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Solved What laptop should I buy?

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ncs227

PCHF Member
Sep 5, 2016
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#1
Hi,

I am going to get a new laptop. I don't want to buy more laptop than I need, though. Here is what I'm seeking:
-Windows 10
-backlit keyboard
-HP, Lenovo, or Dell
-17"
-preferably SSD, or at least partial SSD (I like speed)
-full HD screen
-use for browsing (sometimes with multiple tabs), watch YouTube, maybe some Office, save photos and documents, webcam...
-preferably under $1000...definitely under $1500
-integrated graphics
-traditional laptop
-4-8 GB (prefer higher in this range)
-Core i5 quad..but someone pls let me know if this isn't necessary for my needs
-not a prolific heat/noise producer

What is the right laptop for me?
Thanks
 
#2
 
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#3
Thanks very much. I'm not much of a gamer..what if I eliminate the SSD requirement only, are there some good options? Hopefully the pure HDD will still be fast, though. I've never had a computer that doesn't lag sometimes, so speed would be a relief..
 
#4
@ncs227 You'll notice the price drop considerably if you move away from an SSD, and you can easily get good performance out of a 7200 RPM HDD. I'll post a few links in a bit.

Plus, if anything, there's no need to pay a premium for a laptop with SSD, you can simply buy your own SSD and swap it out for cheaper later on.

Edit:
With backlight:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16834294363
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834294364
[URL='http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834294364']http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834294365[/URL]

Without backlight:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/msi-gl7...-drive-aluminum-black/4968104.p?skuId=4968104

These are all I could find under $1000.
 
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#5
Thanks alot. Those are some good looking laptops. I wanted to ask your opinion on a few things (keeping in mind how I said I would be using my machine, which is pretty mainstream):
-full HD screen...worth it?
-laptops w/ both SSD and HDD...good way to get SSD benefits at a lower price point than pure SSD?
-core i5 good enough for me while i7 is overkill? How about core i3, pentium, celeron?
-should I get quad core instead of dual core?
Thanks
 
#6
-I went from a 17" laptop to a custom desktop, and I think anything less than 1080p on a 17" looks too clunky and oversized on-screen for me. If you're going to be watching videos frequently and occasionally playing video games, I recommend it. If you're planning on using the laptop casually, maybe HD is good enough.
-Anything with SSD/HDD combo will send you above $1000, but you can keep it less than $1500.
-A high-end Pentium at the very least. I recommend i3/i5 to futureproof yourself. i7 is overkill unless you're using hyper-threading compatible software daily.
-If you're talking about the MSI laptop, I think it's a good pick. 6-cell battery, 4 cores, full HD for $850. No backlit keyboard though. It might be overkill comparing it to the i5 2 core Dell with a backlit keyboard for $630 on Newegg. In general, the difference in speed is noticeable.
 
#7
Ok great..and just to confirm, would you say a 7200 rpm HDD will not be likely to have any problems with sluggish booting / opening of applications / freezing? If I go the HDD route, I just want to make sure I'm not faced with those kinds of problems again (plus a quiet, cool machine would be nice..my current HP 17" Envy gets super hot and the fan runs loud when it tries to keep it cool)
 
#8
A 7200 RPM HDD will give you good performance, but still not close to the speed of a SSD. You won't experience sluggishness (depending on the specs of the rest of the laptop), but you also won't get the lightning fast boot that you do with a SSD.
 
#11
It definitely is. But the more I think about it, it might be overkill for me (I don't think I need 512 GB storage or an i7 processor, for example). It is probably my "dream" choice..but I just found a laptop that meets my desired specs on Newegg for over $400 less. It lacks the lighted keyboard, but if I went with the HP, it looks like I'd be paying $400 extra for the lit keyboard, a core i7 instead of i5, and 512GB SSD instead of 256GB. What do you think of this laptop?:
https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.GG7AA.005
 
#13
Thanks :) I have 4 hours to decide, because after that the HP rockets back to $1500. I'm just a little on the fence here because I'm wondering why that Acer is so cheap..does the brand have an okay reputation compared with HP? Brand reliability/support will factor into the decision..
 
#14
Avoid Acer. It is not a reliable brand from experience. I would go with Dell, HP, and ASUS right now. Lenovo is a good followup choice, but their last security scare was not handled well in my opinion.
 
#15
Thanks :) I couldn't resist..I ordered the HP with t-45 minutes left in the $550 sale. I just couldn't find any laptop anywhere else of that caliber at that price point. Looking forward to the 7th gen. i7, 16 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD storage (all of which are way more than what I need, but go figure). I was doing some reading on Acer and, as you say, I'm glad I stayed away. Tons of people complaining about poor quality motherboards among other things. The price was great, but I guess you get what you pay for.
 
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