New Laptop Required - Recommendations????

[james t kirk]

My laptop is now 3.5 years old and like clockwork, it's falling apart. It's an Asus, i.7, 8 ram, 750 HD.

I need a new one.

To all those who are immediately going to recommend me to by an apple, save your key strokes, it's not going to happen.

So now that that is clear, I'm looking for recommendations.

I've been told to consider switching to a SSD, however, I have about 650 gigs of data on my machine and I need to refer to this data all the time in my work.

I'm also using Office 2010 and I don't know whether it's fine, or worth investing in Office 2015. (2010 seems to do what I need it to do to be honest.)

I need a fast machine that can perform a lot of calculations. I also us AutoCAD and various analysis software (some of it really old, but it works great).

I need high quality, hi resolution, fast, reliable, tough, AND physically lightweight machine (if that exists).

 

[canada-man]

visit your nearest Canada computers store

 

[OddSox]

I need high quality, hi resolution, fast, reliable, tough, AND physically lightweight machine (if that exists).

It certainly does exist, but you've already said no.

 

[Garrett]

It certainly does exist, but you've already said no.

I am no fan of Apple, but he is right. I wonder what you are doing to your laptop to grind it down already. You typically hit battery replacement, and drive replacement.

Your desired screen size will determine a lot. Given AutoCAD, I would assume at least 15". If you can go smaller (12" 14") lots more options.
I also get worried when you have 650GB of data on your laptop (backed up)? I would figure out what is the minimum SSD I need, and can I put the rest in a NAS/cloud (where it will be backed up).

I am not sure if this drive is too small for you, but it is a hybrid drive and I actually like the Lenova Flex series. It is also on sale.
http://www.ncix.com/detail/lenovo-flex2-i7-4510u-8gb-500gb-8gb-16-103072-1202.htm

 

[diana <3]

All the best options are ssd, its just so much better in a laptop. I would try to figure a storage solution that would let you make the switch- cloud storage for some of your files or a nice external drive(you can find 1tb in a small form factor for less than $100). Then you can get a Surface pro, they are really nice machines and perfect in every other way.
Otherwise, take a look at gaming laptops- they tend to be pricey but will have the performance you're looking for.

 

[Twister]

I bet the guys in the Tech forum can help you...

 

[whitewaterguy]

Wow...some people are still using laptops...tablets all the way...

 

[Promo]

Please review these threads:
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?516119-Any-interest-in-a-Ask-a-Geek-Q-and-A-thread
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthrea...-write-speed-the-main-thing-when-buying-a-SSD

You have an interesting list of requirements. Good start. If you are willing to spend ~$800-$1200, you can definitely find a quality machine to meet your needs.

I run autocad, fairly intensive spreadsheets, usual Office 2010 apps, video encoding and a few medium-intensive games on my Lenovo T420s. It has a Core i7 2620 CPU, 8GM RAM and a 500GB SSD. Weighs ~3.5 pounds, 14.1" screen @ 1440 x 900. Excellent build quality, very rugged, outstanding keyboard. It meets all your requirements, BUT: the CPU is modest. Screen is "good enough" (6:10) for business apps, but lacks detail and contrast for autocad (I use an external 24" 1920x1080 screen for autocad), you need a larger HD/SSD and today's equivalent model is $1200++

Comments:
0) Based on your requirements avoid all the cheap laptops. A $300-600 laptop is a decently powerful machine suitable for someone with normal requirements. But they have questionable reliability and really aren't meant to be moved around a lot.

1) Best Buy has numerous quality laptops in the S800-$1000 price range that on-paper will meet your requirements. I'd start by looking at the Ultrabooks from Asus or Samsung. Ultrabooks due to their enhanced specs tend to be better built, have more powerful processors and are equipped with SSDs and are light weight. Try to find one with a dedicated Intel graphics chip (usually aimed at gamers, but in your case, should result in laptop with a better screen and faster graphics). Unfortunately I think Ultrabooks are disappearing because of a lack of consumer demand (too expensive).

2) That said, sounds like ruggedness and reliability are key to you, I believe you would be better serviced by an enterprise quality laptop from Lenovo, HP or Dell. Enterprise machines have better keyboards, are much better built, have higher quality components, are lighter and have decent CPUs, but you give up gamer-quality screens (you can use external screens) and many don't offer dedicated graphics chips. Plus they cost 20-40% more. I can suggest several models if you are interested.

3) Definitely try to get a SSD. 500GB SSDs are common, 1TB in laptops is just starting to become available. You may have to consider a HDD or hybrid drive. Another solution is to get a high end machine (i.e. Alienware) that offers dual drives - a 240GB for OS and apps and a >1TB for data files.

4) I prefer Office 2010. 2013 had a ton of bugs. I have no experience with 2015 or 360.

5) Get 8GB or more of RAM if you are running autocad. Adding RAM is not expensive and any local shop can do it

6) Do your older apps have any limitations on OS used or is Windows 8 okay?

7) Get a 3rd or 4th generation i7 processor. They run hotter, have less battery life, but in most cases are much more powerful than an i5 (watch for the number of cores, number of threads per core and hyper threading version).

In summary:
Have a look at the Ultrabooks to see if one will meet your needs. If you want an enterprise quality machine I can suggest several make/models. Do not buy a cheap machine if you intend to move it around allot, they will not last.

 

[JohnHenry]

Eurocom http://www.eurocom.com/ec/main()ec

 

[KBear]

Can compare specs of the Dell laptops online. Check the Precision line for business. Don't know if these laptops are sold at Best Buy.

http://www.dell.com/ca/business/p/laptops.aspx?l=en&ref=ca-smb-lt

 

[Garrett]

Wow...some people are still using laptops...tablets all the way...

Tablets are typically horrible if you care about input precision, input volume, storage, memory, processor capability, etc.

Tablets have their place, but they are not a laptop replacement, just like a laptop cannot be a desktop replacement depending on your needs.
I have a lot of devices in the house, and by far the least used is the iPad. It does not even make a decent eReader replacement.

 

[SkyRider]

4) I prefer Office 2010. 2013 had a ton of bugs. I have no experience with 2015 or 360.

Office 2010 has "Microsoft Office Picture Manager", Office 2013 does not.

 

[explorerzip]

You should consider going with a SSD for the main drive on the laptop and then use an external USB drive for your data. It's a good practice to store data and Windows on separate partitions or drives so that you can still access data if Windows fails for any reason. You would also have the added benefit of having your data available on multiple PC's. It also makes upgrading easier since you wouldn't have to copy data from one PC to another.

I wouldn't bother upgrading to Office 365 unless there's a feature that you absolutely need. Remember that Office 365 uses a subscription model where you pay a fixed amount every month and that includes updates instead of a one-time purchase price.

 

[TESLAMotors]

Lenovo Carbon X1 by the sounds of it, for a very sleek durable laptop. Lenovo's W530 was something that crossed my mind.

But if AutoCad is important.

 

[Promo]

You should consider going with a SSD for the main drive on the laptop and then use an external USB drive for your data. It's a good practice to store data and Windows on separate partitions or drives so that you can still access data if Windows fails for any reason. You would also have the added benefit of having your data available on multiple PC's. It also makes upgrading easier since you wouldn't have to copy data from one PC to another.

I dunno about this part: "and then use an external USB drive for your data", but I agree with the rest.

1) JTK sounds like the road warrior type, he's constantly moving around with his laptop. External hard drives are another thing to carry and protect and they add another pound or two. Unnecessary hassle and the chance of loss/theft is not insignificant.

2) External hard drive are the least reliable storage technology. Consumer HDs are unreliable, especially if you move them around allot. I bought a server grade HD and installed it in a case and I still only use it for back-ups. Putting a SSD in a enclosure address most of these issues, except the hassle part.

I would suggest buying a laptop with a drive (hopefully a SSD) large enough to meet your needs. SSDs are 100s of times more shock resistant that a HDD, weigh less and consume less power. A back-up strategy is certainly important:
1) Backup to an external HDD
2) Backup to cloud
3) Backup to a corporate or home SAN. I suggest using either imaging software or a back-up suite that performs back-up synchronization as soon as you are on your LAN.

 

[explorerzip]

I dunno about this part: "and then use an external USB drive for your data", but I agree with the rest.

1) JTK sounds like the road warrior type, he's constantly moving around with his laptop. External hard drives are another thing to carry and protect and they add another pound or two. Unnecessary hassle and the chance of loss/theft is not insignificant.

2) External hard drive are the least reliable storage technology. Consumer HDs are unreliable, especially if you move them around allot. I bought a server grade HD and installed it in a case and I still only use it for back-ups. Putting a SSD in a enclosure address most of these issues, except the hassle part.

I would suggest buying a laptop with a drive (hopefully a SSD) large enough to meet your needs. SSDs are 100s of times more shock resistant that a HDD, weigh less and consume less power. A back-up strategy is certainly important:
1) Backup to an external HDD
2) Backup to cloud
3) Backup to a corporate or home SAN. I suggest using either imaging software or a back-up suite that performs back-up synchronization as soon as you are on your LAN.

The OP has 650 GB worth of data so an SSD would be prohibitively expensive. I think a 1TB SSD is more than $600! There are external drives out there that only weight a few ounces like this: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_213_602&item_id=063170 and are super cheap. Sure, there is a chance you might drop the drive, but just be careful as you do with your laptop. Some of them come with encryption software in case of theft.

The OP could certainly use Dropbox or a cloud service for his files, but slow Internet speed would be a problem if he opens large files. Consumer level drives are fairly reliable depending on how you use them. Most have 3 to 5 year warranties. You are right that the OP should have another hard drive or NAS or cloud service to backup files to.

 

[Promo]

The OP has 650 GB worth of data so an SSD would be prohibitively expensive. I think a 1TB SSD is more than $600! There are external drives out there that only weight a few ounces like this: http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=15_213_602&item_id=063170 and are super cheap. Sure, there is a chance you might drop the drive, but just be careful as you do with your laptop. Some of them come with encryption software in case of theft.

The OP could certainly use Dropbox or a cloud service for his files, but slow Internet speed would be a problem if he opens large files. Consumer level drives are fairly reliable depending on how you use them. Most have 3 to 5 year warranties. You are right that the OP should have another hard drive or NAS or cloud service to backup files to.

The Samsung 840 EVO 1TB SSD is $469.88. Unusually good price for one of the better SSDs. http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=179_1229_1088&item_id=062502

He has other options, for example:
1) Hybrid drive: drive has a built in ~64MB SSD for OS acceleration and 1-2TB mechanical drive for storage. CC price is $102.99
2) Dual drive - a 256GB SSD for OS and Apps and a separate 1TB HDD for data. Using JohnHenry's Eurocom site, I price that at ~$400.
I can only speak for myself as someone who is constantly traveling and needs a reliable powerful PC, I'd rather pay extra for one of the above 3 options than deal with the hassle of an external portable drive.

JTK hasn't given us any idea of his budget, so we're all guessing here. If he's quality and performance orientated, I'd suggest one of the 3 options. If he's price sensitive, then perhaps your suggestion will offer an attractive compromise of speed, price and flexibility.

Last thought. Nowadays, laptops for mobile business/power users are practical throw-away technology and will be replaced approximately every 3 years. Is it worth spending $1k+ to JFK? For me, no (I went the reconditioned laptop route), but for JFK ..... up to him.

 

[james t kirk]

All the best options are ssd, its just so much better in a laptop. I would try to figure a storage solution that would let you make the switch- cloud storage for some of your files or a nice external drive(you can find 1tb in a small form factor for less than $100). Then you can get a Surface pro, they are really nice machines and perfect in every other way.
Otherwise, take a look at gaming laptops- they tend to be pricey but will have the performance you're looking for.

I'm starting to think the same.

Mind you, it's only a matter of time before they market 1 TB SSD. That's what pisses me off. I can't wait that long though.

 

[james t kirk]

Please review these threads:
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?516119-Any-interest-in-a-Ask-a-Geek-Q-and-A-thread
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthrea...-write-speed-the-main-thing-when-buying-a-SSD

You have an interesting list of requirements. Good start. If you are willing to spend ~$800-$1200, you can definitely find a quality machine to meet your needs.

I run autocad, fairly intensive spreadsheets, usual Office 2010 apps, video encoding and a few medium-intensive games on my Lenovo T420s. It has a Core i7 2620 CPU, 8GM RAM and a 500GB SSD. Weighs ~3.5 pounds, 14.1" screen @ 1440 x 900. Excellent build quality, very rugged, outstanding keyboard. It meets all your requirements, BUT: the CPU is modest. Screen is "good enough" (6:10) for business apps, but lacks detail and contrast for autocad (I use an external 24" 1920x1080 screen for autocad), you need a larger HD/SSD and today's equivalent model is $1200++

Comments:
0) Based on your requirements avoid all the cheap laptops. A $300-600 laptop is a decently powerful machine suitable for someone with normal requirements. But they have questionable reliability and really aren't meant to be moved around a lot.

1) Best Buy has numerous quality laptops in the S800-$1000 price range that on-paper will meet your requirements. I'd start by looking at the Ultrabooks from Asus or Samsung. Ultrabooks due to their enhanced specs tend to be better built, have more powerful processors and are equipped with SSDs and are light weight. Try to find one with a dedicated Intel graphics chip (usually aimed at gamers, but in your case, should result in laptop with a better screen and faster graphics). Unfortunately I think Ultrabooks are disappearing because of a lack of consumer demand (too expensive).

2) That said, sounds like ruggedness and reliability are key to you, I believe you would be better serviced by an enterprise quality laptop from Lenovo, HP or Dell. Enterprise machines have better keyboards, are much better built, have higher quality components, are lighter and have decent CPUs, but you give up gamer-quality screens (you can use external screens) and many don't offer dedicated graphics chips. Plus they cost 20-40% more. I can suggest several models if you are interested.

3) Definitely try to get a SSD. 500GB SSDs are common, 1TB in laptops is just starting to become available. You may have to consider a HDD or hybrid drive. Another solution is to get a high end machine (i.e. Alienware) that offers dual drives - a 240GB for OS and apps and a >1TB for data files.

4) I prefer Office 2010. 2013 had a ton of bugs. I have no experience with 2015 or 360.

5) Get 8GB or more of RAM if you are running autocad. Adding RAM is not expensive and any local shop can do it

6) Do your older apps have any limitations on OS used or is Windows 8 okay?

7) Get a 3rd or 4th generation i7 processor. They run hotter, have less battery life, but in most cases are much more powerful than an i5 (watch for the number of cores, number of threads per core and hyper threading version).

In summary:
Have a look at the Ultrabooks to see if one will meet your needs. If you want an enterprise quality machine I can suggest several make/models. Do not buy a cheap machine if you intend to move it around allot, they will not last.

I can justify dropping up to 2k out the door.

I'd like to get a 1 TB SSD if it exists.

I will stick with Office 2010, it does what I need it to do and it's bought and paid for.

The other thing is that Windows 10 is coming out in a few months. I'd like 10 rather than upgrading later (even for free) as I'm guessing I'd have to reload my machine and that is a lot of work. I've got some old fortran programs (yep) that I still use and I have to run it through some virtual window that my IT dude installed. Serious PITA to get that redone.

I see Dell is still selling Enterprise machines with Windows 7 on it. That tells you how good Windows 8 is.

 

[james t kirk]

I dunno about this part: "and then use an external USB drive for your data", but I agree with the rest.

1) JTK sounds like the road warrior type, he's constantly moving around with his laptop. External hard drives are another thing to carry and protect and they add another pound or two. Unnecessary hassle and the chance of loss/theft is not insignificant.

2) External hard drive are the least reliable storage technology. Consumer HDs are unreliable, especially if you move them around allot. I bought a server grade HD and installed it in a case and I still only use it for back-ups. Putting a SSD in a enclosure address most of these issues, except the hassle part.

I would suggest buying a laptop with a drive (hopefully a SSD) large enough to meet your needs. SSDs are 100s of times more shock resistant that a HDD, weigh less and consume less power. A back-up strategy is certainly important:
1) Backup to an external HDD
2) Backup to cloud
3) Backup to a corporate or home SAN. I suggest using either imaging software or a back-up suite that performs back-up synchronization as soon as you are on your LAN.

Exactly.

It is not impossible for me to be in Calgary on Tuesday, and Halifax on Friday, Montreal on the way home and then Toronto for a week, then drive to Northern Ontario.

My laptop gets tossed in more overhead bins than I can remember. (Why I'm looking for light weight. Bag, plus machine, plus mobile office and I need wheels to lug that thing around Pearson. From there, it's the back of a pick up truck for a ride to the middle of the bush, from one end of Canada to the other and up to great slave lake. Such is my life.

That's why my 3.5 year old Asus is cashing out:

1. Battery is dying and a new one is $199.00 US.

2. Receptacle to plug the power supply into is not making contact properly. It has to be fiddled with to get it to work. Drives me nuts.

3. mouse is all but dead and you need PRESS down on the left button.

4. Blue screen of death from time to time.

5. SLOW

Anyway, not worth fixing this pig.