Laptop Talk

[Umbran]

So. New job, higher pay. Time to consider a new laptop! I'm looking to tap into the collective mind here for information and review...

My requirements:

While, with a certain amount of moaning and cursing, I could probably do the "build your own" thing, I'm not interested in doing that much work right now.

I'm basically a Windows user, not terribly interested in switching platforms.

I'm looking at laptops, but I'm not really worried about size and weight. This machine's going to basically live at home, move room to room occasionally, but that's about it - think more "desktop replacement" than "ultra-mobile".

I am not really a power-user. Office applications, web browsing, and a little bit of media and game playing. I can drool over Alienware as much as the next geek, but I recognize that money spent on top-of-the-line performance is likely wasted on me. If I can have a decent experience playing Diablo III, I'll be happy. I'm more interested in reliability and good customer support than cutting edge performance.

I expect that I'd be well enough served if I went to Dell and bought something in the upper-middle of their lines. But, with EN World as a resource, why not ask?

So, thoughts?

 

[Relique du Madde]

First question:
Do you plan on upgrading to Windows 8? If so, is using W8's touch screen interface important, or would mouse/track-pad interaction suffice?

 

[Umbran]

I'm not worried about touchscreen interactions, no. Plain old mouse is sufficient for me.

 

[Alan Shutko]

From what you say, you should be happy with almost anything. My usual concerns on laptops are around durability, and I've been very unhappy with several vendors, but since you won't be hauling it around every day, it won't be subjected to as much stress.

 

[Umbran]

From what you say, you should be happy with almost anything.

You are probably correct. However, if someone's got info that, for example, HP support sucks aquarium scum, or they have had a string of reliable laptops from a particular maker, or have heard to avoid a particular model because the power supply stinks, those things would be useful.

Or, other things - like if you know the effective general differences between the lines from a given maker (like Dell alone has Inspiron, Lattitude, Vostro, and XPS lines), that's useful. Finding out for oneself is digging through spec details, and one always fears missing the differences.

Or, for example, the differences between Windows 7 Home, and Win 7 Professional?

 

[Relique du Madde]

Or, for example, the differences between Windows 7 Home, and Win 7 Professional?

From the top of my head, the major difference is that professional has: run as Winows XP mode, more back up and restore options, and the ability to run as a remote desktop server.

-Sent via tappatalk

 

[Umbran]

From the top of my head, the major difference is that professional has: run as Winows XP mode, more back up and restore options, and the ability to run as a remote desktop server.

Okay, so nothing really essential there. Some of the backup/restore might be useful, but the rest isn't a major issue. Not worth paying extra for, anyway.

 

[Alan Shutko]

Well, that makes sense. My info is a little old, since I haven't owned my own PC laptop in a few years (since IBM sold to Lenovo). But here's my recollections:

Everyone's support sucks. Dell's sucks really bad. HP's is useless. Never directly dealt with Toshiba. IBM's hardware support was good, but their software support was nonexistent. When I had IBM, I found their extended service plan worth it, but then, I carry my laptop everywhere and tend to beat it up.

I don't remember much of the various lines, but Inspiron is their home user line and Latitude is their business line. The business machines are usually lower spec but higher durability. Their home user ones have hardware with higher specs, but will fall apart if you move them around too much. Vostro looks like it's targeted at small business. No idea how it differs from Latitude. XPS is for gaming.

That's probably the best I can do. These days I'm completely an apple guy for my personal stuff.

 

[drothgery]

You are probably correct. However, if someone's got info that, for example, HP support sucks aquarium scum, or they have had a string of reliable laptops from a particular maker, or have heard to avoid a particular model because the power supply stinks, those things would be useful.

Or, other things - like if you know the effective general differences between the lines from a given maker (like Dell alone has Inspiron, Lattitude, Vostro, and XPS lines), that's useful. Finding out for oneself is digging through spec details, and one always fears missing the differences.

Or, for example, the differences between Windows 7 Home, and Win 7 Professional?

The dividing lines on laptop quality aren't between vendors (mostly) as much as between Apple and 'business' or 'premium' notebook lines on one hand (you want these, unless you're going really cheap and/or have minimal needs) and mass market consumer stuff. And that's true for both build quality and support.

With Dell, that means avoid Inspirons, prefer Latitudes (and Percision workstations, if your needs match up with that sort of thing), with XPSs, Vostros, and Alienware in between; you're usually better off with a slightly lower-spec'd refurbished Latitude from the Dell outlet than an Inspiron from the main store.

Also worth noting is that Intel's next-generation 'Ivy Bridge' CPUs are supposed to launch at the end of April, which should bring much better integrated graphics (though still unusable for serious gaming) and somewhat lower power demands for the same performance.

 

[jonesy]

In regards to reliability:
Reliability and Service: Laptops | PCWorld
Laptop reliability survey: ASUS and Toshiba win, HP fails -- Engadget

Everyone's support sucks. Dell's sucks really bad. HP's is useless. Never directly dealt with Toshiba. IBM's hardware support was good, but their software support was nonexistent. When I had IBM, I found their extended service plan worth it, but then, I carry my laptop everywhere and tend to beat it up.

Toshiba support sucks too. And so do Acer and Asus. I think you're right in saying that laptops don't really get good support from anyone.