Best laptop/ultrabook for £1000
Discussion
You'll get very entrenched views on Apple Vs the rest!
From my own perspective, I bought a MacBook 4 years ago and it's been the most reliable and easy to use laptop in a lifetime of using computers. And I was around at the birth of computing.
I've had every type of laptop both professionally and personally - I'd have another Apple in a heartbeat. So yes, definitely worth the extra.
From my own perspective, I bought a MacBook 4 years ago and it's been the most reliable and easy to use laptop in a lifetime of using computers. And I was around at the birth of computing.
I've had every type of laptop both professionally and personally - I'd have another Apple in a heartbeat. So yes, definitely worth the extra.
ROB_GTR said:
With macbooks, which do you pick? There's 3 patients and a multitude of different specs within each!
I bought a MacBook Air 13 inch.All my files (100% of everything) is kept on a 256GB Transcend storage disc which goes in the SD card slot. It means that I don't use much memory.
I now don't use my iMac at home - it's the Air for everything. I would guess I use it around 15 hours a day at work and home and I can honestly say I've not had a single thing go wrong, not once. I even managed to drop it on concrete - put a nice dent in the corner, but no other damage.
http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInvent...
Has a "scratch and dent" but this is definitely better than the macbooks IMO.
Has a "scratch and dent" but this is definitely better than the macbooks IMO.
MacBook Pro if you can either go refurb or spend a little more.
The Windows v Apple thing is tired, try both and buy the one you like most but if you want something that mostly "just works" with minimal fuss it's a good choice.
Then again so is a £200 Chromebook depending what you need it to be able to do.
The Windows v Apple thing is tired, try both and buy the one you like most but if you want something that mostly "just works" with minimal fuss it's a good choice.
Then again so is a £200 Chromebook depending what you need it to be able to do.
NDA said:
ROB_GTR said:
With macbooks, which do you pick? There's 3 patients and a multitude of different specs within each!
I bought a MacBook Air 13 inch.All my files (100% of everything) is kept on a 256GB Transcend storage disc which goes in the SD card slot. It means that I don't use much memory.
I now don't use my iMac at home - it's the Air for everything. I would guess I use it around 15 hours a day at work and home and I can honestly say I've not had a single thing go wrong, not once. I even managed to drop it on concrete - put a nice dent in the corner, but no other damage.
The Macbooks are fine if you're happy with very basic computing, browsing, email, word documents etc.
MacBook Pro's are above budget, but arguably worth the stretch.
In the Windows world the Surface laptop is a lovely bit of kit. Bought one for my daughter for Uni. It has the X factor where you just want to pick it up and use it, even though you have nothing to do. I would say this represents the pinacle of the Windows camp. Size and weight of a MacBook Air, power of a (base) MacBook Pro.
Few jobs...document editing...browsing... £1k
Just so long as you accept the same function could be done by a Chromebook or even £400 laptop, if you want portability and sleek appearance i understand the desire. I'd go for a Dell XPS. Never been a fan of macs, the "Just works" thing is so outdated. Windows machines haven't been plagued by BSOD and random problems for years. If my 67 year old technophobe mum can handle it I'd suggest it definitely "Just works"!
Just so long as you accept the same function could be done by a Chromebook or even £400 laptop, if you want portability and sleek appearance i understand the desire. I'd go for a Dell XPS. Never been a fan of macs, the "Just works" thing is so outdated. Windows machines haven't been plagued by BSOD and random problems for years. If my 67 year old technophobe mum can handle it I'd suggest it definitely "Just works"!
If you keep an eye on the Dell Outlet store you'd get a 13inch XPS in budget, but if you plan to do a lot of document editing you might find a 13" is a little bit small. If you're trying to do stuff with a couple of documents open, or a complicated spreadsheet, I find it's doable on a 13" but bigger would be better.
Alternatively for the budget you get an absolutely top spec Inspiron 15, or again cheaper if you keep an eye on the outlet store.
Sounds like your use is similar to mine though, I went for a 13" 7th generation i5 Inspiron 13 2-in-1 for about half your budget and it's done everything I've thrown at it so far including playing several games. The newer 8th gen is supposed to be a faster processor but the graphics are the same as the 7th gen. I only went for the 7th over the 6th for the uprated graphics as I don't really do much on it that makes the processor work that hard. The added benefit of the 13" being it's about A4 sized so convenient when I'm flying regularly.
Alternatively for the budget you get an absolutely top spec Inspiron 15, or again cheaper if you keep an eye on the outlet store.
Sounds like your use is similar to mine though, I went for a 13" 7th generation i5 Inspiron 13 2-in-1 for about half your budget and it's done everything I've thrown at it so far including playing several games. The newer 8th gen is supposed to be a faster processor but the graphics are the same as the 7th gen. I only went for the 7th over the 6th for the uprated graphics as I don't really do much on it that makes the processor work that hard. The added benefit of the 13" being it's about A4 sized so convenient when I'm flying regularly.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 20th September 19:50
zippy3x said:
Notwithstanding the quality or durability of the air, it's seriously outdated now. Can't see how anyone could possibly recommend one to buy today.
The Macbooks are fine if you're happy with very basic computing, browsing, email, word documents etc.
I'm not a nuclear scientist, so it's fine for what I do - emails, browsing, spreadsheets, presentations, photo editing and word processing. Basic computing that I don't need a supercomputer for and very happy to recommend it. The Macbooks are fine if you're happy with very basic computing, browsing, email, word documents etc.
ROB_GTR said:
7th or 8th gen i7? which processor is better? i7-7560U or i7-8550U
I got confused by all this when I bought mine a few months back.Basically intel has 3 processors, the i3, i5 and i7. The higher the number the quicker it is.
Then there's the generations, which is basically them building the chips with smaller (therefore quicker) transistors, so an 6th generation i5 is quicker than an 5th generation i5, but a later generation i5 might be quicker than an earlier i7
The first number of the 4 digit bit is the generation, so a i7-7xxxx is older and slower than an i7-8xxxx. I think the U means it's an ultra low power laptop one, which also means it's slower than the equivalent number desktop processor.
There's also the built in graphics to consider, the 7th gen have the 620 graphics, which is better than the 610 in the 6th gen, but apparently the 8th gen still uses the 620, but some laptop manufacturers will put in dedicated graphics cards which will usually be quicker.
The upshot of all this is if you look at someone like Dell's website you'll find a given size and model of laptop seems to come in 15 different versions all at different prices and you have no idea why
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 20th September 22:00
Meh, I have a Dell inspiron 17 laptop that has been used for heavy gaming, survived 2 moves, has been dragged everywhere and utterly abused ruthlessly and with a common sense approach to what I install & how much I love maintain it, it still works as well as it did the day I bought it 3-4 year ago. Ironically enough I want the damn thing to die to replace it. 
Windows is nigh on as stable as Apple, you just need some extra common sense with that you download and what you open on it.
Like duplo & Lego, both do the same job but one Is more restrictive, simpler but more robust, the other has more freedom and playability....but can end up messier.
Try both, see what you prefer.
Be sure a 12" is sufficient enough for document editing and multi tasking. That's a tiny screen to be staring at intently...
As for seeing the full range, "ultra book" is the phrase that these sort of laptops fall into. For sheer looks apple reigns no more imo....
Windows is nigh on as stable as Apple, you just need some extra common sense with that you download and what you open on it.
Like duplo & Lego, both do the same job but one Is more restrictive, simpler but more robust, the other has more freedom and playability....but can end up messier.
Try both, see what you prefer.
Be sure a 12" is sufficient enough for document editing and multi tasking. That's a tiny screen to be staring at intently...
As for seeing the full range, "ultra book" is the phrase that these sort of laptops fall into. For sheer looks apple reigns no more imo....
Edited by Andehh on Wednesday 20th September 22:24
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