How do I choose a good laptop?

[Zaphod]

I am leaning towards just buying the best rated laptop on Amazon that is somewhere in the 500 to 900 dollar range. I don't feel very hardware savvy anymore. Is there any benefit in checking something out at a computer store instead?

I don't know exactly what I will use it for but I often find myself having a lot of programs open at once (Excel, Word, Firefox, Media Player) and my current one gets slow. It is old as dirt. There is a chance I might use some 3d CAD software on it too. I don't much care if it runs the newest computer games smoothly or not.

A problem I always have is keeping my files and programs organized. I know that is mostly my fault, but do any operating systems make it easier? How does Apple compare?

Hmm, anything else to consider? Oh yeah, I would like something rugged and portable, but it doesn't need a large screen since I will use it mostly at home and I plan on getting a docking station.

I definitely need something new as my current laptop freezes up...or starts skipping, and I literally have to press on the frame in different places until I find the right "pressure point" to get it moving smoothly again. Any suggestions?

[Federer]

First write down the needs and look for the laptop which meets your requirement.

Done!!

Now a days graphics have been higher, so i recommend you that buy a HD supported laptop and rest things depend on you.

[Zaphod]

Say I buy a popular 500 dollar laptop. Do you think I will notice it getting slow if I have multiple Excel files, Word documents, Windows Media Player, Firefox, and Gimp open in Windows 7?

Example:

"# 2.53 GHz Intel Core i3-380M dual-core processor for a fast, responsive PC experience (3 MB L3 cache). Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking.
# 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
# 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz)
# Intel HD Graphics (with 128 MB of dedicated system memory) deliver turbo-charged performance and fast throughput and provides support for Microsoft DirectX 10 games."

Amazon.com: Acer AS5742-6475 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black): Computer & Accessories

Thanks

[Federer]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Say I buy a popular 500 dollar laptop. Do you think I will notice it getting slow if I have multiple Excel files, Word documents, Windows Media Player, Firefox, and Gimp open in Windows 7?

Example:

"# 2.53 GHz Intel Core i3-380M dual-core processor for a fast, responsive PC experience (3 MB L3 cache). Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking.
# 500 GB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
# 4 GB of installed DDR3 RAM (1066 MHz)
# Intel HD Graphics (with 128 MB of dedicated system memory) deliver turbo-charged performance and fast throughput and provides support for Microsoft DirectX 10 games."

Amazon.com: Acer AS5742-6475 15.6-Inch Laptop (Mesh Black): Computer & Accessories

Thanks

To me intel i3 is sufficient for medium level users and who keep turned on multiple applications.

Intel i5 would be brainstorming.

If we look at your requirements that piece would be enough for you.

[Zaphod]

Okay, that helps give me a feel for things. Maybe I will bump it up a little just to give myself room. Thanks again.

[Federer]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

Okay, that helps give me a feel for things. Maybe I will bump it up a little just to give myself room. Thanks again.

welcome.

[veloci]

A laptop with an i3 or i5 with at least 4 GB of ram would serve your expectations well.

There are various websites you could buy your future laptop from, and more often than not you can find a better deal on the websites than in your brick-and-motar stores. I'd post the websites here, but I am not sure if I'd be advertising and whatnot.

[Zaphod]

The only sites I have bought from are Amazon and Newegg, as far as electronics go. And I know of Tiger Direct.

[veloci]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

The only sites I have bought from are Amazon and Newegg, as far as electronics go. And I know of Tiger Direct.

Another website to add into your arsenal is slickdeals.net

Other users can find pretty good bang for your buck laptops at times.

[Ilikeindowem]

If one is using graphics-intensive programs, then a powerful processor and GPU is required. For basic internet and social networking, power is not required/necessary, since this depends on the speed of one's internet connecction largely.

[VinceG]

If you want a good laptop, you have two options, ThinkPad or Mac. Everything else is middle of the road to bad. For that price range you can get a decent used ThinkPad or the budget MacBook.

If laptop quality = specs for you, then just shop around until you find the highest specced machine in your range. All manufacturers are comparable.

[Zaphod]

What makes those two laptops better? You say all manufacturers are comparable, but those are made by Apple and Lenovo, I see. Can you not get a laptop from a different manufacturer with similar specs?

[Ilikeindowem]

A better brand is a relative/moot point.

Personally, I like HP, but that's just me, they've worked well for me in the past. In the end though, any computer is obtained for personal needs/requirements, whether in terms of specs, price, OS, applications, etc.

To use an example, I'm looking for a netbook since it suits my needs. It's not very powerful (as far as IBM clone machines go) but if used for just Web browsing, office apps (such as Microsoft Office), etc. then it works more than well. I don't own many DVDs/Blurays, so I don't care much about an optical drive.

[danthony]

I've really been liking the new Lenovo thinkpads with i5 or i7 processing power. Shutdown and startups take like 5-6 seconds. ;-)

The startup on my laptop takes like almost 5 minutes i believe. My desktop is alot faster

[sorter]

I like my macbook pro a lot although morally I hate that Apple is completely proprietary.
I use vmware to run windows 7 for all my windoze progs.
Works fine.

I've had problems with thinkpads because of their proprietary drivers
and they don't give you an OS disk.
.

[LostMyMap]

I bought little HP last Thanksgiving for a mere $400 and it's great. It has a dual core 64 bit processor and I always have lots of junk open and it doesn't bog down.

I know you are asking about laptops, but I just picked up a desktop workstation with a solid state drive. hoo boy this thing is fast!!

My thing about computers is put your money in memory first, and graphics if you think you need them. You would be happier with an i3 with more memory and higher end graphics than you would with an i5 without enough RAM and low end graphics.

[juancito]

Originally Posted by VinceG

If you want a good laptop, you have two options, ThinkPad or Mac. Everything else is middle of the road to bad. For that price range you can get a decent used ThinkPad or the budget MacBook.

If laptop quality = specs for you, then just shop around until you find the highest specced machine in your range. All manufacturers are comparable.

I agree.
1st choice - get a Macbook Pro.
2nd choice - get a cheaper Macbook.
3rd - get a Thinkpad.

I had both a Mac and Thinkpad, and more recently a compaq (hp). The compaq is ok. It has a nice wide-screen, but other than that I don't like it one bit.
Mac's are solid. Thinkpad's are the workhorses of the PC world.

This is all my own opinion.

The choice is yours. Go with whatever computer excites you.

[VinceG]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

What makes those two laptops better? You say all manufacturers are comparable, but those are made by Apple and Lenovo, I see. Can you not get a laptop from a different manufacturer with similar specs?

What makes them better is the care and attention that goes into their design. They last forever. Similar specs will yield a machine with similar performance, but there's a lot more to a machine than performance.

[Andrew Brunelle]

On the HP website (HP® - Laptops, Desktops, Printers, Servers and more), you can custom design your own computer to fit your needs. I did this around 2 years ago, and it turned out great. I got a laptop with 4GB memory and 160GB storage space with a very good screen and a full keyboard for under $600. The only problem was I got it just before Windows 7 came out and I have Vista, but I don't mind it so much, it was the newest Vista they had come out with, so it runs pretty well.

I'm sure there are plenty of websites that will tell you what to get in a laptop, just search it on Google or your preferred search engine.