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Laptops - suggestions for business use
Posted on 8/1/19 at 10:47 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 10:47 am
I'm not ready to pull the trigger on a laptop but I'm starting to really research them for a purchase around Christmas/Black Friday most likely. I used to get overkill (i7, 16GB RAM and pure SSD) but with today's processors I'm not sure I have to go that high (plus, that's pushing $2k for a reputable laptop these days).
It seems that the Carbon X1 is the best rated one based on my research. The main issue is its expense. It seems that the premium you pay is for an ultra sleek/lightweight 14" laptop (and great display). For people who really use/abuse laptops, is this a real reason to pay 15-25% more? I've never really used a super lightweight laptop as my primary work machine.
How about company reputations? Do they matter? I'm not buying a Matebook but is the top-end HP (Elitebook) or Dell (XPS) on the same level?
I'm very intrigued about the Surface Book (not pro), especially compared to the X1 Carbon. Those seem to be the 2 highest-rated options.
It seems that the Carbon X1 is the best rated one based on my research. The main issue is its expense. It seems that the premium you pay is for an ultra sleek/lightweight 14" laptop (and great display). For people who really use/abuse laptops, is this a real reason to pay 15-25% more? I've never really used a super lightweight laptop as my primary work machine.
How about company reputations? Do they matter? I'm not buying a Matebook but is the top-end HP (Elitebook) or Dell (XPS) on the same level?
I'm very intrigued about the Surface Book (not pro), especially compared to the X1 Carbon. Those seem to be the 2 highest-rated options.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 11:35 am to SlowFlowPro
You can get like-new used x1 carbons for stupid cheap. I got mine off of ebay for $190
4th gen i7
8gb ram
Swapped the 240gb ssd for a 1tb
1440p display
swappen in a better battery
Amazing machine for the ~$300 after the upgrades
Edit: I went from a SP4 to this
4th gen i7
8gb ram
Swapped the 240gb ssd for a 1tb
1440p display
swappen in a better battery
Amazing machine for the ~$300 after the upgrades
Edit: I went from a SP4 to this
This post was edited on 8/1/19 at 11:37 am
Posted on 8/1/19 at 11:40 am to SlowFlowPro
Dell Latitude 7000 Series
Posted on 8/1/19 at 12:19 pm to SlowFlowPro
The first question: what type of work are you doing on it? If you're just doing Word docs, email, browsing, streaming, etc then pretty much anything you buy new will work.
The next question: what's your price range?
What you listed as overkill is on the higher end of standard. You can get a Dell Inspiron with the criteria you listed for just under $1k (assuming you aren't wanting anything smaller than 15").
I haven't worked on HP's in a long time, we're a Dell shop. I can tell you from over a decade of personal experience though that if your office has a Dell certified tech (which is easy to achieve) and there is a hardware issue you can usually have a replacement part the next day (they can order it through the tech portal).
The next question: what's your price range?
What you listed as overkill is on the higher end of standard. You can get a Dell Inspiron with the criteria you listed for just under $1k (assuming you aren't wanting anything smaller than 15").
I haven't worked on HP's in a long time, we're a Dell shop. I can tell you from over a decade of personal experience though that if your office has a Dell certified tech (which is easy to achieve) and there is a hardware issue you can usually have a replacement part the next day (they can order it through the tech portal).
Posted on 8/1/19 at 1:51 pm to Bard
quote:
The first question: what type of work are you doing on it? If you're just doing Word docs, email, browsing, streaming, etc then pretty much anything you buy new will work.
i do keep going back and forth. i originally planned on using my alien ware and its big i7 (for the time) and graphics card to handle video editing/uploading but that one is the one that's dying
i've debated doing a full bore remake in a new model but that's where the $2k-ish tag comes from. i've also debated getting a desktop to act as a central work computer/server and video editing machine, which would mean i should easily get by with a i5/8GB/256SSD laptop
Posted on 8/1/19 at 2:54 pm to SG_Geaux
quote:
Dell Latitude 7000 Series
Will second this. Have a 7390 and and very happy with it. If you want to save a few bucks the Dell outlet always has these and the 14 inch 7490 in stock. They have a 3 year warranty period.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 3:08 pm to captron
We switched from the XPS line to the latitude line at work, and I liked my older XPS better
Posted on 8/1/19 at 3:09 pm to SlowFlowPro
Just bought an XPS for ~$700. Great laptop
Posted on 8/1/19 at 3:23 pm to bluebarracuda
quote:
We switched from the XPS line to the latitude line at work, and I liked my older XPS better
Never used an XPS, they do look nice.
Can you upgrade the mem/ssd in the XPS or is everything soldered to the mb ?
Posted on 8/1/19 at 4:20 pm to captron
Ram is soldered, but if you're worried about it getting 16gb isn't that expensive of an upgrade
Posted on 8/1/19 at 6:11 pm to SlowFlowPro
Most laptops will work great for work purposes no a days, unless you have lots of heavy editing to do for uncompressed videos, pictures or music files.
Just about any 500.00 laptop should suffice.
Just about any 500.00 laptop should suffice.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 6:59 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:
video editing
Depending on the format and size of clips you are editing and the software you're using, you're better off going with a desktop if you are wanting to stay below $2k.
We've had some of our users getting into editing 1080p and 4k video but have insisted on laptops so we've been going with the Dell Precision 7530's. One of the guys is using Premiere Pro, the rest are using EDIUS Pro.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:09 pm to Bard
quote:
Depending on the format and size of clips you are editing and the software you're using, you're better off going with a desktop if you are wanting to stay below $2k.
I'm thinking that. My grand design was when I was really working a lot at home but I've been in my office for a year now and am about to sign another year-long lease so I'm investing in the office and I think a destktop is the all-around best option.
So I don't have to have the super top of the line laptop but I'm intrigued at the small form factors of the ultrabooks.
My current work laptop is a beast (Lenovo ideapad700 that's a few years old. I7, 16GB RAM, 256SSD, 1 TD HD, 4 GB graphics card, etc. that I got for $800 in Dec 16).
It's just heavy (5+ lbs) and the keyboard/trackpad are terrible (which doesn't affect me usually in work set up b/c I'm always using my USB mouse and keyboard but if I'm in, say court or a meeting outside of my office, It's not very usable). I'm looking at something more lightweight for moving around and keeping that big boy more in my office.
That's why I said in OP I'm starting to research. I'm trying to think of different options and how they'd work. I'm warming up to the major desktop and lesser, lighter laptop though.
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:36 pm to SlowFlowPro
I'm still partial to the X1 carbons since it's my daily driver.
They have one of the best keyboards of the bunch and the trackpad is top notch
They have one of the best keyboards of the bunch and the trackpad is top notch
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:48 pm to bluebarracuda
I may look into an older model, like a 4 or 5 series. Do those have the same keyboard/pad quality?
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:55 pm to SlowFlowPro
6th gen is still right around 1k on eBay and it still has the newer Intel 8th gen CPU.
Don't be afraid to buy this things lightly used. They're made to be abused in a work environment
Don't be afraid to buy this things lightly used. They're made to be abused in a work environment
Posted on 8/1/19 at 9:56 pm to SlowFlowPro
Posted on 8/2/19 at 9:34 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:
That's why I said in OP I'm starting to research. I'm trying to think of different options and how they'd work. I'm warming up to the major desktop and lesser, lighter laptop though.
I think that's your best bet. Tablets are becoming very popular and there are tons of options for things like docks, detachable keyboards, etc.
A couple of years ago we had someone get a Surface Pro with a dock, dual monitors and a detachable keyboard/case. From a support standpoint I don't like tablets because you pretty much can't work on them if there's a hardware issue it's stupidly ridiculous), but from a usability standpoint their versatility and light weight make tablets a great choice for what you seem to be warming up to.
Posted on 8/3/19 at 11:04 am to Bard
just got the 2017 X1 Carbon, so it is the 5th generation. The trackpad is great and the keyboard is even better.
Got it off of Lenovo's website with pretty good discounts. Computer with Microsoft Office Business shipped to the house for $1300.
I was scared by the thinness and light weight at first because it's smaller than anything I've had before. But it is solid. Seems like it will be a great machine for work use.
Got it off of Lenovo's website with pretty good discounts. Computer with Microsoft Office Business shipped to the house for $1300.
I was scared by the thinness and light weight at first because it's smaller than anything I've had before. But it is solid. Seems like it will be a great machine for work use.
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