General Question

Cruiser's avatar

Any suggestions on a new laptop/notebook?

Asked by Cruiser (40449points) May 31st, 2016

I have had good luck with HP products, but my current Toshiba is just falling apart at the seams. I only really need internet, Access, Excel, email and Word processing. I take a lot of pictures and manage my companies website so RAM is important. Otherwise my laptops seem to last 2–3 years max. I take it everywhere at home and at the office. Durability and batt life is most important. I am not looking for a budget computer. Quality and reliability are critical. Thanks in advance.

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18 Answers

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

My Surface Pro is ok. I wish that I had a cd/dvd/blue ray drive. Cost $600 – $800 with out options.

Rarebear's avatar

I’ve been happy with my Lenovo laptops.

Cruiser's avatar

@ARE_you_kidding_me I like the ruggedness…but the operating system says Windows 7?

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

You can get it with windows 10. You can get them in just about any configuration, I’d suggest the solid state drive as an upgrade. I have one myself, best machine I have ever owned.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

And the larger battery

Cruiser's avatar

@ARE_you_kidding_me I do like the SSD’s but they lack on HD capacity it seems. I suppose I could stop being lazy and move pics to my terabit backup.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

you could even get a hybrid drive but SS is the way to go, even just booting will be much faster.

Cruiser's avatar

@ARE_you_kidding_me I know! I saw one in the store where it was up and running as soon as you opened the lid on the laptop.

SQUEEKY2's avatar

Take a look at the Panasonic tough book you could throw it out the window at 60mph and it still works, you could run over it and still works,can take a ton of dust and still works.
Just google it and get your own opinion I knew a guy in construction that used them for years.

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

I got a new laptop last year (Dell), and I like it. I’ve used Dells for years. Few problems for me, but I know everyone has opinions.

I’m only chiming in to add to the chorus of others suggesting SSD. It really is amazing. I got Office 365, too, so they gave me 100 GB of free storage on One Drive. That’s plenty of space to put all your photos for your website. And since the files are in the cloud, you can access them from any device with internet access. My annual subscription to Office 365 is $75. (It might be $79. I can’t remember.)

I got the Dell XPS 13, which will not suit your needs. The battery life is not long enough for you. Dell has other options, though. Have a look.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

@SQUEEKY2 My previous was a toughbook, still have it. The rugged Dell is much nicer. They have really upped their game in recent years.

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

@Cruiser You may be able to get it configured with two drives, a solid state for the OS and a standard large capacity for pictures and stuff. I did this with my old macbook pro. Worked great. I just ditched the optical drive to do it. You can get an external optical drive if you actually need it.

Hawaii_Jake's avatar

@ARE_you_kidding_me What is your opinion of cloud storage? I’m loving it. I’ve had it for almost a year.

Call_Me_Jay's avatar

The Thinkpad T series is built for business. It’s not full of crapware and it’s more durable than the cheaper consumer models. They aren’t sold in big box stores – mostly they’re leased in large numbers to businesses. They are not lightweight, if that matters.

Parts and accessories are easy to find and stay available for years because of their enterprise customer base.

I’ve bought three used from eBay for myself and friends/relatives. Businesses turn in their machines every few years and it’s very easy to find a really nice machine for $300.

There are three current models
T460 14” base
T460 14” step up
T460s 14” thinner and lighter
T560 15” screen

If used models on eBay interest you, the naming is chronological – from newest to oldest – T460, T450, T440, T430, T420.

I’m using a T420 from 2011 or 2012. I have no plans to upgrade soon, it works great.

If you are looking for reviews of any laptop, I recommend laptopmag.com

ARE_you_kidding_me's avatar

@Hawaii_Jake Quite often I’m working in areas without reliable cell coverage or internet of any kind. I’m not using it for much. I’m not against it though, we are full circle in a way…back to the mainframe model, sort of.

Buttonstc's avatar

If it’s durability you want, I’ll throw in a vote for the Toughbooks.

One of my former hpusemates had just finished a stint in the Army and he said that they would run over them with tanks and they were still working just fine.

This is what they issue to Navy Seals and other elite special forces. They’re built to DOD specs and there isn’t much that can kill them.

I bought mine from a guy around here who gets them through govt. auctions and was running ads on CL.

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