Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: IZ on March 30, 2015, 09:02:42 PM

Title: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: IZ on March 30, 2015, 09:02:42 PM
It's been a few years since we've bought one.
$700-800 price range.
Needed for office work, gaming and movies with the GoPro. 
Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: ducpainter on March 31, 2015, 04:03:51 AM
Just got this one for T... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232132 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834232132)

It went up a bit since, and is just outside your range

It doesn't have MS Office, but it works for everything she needs, and there are all sorts of free office suites. She's not a gamer.

It does have a DVD/R and a SD card slot.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: DarkMonster620 on March 31, 2015, 05:14:58 AM
Well below your range but commplete
http://m.tigerdirect.com/products/9126288?SRCCODE=WEBBP2428&cm_lm=b5a37d7b3697500b3edf23ce97f5fe82&cm_mmc=email-_-Retro-_-WEBBP2428-_-tigeremail2428&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBBP2428 (http://m.tigerdirect.com/products/9126288?SRCCODE=WEBBP2428&cm_lm=b5a37d7b3697500b3edf23ce97f5fe82&cm_mmc=email-_-Retro-_-WEBBP2428-_-tigeremail2428&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBBP2428)
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: lightspd on March 31, 2015, 06:18:27 AM
http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/hp-envy-15-core-i7-laptop/14729.aspx (http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/hp-envy-15-core-i7-laptop/14729.aspx)

Not a bad deal, plus a good website to find deals overall.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: IZ on March 31, 2015, 07:21:07 AM
Great! Thanks for the suggestions.   [thumbsup]
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: Privateer on April 09, 2015, 05:57:04 AM
my 14 and 11 year old use chromebooks at school, so I was thinking about getting one for home to stop the fighting over who needs the laptop to do homework.

to my layman's eye they all look the same, is there one that is 'better' than the others?
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: DarkMonster620 on April 09, 2015, 06:47:46 AM
Quote from: Privateer on April 09, 2015, 05:57:04 AM
~~~~
to my layman's eye they all look the same, is there one that is 'better' than the others?

it all depends for what you are going to use it . . .

latest processor with hi speed and many cores with most RAM and hi end graphics > gaming
good processor with good speed and "avg" RAM[4GB] > multi use: word processing, web surfing, music, streaming video . . .
basic processor with "minimal" RAM[2GB] > as above but, much slower
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: NAKID on April 09, 2015, 09:24:20 AM
Quote from: Privateer on April 09, 2015, 05:57:04 AM
my 14 and 11 year old use chromebooks at school, so I was thinking about getting one for home to stop the fighting over who needs the laptop to do homework.

to my layman's eye they all look the same, is there one that is 'better' than the others?

Chromebooks are usually good performers, but smaller screens, obviously using Google Chrome OS as opposed to Windows, and typically have a solid state drive for storage. Most seem to have about 16GB SSDs.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: duccarlos on April 09, 2015, 10:36:46 AM
Chromebook is fine for your normal web browsing. Think of it like a tablet with a keyboard. For gaming, not so much.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: MendoDave on April 09, 2015, 09:46:50 PM
I always used to get Dell's, they make a good machine. Alternativly you could check out the refurbished laptops at your local computer store. You can usually find something pretty decent for under $500
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: DarkMonster620 on April 10, 2015, 08:43:36 AM
Quote from: duccarlos on April 09, 2015, 10:36:46 AM
Chromebook is fine for your normal web browsing. Think of it like a tablet with a keyboard. For gaming, not so much.
a friend got one[new] on the cheap for his wife and she has some issues running Office365 . . . so he installed Office2010 and runs better but still some nuances . . .

Only thing that I have always looked for, due to the software I run(diagnostics w/graphics) on the main PC AMD mobo and GFX in laptops is a bit more dicey . . . most are Intel and few use the NVidia gfx . . .

IZ must sit down and within his range choose whatever he feels might work for him . . .

I have already chosen my replacement laptop based on usage and storage
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: IZ on April 10, 2015, 09:07:43 AM
Quote from: DarkMonster620 on April 10, 2015, 08:43:36 AM
IZ must sit down and within his range choose whatever he feels might work for him . . .

I was thinking that I'd actually start playing all of the games my wife gets from work.  It won't happen though so we'll probably just get an Xbox1 to play the ones we get for that.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: duccarlos on April 10, 2015, 09:23:08 AM
I gave up on PC gaming a while ago. You constantly have to upgrade the hardware to keep up with the graphics. Pretty much all the games I enjoy can be played on one of the consoles and it eventually I will be able to cut the cable.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: DarkMonster620 on April 10, 2015, 09:53:17 AM
I usually/most of the time don't play games . . .

I like to have a good "in the middle" graphics/video card to stream netflix and youtube and other video sources . ..  the rest of the computing power goes to my diagnostic softwares and graphics . . .
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: IZ on April 10, 2015, 10:26:37 AM
Ok..so gaming computer will be out.  Wife said the graphics for Overwatch will be crazy anyway and require a laptop worth more than I want to spend.
So just need it to do paperwork, web and use with GoPro.
Title: Re: Shopping for a new laptop
Post by: MendoDave on April 10, 2015, 11:50:39 AM
Quote from: IZ on April 10, 2015, 10:26:37 AM
Ok..so gaming computer will be out.  Wife said the graphics for Overwatch will be crazy anyway and require a laptop worth more than I want to spend.
So just need it to do paperwork, web and use with GoPro.

Then if you have the budjet for it, get a mac book. It comes with word processors, spread sheets & other stuff for free, and you dont need antivirus software.

I use Pages all the time on both my mac & iOS stuff (iPad/phone) and it will convert and work with MS Word. The Font will change usually but thats it. Plus i find Pages much easier to work with. Numbers is the corrosponding MS Excel which is also free.