Lap tops

[ozboz]

What woulbd be a good reliable lap top these days , Ive only ever had mac's but this time im going to go for one that is wimdows ,

 

[JohnHughes307]

So much depends on what you're looking for! I've just ordered "Lenovo B50-50 15.6-Inch Notebook (Black) - (Intel Core i3-5005u 2GHz Processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, Windows 10, USB3 | HDMI " ( although not from Amazon) for < £300. as it suits the particular priorities that I had for the machine (reasonably quick, DVD drive, cheap). If your priorities were Full HD video, large disk or touch screen, it would be a crap choice!

In general Lenovo are a decent brand, although they have come under fire for including a lot of bloatware (some of it quite dubious!) in their builds. I generally delete the vast majority of crap before I do much with the machine. Standard sequence is:

1. Download and install Avast! free anti-virus (being careful not to accidentally load Chrome and other rubbish pre-selected)
2. Search for and install Windows Updates (leave the machine for an hour or two)
3. repeat 2 at least once...
4. Delete crap like "Obtain Micrososft Office", "Office Free Trial", "McAvie Free Trial"
5.Install applications like Office etc.
6. Set updates to include applications
7. Repeat 2 at least once

Generally I set aside at least a day to get a brand new machine to the point where it is useable...

 

[Tin Pot]

If you really don't want an iPad, then get a Surface.

 

[ozboz]

No ipads ,
http://www.tesco.com/direct/hp-x2-101-inch-touchscreen-2-in-1-
laptop-intel-atom-2gb-ram-32gb-white/786-1721.prd?skuId=786-1721
Would a thing like thid be ok ?

 

[ozboz]

^^^
Id agree ? But im not paying for it , to do with work

 

[vickster]

I got one of these for my business (have to know it'll be compatible with all MS office documents clients may send). Sleek, light and about 40% less than an equivalent Mac. Works seamlessly with my HP monitor and printer

Didn't pay quite that much, might be a newer model now too (think closer to £600 on a special)

https://m.johnlewis.com/hp-envy-13-...e-i5-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-13-3-full-hd/p/2477145

 

[ColinJ]

I got one of these for my business (have to know it'll be compatible with all MS office documents clients may send). Sleek, light and about 40% less than an equivalent Mac. Works seamlessly with my HP monitor and printer

Didn't pay quite that much, might be a newer model now too (think closer to £600 on a special)

https://m.johnlewis.com/hp-envy-13-...e-i5-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-13-3-full-hd/p/2477145

I went for a similar machine from JL, the Lenovo 710s. They cost about double what a chunkier device would but I love having a laptop which weighs less than 1.2 kg, since it actually does spend most of its working time on my lap rather than a desk. Much easier to lug about too!



My 710s model has a 256 GB SSD rather than the 128 GB version reviewed in the video above, and I chose an i7 processor as well. Oh, and a faster graphics chipset.

I agree with the criticism of the right shift key, but am getting used to it. A bigger irritation is the spacebar which works properly in the centre 50% of it, but can be a bit iffy if pressed nearer its ends. I am slowly getting used to typing nearer the centre to make sure that the spaces register.

The screen is very good. The sound is not bad for a skinny laptop. The webcam is ok, but only 720p resolution. The battery lasts a long time. I never run it down. I'm sure that I could get more than a day of moderate use out of it, but I normally top up the battery if I go out for an hour or two.

I haven't used the laptop in anger yet so I haven't really tested its limits. I will be installing my music software suite soon and that will give it a good workout. I think it will do everything that I need it to do.

Definitely worth a look if your budget is £700 - £800.

 

[mybike]

My experience of Lenovo is that the cases aren't too good. Both my wife and daughter had one a a few years back where they shed screws, mostly from the hinge area. In the case of my wife's machine this led to the hinge breaking and eventually to the disintegration of the case. My daughter had a second one, whic I understand is giving her trouble as well. As above, they are installed with bloatware, as are most machines, but some of that bloatware was considered spyware.

My wife has since bought a HP which seems to be standing up well to her usage. However Win 8 is a pain.

 

[ColinJ]

Apparently, the bloatware can now be removed though I haven't done that yet. Will do later ...

Hopefully, the magnesium and aluminium case will be more durable than plastic ones!

 

[gavgav]

Hewlett Packard for me, always reliable and well specced for price

 

[PaulSB]

I have had five HP laptops and two PCs in the business over the last five years or so. All have worked faultlessly, for the office I wouldn't look elsewhere.

At home I have a Surface Pro 4 which I won in a prize draw. Love it, great machine.

 

[DaveReading]

My experience of Lenovo is that the cases aren't too good.

Yes, ThinkPads are/were prone to hinge failure which, as I found out to my cost, can render the screen unusable.

 

[ozboz]

Thanks for all the input on this ,
I remember my first macine , it had a 32mb incredibly huge hard drive ! unbelieveable the all said ! you dont need that much memory !
Hahaha

 

[vickster]

The NHS had a deal with HP so all my NHS laptops were HP. I had nothing but problems with them.

My current employer uses Dell. Not had an issue.

How long ago was that at the NHS? Same cost/equivalent models? Perhaps HP machines have improved. My past experiences have been the opposite, but higher spec Dell models at work, cheaper (up until the new one) HP at home

All anecdotal of course

 

[mybike]

How long ago was that at the NHS? Same cost/equivalent models? Perhaps HP machines have improved. My past experiences have been the opposite, but higher spec Dell models at work, cheaper (up until the new one) HP at home

All anecdotal of course

I think the cost is the critical part with any laptops. If you see a high spec machine at low cost look very carefully at the case.