Buying a Laptop

[23]

Re: Buying a Laptop

Well my dell is very old, still has XP on it and still goes. I did have the OS crash once long ago, but I resintalled it with no issues.

[VDusen04]

Re: Buying a Laptop

No problem. I think if you're looking for a 1080p display might have to go higher in price, but not quite Macbook pro. My sister got one new in 2012, and that thing was EXPENSIVE.

Edit: found a full HD one in your price range:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B018LH...zPL&ref=plSrch

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I'm pretty computer illiterate but I think my current laptop is on the verge of meltdown (shuts off randomly, sometimes hear a click inside).

That computer linked above looks pretty good in theory, but just wanted to double-check on some knowledge if anyone has any. Here's what I tend to use my computer for:

1. Normal web browsing
2. Streaming video service (Netflix, XFinity)
3. Photo and video storage (Personal archives like vacation videos and easily thousands of photos)
4. Video editing and uploading (Ex: capturing footage using software off a third party device, like a VCR, then splicing, editing, creating a web-ready video, and uploading to YouTube)

Would a computer like that seem to fit the bill? Is there a need to pursue i7 processor instead of i5? Is there even an i7, or did I make that up?

Also, does anyone ever have problems with the front edge of your laptop irritating your palms as you use the touch pad? My old computer seemed to have more rounded edges which made it feel better than my friend's sharper edged new piece. Sounds so stupid, but that's kind of a worry for me, haha.

Edit: One more thing, are the touchpads with specific left click and right click buttons officially extinct? Are you guys all used to the merged pad thing? I figure I'd get used to it but I kind of hated it when I tried it on my friend's. Seemed like it was harder to push and easier to get lost off of feel alone.

[jb12780]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I'm about two weeks into my new laptop. Dell Inspiron i7539. 13.3 inches, Windows 10, Intel i5 processor. Getting it all set up was a bit of pain as the wifi wasn't working correctly. But after uninstalling a few things, this thing is simply an amazing machine.

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I'm about two weeks into my new laptop. Dell Inspiron i7539. 13.3 inches, Windows 10, Intel i5 processor. Getting it all set up was a bit of pain as the wifi wasn't working correctly. But after uninstalling a few things, this thing is simply an amazing machine.

How's the touchpad? I have the Dell XPS and it is awful.

[jb12780]

Re: Buying a Laptop

How's the touchpad? I have the Dell XPS and it is awful.

Haven't had any issues with the touchpad so far.

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[p_rushing]

Re: Buying a Laptop

How's the touchpad? I have the Dell XPS and it is awful.

Which XPS? Mine works fine, 15" 9550.

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[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Buying a Laptop

Which XPS? Mine works fine, 15" 9550.

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The 13.3'' 9350. It's not as precise as other trackpads and skips with the slightest touch. Not properly responsive.

[p_rushing]

Re: Buying a Laptop

The 13.3'' 9350. It's not as precise as other trackpads and skips with the slightest touch. Not properly responsive.

You should get that checked out and replaced/get a new one as there shouldn't be any issues.

First to check is to make sure you have updated drivers. I know there were some issues in the first batches.

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[ODogg]

Re: Buying a Laptop

You should get that checked out and replaced/get a new one as there shouldn't be any issues.

First to check is to make sure you have updated drivers. I know there were some issues in the first batches.

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Yeah I have a 13" (not sure the model number) that I got a year ago from Dell and the touchpad works pretty good, you either have a driver issue or a defect I think.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I'm poking around at getting a new laptop soon. I wouldn't be doing major video editing and hardly if any gaming but I'm constantly streaming stuff in some form or fashion so I was wondering what the graphics card necessity would be.

I've heard graphics cards aren't necessary for even heavy duty media involvement (I'm talking multiple streams, using Tweetdeck/MLBTV/YouTube/etc all the time) but do they offer even a little bit of benefit? How are the integrated graphics nowadays?

Along with the streaming, I also want something that has Miracast enabled so I can broadcast my computer to my Roku effortlessly. Is that standard on every Windows 10 machine now? And is there any way to select specific browser tabs or programs to be broadcast instead of the whole computer at once? Would love to be able to use my computer while streaming a specific movie or game stream or whatever to my Roku.

Also, I see a lot of laptops that are 4GB of RAM. My current laptop which I got in like 2010 is 6GB. Do the newer processors/OSes use things more efficiently which would only let you need 4GB of RAM? Right now I'm thinking of getting at least 8, and getting some more on my own or just getting it loaded already if the right computer comes along.

Finally my biggest concern is the hard drive. I'm sick of crashes and hard drive issues and nonsense computer maintenance garbage in general. Is it better to get a computer with a 128 or 256GB SDD and then add another 1TB of regular disk space in an additional bay or get something that has 1TB of regular space and add an SSD? I figure it's best to have OS on the SSD, right? But I'd like to have my regular files on there too. Maybe OS + most used files on SSD and the rest of my stuff on a regular spinning drive?
Unfortunately 1TB all SSD seems to be too much (and generally unavailable standard in laptops at the moment anyway). Trying to figure out what the best mix would be.

Looking for some guidance. Hoping I can nail something good down for 500-800 when the time comes. Right now I'm looking at http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-.../dp/B015PYYDMQ for example, but I don't know if I "need" the graphics.

[redsrule]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I'm poking around at getting a new laptop soon. I wouldn't be doing major video editing and hardly if any gaming but I'm constantly streaming stuff in some form or fashion so I was wondering what the graphics card necessity would be.

I've heard graphics cards aren't necessary for even heavy duty media involvement (I'm talking multiple streams, using Tweetdeck/MLBTV/YouTube/etc all the time) but do they offer even a little bit of benefit? How are the integrated graphics nowadays?

Along with the streaming, I also want something that has Miracast enabled so I can broadcast my computer to my Roku effortlessly. Is that standard on every Windows 10 machine now? And is there any way to select specific browser tabs or programs to be broadcast instead of the whole computer at once? Would love to be able to use my computer while streaming a specific movie or game stream or whatever to my Roku.

Also, I see a lot of laptops that are 4GB of RAM. My current laptop which I got in like 2010 is 6GB. Do the newer processors/OSes use things more efficiently which would only let you need 4GB of RAM? Right now I'm thinking of getting at least 8, and getting some more on my own or just getting it loaded already if the right computer comes along.

Finally my biggest concern is the hard drive. I'm sick of crashes and hard drive issues and nonsense computer maintenance garbage in general. Is it better to get a computer with a 128 or 256GB SDD and then add another 1TB of regular disk space in an additional bay or get something that has 1TB of regular space and add an SSD? I figure it's best to have OS on the SSD, right? But I'd like to have my regular files on there too. Maybe OS + most used files on SSD and the rest of my stuff on a regular spinning drive?
Unfortunately 1TB all SSD seems to be too much (and generally unavailable standard in laptops at the moment anyway). Trying to figure out what the best mix would be.

Looking for some guidance. Hoping I can nail something good down for 500-800 when the time comes. Right now I'm looking at http://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-.../dp/B015PYYDMQ for example, but I don't know if I "need" the graphics.

If you're not video editing or not playing games you really don't need one, integrated graphics would suffice. That being said it isn't a bad thing to have.

You want an SSD ideally as your boot drive (what holds the OS and other frequently used programs) and then the regular hard drive as backup/media storage. The more SSD space the better obviously.
Do you need a cd drive? I know more and more laptops are being made without those.
I would say 8 GB of ram would be the sweet spot. More would be great while less would be ehh especially if you are going to be multi tasking.


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[TheMatrix31]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I don't really need a CD drive, no.

I have integrated graphics on my computer now and there's some stuttering or choppiness (especially when I go full screen) sometimes when I watch some videos on YouTube or elsewhere but I always figure it's a connection thing or quality of stream thing rather than a hardware thing. The vast majority of the time is totally fine. But if it's something that can be rectified or impacted by a dedicated graphics card then that's pretty much what I'd like to know.

EDIT: One of the things that really pisses me off with my machine right now is how painful it is to use Google Maps/street view, etc. Is that something that can be helped with a dedicated graphics card or is that confined to CPU matters? Current computer has an i5-2430M processor core 2.4ghz.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Dell-Inspiron-15-i5559-7081SLV-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.333089700/?vid=333090200

There's this one I just came across. The i5 is 499 with a coupon code and the i7 one is 649 with the coupon code. The i7 has a higher processor and a (low-end) graphics card in it. I have a hard time figuring out exactly what the difference is between these processors as they pertain to my needs and usage, and what the benefits of a low-end graphics card would mean for me.

If I got the 499 one, getting a 128 SSD from Samsung + 4 or 8 more gigs of memory on my own after would add like 200 bucks to the cost or something. 700 bucks wouldn't be too bad for all that I don't think.

It's weird. My laptop right now still works generally fine. Slows down and gets super laggy at times but generally fine. Usable. Biggest issue overall is that it takes like 10 minutes to run smoothly and actually do stuff with any ease or speed coming out of sleep. That's mostly what's driving my interest in a new laptop.

[p_rushing]

Re: Buying a Laptop

I would get an i5. Unless you are doing intensive stuff, you won't need the i7 and will save money and battery life.

Most of the new integrated graphics can run 4k screens, streaming, etc. The higher ones can play some games on medium settings.

Ssd will fix lots of slow down problems, boot up in seconds, etc. A ssd may even solve your issues in your current laptop.

When you see the slow downs or are streaming videos, open task manager and look at the performance tab. That will give you an idea of where the slow down is at and how much CPU, ram, etc you are using.

I would look at i5, 8-16 ram, sad, good wireless card.

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[TheMatrix31]

Re: Buying a Laptop

Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about replacing the HD in my laptop now with an SSD but I'm looking and I have 300GB used on my regular HHD so I'd probably need a 500GB SSD. The 500GB SSD Samsung 850 Evo is currently 150 on Amazon. I figure it would help out a lot to switch it out but eh, I don't want to sink 150 (plus my power supply and especially battery seem to be on their way out too) into a laptop that's a few years old already. Might be the more economical choice for me at the moment though.

What's the difference between a good wireless card and a bad one? The Dell from the MS Store that I posted says "802.11ac/a/b/g/n (Miracast enabled)" for it. I know I want Miracast for sure. And you said most of the integrated graphics can do really well nowadays. The one I posted has Intel 520.

Really interested in that one because the price (with a 150 off coupon code) + extra ram and SSD on the side from Amazon is a really nice price point for me if I DO decide to get one.

[p_rushing]

Re: Buying a Laptop

Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about replacing the HD in my laptop now with an SSD but I'm looking and I have 300GB used on my regular HHD so I'd probably need a 500GB SSD. The 500GB SSD Samsung 850 Evo is currently 150 on Amazon. I figure it would help out a lot to switch it out but eh, I don't want to sink 150 (plus my power supply and especially battery seem to be on their way out too) into a laptop that's a few years old already. Might be the more economical choice for me at the moment though.

What's the difference between a good wireless card and a bad one? The Dell from the MS Store that I posted says "802.11ac/a/b/g/n (Miracast enabled)" for it. I know I want Miracast for sure. And you said most of the integrated graphics can do really well nowadays. The one I posted has Intel 520.

Really interested in that one because the price (with a 150 off coupon code) + extra ram and SSD on the side from Amazon is a really nice price point for me if I DO decide to get one.

Some of the wireless cards have issues, but 11ac will give you the fastest speeds and could easily support multiple video streams, sharing files on your network, etc. If you find detailed specs on what the card is, you can search on google to see if it has issues or not. My XPS 15 doesn't have any wireless issues, but don't know if they used the same card or not.