Laptop shopping help.

Our desktop computer is kinda old, full of spyware, and was a lower grade store model anyway. I'm trying to start this business, so I think a decent laptop is in order. I'd be doing email, spreadsheets, and Grassroots. No iRacing (yet).

I don't want crap, aside from my PS3, everything I've ever owned electronics wise has been crap. What brands do you recommend? Where do you recommend buying from?

BoostedBrandon wrote: Our desktop computer is kinda old, full of spyware, and was a lower grade store model anyway. I'm trying to start this business, so I think a decent laptop is in order. I'd be doing email, spreadsheets, and Grassroots. No iRacing (yet). I don't want crap, aside from my PS3, everything I've ever owned electronics wise has been crap. What brands do you recommend? Where do you recommend buying from?

Our Dell Inspiron is fine, but be warned that our battery failed just within the one year warranty and the replacement has failed as well. You may want to research in that area, because it's usually expensive and proprietary, unlike nearly everything else in the laptop.

I like Toshiba. I just ordered a 17" triple core for $400 off of newegg.com. Albeit a refurb model.

Is there a reason you are looking more for a laptop over a desktop? What price range? Lenovo is good for "work" machines. The extra size of a 17" over a 15" is great, but cuts down on available laptop bags/storage options.

I like Lenovo ThinkPads (I believe Lenovo were the ones building them when they were being sold as IBM ThinkPads), but there's a premium to pay.

Solidly built, really nice machines. The best buys I've seen have been straight from Lenovo online. I was reasonably happy with the factory refurb I had, though its battery life was never very good; they don't guarantee the battery on the refurbs, IIRC, or didn't at that time.

Currently using an ancient Dell. The case feels like a toy compared to the ThinkPads, but there is the plain fact that it's a seven year old computer, and I am still using it, though all the status LEDs recently quit working.

Not using the ThinkPad anymore because I am a clumsy, clumsy person sometimes, and even a really well built laptop can only take so much abuse.

Depends if you want cheap and adequate or expensive and better.

In the former category I'd try to find something like a used Lenovo (the business kind, not the cheaper consumer ones - and those are more than adequate). In the latter category I'd go MacBook Pro, probably used again.

Even though we're a Windows (programming) shop at work, the developers all have Macs running Windows, simply because we've had fewer issues with those machines than any other brand they tried.

Ditto the Mac and run windows on it if you want to. You can run both Mac and Windows at the same time with a very small hit in speed.

Much more reliable base.

This might help:

http://blog.laptopmag.com/5-questions-to-answer-before-you-buy-a-laptop

I will say that if you're planning on using it for business, I would use Windows 7 64-bit Professional or Ultimate and make sure to use BitLocker to encrypt it. That way you'll be ready for the future, can have a ton of memory (to load large spreadsheets) and the encryption will help in case the system is lost or stolen.

As to the existing system, a reload of Windows and a memory upgrade might do wonders for extending its life. If you provide the make/model we can tell you if it is worth it.

Try to not use Internet Explorer for browsing, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are potentially more secure, especially with the appropriate add-ons installed (NoScript and Ad-Block, two of the main attack vectors these days)

Good luck!

Are you carrying it with when go out to change oil? I really like my Asus eee PC. It is light and has a really long battery life but not a ton of power. Enough to do email and spreadsheets and the like I don't think I would do much gaming on it though.

I have also had a Toshiba which was a miserable experience (5 hardrives in under 2 years) and then an HP which ran hot but otherwise great (although the screen went out after 2 years). I don't think I will ever get anything bigger then a netbook again. If I want/ need more power, I am just going to build a desktop.

I was planing on having it in the work vehicle as I was out and about, stealing wi-fi to check email and stuff, keep up with appointments and such on the go. I'd rather go cheap and adequate, as I don't think I'll need something amazing to do what I do.

I use primarily HP for a 500 end user health care organization and have been nothing but happy.

I think in the last year, I've replaced 1 PS and 1 system board.

Budget and ultimate needs are important things to look at.

I got a new laptop a few months back. I decided on the HP EliteBook 8560p. Big factor on that for me, is that I know I can be a bit rough on equipment, and I wanted something tougher than a regular consumer notebook. Only option I found in my budget that was full size, rugged, and had a dedicated graphics card to give me the option of using it for gaming.

So far, I'm pleased with it. Fit and finish is worlds better than base line stuff. I am very happy I sprung for a business class computer.

If I had more money, I would have loved to find a Lenovo with a real graphics card.

+1 on the HP EliteBook line. It's all we buy here at work (construction company) for our 300+ users aside from some HP desktops for office folks.

We've got four laptops in the family. One Acer that is junk, one Sony Vaio that is great, and two Asus that are outstanding. I'd look hard at the Asus.

Grtechguy wrote: I use primarily HP for a 500 end user health care organization and have been nothing but happy. I think in the last year, I've replaced 1 PS and 1 system board.

I went thru like 5 power supplies with my HP which was weird.

I would suggest Asus so far I have been very happy with mine.

I shudder thinking about reloading the OS on a Sony Vaio or installing a new OS on it... Absolutely ridiculous.

There are Thinkpads, and there is everything else.

I have had thinkpads for work for a while, and honestly, I am not too impressed.

there is a reason most all major corprate laptops are Lenovo ThinkPads...

that being said... i'd stick to a desktop for biz and only use the laptop for what I had to use... laptops are by nature easier to steal and brake things on...

anyway my dad is lead tech in the oldest computer shop in his city... he still highly recomends Acer... my first laptop was an acer and other then the battery its still going stong 5 years later (now it's my bro-in-laws)

my current laptop was a $400 toshiba 2.1ghz dual core amd 250gig hdd, 4gig ram, 10key pad, had it for about 1 1/2 years and it spent a good bit of it's life traveling... the battery is starting to get weak... will prob replace it before school starts in the spring but other then that I can't say anything bad about it...

I won't touch an HP... had to work on to many of them myself (and dads shop has STACKS of dead ones in the back of the shop)

if you are looking for something small and easy to carry but need minimal power netbooks are great... I picked up my first used for $130 years tossed in a $35 Chinese "9 cell" battery... still running strong even after multiple drops (it's my wifes)... cable from the mo-bo to the screen needs replaced... but no big... picked up a nearly new gateway netbook a few weeks ago for $50... needs a battery...

so depends on what way you want to go... i'd stick with desktop for the major stuff and do only basic little daily things (printing invoices?) on the laptop...

BoostedBrandon wrote: I was planing on having it in the work vehicle as I was out and about, stealing wi-fi to check email and stuff, keep up with appointments and such on the go. I'd rather go cheap and adequate, as I don't think I'll need something amazing to do what I do.

based on this... a smart phone sounds more like what you need...

donalson wrote:

BoostedBrandon wrote: I was planing on having it in the work vehicle as I was out and about, stealing wi-fi to check email and stuff, keep up with appointments and such on the go. I'd rather go cheap and adequate, as I don't think I'll need something amazing to do what I do.

based on this... a smart phone sounds more like what you need...

Yep, or a cheap netbook with 3G access - cheap enough that it's not going to be a big loss if it suddenly goes walkies.

donalson wrote: I won't touch an HP... had to work on to many of them myself (and dads shop has STACKS of dead ones in the back of the shop)

I wouldn't touch a consumer-grade HP hence my stipulation on the EliteBook line - and we immediately wipe them and do a fresh install to remove any HP bloatware - if the EliteBooks even come with it, which they may not. We've got a few 4+ year old ones and quite a few 3+ year old ones out in the field still going strong - and again this is in a dusty construction environment. Batteries do seem to get pretty weak after a couple of years but the guys either just live with it or bug IT and get replacements/refurbs.

I've got a smartphone, I make 90% of my posts from one. It's okay, but I wanted something bigger and easier to use and such. Since I want a computer to replace the one I have and still be able to print stuff and whatever, so a laptop seemed appropriate.

spreadsheets, web design, ads, and that sort of thing are much nicer to do on a desktop... $300 buys A LOT of desktop these days (more then most people need to be honest... and many GRMers aren't "most people" lol)

donalson wrote: there is a reason most all major corprate laptops are Lenovo ThinkPads...

I work for a VERY large company that paid no taxes in 2011 in the US and we all use Dells...

In reply to tuna55:

Business class Dells are good.