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JoieDeVivre
Hippie Babysitter



Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 5,751
Loc: Gamehenge
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Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately?
#18772370 - 08/29/13 10:20 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm desperately in need of a new laptop and I primarily want to know if any of you guys have tried out some of the newer laptops or hybrids. I really love the idea of the convertible laptops where you can actually remove the screen and use it as a tablet, I'm hoping some of my fellow pubbers have input as to whether these are worth the (somewhat) hefty price tag or not.
And if anyone wants to give me recommendations on laptops to check out I'll add a little about what I'm looking for:
- <$1000
- decent hard drive space and battery life
- ideally something that will last at least four years (six would be better, but four is essential) - all of my laptops have lasted ~ 2 years before beginning to slowly die off and I'm tired of the lack of reliability there
- something that is portable
- something that is easy to take notes on (which is why I love the idea of convertible/hybrids)
- Something with a haswell [or equivalent] processor (either an i5 or an i7 would be ideal)
- NOT an ultra book or a stand alone tablet, I want something with the full capability of a mid-high end laptop
- decent webcam
- I would LOVE something I could game on as well, but that's a last priority
Also, what is up with these "portable" desktops? Has anyone used one of these? Can you actually carry them around and use them as you would a tablet/laptop?
TL;DR: Tell me about your experience with newer laptops. Which ones suck, which aren't worth the money, which are incredible, which are reliable etc.
-------------------- Sapere aude "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."
UBUNTU- I am because we are.
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SARAtonin
Violent Dreams


Registered: 09/28/11
Posts: 15,907
Loc: Deutschland
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre]
#18772396 - 08/29/13 10:26 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I got a new Windows 8 touch screen laptop recently, and all I have to say is steer clear from windows 8.
I'm sure you already know about new egg but it really is the place to go. http://www.newegg.com/Laptops-Notebooks/SubCategory/ID-32
-------------------- God kills indiscriminately and so shall we. For no creatures under God are as we are none so like him as ourselves. Want to join a cult? Click for details…
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: SARAtonin]
#18772399 - 08/29/13 10:27 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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i'm having trouble reconciling what a computer has to do with a car.
unless i'm just too out of it to read the op.
oh wait, probably that.
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: NWlight] 1
#18772401 - 08/29/13 10:28 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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ok I read the TL;DR
buy a Samsung and spend at least 500 dollars.
don't buy a used computer. ever.
and windows 8 is fucking awesome. get a 64 bit, you'll be absolutely amazed at the computing power.
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JoieDeVivre
Hippie Babysitter



Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 5,751
Loc: Gamehenge
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: SARAtonin]
#18772422 - 08/29/13 10:33 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I never buy used computers, they're always cheaper but I'm very wary about doing that just because I know how quickly my brand new computers start to have issues.
So many conflicting opinions about Windows 8. 
Quote:
SARAtonin said: I got a new Windows 8 touch screen laptop recently, and all I have to say is steer clear from windows 8.
All I know is windows. What would you recommend instead of windows?
-------------------- Sapere aude "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."
UBUNTU- I am because we are.
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SARAtonin
Violent Dreams


Registered: 09/28/11
Posts: 15,907
Loc: Deutschland
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre] 2
#18772428 - 08/29/13 10:34 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Windows 7
-------------------- God kills indiscriminately and so shall we. For no creatures under God are as we are none so like him as ourselves. Want to join a cult? Click for details…
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre]
#18772432 - 08/29/13 10:34 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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no windows 8 is awesome, ignore that advice. they haven't taken the time to get used to the interface. its 10x better than any other windows operating system.
just don't get a touchscreen. moving your arm around is such a pain in the ass. use a mouse like the rest of the world .
touchscreen computers are for communists
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre]
#18772433 - 08/29/13 10:34 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I have a Dell i5 Inspiron. Does everything I need it to: email, word, excel, browsing, music, data analysis, etc. etc. Kinda funny that my 4-5 year old laptop does exactly the same things.
I still take notes the old school way, with a pen.
For any actual data management or multi-tasking, no laptop compares to dual screen 24" monitors.
Kinda sounds like your primary need is a convertible. Looks like those can be had pretty cheap.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: SARAtonin]
#18772435 - 08/29/13 10:35 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
SARAtonin said: Windows 7
windows 8.
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: SARAtonin] 1
#18772462 - 08/29/13 10:41 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've heard people say that Windows 8 is not too bad if you download the mod that brings back the start menu. I used it for about an hour on a VM and found it frustrating. So many basic functions are pretty near impossible to find by looking around. Even figuring out how to shut down the OS was a mystery. The task manager looked improved though.
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: psi]
#18772465 - 08/29/13 10:43 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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naw seriously, like I said it takes a few weeks to get used to, but once you are familiar with the new interface it > all
it hasn't crashed. ever.
you know that "end process" bullshit in the task manager?
taken care of.
"end task" now ACTUALLY kills things.
that is 1 of 100000000 better things in windows 8
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: NWlight]
#18772477 - 08/29/13 10:46 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Perhaps I will give it a shot again sometime. It just seemed like they focused more on trying to have a clean looking interface than they did on making it straightforward to figure out how to do things.
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JoieDeVivre
Hippie Babysitter



Registered: 10/13/11
Posts: 5,751
Loc: Gamehenge
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: psi]
#18772496 - 08/29/13 10:48 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Has no one used an actual convertible? Come on guys, get with the times.
They look awesome but I'm scared to be the first person I know to buy one. I haven't even seen any in classes yet which is weird because as soon as the tablets with the thin, crappy keyboards came out every single person in every class I had seemed to get one.
Quote:
NWlight said: no windows 8 is awesome, ignore that advice. they haven't taken the time to get used to the interface. its 10x better than any other windows operating system.
just don't get a touchscreen. moving your arm around is such a pain in the ass. use a mouse like the rest of the world .
touchscreen computers are for communists
Funny I just so happen to be a communist. 
Touch screens are teh coolest.
Quote:
psi said: Perhaps I will give it a shot again sometime. It just seemed like they focused more on trying to have a clean looking interface than they did on making it straightforward to figure out how to do things.
This is how I feel every time I see windows 8. It feels too mac-esque for me, but I haven't gotten to play around with it much so I don't know...
-------------------- Sapere aude "We cannot live for ourselves alone. Our lives are connected by a thousand invisible threads, and along these sympathetic fibers, our actions run as causes and return to us as results."
UBUNTU- I am because we are.
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NWlight
Just look


Registered: 01/12/10
Posts: 18,686
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre] 1
#18772498 - 08/29/13 10:49 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
They look awesome but I'm scared to be the first person I know to buy one. I haven't even seen any in classes yet which is weird because as soon as the tablets with the thin, crappy keyboards came out every single person in every class I had seemed to get one.
NEVER buy the first generation of any product.
there are always fuck ups. no exceptions.
maybe buy 2nd gen if you are dead set on a communist touch screen
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre]
#18772520 - 08/29/13 10:54 AM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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One thing to keep in mind with the windows tablets is that some have ARM CPUs and some have X86/X64 ones. The ARM ones are better on battery life but they won't run programs for normal windows.
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: JoieDeVivre]
#18773111 - 08/29/13 01:27 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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We've been discussing laptops in the Science&Tech forum a lot the past few weeks.
General consensus seems to be this one is the best bang for your buck right now around the 1k price range: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834312835
You probably wont find anything better than that in that price range.. only thing is it's a little heavy.
This one also looks like a real good option http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152409
Or a little cheaper.... http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/y-series/y410p/
If you want a convertible, these are the best http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets/thinkpad/thinkpad-helix/ but no sense paying several hundred extra just for a "convertible" that has inferior hardware than other regular laptops. With a convertible, you WILL pay a higher premium than you would otherwise, for LESS powerful specs.
tl:dr: Buy Lenovo.
Fuck Windows 8. although it's probably gonna come by default with ANY newer laptop. First thing I'd do is format and install 7.
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volcomstoner
I'll have just one more xanax



Registered: 07/20/09
Posts: 11,231
Loc: Minnesnowta
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: Shroomism]
#18773158 - 08/29/13 01:40 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/u-series/u310-touch/ Bought a Lenovo U310 few months ago and I fucking love it. Also
Quote:
Shroomism said: Buy Lenovo.
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HAIL SATAN Vas donc jouer dans le traffic
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: volcomstoner]
#18773162 - 08/29/13 01:41 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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+1. Lenovo makes the best laptops, period.
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volcomstoner
I'll have just one more xanax



Registered: 07/20/09
Posts: 11,231
Loc: Minnesnowta
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: Shroomism]
#18773189 - 08/29/13 01:45 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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I believe I'v read somewhere that Lenovo is rated one of the highest for customer service as well. Fucking amazing company for sure, very high quality and good prices. I would never go with anything else.
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HAIL SATAN Vas donc jouer dans le traffic
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Shroomism
Space Travellin



Registered: 02/13/00
Posts: 66,015
Loc: 9th Dimension
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Re: Has anyone bought a new laptop or a hybrid/convertible lately? [Re: volcomstoner]
#18773200 - 08/29/13 01:48 PM (10 years, 5 months ago) |
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For Laptop you absolutely cannot go wrong. They use the highest quality parts and construction, they skip no corners like many other manufacturers do. They are generally a little bit pricier than other brands, but for a good goddamn reason. Also they ALWAYS have the highest end hardware in their "good" laptops. For example when most laptops are running around offering 4GB of RAM and a 5400RPM HDD, lots of Lenovos were offering 12GB of RAM and SSDs.. they are just always ahead of the curve. Laptop brand of choice for most hackers.
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