Laptop for me oul' wan

Vegeta

Hey folks I am trying to pick up a laptop for my mother. I had ordered one from Dell but it never arrived :mad: I am currently awaiting the refund so have to start the hunt again.

Ideally want a machine which is very fast to start up (nice sized ssd) and will easily handle the load of modern web browsers

Budget: €1000, am after a mid range machine as opposed to something which will be just adequate.

Intended use: believe it or not, games via an internet browser

Mobility: Bigger screen is better but still needs to be a laptop

Warranty: 1-2 years would be great. Happy to throw in RAM or hard drive if need be.

What Operating System do you use? Windows

Alanstrainor

I think I would be recommending a Dell 17" model tbh... but given your last experience I take it you wouldn't be too keen on it!

I do think your budget is very much overkill. Any laptop, and I mean any laptop at all you complete the tasks you require. The only piece that will drive the price more towards the 600 bracket is a reasonably sized SSD. Getting a 256GB SSD should be possible for around this price.

But as I said, once you have the SSD the rest is easy. Modern processors should be more than capable to run online games in browsers for years to come.

this is a very good sale deal at the moment with good specs power and speed-wise at €580. definitely mid-range.

it's a 14 inch screen which is not small in atual use imo and portable at 1.7kg

quad-core i5
full 1080p screen
128gb ssd
8gb ram

http://www.currys.ie/Product/lenovo-ideapad-320s14ikb-14-laptop-grey/346520/401.0.10

Vegeta

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I think I would be recommending a Dell 17" model tbh... but given your last experience I take it you wouldn't be too keen on it!

This is exactly what I had ordered ha ha. I wouldn't be put off the brand at all, I use a Dell Precision for work and 4k screen aside (causes resolution issues constantly when presenting) it is a great laptop. It's their logistics department which let me down.

Vegeta

I'll probably go to the local Curry's and Harvey Norman this weekend but I do like the look of this HP and not because it's the same as my budget but because it is pretty powerful and has a large screen and SSD.

Vegeta

Vegeta wrote: »

I'll probably go to the local Curry's and Harvey Norman this weekend but I do like the look of this HP and not because it's the same as my budget but because it is pretty powerful and has a large screen and SSD.

new i5 8250u on the other one nearly 50% more powerful again to the older cpu on that laptop

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8250U+%40+1.60GHz
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-7500U+%40+2.70GHz

Vegeta

glasso wrote: »

new i5 8250u on the other one nearly 50% more powerful again to the older cpu on that laptop

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8250U+%40+1.60GHz
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-7500U+%40+2.70GHz

Thanks glasso, I wasn't aware the performance differences were that wide. The only thing putting me off the Lenovo is screen size. Laptop is used sitting at a table so weight is not an issue and bigger screen size is better in this case

L'prof

I’m in the hunt for myself at the moment, will be reading here intently and will post anything I find once I have a proper look

Vegeta

Vegeta wrote: »

Thanks glasso, I wasn't aware the performance differences were that wide. The only thing putting me off the Lenovo is screen size. Laptop is used sitting at a table so weight is not an issue and bigger screen size is better in this case

fair enough. personally only have an issue with screens below 13.3 inch but if you mum wouldn't like that I suppose that's the story!

L'prof

Thinking of going for the Inspiron 13 5000, €798.99 with the Jan discount

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

Thinking of going for the Inspiron 13 5000, €798.99 with the Jan discount

better off buying the metal and nicer thin-bezel screen dell 7000 i5 for same price with discount
http://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/laptops/inspiron-13-7000-laptop/spd/inspiron-13-7370-laptop

i7 only about 5% more performant than i5 in this case. not worth it.

L'prof

Hmmm, decisions. Not much difference between the 2 but at the same price I think I’d still be leaning towards the better processor over the more aesthetically pleasing machine

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

Hmmm, decisions. Not much difference between the 2 but at the same price I think I’d still be leaning towards the better processor over the more aesthetically pleasing machine

you would not notice the difference cpu wise. benchmark 8000 vs 7600
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8250U+%40+1.60GHz
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?id=3064

it's better build quality (metal more resilient to scratches also) and a higher quality ips screen (5000 series is not ips).

the usb type c port is more advanced also - allows for charging and display compared to the lower 5000 series.
much better deal imo.

L'prof

glasso wrote: »

you would not notice the difference cpu wise. benchmark 8000 vs 7600
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-8250U+%40+1.60GHz
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?id=3064

it's better build quality (metal more resilient to scratches also) and a higher quality ips screen (5000 series is not ips).

the usb type c port is more advanced also - allows for charging and display compared to the lower 5000 series.
much better deal imo.

Think I'm gonna hold off until the summer when I have more cash for this rather than lumping it on the never never (cc). Hope I haven't missed out on the price though

L'prof

Just following on from this. I'm in the States at the moment and the euro is fairly strong. They don't have the laptop that I was previously looking at but they do have the Inspiron 13 7000 2 in 1

Dell currently have a sale on that meaning I could get it from them for €879.01, in Best Buy it's for sale at $849.99 plus VAT which works out at €749.63. They also have a version with double the RAM and SSD for €846.65 (this seems to be €1179 on Dell - €332 savings)

Does anybody have experience with the 2-in-1 laptops? I'm assuming the converter supplied with the laptop would handle the voltage differences, I just need a new plug? I can live with a slightly different keyboard. Are the double RAM and SSD worth the extra €97 considering the price difference on Dell is €300?

Edit: The more expensive laptop on Best Buy is actually 15.6”. Hmmm

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

Just following on from this. I'm in the States at the moment and the euro is fairly strong. They don't have the laptop that I was previously looking at but they do have the Inspiron 13 7000 2 in 1

Dell currently have a sale on that meaning I could get it from them for €879.01, in Best Buy it's for sale at $849.99 plus VAT which works out at €749.63. They also have a version with double the RAM and SSD for €846.65 (this seems to be €1179 on Dell - €332 savings)

Does anybody have experience with the 2-in-1 laptops? I'm assuming the converter supplied with the laptop would handle the voltage differences, I just need a new plug? I can live with a slightly different keyboard. Are the double RAM and SSD worth the extra €97 considering the price difference on Dell is €300?

Edit: The more expensive laptop on Best Buy is actually 15.6”. Hmmm

you'd just need a new plug as all laptops can handle 100 to 220v these days.
touch screen not all that useful really on a laptop unless you're an artist and are getting a really high-end one but even then you'd probably be using a digital slate. or where you have a very light detachable tablet like the surface as even a light laptop is too heavy to use as a tablet.
I have a laptop with one and rarely use it.
aside from that it's a decent laptop.
but I'd look at the lenovo 720s with the mx150 graphics solution and i5 8250u chip and thunderbolt 3 (fast connection that will be increasingly useful over the the coming years - most usb c connections on laptops are not thunderbolt 3 unless stated) , full metal and top quality screen instead as it's a much better proposition and should be available over there for a similar price. So you have better screen, better build (more premium), better graphics (even allowing for video editing and gaming), better connection options. check the build and screen here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fAPt0bidts
some mention about trackpad not being the very best but I wouldn't really mind that.

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-700-series/Ideapad-720S-14/p/88IP70S0833
850 dollars on lenovo website
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-720s-14ikb-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-mx150-256gb-solid-state-drive-silver/6178634.p?skuId=6178634
more expensive on best buy but maybe you could get them to price match guarantee ( but won't match lenovo.com - only amazon and some others)
its 960 euro over here
the savings in the us aren't as big as they used to be when you factor in sales tax but it may still be worth your while.

L'prof

glasso wrote: »

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-700-series/Ideapad-720S-14/p/88IP70S0833
850 dollars on lenovo website
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-720s-14ikb-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-mx150-256gb-solid-state-drive-silver/6178634.p?skuId=6178634
more expensive on best buy but maybe you could get them to price match guarantee ( but won't match lenovo.com - only amazon and some others)
its 960 euro over here
the savings in the us aren't as big as they used to be when you factor in sales tax but it may still be worth your while.

Amazon have that laptop for $930.05, that’d be $1002.13 with sales tax. That makes it €820 if I could get them to price match. I’ll look into it, thanks

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

Amazon have that laptop for $930.05, that’d be $1002.13 with sales tax. That makes it €820 if I could get them to price match. I’ll look into it, thanks

make sure it's the one with the mx 150 graphics, not the 940mx.
and the i5 8250u or the i7 8550u chip

and it has to be a new amazon price, not for a used one.

if you are near one of these stores in the USA you can get it for 800 dollars (pre sales tax I assume).

http://www.microcenter.com/product/487724/IdeaPad_720S_14_Laptop_Computer_-_Silver

see the select stores icon on that page.

now that would be a great deal!

L'prof

glasso wrote: »

if you are near one of these stores in the USA you can get it for 800 dollars (pre sales tax I assume).

http://www.microcenter.com/product/487724/IdeaPad_720S_14_Laptop_Computer_-_Silver

see the select stores icon on that page.

now that would be a great deal!

€700? Not bad at all. There’s one about an hour and a half drive away. I’m very tempted Best Buy would hardly do a price match?

L'prof

L'prof wrote: »

€700? Not bad at all. There’s one about an hour and a half drive away. I’m very tempted Best Buy would hardly do a price match?

well... policy is...

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/help-topics/best-buy-price-match-guarantee/pcmcat297300050000.c?id=pcmcat297300050000

At the time of sale, we price match all local retail competitors (including their online prices) and we price match products shipped from and sold by these major online retailers: Amazon.com, Bhphotovideo.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com, Newegg.com, and TigerDirect.com.

unless they consider them a local retail competitor - depends on how far away they consider that- they might - can't hurt to ask.

I'd buy one myself if I was there.

L'prof

So I went with the Dell in the end. The Lenovo in Best Buy was online only. I got and open box one that didn’t have a charger and bought a universal charger. Will have to sort something for when I get home but I might have a friend that can “loan” me a charger. I was so tempted to make the 3hr round trip but decided against it. €723 all in, I’m very happy with that. Thanks for all the help and advice

good luck with it. decent laptop anyways. was tempted to pm you to get ask you to get me one of those 720s's if you were going to make the trip

you'll find a charger easy enough - trick is to get a small one. a lot of the ones on amazon/ebay are general ones that will work but can be bricks.

just google the voltage and input / output etc for the original charger and you'll be fine.