Computers New Laptop

**btlook1** · 06-29-2016, 12:53 PM

Ok, have gotten lots of good help here before so figured I would try it again. Son is leaving for medical school this fall needs a new lap top, his old one is 5 years old and about done so we want to get him a new one next few weeks. Needs are stay around 1K or less, just a standard lap top needs power point all the good software. Would like to know what's best out there for the $ and it needs to last at least 3-4 years. He's going to school out of the country so can't just take it back to get it repaired if it has an issue immediately.
Don't want a fly by night set up needs some longevity and performance for several years? I don't know what's good and what isn't anymore as I don't keep up with the computer world other than to surf the net here and there. Thanks in advance!!!

bgguitarman · 06-29-2016, 01:54 PM

http://deals.kinja.com/the-windows-l...=1467224854834

eDave · 06-29-2016, 02:33 PM

You can get a lot of laptop these days under $1K. So max out the specs as 4-5 years is pushing it.

Here's a pretty tight laptop from Dell.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dell-Ins...AAAOSwnNBXWx5d

Spend the extra money on a monitor or larger LT screen.

Fish · 06-29-2016, 03:04 PM

It's hard to say without knowing his needs better. Anything you buy right now will be sufficient for standard stuff like Powerpoint. You wouldn't need anything close to $1K, you could get a $250 laptop that would suit those needs.

Asking which laptop will last 3-4 years isn't going to give you a very confident answer either. Every single model of laptop ever manufactured has its share of failures.

Here's the important attributes I'd look for when shopping:

Size/weight: Have your son determine what general size he'd prefer. Considerations should be weight/portability, battery size, keyboard size(does he need a 10key?). Will he be carrying it daily, or will it mostly sit at home on the table? Keep in mind that size also determines battery capacity. Some of the super thin models will give you shit battery life because of the size, so you have to find a balance that works for his needs.

RAM: I wouldn't get anything less that 8GB of RAM at purchase. Go with 16GB if you can afford it. RAM is money well spent. And determine your RAM upgrade options as well. How many(if any) open RAM slots are there for upgrading? What's the max RAM for that model laptop?

Hard Drive Size/Type: Second most important hardware consideration is hard drive. I'd highly recommend an SSD if possible, and I wouldn't go less that 240GB. The performance jump from standard rotational to SSD is well worth the money.

CPU: This isn't as important of a factor as it used to be. But know that Intel > AMD.

Battery life: Check how many cells the battery has, and what the predicted battery life is supposed to be.

Connectivity: Will he need to connect it to a TV or external monitor? Does he need Bluetooth? Optical drive? Many like the Dell above won't have an optical drive.

Hope that helps....

**DaFace** · 06-29-2016, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

CPU: This isn't as important of a factor as it used to be. But know that Intel > AMD.

Though I agree that CPUs aren't as important as they used to be, I'll add to this that comparing the performance of CPUs based on anything you see written in specs can be really tough. I've found this site to be pretty useful in at least giving you one number that can be compared between CPUs.

Benchmarks aren't the end-all, be-all, but it's a lot more effective than trying to figure out if an AMD A8-5500is faster than an Intel Intel Core i3-4350T.

In my experience, a laptop with a CPU score of <3000 will seem on the slow side, 3000-5000 will seem about normal, and 5000+ will seem pretty fast.

Mr. Laz · 06-29-2016, 03:15 PM

If he isn't gaming them most decent laptops are enough.

also tons of 3rd party software to make up for any lacking during purchase

displacedinMN · 06-29-2016, 05:56 PM

I have a Toshiba that also has a touch screen. It can flip over so it can be used as a tablet also. Had it 2.5 years. Still runs great.

If I did not need the bigger screen, I would have went with the Win Surface pro. I liked it.

Jewish Rabbi · 06-29-2016, 06:20 PM

If it's strictly for school work... Get him a $300 one from Best Buy. It will more than do the trick. I'm on my third year right now.

Plus, if it breaks, it doesn't break the bank to replace.

BigBeauford · 06-29-2016, 06:23 PM

Probably catch shit for this, but my 2013 Mac Book air is still pound for pound the best computer I have ever bought. It's lightweight, the trackpad is amazing, and it boots up and runs with the responsiveness of a computer like new, now going on 3 years next month. I also run parallels on it, so I can run Windows 7 in a Window while performing other functions. The key is likely the solid state hard drive, but the fit and finish of it can't be beat. Did I mention it still gets 10 or so hours on a charge?

**DaFace** · 06-29-2016, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Probably catch shit for this, but my 2013 Mac Book air is still pound for pound the best computer I have ever bought. It's lightweight, the trackpad is amazing, and it boots up and runs with the responsiveness of a computer like new, now going on 3 years next month. I also run parallels on it, so I can run Windows 7 in a Window while performing other functions. The key is likely the solid state hard drive, but the fit and finish of it can't be beat. Did I mention it still gets 10 or so hours on a charge?

If only the U.S. economy was based on the pound...

**btlook1** · 07-01-2016, 02:18 AM

Appreciate all the input from everyone except the Imac guy....lol. Just kidding. You have given me quite a bit to look at. Very much appreciate all the advice!!!

06-29-2016, 12:53 PM
btlook1 umm...what do I say here? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: S.E. Kansas Casino cash: $9495227	New Laptop Ok, have gotten lots of good help here before so figured I would try it again. Son is leaving for medical school this fall needs a new lap top, his old one is 5 years old and about done so we want to get him a new one next few weeks. Needs are stay around 1K or less, just a standard lap top needs power point all the good software. Would like to know what's best out there for the $ and it needs to last at least 3-4 years. He's going to school out of the country so can't just take it back to get it repaired if it has an issue immediately. Don't want a fly by night set up needs some longevity and performance for several years? I don't know what's good and what isn't anymore as I don't keep up with the computer world other than to surf the net here and there. Thanks in advance!!!
Posts: 1,289

06-29-2016, 01:54 PM	#2
bgguitarman Starter Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Casino cash: $9480600	http://deals.kinja.com/the-windows-l...=1467224854834 __________________
Posts: 321

06-29-2016, 02:33 PM	#3
eDave Banned Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $9998560	You can get a lot of laptop these days under $1K. So max out the specs as 4-5 years is pushing it. Here's a pretty tight laptop from Dell. http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dell-Ins...AAAOSwnNBXWx5d Spend the extra money on a monitor or larger LT screen.
Posts: 53,803

06-29-2016, 03:04 PM	#4
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2368919	It's hard to say without knowing his needs better. Anything you buy right now will be sufficient for standard stuff like Powerpoint. You wouldn't need anything close to $1K, you could get a $250 laptop that would suit those needs. Asking which laptop will last 3-4 years isn't going to give you a very confident answer either. Every single model of laptop ever manufactured has its share of failures. Here's the important attributes I'd look for when shopping: Size/weight: Have your son determine what general size he'd prefer. Considerations should be weight/portability, battery size, keyboard size(does he need a 10key?). Will he be carrying it daily, or will it mostly sit at home on the table? Keep in mind that size also determines battery capacity. Some of the super thin models will give you shit battery life because of the size, so you have to find a balance that works for his needs. RAM: I wouldn't get anything less that 8GB of RAM at purchase. Go with 16GB if you can afford it. RAM is money well spent. And determine your RAM upgrade options as well. How many(if any) open RAM slots are there for upgrading? What's the max RAM for that model laptop? Hard Drive Size/Type: Second most important hardware consideration is hard drive. I'd highly recommend an SSD if possible, and I wouldn't go less that 240GB. The performance jump from standard rotational to SSD is well worth the money. CPU: This isn't as important of a factor as it used to be. But know that Intel > AMD. Battery life: Check how many cells the battery has, and what the predicted battery life is supposed to be. Connectivity: Will he need to connect it to a TV or external monitor? Does he need Bluetooth? Optical drive? Many like the Dell above won't have an optical drive. Hope that helps.... __________________
Posts: 47,456

06-29-2016, 03:15 PM	#6
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	If he isn't gaming them most decent laptops are enough. also tons of 3rd party software to make up for any lacking during purchase __________________
Posts: 95,626

06-29-2016, 05:56 PM	#7
displacedinMN It was not a fair catch Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Correcting papers Casino cash: $3032630	I have a Toshiba that also has a touch screen. It can flip over so it can be used as a tablet also. Had it 2.5 years. Still runs great. If I did not need the bigger screen, I would have went with the Win Surface pro. I liked it. __________________ #investigatecarlcheffers
Posts: 36,211

06-29-2016, 06:20 PM	#8
Jewish Rabbi What's up braj? Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Placencia, Belize Casino cash: $2208320	If it's strictly for school work... Get him a $300 one from Best Buy. It will more than do the trick. I'm on my third year right now. Plus, if it breaks, it doesn't break the bank to replace.
Posts: 15,531

06-29-2016, 06:23 PM	#9
BigBeauford MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lenexa, KS Casino cash: $2336717	Probably catch shit for this, but my 2013 Mac Book air is still pound for pound the best computer I have ever bought. It's lightweight, the trackpad is amazing, and it boots up and runs with the responsiveness of a computer like new, now going on 3 years next month. I also run parallels on it, so I can run Windows 7 in a Window while performing other functions. The key is likely the solid state hard drive, but the fit and finish of it can't be beat. Did I mention it still gets 10 or so hours on a charge?
Posts: 14,093

07-01-2016, 02:18 AM	#11
btlook1 umm...what do I say here? Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: S.E. Kansas Casino cash: $9495227	Appreciate all the input from everyone except the Imac guy....lol. Just kidding. You have given me quite a bit to look at. Very much appreciate all the advice!!! __________________ BTW, your draft input is reminiscent of a porn stars cock sucking gone wild video. Sure it's great when they open their mouths but the funk that drips out afterward nobody wants a part of[/quote]
Posts: 1,289