New laptop
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I'm looking for a new laptop to take to uni/travelling next year. I've never actually bought a laptop for myself before, so I don't really know what I'm looking for (apart from the hardware bits inside). For example, is it worth buying one with a rollcage? How helpful is having a massive screen?
At the moment I'm looking at Thinkpads, particularly the T60 and T61 as someone recommended them to me and they're nice and cheap refurbished. Apart from that, I have no clue :s.
Also, is there a way to buy a laptop with proper graphics (nVidia/ATI) without it being twice the price of one with Intel graphics? By the way, I'll probably be using it for uni work, programming, watching films and a bit of gaming maybe. -
I prefer 13-inch laptops, there are very few occasions where I feel lacking in screen-space, and that's when I plug-in a second monitor. It's never when I'm on the move.
My laptop wasn't exactly cheap, at £1000. But you know the old adage, you get what you pay for. :p -
I would second the recommendation for a smaller screen -- extra screen is extra weight, and you can always plug in a monitor. I use to love Thinkpads, but since Lenovo bought them from IBM, the quality has gone downhill fast.
Personally I'd recommend a 13" Macbook Pro, but if Windows is more your style I'd say go for an Asus. In my experience their machines, though not top-of-the-line, are a good value for the money. Dell Latitudes (not Inspiron) tend to be pretty good as well, especially if you want a docking port. -
Yay for Dell latitudes, even the ones my school has for student use feel like solid, quality machines (physically wise).
I wouldn't recommend toshiba, but they're pretty good laptops on most days. -
I really like the Dell Vostro line: http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/business/Laptops/vostronb/ct.aspx?refid=vostronb&cs=ukbsdt1&s=bsd
It looks like you can get a nVidia 310M in there complete with the Core iX chip, at around 400 pounds which is pretty impressive.
Otherwise the HP business line are always good: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF04a/321957-321957-64295-3929941-3955552.html?jumpid=re_R295_prodexp/busproducts/computing-notebook/hp-probk-ntbk-pc&psn=notebooks_tablet_pcs/notebook_pcs -
What are you mainly buying the laptop for? A desktop replacement that you will use everyday, or a small thing to travel with and check your email?
When I bought my first laptop, it was to be a meant to be desktop replacement, but I went on the smaller side (12.1" screen) and then eventually built a desktop for myself. Personally, I am glad I went with that size, the portability was nice; granted most of the time the laptop never left my desk. If you do go with a smaller laptop, remember, you can always plug into a bigger screen and plug a full size keyboard into it.
At my university, there are plenty of computer labs all over campus and I never really needed to take my laptop (even when I had group meetings) It did make me laugh though when someone would show up and pull out a monstrosity of a laptop with a 17" screen. Something like that is waaay too heavy to bring around with you all day, just get a desktop.
As for your question, in my experience, you can get a real video card, but prepare to pay for it. And prepare to get a bigger laptop...
I too like the Dell Vostro - a friend of mine has one and it is great from what I have seen of it in the last year or so; and the Dell 14 is also good. My sisters each have one and it is pretty solid. -
Do I dare suggest a MacBook Pro 13"? Runs Windows, has discreet graphics, and is one of the most well built units on the market IMO.
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I'd love a MacBook Pro... but they're pretty expensive :(. I'd be using the laptop as a desktop replacement by the way.
@Stephen_Bryant someone recommended a Thinkpad T60 or T61 to me. What's not to like about them? So far I can't find any real negatives on the internet... -
Well, all I can say is I have three broken T61s sitting on the shelf beside my desk. They just seem to be very failure-prone -- these three all have mainboard failures of various flavors.
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