There was a thread about this earlier but it seemed to much like necro so here we go.
I'll be heading overseas for a year soon and I'm looking to get a laptop, while I've been doing research on my own I'm curious as to what the SDN denizens would recommend. It'll mostly be used for word-processing etc, though I'd like to play the odd bit of EVE Online on it. Price range is around the AUS$1500 mark.
Any brands to avoid like the plague?
Laptop Recommendations
Moderator: Thanas
Re: Laptop Recommendations
Lenovo Australia has the Thinkpad R500 (with discrete GPU) on sale though it's close to your budget.
Re: Laptop Recommendations
In terms of brands in general I've found Asus to be pretty good.
Marcus Aurelius: ...the Swedish S-tank; the exception is made mostly because the Swedes insisted really hard that it is a tank rather than a tank destroyer or assault gun
Ilya Muromets: And now I have this image of a massive, stern-looking Swede staring down a bunch of military nerds. "It's a tank." "Uh, yes Sir. Please don't hurt us."
Ilya Muromets: And now I have this image of a massive, stern-looking Swede staring down a bunch of military nerds. "It's a tank." "Uh, yes Sir. Please don't hurt us."
Re: Laptop Recommendations
Find one with an accidental damage protection warranty. also choose something that is sold in the countries you will be visiting, if the model series isn't sold there and you need to have a repair done there will be a parts availability issue and you may have to send the computer back to the country of origin. that's something also to remember when purchasing computers from some where other than your home country.
May you live in interesting times.
-
The Grim Squeaker
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 10319
- Joined: 2005-06-01 01:44am
- Location: A different time-space Continuum
- Contact:
Re: Laptop Recommendations
Does anyone have experience with the Dell XPS or Studio 14z series? (13 or 14 inch laptops)?
I'm planning to get something like that for next year (i'll be travelling in between campuses via buses on a daily basis), and I need something portable. (that can still be usable, so no netbooks
)
I'm planning to get something like that for next year (i'll be travelling in between campuses via buses on a daily basis), and I need something portable. (that can still be usable, so no netbooks
)Photography
Genius is always allowed some leeway, once the hammer has been pried from its hands and the blood has been cleaned up.
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
Genius is always allowed some leeway, once the hammer has been pried from its hands and the blood has been cleaned up.
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
Re: Laptop Recommendations
The XPS is an absolute bitch to fix, that's what I can tell you.The Grim Squeaker wrote:Does anyone have experience with the Dell XPS or Studio 14z series? (13 or 14 inch laptops)?
I'm planning to get something like that for next year (i'll be travelling in between campuses via buses on a daily basis), and I need something portable. (that can still be usable, so no netbooks
As for the OP, avoid HP like the plague. Most of their models have really terrible problems with manufacturing quality, you can reasonably expect a DV or Compaq to crap out on you inside a year, and HP has a habit of denying warranty.
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
Re: Laptop Recommendations
HP's business-line laptops are well-regarded.PeZook wrote:As for the OP, avoid HP like the plague. Most of their models have really terrible problems with manufacturing quality, you can reasonably expect a DV or Compaq to crap out on you inside a year, and HP has a habit of denying warranty.
-
GrandMasterTerwynn
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 6787
- Joined: 2002-07-29 06:14pm
- Location: Somewhere on Earth.
Re: Laptop Recommendations
Yes, their business laptops are quite good. They get abused all the time here at work, and I've never seen one crap out. But if one is to spend business-class money on a laptop, Lenovo Thinkpads are still one's best bet.phongn wrote:HP's business-line laptops are well-regarded.PeZook wrote:As for the OP, avoid HP like the plague. Most of their models have really terrible problems with manufacturing quality, you can reasonably expect a DV or Compaq to crap out on you inside a year, and HP has a habit of denying warranty.
Tales of the Known Worlds:
2070s - The Seventy-Niners ... 3500s - Fair as Death ... 4900s - Against Improbable Odds V 1.0
2070s - The Seventy-Niners ... 3500s - Fair as Death ... 4900s - Against Improbable Odds V 1.0
Re: Laptop Recommendations
Yeah, but I don't think you can buy those new for 1500$. Their magnesium roll cage really helps with harsh treatment, and their cooling systems are typically much better than the damn DVs (those were all the rage in the consumer market here a couple years back...not so much nowphongn wrote: HP's business-line laptops are well-regarded.
)It seems typical of business line models from any company, to be honest.
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.
- NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.