Recommend Me a Laptop

[Madmick]

My friend is looking for a new laptop. He gave me three price points to explore: $400, $700, and $1000. He's never been a gamer, but he said he might be interested in getting into it (he's getting this laptop because he got a new job where he basically sits in a truck and monitors some sort of meter, so he needs something to pass the time). Basically, he wants to the best overall value considering all the major specs. It doesn't have to be a performance beast; he used to like Command & Conquer , Age of Empires, and Warcraft II, so I figure his machine won't demand much since current most popular RTS games like Starcraft II, Civilization V, Shogun II, and others really aren't that demanding. Aside from that, he just browses the internet and lot and loves to watch video. Like most people, he just wants snappy browsing and video playback. The price points are just rough guidelines, so if the best value you can find is at $550, don't leave it out. I'm using that for general tiering.

This has been my reference for Mobile GPU's:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Graphics-Cards-Benchmark-List.844.0.html

And from the same site for Mobile CPU's:
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Processors-Benchmarklist.2436.0.html

He's chomping at the bit and is literally probably going to make the online purchase tomorrow or the next day (he's waiting on me, so I thought I'd consult the forum). Ergo, any deals that are spectacular that are happening right this moment would be great mentions.

 

[MontyAC]

You can check this site for daily deals:

http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/deals/

 

[JackMDS]

Actually the first variable to start with is the size of the screen and that has to be determine in a functional way.

By holding actual Laptop in front of you.

Then you target the price and look for what is available at the week that you buy.

Depending on the specific environment and how it going to be used, Battery live, quality of Wireless (or any other form of communication), and weight might be the next variables to look at.

Then if you have few choices that take into consideration the above you can use the content of the links that you posted above. Unlike self bulid Desktops the benck mark info of Video cards and CPU is Not a good way to start looking for a functional Laptop.

 

[mfenn]

Personally, I wouldn't get a $400 machine that's going to do anything other than sit on a desk it's whole life. Cheap machines just don't stand up to even the mild abuse that goes with mobility. Since he's going to be using it while sitting in a truck, I presume that means that 17" behemoths are out as well. With those two things in mind, I recommend perusing some of the most recent of AT's laptop reviews for something that meets your friends needs.

 

[Madmick]

Yeah, he wants a 15" screen. He doesn't care about weight since he'll have it in that truck; he won't be carting it to class or around airports. I'm sure he'll value battery life, although I'm sure he can buy a power adapter to run it via the cigarette lighter (or whatever) in his truck. I don't have a resource to review wireless capabilities. That would be much appreciated.

He has a desktop that I built him, but it's back in California. This job is in North Dakota. He bounces between the states. This laptop will be his sole machine out there, so in my opinion, consideration of the CPU/GPU is critical for assessing value in his purchase. Keep in mind that not everybody runs the same setup as yourself. Some people don't use a desktop for processing power and a laptop merely as a satellite device for portability. This will effectively function as his desktop in North Dakota.

I appreciate the AT laptop reviews site, MFennm, and the deals website, Monty.

 

[Blain]

My friend is looking for a new laptop. He gave me three price points to explore: $400, $700, and $1000.

He's chomping at the bit and is literally probably going to make the online purchase tomorrow or the next day (he's waiting on me, so I thought I'd consult the forum).

Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series with a SSD upgrade.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Thinkpad for sure. He's going to have this in a truck so it has to be able to stay in there

 

[lakedude]

I've got a trucker's laptop because he dropped it out of the truck and broke it. Not many laptops are going to survive a fall undamaged. A fall is going to break an average $1000 laptop just as fast as it will a $400 one. If he is wanting something really sturdy he needs to look at something like a Panasonic Toughbook.

A $400 dollar laptop will do everything your friend wants except game. Also he will only be out $400 if it gets damaged or stolen...

A $700 unit will have some game.

A $1000 laptop will be very nice and maybe overkill unless games are a big deal or unless the money is spent on some measure of durability.

Unfortunately the Panasonic Toughbooks are expensive (like over $1000 generally)...

 

[mfenn]

I've got a trucker's laptop because he dropped it out of the truck and broke it. Not many laptops are going to survive a fall undamaged. A fall is going to break an average $1000 laptop just as fast as it will a $400 one. If he is wanting something really sturdy he needs to look at something like a Panasonic Toughbook.

A $400 dollar laptop will do everything your friend wants except game. Also he will only be out $400 if it gets damaged or stolen...

Of course a catastrophic event like that will take out any non-ruggedized machine. The problem is that a $400 laptop will give up the ghost just from the normal jostling that goes along with mobility. One wouldn't last a year before hinges are shot, the chassis is warped, keys are popping off, etc.

 

[lakedude]

mfenn I see you are one of the local experts and I respect what you are saying. Of course a $1000 laptop is going to be better than a $400 model.

I was just relating the only trucker laptop story I know. Wish I could find that guy. I fixed his machine but he moved off somewhere so now I have a laptop that isn't mine that I don't know what to do with.

Anyhow my other experience is with boats. People bring expensive sunglasses, phones, cameras and video recorders on the boat, only to have them get wet or end up at the bottom of the lake. Now I know it isn't exactly the same thing but if I was taking a laptop on a boat I'd either take a rugged one that was waterproof and floated or I'd bring a cheap one so it wouldn't be a big loss if something happened.

So that is where my logic comes from. I can't say how a cheap laptop would stand up to daily jostling.

 

[Blain]

Google Video...
Search for the words "thinkpad" and "test"

 

[Madmick]

If a mod opens this thread, please move it to the SFF/Notebooks forum. My mistake for posting it here.

 

[mfenn]

So that is where my logic comes from. I can't say how a cheap laptop would stand up to daily jostling.

No worries, I see where you're coming from. I just don't think that having a horrible experience when actually using a machine and knowing that it is a disposable item that you will need to replace in a year is worth the tradeoff of saving money on the off chance that something really bad happens.