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+--- Thread: So it's time to buy a new laptop (/showthread.php?tid=341)
So it's time to buy a new laptop - VinnyVideo - 01-04-2018
My Asus laptop has served me well for over four years. It's taken me through grad school and many of my undergraduate classes, and it's played a vital role in every job I've had - not to mention all the time I've spent making games and doing MFGG stuff on it. Unfortunately, it's almost reached the end of its illustrious career. The display is dangerously close to separating from the body of the laptop, and it's not the kind of laptop that's designed to do that!
This means it's time for me to acquire a new laptop. I have a pretty good idea of what I want - I'm probably going to end up spending about $500-600 for a mid-ranged laptop. Part of me wants to spend a little more, but I don't use my PC to play 3-D games, and if I wanted to go that route, I'd just buy a video game console that's newer than the original Wii!
Who here has bought a laptop lately? What brand did you get, and what did you think of it? I'm unsure about whether to get another Asus - they seem to be great about staying cool even in hot weather, but a lot of the reviews I've seen have suggested that they're a bit on the flimsy side.
Also, feel free to chime in with the age-old Intel vs. AMD debate. I've always been an Intel person, but it seems Intels are especially vulnerable to a recently-discovered security exploit, so I've been pondering trying an AMD this time.
RE: So it's time to buy a new laptop - Hyper - 01-05-2018
As for laptop brands, I would've prefer Asus, Toshiba or Dell. I had good experiences with these OEMs. On the other hand, I strongly recommend to steer away from HP laptops and/or laptops with touch screen. HP laptop has a lot of defects from my experiences. Touch screen on a laptop is more of a gimmick, when the display is broken it is very very difficult to repair.
You can also get a used mid ranged (Core i5/i7) 2011-2013 era MacBook Pro for around $500-700. Even though Apple hardware can be debatable, I have to be honest that Windows performs very well with Apple hardware. Plus you have a MacOS/Windows dual boot.
Of course any computer geeks/technicians strongly suggest to replace any spinner SATA HDD to a SSD. It is fast, efficient and durable unlike the spinner SATA counterpart. By some estimations, SSD can last for decades.
This is only from my experiences. Someone else may beg to differ.
RE: So it's time to buy a new laptop - HylianDev - 01-05-2018
If I were to buy another laptop, I would get one with an $800 sticker price.
I've seen friends and family spend $300 or so on laptops and they're always problematic. Startup takes a few minutes from power button to everything being loaded; have two or three windows open and it's angry now; etc.
I got one for $550 for Christmas a couple years back. I picked it out myself! But it gave me a lot of similar problems. Basically the deciding factor for me to get rid of it was when Visual Studio Code lagged :/ can't have that lol.
Right now I'm using a Dell Inspiron 15 "gaming" laptop, I think a 2016 edition. It's not super fancy, but it's got some power: i5, GTX 960M, 8GB RAM, and an SSD. No complaints here at all. It's also my work laptop.
I paid $720 for it on Amazon. The newer Dell Inspirons I see in the gaming section at Best Buy are $800, but they've got better parts too.
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Of course, I could also just be really picky lol. That said, I don't really have any < $700 recommendations.
RE: So it's time to buy a new laptop - Xander - 01-05-2018
I just bought a new laptop. My first Windows laptop since 2004. It's a Lenovo Yoga 920. Definer on the expensive end. I wanted something that leverages a touch screen, that I could use for illustration, design and pixel art. The 360 hinge, touch screen and active pen stylus mean that I can draw n Photoshop while the laptop tests on my lap. I've only had it for a week though, so I can't review it just yet.
It's been great so far though!
RE: So it's time to buy a new laptop - DustinVG - 01-05-2018
My laptop, as many are aware, has run into some major issues lately. We're looking into getting it fixed, but it's entirely possible it may be on its last legs.
Also, yeah, I have the feeling that, if the Vinny were to spring for a new 3D gaming experience, he'd probably get a lot of value out of, say, a Switch. Though, the benefits of a gaming computer are hard to deny for me.