laptop for all uses

cerastes

So this is it, Ive finally given up on the idea of fixing my old laptop and just want to go for something new thats capable, I may deal with repairing the current laptop so its useful to someone or so I can sell it on as someway useable item.

As for now,
Im looking for a laptop, Id nearly considered a desktop with large screen but while my laptop is mostly stationary, I would still like to be able to just unplug it and move it if need be, which isnt possible with a desktop.

What my requirements are,
Good motherboard/RAM/preferably HDD? dont know whats available or is good/not, at least reasonable recent but solid and reasonable future proof. I recall seeing a thread somewhere about someone holding out for the release of a certain motherboard, something Id never considered

Im looking for a bigger device/screen, Im not sure if a 17" screen is just going to be too humongous, but probably at least a standard 15"ish size, separate num key pad. Fold flat/Touch screen maybe/with a stylus might be good, Battery life would want to be reasonable/good, but it would mostly be stationary so not a huge issue, so long as the battery performance stays consistent/doesnt deteriorate too much too soon.

Id like to be able to run CAD to refamiliarise myself with it, I think its a power hungry program as I couldnt run it on this laptop without it goign slow/unresponsive, but then nothing does without slowing it down.
Ability to use amazon fire?/chromecast type equipment/ watch tv programmes, with either an ability to watch it (ie large screen) or use it to cast? to a larger monitor or maybe even a tv (not a requirement right now, but just so its able, ie actually possible without deteriorating preformance.
Not sure if this means Id need a graphics card or not? I dont play games so maybe for tv shows/films or programmes only.

I dont know if there are any remote controllers for that purpose either? ie volume,pause,ffwd, etc?
PS an illuminated keyboard as a maybe, and preferably on this size an integrated optical drive.

About the only thing Im not expecting is to fit this all in a small package.
It would probably be overspecd for most of my use. I saw XPS 13 mentioned but upon looking, seemed nice but too small for my needs.


So any recommendations regarding motherboards/other equipment, makers, places to buy??
Id prefer bricks and mortar or an established online, preferably known Irish store, bit concerned about even some suggestions on another thread where someone suggested a scam seller on amazon.
Not really considering Currys/PC world, unless there is something to justufy a suggestion?

SO, any recommendations or alternatives? holes in my spec?

edit, while I prefer not to spend over €999, Id be happier to be spending less for simialar capabilities

cerastes

anyone???
This doesnt need to be for Xmas , just planning a replacement, but maybe there might be an offer on somewhere?
any advice?

mordeith

cerastes wrote: »

anyone???
This doesnt need to be for Xmas , just planning a replacement, but maybe there might be an offer on somewhere?
any advice?

The motherboard issues is not really relevant when it comes to laptops becuase unless you get it custom built from scratch you won't have any say in it.
That aside you would want to aim for a laptop with 8GB RAM as that is recommended for AutoCAD (assuming you have the 64-bit version).
Obviously a bigger screen would be beneficial with work like that and you would need a proper full hd one. SSD would also be beneficial although many laptops that come with them have the caveat of reduced storage

cerastes

mordeith wrote: »

The motherboard issues is not really relevant when it comes to laptops becuase unless you get it custom built from scratch you won't have any say in it.
That aside you would want to aim for a laptop with 8GB RAM as that is recommended for AutoCAD (assuming you have the 64-bit version).
Obviously a bigger screen would be beneficial with work like that and you would need a proper full hd one. SSD would also be beneficial although many laptops that come with them have the caveat of reduced storage

It may have been the motherboard, but now that I think of it, I think they may have been waiting on a chipsets launch.
I read a few threads and someone recommended a UK site, in this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057678890 about pcspecialist.co.uk, the thing is, I did not recognise some of the laptop brand names, cosmos, genesis??. Also CAD is just one option, not that I'll be using that mostly, just that I want it able to handle it.

mordeith

PC Specialist use their own names to call their laptop models. They use Clevo for the bare bones (might be different now) and all other components are third party. This is true of most laptop manufacturers. Difference with PC Specialist is the ability to customize your requirements. I have one of their laptops and it performs very well. Only negatives are the speakers are fairly poor in terms of loudness and the keyboard could be a bit more responsive (this is only an issue of I'm typing a lot which didn't happen that often).

cerastes

Thanks, speakers are something I'd want to be acceptable, I've always had poor speakers on laptops, I've never encountered a poor keyboard responsiveness, considered it a given, any reviews are worthwhile, so thanks. Any recommended options on other places to buy, here or online, via a recommended shop for comparison of specs and prices? Not keen on the amazon option and all but ruled out pc world/currys/power city

cerastes

Thanks, speakers are something I'd want to be acceptable, I've always had poor speakers on laptops, I've never encountered a poor keyboard responsiveness, considered it a given, any reviews are worthwhile, so thanks. Any recommended options on other places to buy, here or online, via a recommended shop for comparison of specs and prices? Not keen on the amazon option and all but ruled out pc world/currys/power city

mordeith

cerastes wrote: »

Thanks, speakers are something I'd want to be acceptable, I've always had poor speakers on laptops, I've never encountered a poor keyboard responsiveness, considered it a given, any reviews are worthwhile, so thanks. Any recommended options on other places to buy, here or online, via a recommended shop for comparison of specs and prices? Not keen on the amazon option and all but ruled out pc world/currys/power city

Best speakers I ever had on a laptop were on on my old Dell XPS Studio. It was a heavy 17" beast but it was a great laptop. Gorgeous screen, backlit keyboard.
The GFX chip gave up in the end but I still think fondly of it.

Might be worth looking at the current Inspiron series

com1

Maybe have a look at getting a docking station for the laptop. That way you can get what you want in a laptop without compromising for a larger screen better keyboard etc as they can all be attached to the dock.


Kind of the best of both worlds with a desktop setup (screen, keyboard, mouse, +peripherals) and the convenience of mobility by simply undocking the laptop.


May workout a little more expensive though...

Mumha

cerastes wrote: »

Thanks, speakers are something I'd want to be acceptable, I've always had poor speakers on laptops, I've never encountered a poor keyboard responsiveness, considered it a given, any reviews are worthwhile, so thanks. Any recommended options on other places to buy, here or online, via a recommended shop for comparison of specs and prices? Not keen on the amazon option and all but ruled out pc world/currys/power city

I'd agree with Mordeith that the speakers on the PC Specialist laptop isn't great, but I think the idea is that the laptop connects into the sound system, which a lot of gamers would do. Worth contacting them and asking for an alternative solution.

riclad

You can buy a chrome cast device 35euros and plug it into a tv, then press button on chrome browser to watch movies,youtube on the tv.
Make sure laptop has at least 500meg video ram,on the video card. and 4gig main ram.
You can plug any laptop into a vga monitor 21inch if the laptop has a vga port. Some laptops have hdmi out port.
My Advice is buy a widescreen 15inch laptop , and maybe buy a
vga monitor 21inch at least.you can plug the vga cable into the monitor when the monitor and press a function key to send the video signal to the monitor.When the laptop is switched on.
And the laptop screen will go blank if its set to use only 1 display device.