Advice on laptop computers

[ABG]

Guys,

I'm looking for a new laptop that will be used for typical MS Office applications as well as CAD. As usual, I'm looking for the least expensive solution. What do you recommend and can you suggest somewhere that I can buy it?

[losfp]

IMO with laptops, it pays to go a bit higher with the budget and get a name-brand machine, the build quality is normally better, and it is easier to get service / parts. My favourite is the Mac laptop range, but I daresay with CAD you'll have to go for a PC. In which case, my favourites are the IBM ThinkPads, and the Toshibas.

[owen]

You should make sure you get an extra warranty as well. Laptop's aren't as easy to buy replacement parts for should something go bust.

[Nnnnsic]

This is how I'd rate laptops at this point in time:
1. Asus
2. Toshiba

...and then you can probably stick in IBM (Lenovo), Apple, Dell, and Alienware in any random order underneath, but Asus & Toshiba are pretty much the best.

[MattC]

Andrew,

I am going to say, "stay away from Dell!!!" I have just been through a few rounds of "Dell Hell" with a third warranty claim on what was a very high end system. It got to the point where I put the damned thing back in it's box and hid it in the darkest, dingiest, dustiest corner of the shed where it can live (or die) for all eternity in shame.

I will recommend Asus.

Cheers

[birddog114]

IMO with laptops, it pays to go a bit higher with the budget and get a name-brand machine, the build quality is normally better, and it is easier to get service / parts. My favourite is the Mac laptop range, but I daresay with CAD you'll have to go for a PC. In which case, my favourites are the IBM ThinkPads, and the Toshibas.

IBM ThinkPads, and the Toshibas, none of these brands can pass the ASUS with qualities, services and economical

[DStrom]

I'll vote for ASUS, quite a few guys at work have them and have not had any problems.

Mind you my 5 year old IBM is still going even if the battery only lasts 5 minutes.

[birddog114]

Mind you my 5 year old IBM is still going even if the battery only lasts 5 minutes.

Is it rabbit now?

[Nnnnsic]

Mind you my 5 year old IBM is still going even if the battery only lasts 5 minutes.

Dad's is about 10 minutes. Damnit.

[MattC]

Batteries are cheap if a laptop is worth keeping.

Cheers

[gstark]

Batteries are cheap if a laptop is worth keeping.

Cheers

Not if you're using a Sony.

Oh, sorry. You said "if the laptop is worth keeping", which, in a Sony, is not the case.

My ASUS is now getting close to 2 years old. This morning I was operating on battery power.

For three hours.

I have never before had any laptop - in 16 years of laptop ownership and use - where the battery has had any sort of reasonable life beyond 12 or 14 months. Sony maybe ten months, IBM and Toshiba in the range of 12 - 14 months battery usability, and the Asus is still going strong after 22 months.

Couple that with my recent excellent service/warranty call due to a failed HDD, and I have to give ASUS an A+ in all areas.

The machine does not yet feel slow - although VS 2005 certainly is starting to make if feel slowish - service and support has been great, battery life is exceptional, and it still feels to me to be a good unit.

My IBM is still a very usable unit, despite it being a PIII 500, I'm still happy with the twoi old Toshibas that both also are very serviceable, but I wouldn't waste my piss on the Sony, which is a four year old paperweight.

And it even doesn't do that all that well.

[losfp]

Asus must have made great progress since I was last looking for a PC laptop I'll have to concede on that point, I simply have not had enough experiences with their laptops to form any sort of opinion.

Still stand by my recommendations on IBM and Toshiba though.

(on a side note my 3-year-old 12" PowerBook 867Mhz is still getting in the region of 2.5 hrs battery life with wifi running. Chugs embarrasingly when using PhotoShop though.. but my purchase of an 80-200 has postponed my thoughts of buying a new MacBook for a few months at least )

[ABG]

Okay, looks like Asus is the brand to get. What model will run CAD happily and where's the best place to buy one?

[birddog114]

Okay, looks like Asus is the brand to get. What model will run CAD happily and where's the best place to buy one?

Check at here:

http://www.synnex.com.au
Choose ASUS and then Notebook.
See what you're after first.
I might do some better deals for all.

[Nnnnsic]

What sort of CAD app are you running?

I'd probably stick to a model running either an ATI x1600 or a Nvidia 7600.

There are some SLi lappies on the market, but they're expensive, hot, and not made by Asus.

[admajic]

gstark - I think Battery technology has improved in the last 16 years.
Make sure you get at least 1GB RAM.
Check out the screen quality. B4 u buy...
Size Look at the 17" ones especially if you are doing Graphic work
I heard ASUS was good but have never seen one. I noticed on the web that with ASUS systems you can buy the case with screen then add your own parts. They also have a an upgradable video card.
Get a good video card ie 9800pro or better
Warrenty get at least 3years its worth it.
So basically you could replace you desktop with a laptop.

[gstark]

gstark - I think Battery technology has improved in the last 16 years.

The Sony was put out to pasture after less than two years. Its specs state the same battery (or very similar) bAttery technology as the ASUS, yet the ASUS is just sosuperior in this, and every other, aspect.

Lindy has an Acer, btw, and its battery is dying after less than 12 months use. The ASUS is clearly a standout here.

[MattC]

Gary,

I am still getting 2.5 hours out of the battery on my 3 year old Dell (there is another dirty word - I used to think better of them) 500m. It started life at about 4.5 hours.
It is a good little laptop btw. It still feels up to the task with it's oldish 1.3 GHz Banias P-M and 855 integrated graphics (not everyones choice, but this is a plus for me). It does not exactly tax the battery, and with a couple of gig of RAM handles NC nicely enough when I am on the road.

It was bought to be supplemental to a desktop, not to replace one, hence the low spec. It still does everything (and does it well) that I demanded from it on day one. I feel that I could happily use this lappy until the day that MS withdraws support for XP.

Cheers

[whiz]

Like any manufacturer, there are good and bad models.
My Dell Inspiron 8200 has had heavy use and is the best laptop I've ever owned.
Dell have three manufacturers. One for desktops, laptops and servers.
Don't buy a dell laptop which is first in a new model shape.
Friends don't let friends buy dell servers.
Toshiba used to be the top of the laptop game. They too have had batchy models. HP make some decent laptops. We use them at work and have had a few turn up with bad batteries.
Other than that, they've been sterling in service.
I have two compaq n600c's which are used for all types of things. They sat unused for three years as emergency tools. Battery life on them is almost four hours.

Any modern laptop will run CAD happily. Days are long gone where you worry about things not working well enough.
Only time you need to worry about performance is when you want to play the latest games on the highest resolutions.

THEN, you're largely in e-penis company anyway.

[bago100]

e-penis

Bago100 learns a new word.

Not sure of the meaning though. I'll have to use the word at a management meeting tomorrow to see who is awake and alert!

Cheers

Graham

[birddog114]

e-penis

Bago100 learns a new word.

Not sure of the meaning though. I'll have to use the word at a management meeting tomorrow to see who is awake and alert!

Cheers

Graham

Graham,
We learned new word everyday do we?

[sheepie]

Based on the last 5 hours, I'd totally recommend an ASUS A8JM

[birddog114]

Based on the last 5 hours, I'd totally recommend an ASUS A8JM

Finallyyou're totally happy with her? take her to bed tonight, I guess?

[shakey]

My Dell Inspiron 8600 stopped working after 8 months, mind you that was shortly after I spilled a glass of orange juice on the keyboard.

The nice Dell man put a new keyboaaaaaarddddd in andddd it'ss @$%) warkkiingggg weeelll nowww.