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Laptop with SSD or not?

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  • 08-08-2013 5:55pm
    #1
    Tigerandahalf
    Registered Users Posts: 7,811 ✭✭✭


    Hey all
    Looking to buy a new mid range laptop. V hard to know what to get. I recently used a laptop that was really quick to power up and shut down. Since I have read about SSD I am presuming its hardrive was of that type. However prices are very steep for that type of laptop. Could anyone recommend me a good mid range laptop. Is there any advantage to buying online or in a shop. I dont see a huge difference in price.
    Are harveynorman good to buy with?
    Be handy to drop the laptop back if anything went wrong.
    Thanks in advance


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    #2
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    Upgrade your new laptop with an aftermarket product (usually an easy task, if the HDD is acessible through a service hatch) and buy a 2.5" HDD enclosure so you can use the original HDD as a portable drive.

    Or have a look around at PC Specialist, all their laptops can be configured with a solid state drive.


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    #3
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 81,885 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    SSD is a great aftermarket upgrade. Many come in upgrade kits including cloning/transfer software and either an enclosure or a 2.5->3.5" bracket, so you can either install the SSD in a desktop or, if installing in a laptop, use the old laptop drive as a little extra storage in the desktop.


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    #4
    U_Fig
    Registered Users Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    If you do not use an optical drive much you can get an adapter which allows a HDD to be placed instead of a Optical drive and then use the original HDD space for an SSD.. That's what I did best of both worlds fast boot ect with enough storage for movies music ect..

    Aslo since I occasionally use my Optical drive I bought a caddy and made an external optical drive using the one I removed from the laptop

    Caddys were about ~€20 in total I think and I got the 128 SSD for ~€120 at the time.. Made a massive difference to the overall speed of my laptop


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    #5
    gctest50
    Registered Users Posts: 9,605 ✭✭✭gctest50


    Are the hybrid drives any good ?

    http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Momentus-7200RPM-Hybrid-ST750LX003/dp/B00691WMJG


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    #6
    Overheal
    Registered Users Posts: 81,885 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Theyre an interesting compromise if you really need the additional storage on hand.


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    #7
    Torqay
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,835 ✭✭✭Torqay


    gctest50 wrote: »
    Are the hybrid drives any good ?

    http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Momentus-7200RPM-Hybrid-ST750LX003/dp/B00691WMJG

    Hybrids are just as prone to accidents as conventional platter HDDs. A laptop with a "real" SSD (i.e. no mechanical parts) can take a lot more abuse. I wouldn't mind using a hybrid drive in a desktop PC but not in a laptop.


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    #8
    Creamy Goodness
    Registered Users Posts: 26,558 ✭✭✭✭Creamy Goodness


    went ssd in my macbook air 2 years ago, have never once looked back!


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    #9
    looking_around
    Registered Users Posts: 2,491 ✭✭✭looking_around


    wait a few months OP ;) ..They are increasing in size and getting cheaper FAST. If you buy a low size one, you're going to need your HDD too(unless you don't save much of anything) and it's a bit of a nuisance if you still need your DVD-drive.

    Wait til after christmas, I reckon, to get a good price.

    They are worth it, but I kinda wish I held out til I was able to afford a 500GB.


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