Can I get an opinion on a PC?

[UteChief]

I pretty much use a Mac for day to day but need a PC for some heavy Microsoft Excel work in school.

What are your thoughts between the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro 13.3" and the new Dell XPS 13 laptop.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y...&skuId=1817254

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/produ...top/dncwt5131s

Or any other suggestions.

[jd1020]

If you are spending $1000+ on a laptop I'd at least look at ones with proper processors. U processors are all dual core low power processors. Processors marked as QM, HQ and I believe MQ are quad-core.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...834231684&FM=1

[TheUte]

I just got a XPS 13 and love it, but it is an ultra book.

[Buehler445]

If you're using genuinely heavy excel, you don't want to do that on a laptop. If you're wanting laptop functionality, get a Dell Latitude and a docking station. Then get a keyboard, and a couple monitors. I know that shit ain't cheap on a college budget, but if you've got heavy excel, you'll hate life hammering out spreadsheets with a touchpad, and no 10-Key.

If you can't afford that, just buy a cheap desktop and use an ipad or something to dick around on.

[DaveNull]

Originally Posted by UteChief

I pretty much use a Mac for day to day but need a PC for some heavy Microsoft Excel work in school.

What are your thoughts between the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro 13.3" and the new Dell XPS 13 laptop.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y...&skuId=1817254

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/produ...top/dncwt5131s

Or any other suggestions.

Just use Virtualbox to run Windows in a VM. I don't spend a lot of time in Excel per se, but I'm booted into OS X through 90% of my workday and using Windows applications the whole time.

Virtualbox is free...Windows is just the cost of acquiring a license.

Having a 10 key is pretty important if you're doing a lot of data input. Just grab a cheap USB 10-key or get a wired Apple USB keyboard that has one built in. I wish they made a full size Bluetooth version.

Beyond that, both of those options you're considering have pretty good reviews. I'd pick the one with a better feeling keyboard.

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by UteChief

I pretty much use a Mac for day to day but need a PC for some heavy Microsoft Excel work in school.

What are your thoughts between the Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro 13.3" and the new Dell XPS 13 laptop.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-y...&skuId=1817254

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/produ...top/dncwt5131s

Or any other suggestions.

Dope - the Yoga isn't the lightest but it's a solid typing surface, my T440s got tourched in a lightening storm so I put a 300gb SSD in a Lenovo T430 - however I do own a Yoga Touch - w/ 128gb SSD - it's pretty dope - Windows 8 on that one.

[Vegas_Dave]

Just get one with a solid state drive and you'll be fine.

[UteChief]

Any recommendations on a 15" laptop with an SSD and no optical drive.

[UteChief]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

If you're using genuinely heavy excel, you don't want to do that on a laptop. If you're wanting laptop functionality, get a Dell Latitude and a docking station. Then get a keyboard, and a couple monitors. I know that shit ain't cheap on a college budget, but if you've got heavy excel, you'll hate life hammering out spreadsheets with a touchpad, and no 10-Key.

If you can't afford that, just buy a cheap desktop and use an ipad or something to dick around on.

What is a Latitude? I searched Dell and there were 537 results.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by UteChief

Any recommendations on a 15" laptop with an SSD and no optical drive.

Lenovo Y50.

Even if a laptop doesnt come with an SSD you can just buy one yourself and put it in there.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Lenovo Y50.

Even if a laptop doesnt come with an SSD you can just buy one yourself and put it in there.

And the moment you do that, you void your warranty.

Laptops are fine if you take care of them, and im not sure what's so special about Excel that would require a particular laptop. It's a pretty damn easy program to run. My 5 year old laptop handles it with no hangups at all.

Though i do agree, you should try to find one with a SSD.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

And the moment you do that, you void your warranty.

No?

You don't void a warranty by replacing a HD unless there is a sticker or seal on it that says removing or tampering with this sticker voids the warranty. Even if you have to send the thing back for warranty you can just put the old HD back in.

[Fish]

What's wrong with Excel 2011 for OS X? There's almost no difference between the Windows and OS X versions anymore outside of minor aesthetics.

Or just get Excel Online, which is all web based and works the same on either OS...

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by jd1020

No?

You don't void a warranty by replacing a HD unless there is a sticker or seal on it that says removing or tampering with this sticker voids the warranty. Even if you have to send the thing back for warranty you can just put the old HD back in.

I've never seen a laptop that hasn't had that sticker. I know mine does. It's an HP. As did the HP i owned prior to it.

Unless it's just an HP thing, i don't know.

[jd1020]

Probably an HP thing because HP is a piece of shit company.

I know people that have done this on their Dell and Lenovo laptops with no warranty issues. The only thing they wont do is warranty the new drive and any damage done while installing it, understandably.

EDIT: It also could be the store you are buying it from. Unless you are ordering straight from HP.