Issues with your account? Bug us in the Discord!

Laptop recommendations

ArethusaArethusa Universal Cathode
in Zocalo v2.0
I'm looking for a desktop replacement laptop. My budget ceiling is 1500, which is far more than I should be spending, but I need something to replace my (admittedly antiquated) desktop, and it's somewhat urgent (number of reasons; I'll spare you). I'd like something that can do some reasonably serious gaming, but that isn't my priority. Main priorities are slight futureproofing (T7200, 2 gigs of ram, 160 gig hard drive) and getting a good deal.

I'm thinking about building an [url=http://1toppc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=asusnb]Asus here (probably a heavily upgraded Z96J)[/url], but it's not exactly the best deal. Dell has really awful deals right now, and I'm generally suspicious of their parts quality. Macbooks are out of the question due to their price premium. Any suggestions or advice welcome.

Comments

  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    i refuse to have anything to do with dell, i think they're crap IMO.

    i just got me an acer laptop. 2GHz amd turion 64 processor, 15.4" monitor, 120GB hard drive (actually 2 60GB ones), DVD burning drive, 1GB DDR2 ram, and wireless. it cost me £500, so it would be a bit under your budget, but i've nothing bad to say about it or acer:)
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    The student-line Dell laptops literally [i]creak[/i] when you pick them up. A good quality laptop doesn't creak. Their business laptops are nice for the price, but they do cost a bit more than the cheapo student ones.

    Acer laptops are, in my experience, utter crap. Even worse than Dell.

    IBM (now Lenevo) make great laptops aimed at business people but good for most people. I don't think they do any desktop replacement ones, though. Toshiba are similar.

    Sony and Fujitsu make the small-size laptops of desire. Not desktop replacements, though, to my knowledge.

    I have no experience with Asus laptops. They seem to be popular in Taiwan and amongst foreign students here, though. If they're anything like the rest of of Asus's product line, they'll be well designed with great features and a fairly solid build quality, but if something goes wrong you'll find out how bad their support is.
  • C_MonC_Mon A Genuine Sucker
    Asus A8Js is quite nice and only with a 14" screen so it's quite portable, but I think it's around or over $1500.
    [url]http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1373&l1=5&l2=26&l3=270[/url]
  • SpiritOneSpiritOne Magneto ABQ NM
    The guys over at abs make some great laptops [url=http://www.abs.com/index.asp]ABS[/url]. Other than that, I have owned a couple of Dell laptops that were actually not a hunk of shit. Like any computer, I had to spend an hour getting the crap software off of it, but meh... In order to get one thats not crap, you just have to specify what you want in it.

    I have a buddy who works for a company that has a Dell preferred purchase plan. He gave me the number, you use it when you custom build a system. You end up getting about an extra 100-300 bucks off the price of the system depending on how expensive it is. Price out a Dell and post it, and Ill post the price with PPP, and if you want it, I can give you the number.
  • Lord RefaLord Refa Creepy, but in a good way
    What should I look for as parts go, when I want a proper multimedia laptop?

    Going to Taiwan as you remember, and want to buy one from there..

    Should have proper graphics card atleast..
  • Entil'ZhaEntil'Zha I see famous people
    I'll chime in with my usual, I Manage an Internet Cafe, so over the summer i see literally hundreds and hundreds of laptops, and i get to talk to the people about what they like and don't like etc. the top 3, by popularity year after year are....

    the Sony Vaio Line, Kick ass laptops. premium price. I doubt you'd get a "desktop replacement" laptop for under your price

    Dell XPS, People LOVE their XPS laptops, but again, Price Price Price.

    Toshiba Satellite, Toshiba's come a long way lately, their satellite line is very nice and has a good price point, (not a desktop replacement, but my wife just got a nice Satellite, for $600) you should be able to get one for under the $1500.

    And i'll also throw in as an addon, Macbook Pro's, you might be able to get a refurb for close to your $1500, otherwise its closer to $1900, however, the people who come in with them LOVE them, For many of the people i talked to it was their first mac after having nothing but PC's for years.


    The bottom are
    Gateway
    IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads
    HP


    This is just a general impression from people who i talk to who own those machines.

    I personally have an HP, and it works quite nicely, however it's a p4 1.8ghz that i bought from a guy for $50, and any $50 laptop that you can fix cheaply is a good one :)

    As for what you should look for in a desktpop replacement laptop.. 2 things IMHO, Memory and Video Card. if you skimp on those, you'll not be happy.
  • ShadowDancerShadowDancer When I say, "Why aye, gadgie," in my heart I say, "Och aye, laddie." London, UK
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Biggles [/i]
    [B]Acer laptops are, in my experience, utter crap. Even worse than Dell.[/B][/QUOTE]

    im very happy with mine
  • Vorlons in my HeadVorlons in my Head The Vorlons told me to.
    I'm a big fan of Lenovo formerly IBM thinkpads. They are primarily business computers so not ideal for gaming but they are robust machines that hold up very well to abuse. They have traditionally been one of the highest rated in durability and quality. I managed a a few hundred a couple of years back and no single user was ever able to break one. I recently configured a very well equipped T60 (T is their flagship line with best size/weight/performance ratio) for my sister for $1400. Unfortunately I don't think they make the desktp replacement line anymore which was the G series. You'd have to do with whatever the best graphics option is on the T/R/Z series. I also like that thinkpads have kept to the functional classic simple all black design. No fancy ass crap plastic designs. I hate most laptop case designs.
  • BigglesBiggles <font color=#AAFFAA>The Man Without a Face</font>
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by ShadowDancer [/i]
    [B]im very happy with mine [/B][/QUOTE]

    You did say you'd only just bought it, and I did say "in my experience." :)
  • ArethusaArethusa Universal Cathode
    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SpiritOne [/i]
    [B]The guys over at abs make some great laptops [url=http://www.abs.com/index.asp]ABS[/url]. Other than that, I have owned a couple of Dell laptops that were actually not a hunk of shit. Like any computer, I had to spend an hour getting the crap software off of it, but meh... In order to get one thats not crap, you just have to specify what you want in it.

    I have a buddy who works for a company that has a Dell preferred purchase plan. He gave me the number, you use it when you custom build a system. You end up getting about an extra 100-300 bucks off the price of the system depending on how expensive it is. Price out a Dell and post it, and Ill post the price with PPP, and if you want it, I can give you the number. [/B][/QUOTE]
    The ABS laptops are just Asus built laptops. You get free games and better service, I imagine, but you also pay 300 more for the exact same laptop as the one I linked to. I'll look at Dell and see if there's anything worth trying the PPP thing with, though. Thanks.

    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Entil'Zha [/i]
    [B]I'll chime in with my usual, I Manage an Internet Cafe, so over the summer i see literally hundreds and hundreds of laptops, and i get to talk to the people about what they like and don't like etc. the top 3, by popularity year after year are....

    the Sony Vaio Line, Kick ass laptops. premium price. I doubt you'd get a "desktop replacement" laptop for under your price

    Dell XPS, People LOVE their XPS laptops, but again, Price Price Price.

    Toshiba Satellite, Toshiba's come a long way lately, their satellite line is very nice and has a good price point, (not a desktop replacement, but my wife just got a nice Satellite, for $600) you should be able to get one for under the $1500.

    And i'll also throw in as an addon, Macbook Pro's, you might be able to get a refurb for close to your $1500, otherwise its closer to $1900, however, the people who come in with them LOVE them, For many of the people i talked to it was their first mac after having nothing but PC's for years.


    The bottom are
    Gateway
    IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads
    HP


    This is just a general impression from people who i talk to who own those machines.

    I personally have an HP, and it works quite nicely, however it's a p4 1.8ghz that i bought from a guy for $50, and any $50 laptop that you can fix cheaply is a good one :)

    As for what you should look for in a desktpop replacement laptop.. 2 things IMHO, Memory and Video Card. if you skimp on those, you'll not be happy. [/B][/QUOTE]
    Many Dell (including the XPS, I believe), HP, and Compaq (now part of HP, but it never made any difference) laptops are made by Compal. The Latitude and Vaio lines are made by Quanta, which also makes many of the Lenovo laptops. Not sure what the Satellites are made on, but I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being Quanta. A lot of the premium price ends up buying the name, and people convince themselves they're happier because of it. In terms of hardware and assembly quality, the differences between a Clevo that goes to Sager and a Clevo that ends up with Alienware stamped on the lid are trivial at most. I'm mainly looking at Dell because they sometimes offer fairly good deals. Doesn't seem like they are right now, though.

    [QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Vorlons in my Head [/i]
    [B]I'm a big fan of Lenovo formerly IBM thinkpads. They are primarily business computers so not ideal for gaming but they are robust machines that hold up very well to abuse. They have traditionally been one of the highest rated in durability and quality. I managed a a few hundred a couple of years back and no single user was ever able to break one. I recently configured a very well equipped T60 (T is their flagship line with best size/weight/performance ratio) for my sister for $1400. Unfortunately I don't think they make the desktp replacement line anymore which was the G series. You'd have to do with whatever the best graphics option is on the T/R/Z series. I also like that thinkpads have kept to the functional classic simple all black design. No fancy ass crap plastic designs. I hate most laptop case designs. [/B][/QUOTE]
    Yeah, IBM always did have the best case designs (I have broken one— or had mine broken, anyway— and that titanium/poly composite case is remarkably conductive once you crack it) if you want a machine that worked and didn't look faux hackzor. Unfortunately, they've always also had the worst prices and the lowest specs, which doesn't help me much for replacing this desktop. My mom works for IBM, and they get an employee discount with Lenovo for the next five years, and the prices are still terrible.
Sign In or Register to comment.