Driving Park. Avoid Toshiba.

I would imagine you're probably not interested in Apple, but since that's the only other thing I have any knowledge of I'm going to chime in anyway: I have a 13" 256GB MacBook Air, it's basically a more productive iPad; very compact, very quiet, very good battery life but unlike an iPad it has proper input devices attached to it, two USB 3.0 ports, Thunderbolt and a proper OS. It's not 'fast' in terms of processing capability (though it's not bad either) but it's extremely responsive so you don't sit around waiting for it to do things, the battery life is huge, it's light enough to comfortably carry around all day and basically it's perfect for internet research, 'Office' programs (I use Open Office rather than Microsoft's 'For Mac' software which is horrendous) and as a remote terminal for streaming to from a 'heavy lifting' computer - i.e. for Steam game streaming. I had intended to install Windows 7 on day one but I couldn't be bothered, and then I worked out ways of getting around compatibility issues with MS Office as used in my college so I don't need it now anyway.

I Googled 'Windows equivalent to MacBook Air' and found this list, so maybe you'll find something conceptually the same that isn't super expensive that runs Windows natively. Or, rather, doesn't run OS X natively since the MBA can do Windows.

P.S. unless the drive is upgradeable (which I imagine it probably will be if you don't buy a MacBook Air, but you never know) don't get a 128GB storage device, you'll almost definitely regret it. 256GB is good.

 

[Bopop4]

Thanks for the input so far.

I Googled 'Windows equivalent to MacBook Air' and found this list, so maybe you'll find something conceptually the same that isn't super expensive that runs Windows natively. Or, rather, doesn't run OS X natively since the MBA can do Windows.

P.S. unless the drive is upgradeable (which I imagine it probably will be if you don't buy a MacBook Air, but you never know) don't get a 128GB storage device, you'll almost definitely regret it. 256GB is good.

Yeah, I don't want a Mac, too expensive anyways.
All those ultra books are about a thousand dollars over my price range as well.

My previous laptop was a 128 gb model and I never ran into trouble with space, I do have another 100 gb of usb space as well.


I was looking at the chrome books and they're basically what I want apart from the OS.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

What's your budget? I had a quick look, this laptop seems at a good price: Link

 

[stiggygonzalez]

Would you consider a tablet?

 

[Xilor]

I have an Asus X550 laptop I bought for University last year. I've never used it for anything other then MS Office programs, surfing the web and streaming movies, and so far its still working like new.

Its a bit outdated (think it was released in 2010 or 2011) but it should meet all of your requirements and you can buy one with 15.6" screen, Intel i3 processor and 500GB hard drive for $400-$500.

 

[Bopop4]

What's your budget? I had a quick look, this laptop seems at a good price: Link

I want to try and spend less than 500 CAD.
That laptop is overkill for me though, I would be happy with half those specs.

Would you consider a tablet?

No, I need windows OS and usb ports.

I have an Asus X550 laptop I bought for University last year. I've never used it for anything other then MS Office programs, surfing the web and streaming movies, and so far its still working like new.

Its a bit outdated (think it was released in 2010 or 2011) but it should meet all of your requirements and you can buy one with 15.6" screen, Intel i3 processor and 500GB hard drive for $400-$500.

I'll check that one out.👍


I would prefer a 128GB SSD over a 500 gb hard drive if that helps.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I want to try and spend less than 500 CAD.
That laptop is overkill for me though, I would be happy with half those specs.

OK, I assume you are eligible for this student deal and in budget, if not let me know?: Link

If you want smaller laptop and also a tablet, then this is quite good with a full version of Office included in price: Link You can probably get it for $100 less on eBay like this one which ends soon: Link (Not 100% sure this comes with Office as it does not say on listing but same model number on other websites says it comes with Microsoft Office 2013 Home & Student). Last one sold for $234.38 so good bargain to be had potentially.

 

[Bopop4]

OK, I assume you are eligible for this student deal and in budget, if not let me know?: Link

If you want smaller laptop and also a tablet, then this is quite good with a full version of Office included in price: Link You can probably get it for $100 less on eBay like this one which ends soon: Link (Not 100% sure this comes with Office as it does not say on listing but same model number on other websites says it comes with Microsoft Office 2013 Home & Student). Last one sold for $234.38 so good bargain to be had potentially.

I'm not sure about the student deal as I'm in Canada and that's a .com website.

I'm liking the Futureshop hybrid though, although I'd prefer a non-hybrid laptop.
All the new features might confuse me, and I don't want to be trying to figure out new technology while in class.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I'm not sure about the student deal as I'm in Canada and that's a .com website.

I'm liking the Futureshop hybrid though, although I'd prefer a non-hybrid laptop.
All the new features might confuse me, and I don't want to be trying to figure out new technology while in class.

It's Microsoft's Canada Store. If you try and check out, might put you through some validation steps and if you pass criteria it will let you buy stuff at student prices on the website. Also worth trying to buy the following item first to test out if you are eligible: Link

 

[Bopop4]

Thanks for all your help everyone, ended up getting an Acer from Costco.

 

[AOS-]

With permission, I am borrowing the thread for a nit-picky comparison between two nearly identical Asus Laptops.

While I have done a brief search, there are some inconsistencies between results so I'll bring out the main question soon. First, here are the models and the differing/important specs:

ASUS N550JK
Processor: Intel Core i7-4700HQ
Standard Memory: 12GB
Hard Drive: 1TB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX850M 4GB GDDR5
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n

ASUS G550JK
Processor: Intel Core i7-4700HQ 2.4GHz
Standard Memory: 8GB
Hard Drive: 750GB
Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX850M 2GB
Wireless: 802.11AC

Colour, weight and other basic properties don't matter too much. Here's the stuff I'll need this computer to handle:

-MS Office 2013
-VMWare Workstation 10
-Visual Studio 2010
-maybe a 3D game or two.
-Getting the laptop primarily for school to study I.T Support for 2 years, but do plan to keep it longer than that, so the future of software power and its potential system requirements are being considered.

My questions mainly spring from product details by that specific website, but nevertheless are:
1) Are all Intel i7-4700HQ processors running at 2.4GHz?
2) Will I ever encounter a time where the 12GB of RAM will trump the 8GB? I'm behind on the times, but won't 8GB be sufficient for the most part?
3) For my purposes, will the 2GB difference in the graphics memory (VRAM?) be noticeable, or will that be of huge difference only if I game?

 

[Mikeybc]

From what I see on a few other sites the N550 foes not have an IPS display while the G550 does...that would be the deciding factor for me over system memory which should be easily upgradeable. The video card memory however isn't upgradeable, but 2gb should be ok unless your a hardcore gamer who runs a fps counter while playing.

 

[TB]

1) Are all Intel i7-4700HQ processors running at 2.4GHz?

Yes, with a maximum Turbo speed of 3.4, but they're all the same.

2) Will I ever encounter a time where the 12GB of RAM will trump the 8GB? I'm behind on the times, but won't 8GB be sufficient for the most part?

I have 16Gb of RAM both at work and at home. At work I'm constantly using AutoCAD, Outlook, a webcam program, job specific programs, etc. and I've never been above 6-7Gb. At home I doubt I've gone north of 4-5Gb but I mainly only web browse, Netflix and game on that one.

Neither VMWare Workstation 10 nor Visual Studio 2010 require more than 4Gb so 8Gb will fine. I'd be more concerned with if the 12Gb version means you have to downgrade something else (like losing the 2Gb of VRAM) by focusing on that one spec.

3) For my purposes, will the 2GB difference in the graphics memory (VRAM?) be noticeable, or will that be of huge difference only if I game?

Integrated graphics are more than adequate for general use and Office, and according to the system requirements for VMware, integrated is about spot-on for what you need there, too. So yes, you are correct that the difference will pretty much only show up when you're gaming. If you're not planning on doing much in the way of games and/or you're alright with not having all the boxes checked in said game(s) for graphics quality, the 2Gb version will suffice.

Short version, if I'm understanding your intended uses, is you really can't go wrong with either of these machines. I was going to use battery life as the trump card but even that is the same.

 

[AOS-]

Thank you guys very much for the input. I'll be sure to have these posts influence my decision soon!

I'd be more concerned with if the 12Gb version means you have to downgrade something else (like losing the 2Gb of VRAM) by focusing on that one spec.

You mean like a give and take? Is it common to have a buff/nerf change take place between RAM and VRAM?

 

[TB]

You mean like a give and take? Is it common to have a buff/nerf change take place between RAM and VRAM?

I'm not sure what you mean by "buff/nerf change" so I'll answer it by expanding on what I said earlier. Let me know if you're asking something different.

I meant focusing on gaining an additional 4Gb of RAM that I doubt you'll ever use at the expense of missing out on 2Gb of VRAM that you likely will would be a bad way to decide which one to get. Either machine will work beautifully for what it sounds like you have planned for it so ignore the specs they have in common (obviously), ignore the RAM as it won't make enough difference to matter and make your decision on the differences - IPS panel or not, 2Gb or 4Gb of VRAM, etc.