Buying a new laptop.

[Kouki]

Yeah I've been doing a bit of research and there's nothing with SSD for that cheap. Didn't really expect it. I might considering installing an "aftermarket" drive for her (speaking of which, what's the deal with hybrid drives - are they worth it? I haven't paid too much attention to computers since I bought my garbage ASUS U56E a few years ago).

It seems like an Acer is her best bet but they have so many different model numbers its annoying. And the one model I keep coming back to is like $550 but in some review comments people are saying they bought it at Cost Co a long time ago for $350. wtf.

Ideally I think something like a 14" computer with a 4g i3 and HDMI out would be good. She says Windows 8 is pretty but she's been using a Mac for years so she doesn't have any Windows experience. Whichever is more secure between 7/8.1 would be best. Touchscreen not necessary. She will primarily use it for Microsoft Office, web browsing, torrenting, and learning software for her career in market research (sounds like database software, idk anything about it really, but I'm sure its not going to be too intensive.

Also its a necessity for her that she buys from a reputable place and preferably brick-and-mortar because she's afraid it won't work and she wants somewhere to take it when it doesn't...I think I could convince her to buy from a reputable vendor on Amazon.

 

[gourimoko]

Yeah I've been doing a bit of research and there's nothing with SSD for that cheap. Didn't really expect it. I might considering installing an "aftermarket" drive for her (speaking of which, what's the deal with hybrid drives - are they worth it? I haven't paid too much attention to computers since I bought my garbage ASUS U56E a few years ago).

It seems like an Acer is her best bet but they have so many different model numbers its annoying. And the one model I keep coming back to is like $550 but in some review comments people are saying they bought it at Cost Co a long time ago for $350. wtf.

Ideally I think something like a 14" computer with a 4g i3 and HDMI out would be good.

Does this mean 4ghz i3 or an i3 with a 4G modem/radio?

She says Windows 8 is pretty but she's been using a Mac for years so she doesn't have any Windows experience. Whichever is more secure between 7/8.1 would be best.

Do not use Windows 8... I'm using it now.. I repeat, do not use Windows 8... But unfortunately, you have to specifically contact the vendor and request Windows 7. OR, you can get Windows 8 Pro, then go through Microsoft for a downgrade license to Windows 7 (free). That's the best deal, but you'll never likely use Windows 8. I think Windows 8 is really like Vista, it won't be around for very long.

Touchscreen not necessary.

Exactly why Windows 8 won't be around for very long.

She will primarily use it for Microsoft Office, web browsing, torrenting, and learning software for her career in market research (sounds like database software, idk anything about it really, but I'm sure its not going to be too intensive.

Also its a necessity for her that she buys from a reputable place and preferably brick-and-mortar because she's afraid it won't work and she wants somewhere to take it when it doesn't...I think I could convince her to buy from a reputable vendor on Amazon.

Microcenter if your in Ohio..

As far as hybrid drives. I think they're fine. It's a good middle ground. It's just a bundled SSD cache, that's all. It's very straight forward. They aren't as fast as SSDs in general use, but if you are using only a small portion of the drive at any given time then you can get SSD performance. Depending on the model, that can range from decent to fantastic.

 

[Kouki]

Does this mean 4ghz i3 or an i3 with a 4G modem/radio?



Do not use Windows 8... I'm using it now.. I repeat, do not use Windows 8... But unfortunately, you have to specifically contact the vendor and request Windows 7. OR, you can get Windows 8 Pro, then go through Microsoft for a downgrade license to Windows 7 (free). That's the best deal, but you'll never likely use Windows 8. I think Windows 8 is really like Vista, it won't be around for very long.



Exactly why Windows 8 won't be around for very long.



Microcenter if your in Ohio..

As far as hybrid drives. I think they're fine. It's a good middle ground. It's just a bundled SSD cache, that's all. It's very straight forward. They aren't as fast as SSDs in general use, but if you are using only a small portion of the drive at any given time then you can get SSD performance. Depending on the model, that can range from decent to fantastic.

4th generation. I hear they are more resource-friendly and thus great for laptops. Though if the difference isn't drastic then its NBD. I don't even know if that is a reasonable request for a laptop this cheap anyways. Seems like most of the laptops in this price range have less than stellar battery life (~4 hours) though even that would probably be enough for her.

I haven't used Windows 8 much at all (just dicking around at Best Buy), I can see the appeal for laptops that have a dedicated tablet mode and to a lesser extent a touch screen, but the whole touch screen on a laptop with keyboard just seems like useless technology that is pretty and sells because its neat.

I'll check out Microcenter's website, it's a drive for me from North Canton but might be worth it just to appease her desire for a brick-and-mortar purchase..

 

[Kouki]

Well she blew her budget and bought a Lenovo U430 with Windows 8 (yuck)

I gave her some money towards it since her bday is coming up, easy for me

But 4g core i5, 500gb hybrid HD, 8GB ram, high res screen, ultrabook portability, bluetooth, etc, not a bad deal for 700. Way more power than she needs (I suggested buying the entry-level U430 with i3, worse screen res, non-hybrid drive, 4 GB ram....then I told her that if it were me I would spend the extra money since the hybrid drive and screen were worth it IMO, plus she absolutely wanted to buy something last night)

Has that stupid touch screen that no one wants but whatever

Gonna spend this weekend getting rid of bloatware and figuring out the best way to set up Windows 8, or think about "downgrading" to 7

Man Best Buy "salesmen" are so annoying and transparent

 

[CornerThree]

I don't understand how they work so hard and get no commission. Those dudes should be working somewhere like Verizon where you can at least make 50k/year if you have no selling morals.

 

[Kouki]

yeah

i can imagine how some of their tactics work on computer-illiterate people though

"free antivirus is awful! think about it, what incentive do they have to provide good service if you aren't paying them?!"

(not saying that all paid AV is bad and all free AV is good but)

 

[gourimoko]

yeah

i can imagine how some of their tactics work on computer-illiterate people though

"free antivirus is awful! think about it, what incentive do they have to provide good service if you aren't paying them?!"

(not saying that all paid AV is bad and all free AV is good but)

:chuckles:

Best software in the world, including AV, is free. ClamAV is free. Linux is free (as in speech). The Mach kernel, which Mac OS X is based on is free. The .NET Framework which most Windows programs are written in these days is free (as in beer). JavaScript the language which powers the web is free. Apache, nginx, MySQL, PHP, all free and encompass more than half of all web/web servers on the entire internet.

The incentive to write good code can be community driven to facilitate the greater good of all parties involved.