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Laptop Suggestion/Help

by Ryan David
18 replies
I've always been a desktop guy personally. But I recently moved and the perfect spot for the office was a separate room in the finished basement. Turns out, I like being closer to the action in my house so I'm going to get a laptop to use upstairs.

3 questions:

1) Do most people find that they gradually start using a laptop for ALL their work, even if they are at home/office?

The reason I ask is if I should get a laptop that is better for daily tasks (web browsing, email, basic HTML editing, etc) or should I get one that's more powerful.

2) i3 vs. i5 intel chip? Is there a big difference if you don't need it for photo/video/gaming?

3) Any recommendations? Sorry mac guys/gals, I'm not there yet. Maybe next time.

Thanks,

Ryan
#laptop #suggestion or help
  • Profile picture of the author Warrior X
    A year back, I a bought a Toshiba laptop for 300 bucks new. It has a Celeron chip.
    It's the only computer I use and I love it. I spend a great deal of time working online, and I love that I can sit in an easy chair, on the deck, at a cafe, whatever-
    and get things done.

    It's perfect for what I do, and has power to spare. (I'll save gaming for that X-Station and Playbox 360 I have sitting around).

    Jeremy
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    • Profile picture of the author Ryan David
      Originally Posted by CopyInTheRaw View Post

      A year back, I a bought a Toshiba laptop for 300 bucks new. It has a Celeron chip.
      It's the only computer I use and I love it. I spend a great deal of time working online, and I love that I can sit in an easy chair, on the deck, at a cafe, whatever-
      and get things done.

      It's perfect for what I do, and has power to spare. (I'll save gaming for that X-Station and Playbox 360 I have sitting around).

      Jeremy
      That's what I'm thinking. Maybe test the waters with an i3 ($400 or so) and then maybe a year or two down the line get something a little more powerful.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vlad Bacioiu
    I have an Acer Aspire ( 5738zg ) and I'm so pleased with it. It's perfect for me! I work every day in Photoshop . It has a good intel processor and a good video card for gaming.
    It has 320 Gb Hdd so you have some space for your documents.

    You can find notebooks/laptops by price/size/requirments/brand etc on Amazon.com: Laptops, Tablets & Netbooks

    I think you'll find the perfect laptop for you with the link above!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rick Britton
    go for an awesome machine like mine...

    Alienware M11x Gaming Laptop Details | Dell

    a total beast, super fast! I invested in the largest battery, i get 7 hours battery life and i take it to the gym where there is free wifi!
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  • Profile picture of the author Riggs
    Originally Posted by Ryan David View Post

    1) Do most people find that they gradually start using a laptop for ALL their work, even if they are at home/office?

    The reason I ask is if I should get a laptop that is better for daily tasks (web browsing, email, basic HTML editing, etc) or should I get one that's more powerful.

    2) i3 vs. i5 intel chip? Is there a big difference if you don't need it for photo/video/gaming?

    3) Any recommendations? Sorry mac guys/gals, I'm not there yet. Maybe next time.
    1) I have both a laptop and a desktop. I have to orientate similar tasks (home/office), but only ever really use my desktop. Please don't waste your money buying an overpowered browsing machine if that's all you intend to use it for.

    2) The i5 is quad core, the i3 isn't. The i5 has Turbo Boost, the i3 doesn't. The i3 has hyper-threading, while i5 doesn't. The i5 is typically more expensive. And if you're not looking to game/video edit, the i5 would be completely unnecessary. Go with the i3.

    3) Most HPs get my vote. Avoid Dell at all costs.

    Originally Posted by Rick Britton View Post

    go for an awesome machine like mine...

    Alienware M11x Gaming Laptop Details | Dell

    a total beast, super fast! I invested in the largest battery, i get 7 hours battery life and i take it to the gym where there is free wifi!
    Why on earth would you take a gaming laptop with you to the gym?
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    • Profile picture of the author cooler1
      Originally Posted by Riggs View Post

      1) I have both a laptop and a desktop. I have to orientate similar tasks (home/office), but only ever really use my desktop. Please don't waste your money buying an overpowered browsing machine if that's all you intend to use it for.

      2) The i5 is quad core, the i3 isn't. The i5 has Turbo Boost, the i3 doesn't. The i3 has hyper-threading, while i5 doesn't. The i5 is typically more expensive. And if you're not looking to game/video edit, the i5 would be completely unnecessary. Go with the i3.

      3) Most HPs get my vote. Avoid Dell at all costs.



      Why on earth would you take a gaming laptop with you to the gym?
      Why should you avoid Dell?

      I've had an Inspiron for 2 years, i've had no problems with it.
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      • Profile picture of the author Riggs
        Originally Posted by cooler1 View Post

        Why should you avoid Dell?

        I've had an Inspiron for 2 years, i've had no problems with it.
        I'm in no way mocking their products (except the overpriced Alienware).

        It's in the event you experience a hardware problem that everything goes downhill. Their customer service is reputably bad. Not only that but if you actually manage to get through to a customer service representative that believes your hardware is still within warranty, and that individual actually claims to have the authority to solve your problem, it will typically take them a few months to source the spare hardware parts your model needs.

        I'm not being naive. I've had bad experiences with Dell and many of my friends have too. A quick Google search will give you all the evidence you need.
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      • Profile picture of the author Seattle Mike
        Making videos, powerpoints, website work and recordings I use the desktop. But just about everything else I normally use a laptop and the recliner. I can work for hours with those two.

        And with just a mid range laptop, you don't need much for email, blog updating or writing. Can do just about everything. But some things are easier with a mouse and a little desk space plus the den is quieter to work in.

        Make sure you backup your laptop daily. They do break or die more often. At least thats been my experience.
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        • Profile picture of the author Sam England
          My 2 cents...

          Being that I use to own a computer company years ago...I would highly suggest a Dell laptop...

          Sure they cost a bit more, but they will last much longer than most of the cheaper brands that you can buy at Wally World or Best Buy...those cheaper models are built cheap...so they are what they are...

          You get what you pay for...well usually...

          I still prefer a desktop because I LOVE MY DUAL 25" monitors...there is no way I could do my business without the setup that I have now...maybe I am spoiled...

          The ONLY thing I use my laptop for is travel...that's it...

          Everyone has the right to choose, so do what works best for you...

          Cheers,
          Sam
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  • Profile picture of the author Johnny Optimo
    I've been a laptop guy for years, letting my desktops get dusty...

    but only when my last laptop broke was I forced to use the desktop until the thing was repaired... well, I'm a desktop guy now.. lol.. I sit in the same place most of the day anyway, it really makes more sense.

    So now I'm shopping for a powerful desktop :]
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  • Profile picture of the author Vlad Bacioiu
    Another problem is your budget. You can find a laptop for 300-400$ or you can spent 2000$ for a laptop lol. ( Just take a look at alienware !~ )
    As a member said above, it's a good idea for you to take i3 core. Just search using the link that I gave you in my previous post.
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  • Profile picture of the author Anonymous Affiliate
    Small (yet powerful) laptop + big external monitor = winning combo. You get the best of both worlds: mobility and performance.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    i recently got a macbook air, and it does everything i need way faster than any pc i have every owned. i wont be going back to using a pc as my main cpu.

    but i have had a dell mini 9 for 4 years or so, maybe 3. anyway a really long time. i abuse the heck out of it. and it has served me very well. its only a 1.6 atom processor and i run FF with lots of windows, word, skype, itunes, and an editor program at the same time, and it does fine 90% of the time.

    unless you are doing gaming or video, you just dont need more processor. if you feel the need to upgrade something, look to upgrade your ram.

    btw. my desktop is a 2 year old dell quad core 3.2 with 8gb ram. it cost me about 2k back then, and i can hardly tell the difference between it and the dell mini 9. unless video compiling is involved, then the mini 9 sucks.

    i would go cheap, you just dont need all the extra power 90% of the time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan Rieth
    I have a Dell Studio 17. I love it I do most of my IM stuff on it. The only time I don't use it is if I'm in my office then I use the desk top. But I'm normally working on my other business when I'm in my office.

    I love the laptop I just wish I wouldn't have gotten the 17". I seen it and thought ya that big screen is awesome, I got to have it. But now that I'e had it a couple years I really, really wish I would have got the 15". The 17" is to heavy and awkward when your using it sometimes. Also it would have been a lot cheaper. But I'm stuck with it now until I upgrade again
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeanne Lovely
    I go back and forth between my all-in-one desktop and my laptop - I also ave a macbook pro, which is my favorite - but I cannot use many of the programs I need for my business with the mac - tried the parallels solution, but too slow.

    The desktop os great for the monitor, laptop for convenience but I find I am running from computer to computer, or sending emails to myself to save files - so I now only use the desktop for product work and the laptop for things like I am doing now. (i take my Mac on the road)

    I have an HP desktop, an asus laptop (great speed, memory for the money)
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    • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
      I second the Dell customer service remark. They are difficult to deal with even for an experienced PCtech like myself who knows what to say.

      Overall, and based on not only my side business experience running a PC Repair shop but also the experience of the other shops I frequently talk to, Intel based laptops don't last as long. Before anyone wants to argue with me, there is no arguing with the pile of laptop motherboards with Intel chips I have seen and even currently have piled up not far from where I am sitting right now. They die more often and as some of you may know, if your MOBO goes in your laptop you might as well go shop for another laptop.

      An HP AMD based triple core 17.3" laptop with 4GB of ddr3 ram will run you about $550 if you shop around enough. AMD triple core Phenoms are pretty darn reliable and the on-board chipset is equally good in my experience. Usually they have on-board NVIDIA graphics chips too which I have found to last.

      Buy a cooling pad for your laptop too people. Heat and dirt are what makes them die, aside from poor quality components. A cooling pad and a can of compressed air are the cheapest ways to make any laptop last longer, yet next to nobody has them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aviator Joe
    recently got myself ProBook 4530s

    really happy with it so far, and yes, i use it for all my work, desktop got abandoned
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  • Profile picture of the author krupa007
    Hello Dear,

    Go with Dell Inspiron 14R Laptop. Its a nice laptop with all latest features
    Its Price - Rs. 29,999

    For more features you can visit - Dell Inspiron 14R Laptop
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