Laptops…help me pick!
Discussion
I want a new laptop. I’ve used a computer/laptop for years and just got by with my phone at home. But it’s not ideal and I would like a laptop.
What do I go for? I want one that lasts. I had a MacBook before which was bullet proof. I’ve still got it somewhere but it doesn’t turn on anymore after I stood on it…whoops!
Budget wise…up to £1,000 but I’d like to spend less. I’m happy with secondhand as well.
Requirements? Not that much. Heavy internet use. YouPorn…sorry Tube. Biggish screen. But not too big. It will be a laptop and used almost all the time whilst sat on the sofa.
Decent build quality. We have a Thinkpad at work and I like the keyboard.
Maybe a few games. Things like Football Manager.
I’m going to go and have a wonder around a few shops and see if I can find anything I like so any suggestions would be welcome
.
What do I go for? I want one that lasts. I had a MacBook before which was bullet proof. I’ve still got it somewhere but it doesn’t turn on anymore after I stood on it…whoops!
Budget wise…up to £1,000 but I’d like to spend less. I’m happy with secondhand as well.
Requirements? Not that much. Heavy internet use. YouPorn…sorry Tube. Biggish screen. But not too big. It will be a laptop and used almost all the time whilst sat on the sofa.
Decent build quality. We have a Thinkpad at work and I like the keyboard.
Maybe a few games. Things like Football Manager.
I’m going to go and have a wonder around a few shops and see if I can find anything I like so any suggestions would be welcome
. I bought a Mac book Air M1 just under a year ago. Mostly on a whim. It’s become my main machine. Fab display, syncs wonderfully with my iPhone and has caused replacement of several pcs at work that were getting tired and been now with used various apple stuff. I’m now convinced it is vastly better than winows stuff. Faster, long battery life, good sound and great display. Buy one !!
You will find on one of the M1 Mac threads - that I am amazed that a bottom tier computer in the lineup (Air M1 - 8 core Gpu - but 1TB disk ) - just wiped the floor with my 2017 MacPro.
Lots of YouTube vids on this - but the consensus was that Apple made it too good - to consider buying the MacBook Pro.
In the last couple of months the Pro has got a newer chip, bigger screen etc - but the Air is just staggeringly capable for 99% of the population.
Lots of YouTube vids on this - but the consensus was that Apple made it too good - to consider buying the MacBook Pro.
In the last couple of months the Pro has got a newer chip, bigger screen etc - but the Air is just staggeringly capable for 99% of the population.
If you want one that lasts, then definitely an Apple laptop. They are still supporting laptops from 2015! Don’t know of a windows manufacturer that offers support for so long.
I got a 2018 Dell laptop and its basically stuck on Windows 10 because Dell aren’t supporting a Windows 11 upgrade on it. Sure the OS says its Windows 11 compatible, but without corresponding manufacturer driver and bios updates, I won’t bother taking the risk. Last time my Sony laptop lost support after a few years too, I couldn’t get the laptop to work reliably on Windows 10 so it stayed on 7 until I retired it. Sure Windows 10 ran on it, but it also BSOD’d 3 times a day which wasn’t fun. Those supporting updates are critical for a stable system.
The duration and quality of manufacturer support is so important, but often overlooked. Apple are second to non.
I got a 2018 Dell laptop and its basically stuck on Windows 10 because Dell aren’t supporting a Windows 11 upgrade on it. Sure the OS says its Windows 11 compatible, but without corresponding manufacturer driver and bios updates, I won’t bother taking the risk. Last time my Sony laptop lost support after a few years too, I couldn’t get the laptop to work reliably on Windows 10 so it stayed on 7 until I retired it. Sure Windows 10 ran on it, but it also BSOD’d 3 times a day which wasn’t fun. Those supporting updates are critical for a stable system.
The duration and quality of manufacturer support is so important, but often overlooked. Apple are second to non.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 2nd February 06:21
Silly question, but is a laptop/computer essential these days? Obviously it depends what you use it for.. I have very little interest in computers, but have a new iPad Pro and nice keyboard with trackpad. It’s 90% reading/watching stuff, but if word processing & app-based stuff etc.
Granted, it came to a similar price as a laptop but I suspect it does everything I need of it, with the ease of use of a tablet (which to an IT moron like me, is important).
Just curious, to be honest.
Granted, it came to a similar price as a laptop but I suspect it does everything I need of it, with the ease of use of a tablet (which to an IT moron like me, is important).
Just curious, to be honest.
If you like the Thinkpad, have a look on Ebay.
Lots of sellers of ex Corporate Machines. Find a Seller with Multiples for Sale.
Generally much better built than Consumer Grade Kit.
Good Spares availability if you need a new Charger. Keyboard, Screen, etc.
T450 onwards with SSD and 16GB will do what you need.
Lots of sellers of ex Corporate Machines. Find a Seller with Multiples for Sale.
Generally much better built than Consumer Grade Kit.
Good Spares availability if you need a new Charger. Keyboard, Screen, etc.
T450 onwards with SSD and 16GB will do what you need.
wyson said:
If you want one that lasts, then definitely an Apple laptop. They are still supporting laptops from 2015! Don’t know of a windows manufacturer that offers support for so long.
I got a 2018 Dell laptop and its basically stuck on Windows 10 because Dell aren’t supporting a Windows 11 upgrade on it. Sure the OS says its Windows 11 compatible, but without corresponding manufacturer driver and bios updates, I won’t bother taking the risk. Last time my Sony laptop lost support after a few years too, I couldn’t get the laptop to work reliably on Windows 10 so it stayed on 7 until I retired it. Sure Windows 10 ran on it, but it also BSOD’d 3 times a day which wasn’t fun. Those supporting updates are critical for a stable system.
The duration and quality of manufacturer support is so important, but often overlooked. Apple are second to non.
This is also true. My 2013 MBP has had it's final OS update from Apple, the wonderfully named "Big Sur". It had a patch release a few days ago. It continues to be supported by Apple until November 2023. Effectively, 10 years of support for this piece of hardware. I got a 2018 Dell laptop and its basically stuck on Windows 10 because Dell aren’t supporting a Windows 11 upgrade on it. Sure the OS says its Windows 11 compatible, but without corresponding manufacturer driver and bios updates, I won’t bother taking the risk. Last time my Sony laptop lost support after a few years too, I couldn’t get the laptop to work reliably on Windows 10 so it stayed on 7 until I retired it. Sure Windows 10 ran on it, but it also BSOD’d 3 times a day which wasn’t fun. Those supporting updates are critical for a stable system.
The duration and quality of manufacturer support is so important, but often overlooked. Apple are second to non.
Edited by wyson on Wednesday 2nd February 06:21
Magnum 475 said:
This is also true. My 2013 MBP has had it's final OS update from Apple, the wonderfully named "Big Sur". It had a patch release a few days ago. It continues to be supported by Apple until November 2023. Effectively, 10 years of support for this piece of hardware.
But usually twice the price of a windows laptop that will last 5+ years, personally I don't think there's as much in as some people will have you believe.I've never had an apple product other than an iPod, but if the OP has a iPhone there's a lot of sense keeping to one ecosystem, my mother has an iPhone, iPad and mac laptop, and interoperability is pretty good.
On the other hand if the OP wants to play some games on it make sure the games you're interested in are available on IOS, pretty sure Football Manger is, but not all games are.
Being a Surface Pro user, I would suggest thinking Surface Pro The new ones are apparently serviceable insofar that SSD and RAM might be possible to upgrade. I like mine because it does everything I want, touch, light. Also I have a PD USB-C adaptor which makes feeding it power a breeze....
Having said that, my missus has a MBP from ~2011 that was still working well, she loves her MBP from 2019/2020 but says the battery life is better on the old one - that still works a treat.
The new ones are apparently serviceable insofar that SSD and RAM might be possible to upgrade. I like mine because it does everything I want, touch, light. Also I have a PD USB-C adaptor which makes feeding it power a breeze....Having said that, my missus has a MBP from ~2011 that was still working well, she loves her MBP from 2019/2020 but says the battery life is better on the old one - that still works a treat.
My daily was an M1 Air for 12 months. Amazing machine and I use it occasionally now. Only occasionally, because a new role I've started needs me to use a Thinkpad...
imck said:
If you like the Thinkpad, have a look on Ebay.
Lots of sellers of ex Corporate Machines. Find a Seller with Multiples for Sale.
Generally much better built than Consumer Grade Kit.
Good Spares availability if you need a new Charger. Keyboard, Screen, etc.
T450 onwards with SSD and 16GB will do what you need.
So if you need a Windows machine I'd agree with this. I've bought 100+ ex-Corporate Thinkpads from Ebay over the years and they can be a bargain. T or X range, X1 Carbon if you can stretch to it. I sold my latest-gen X1 Carbon once I got the M1 Air!Lots of sellers of ex Corporate Machines. Find a Seller with Multiples for Sale.
Generally much better built than Consumer Grade Kit.
Good Spares availability if you need a new Charger. Keyboard, Screen, etc.
T450 onwards with SSD and 16GB will do what you need.
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