Which Windows laptops?

Bill48 on 29/06/2014 - 22:52

Which laptop? There seem to be some offers available about now. My eyesight could be better so I would want

  • a large FHD screen, preferably touchscreen and as non reflecting as possible
  • backlit keyboard with well spaced keys
  • good battery performance very important
  • SSD for OS at least
  • hopefully something for the longer term, so replaceable components, durable.

Used mainly for word processing, email, detailed family history database work, web surfing, often needing quite large pages onscreen. Occasional movie watching. Take on train, to research sites, libraries, archives, etc. and around the house.

Computing

Comments

  • MustResistPurchase on 30/06/2014 - 13:18

    What size screen do you have in mind?

  • GriffinTx on 30/06/2014 - 13:32

    14 to 15" screen would probably be good, 17"s are starting to get a bit big to lug around.
    i3 cpu would probably be ideal, i5 may be a it of overkill for what you want.
    Look for at least 1 USB 3 port.
    Ultrabooks are thin and light but also more expensive.

    What's your budget?

    There aren't really that many "replaceable" components on a laptop.
    You could get one with a large spindle drive, replace the main OS drive with an SSD and put the spindle into a cady which slots into the dvd bay. Ultrabooks wouldn't really have this option though.

    If you want longevity and robustness, look at some of the big players (HP, Dell, Lenovo) business lines. Even Asus and Toshiba may have what you want too.

    I'd suggest looking at your budget, check out the big stores online for what you would really like in the laptop, then trim the fat a bit to what you really need.

    You could then check the refurb/outlet stores for that model and see if you can get a deal.

    • aeoz on 30/06/2014 - 13:47
      +1

      What specific type of laptop would you personally recommend?

    • scotty on 02/07/2014 - 23:15

      What's your budget?

      Probably the most important question here. Otherwise it would be very hard to recommend anything. For a large laptop with Full HD touch screen, hopefully Dell would re-run this deal soon.

  • Bill48 on 03/07/2014 - 07:21

    I deliberately did not specify a budget. I have a "value" HP at the moment that is so slow and uses up its battery so soon that I wanted to find what I would have to spend. I need this new unit to be a pleasure to use, unlike my present one.

    I have read of Haswell chips, for example, that are supposed to give very much improved battery performance but I think you have to pay for that. Are these chips only i7 or also in i5 or i3?

    SSDs cost more but reduce weight and improve speed. So again, I am looking to see what I have to spend rather than setting a budget.

    So, if you look at my original specs, I am looking to combine those in the most attractive package I can find. I will be going to JB and Dick Smith, possibly HN, tomorrow to try to look at some of the recommendations.

    • scrimshaw on 03/07/2014 - 18:09
      +1

      Are these chips only i7 or also in i5 or i3?

      No, it extend to the whole series. You can tell if it's Haswell chip by looking at the CPU number — all haswell chips are on the 4000 series. E.g i7 4510m, i5 4500U, i3 4130 and so on.

      Ivy Bridge chips are 3000 and Sandy bridge are 2000.

  • GriffinTx on 03/07/2014 - 14:43

    SSD are faster, lighter and use less power but are more pricey.
    Do you store a lot of files locally? if not, 128GB should be plenty.

    Haswell's come in all flavours (i3, i5 and i7)

    Look online to see what Umart, MSY and Megabuy can offer too.

    Once you pickup and play with a couple, they may have a better price available for that model.

    Lenovo and Asus make the best consumer laptops in my opinion. (of what I have used so take with a grain of salt)

  • mrmarkau67 on 03/07/2014 - 17:53

    If your eyes are not so good, but you want FHD, I think 15" is better.

    To expand on what GriffinTx said above, every manufacturer (Apple excepted) has several ranges.

    For example Dell has:

    • Inspiron: Cheap consumer
    • XPS: High end consumer
    • Alienware: Nice Graphics and funky case
    • Vostro: Low End Business
    • Latitude: Mid High End Business
    • Precision: High End Business with nice graphics and "sensible" case

    Your requirements (tired of your cheap HP, don't mention gaming, want something to last…) suggests you ought to look at the Dell Latitude range. Others can suggest which range you would suit you in other brands.

    And when laptop buying I always try it out in person. Its really important to get a keyboard and trackpad you like, because you'll be living with them for a while.

  • Bill48 on 07/07/2014 - 17:18

    Just to report back, thanking all for your input, I have dived in and bought this Toshiba P50 through OO. It was $968 less 10% resulting in $891 delivered. It delivers all my specs except SSD, although it has a hybrid.
    http://www.oo.com.au/Toshiba-Satellite-P50t-A01C-To_P227996C….

    Hope I won't regret it, first for the unit itself and secondly for being a refurb. Unlike Dell, I think Toshiba must turn over its returns and repairs through OO. But to get my specs I was looking at having to spend a thousand or more than this.

    If anyone has experience of a similar unit or other feedback I'd welcome that.

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