Looking for a Reliable Windows Laptop for Work 2022 - Budget $1500

georgegates5 on 29/03/2022 - 07:25
Last edited 29/03/2022 - 10:03 by 1 other user

Hi hoping someone can recommend me a reliable laptop for work use.

I just have crappy luck with Windows laptop, hence have always used MacBook pro or a windows desktop (built my own) but however need one for work. (Can't justify forking out for refurb 8th gen intel MacBook pro :( and yes I need one with Intel processor)

I initially narrow down to Thinkpad L14 gen 2 AMD or T14 gen 2 AMD (Ryzen 5) due to how it was easy to replace RAM and SSD, however was reading reviews that the screens are bad :(

Below are my requirements:

  1. Able to run Matlab simulations, simulink
  2. Occasional autocad (light drafting)
  3. Run Vmware
  4. Occasional photoshop/lightroom on the go if I am away too long from my desktop.
  5. Definitely need more than two USB ports! Sick of using un-reliable dongle and do not wish to use a hub on site works.
  6. Screen size 13-14 inch max. No issue with weight.

Budget under $1,500 (can stretch to $1,800 if needed).

Hence why I wanted a multi-core AMD.

I excluded, Dell and Microsoft surfaces as seeing how bad they are in terms of reliability / thermal. (have a Dell Latitude for work and the rate of it BSOD or locking up due to thermal throttling is madness).

Any other business-like laptop that has good screen and easy to self repair upgrade (although if price are good am happy to forego the upgrade path)

Cheers

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • raisinberry777 on 29/03/2022 - 08:17

    Lenovo Thinkbook 14p? Light, powerful, within budget, 2x USB-A and 2x USB-C ports. Decent screen (14" 2240x1400). Uses higher power H-series processors rather than low voltage U-series (not that there's a huge difference).

    1x soldered RAM and 1 free slot (I think - will need to check).

  • baronorder on 29/03/2022 - 08:27

    The only real options in that price bracket and with AMD are the ThinkPad's particularly if you are reluctant to consider Dell and Microsoft due to reliability and repair concerns as that would definitely rule out other vendors like Asus etc.
    If you are looking for a premium display along with a decent CPU core count in a compact and reliable package you are really going to be pressed to find anything under the $2k mark and even then a lot of options are still Intel only in that space.

    You may need to wait for Intel's 12th gen to roll out across the board before you find something that suits.

    • georgegates5 on 29/03/2022 - 09:19

      Hahaha so asus and other vendors are still bad in terms of reliability?

      • SimAus007 on 29/03/2022 - 09:37

        I have 3 Surface products in my home, a Surface Book 2, Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Laptop 4 an not had a single issue with any of them.
        On a side note, I know a large corporate in my industry that uses Microsoft Surface Laptops for all its employees (one of the big 4 in the banking industry) and I speak with the head of their IT department and they swear by them.

        • georgegates5 on 29/03/2022 - 09:54

          We have two surfaces at work . I can’t remember the exact model (bought last year) but both suffer from disconnection of the wifi if you:

          1. Hotspot to your phone via wifi and accidentally place your phone behind one of the corners of the surface.

          The wifi would disconnect. I believe there is some shielding / interference issue.

          In saying that we might just have lemons , if other corporations have been using it a lot and no issues reported :(

      • baronorder on 29/03/2022 - 09:48

        Asus, MSI, Clevo etc are all a bit hit and miss with reliability and servicing on their compact models if you are comparing them to the Lenovo business range. You would find a lot more options available if you are willing to look at a 15/15.6 sized laptop?

        • georgegates5 on 29/03/2022 - 09:50

          Hmmm if you don’t mind could you hit me up with some 15/15.6 sized version ? Might take a look since it’s hard to get a 13-14 inch

  • scrimshaw on 29/03/2022 - 10:47

    Have you considered ThinkPad T14s Gen 2 AMD CTO?

    https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-ser…?

    It's currently on sale. The base price is $1,551.20 for Ryzen Pro 5650U and 8GB of soldered memory.

    If you pick the 16GB RAM upgrade only and stay with the same CPU, final cost: $1,627.20.

    If you pick the the Ryzen 7 Pro upgrade, you will automatically be moved to 16 gigs of RAM. Final cost: $1,787.20

    If you pick Ryzen 7 Pro upgrade and 32GB RAM, the final price is $2,015.20.

  • trulymadly on 29/03/2022 - 12:13

    https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-p-ser…
    Is an option, with better cooling than T14s and a pretty good deal on the 32GB option. Although if you are patient and willing to spend a bit more, you could wait for AMD 6000 chips which will have better graphics for your usage with better thermal performance than Intel 12th gen options. Or you could look at intel combined with GPU for best performance but you will have to be very mindful of thermals and cooling solutions. I have a p14s gen 1 AMD with 32gb ram and R7-4750u which handles MATLAB well (university assignments, so not crazily intensive but it breezes through simulation/code that was laggy on my previous laptop with i7-8XXX cpu). The 250/300 nit panel on my laptop that was default and unfortunately not upgradeable for me at the time is acceptable but I would recommend the LP 400 nit screen upgrade as they are better panels.

    • scrimshaw on 29/03/2022 - 12:38

      someone just posted that as a deal.
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/691411

      Pretty good for sub $1800 price.

      • georgegates5 on 30/03/2022 - 09:46

        Hahaha deal is expired ;( too busy with work and missed it :(

    • georgegates5 on 30/03/2022 - 09:46

      Hmmm yeah I saw some YouTube review that the T14s isn’t that good thermally .

      I been trying to find some definite news on the newer ryzen 6000 processor , I think lenovo is launching intel variants next month? But amd won’t be till middle of the year .

      Not sure if prices will still be under 2000$ for the newer intel version.

      I did see that there is a new thinkbook with new processor and better screen.

      Ah so you’re running intel previously as well and it struggles eh . I wonder if the 12th gen intel on laptop really will make a difference

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