Recommendations for a laptop

[flybub]

Hey everyone. I'm in need of a laptop and could use some help. I previously had an hp pavilion and almost 2 years in the hard drive failed and I lost majority of my work. Local tech stores looked at it and did what they could but they were unable to pull any data off the hard drive. So, do I go with another Windows laptop or something different. I use office suite quite a bit (mostly excel) but other than that I'm all Google services. Macbooks have always intrigued me but I have never in my life touched a mac or used osx, however I'm always willing to try something different. I've been a Windows user since I started using a pc 15+ years ago. I don't do gaming or any kind of editing. I have been teaching myself to program using ruby and Javascript so something I could program on would be ideal. Price range is $600-$900. Any suggestions?

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[Golfdriver97]

Have you looked at Chromebooks?

 

[UJ95x]

The Microsoft store site always has some good deals going on. I'd look at the Dell XPS 13 in particular.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SOKP 4.4.2

 

[Indoler]

Have you looked at Chromebooks?

For that budget he can have a decent laptop. Even a MacBook Air!

 

[B. Diddy]

I agree that the OP probably needs more than a Chromebook, based on what he said.. But for me, and for a lot of other people, Chromebooks are pretty awesome. My two Chromebooks are way more than decent. It just depends on what you use them for.

 

[flybub]

Chromebooks are interesting machines but I don't think I could use one as a full time laptop. Something I kept at home and my kids could use would probably be fine though. Interesting that Dell was mentioned. Every pc I have owned except for one (the hp in my op) has been a Dell and they have been great, however, I've never had a Dell laptop. The Dell desktop I'm running now has been going strong for 7 years now. The one before that for 6 years, so is the laptop hardware as reliable as the desktop?

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[UJ95x]

Chromebooks are interesting machines but I don't think I could use one as a full time laptop. Something I kept at home and my kids could use would probably be fine though. Interesting that Dell was mentioned. Every pc I have owned except for one (the hp in my op) has been a Dell and they have been great, however, I've never had a Dell laptop. The Dell desktop I'm running now has been going strong for 7 years now. The one before that for 6 years, so is the laptop hardware as reliable as the desktop?

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I owned one for a very short time, and the only real issue I had with it was that the keyboard made a very quiet "coil whine" when the backlit keyboard was on. Not an issue throughout the day but at night when I watched movies on it that would bother me. Other than that it's pretty solid.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SOKP 4.4.2

 

[Indoler]

Something I kept at home and my kids could use would probably be fine though.

So why a laptop? A laptop with the same specs as a desktop is about 30 to 40% more expensive. If you don't need portability why pay for a device that is going to disappear to someone's bedroom everyday?

 

[sting7k]

Why not just replace the hard drive in the laptop you have and save hundreds of dollars?

 

[flybub]

I did replace the HD. My son is going into Jr high school so I reloaded Windows and gave it to him. I run my family's business so I would like to have something portable. I have a desktop at work and a desktop at home but would like something I can transport when the need arises.

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[sting7k]

Thank you for clarifying your situation.

IMO since you are running a business stick with what you know. You should be able to find a laptop with an i5 processor in your budget that will work fine.

 

[flybub]

That was going to be my next question regarding the processor. I think an i7 would be overkill but wanted everyone's opinion on the i5. Thanks for the help

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[Indoler]

That was going to be my next question regarding the processor. I think an i7 would be overkill but wanted everyone's opinion on the i5. Thanks for the help

Yes, an i7 processor would be overkill for you. If you're not a gaming junkie and you don't do heavy graphics editing or much multi-tasking an i5 is perfect for you.

But I doubt very much that running a business and letting the kids play on one and the same machine is a good idea, TBH.

 

[UJ95x]

Yes, an i7 processor would be overkill for you. If you're not a gaming junkie and you don't do heavy graphics editing or much multi-tasking an i5 is perfect for you.

Graphics editing would require a better graphics card, not a better CPU
But yeah, an i7 isn't necessary. It's barely an upgrade over the i5 anyway.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SOKP 4.4.2

 

[Indoler]

Graphics editing would require a better graphics card

So would gaming.

 

[UJ95x]

So would gaming.

I know. I'm just saying that the i7 isn't what's going to improve graphics editing for him, which is what you replied in the above post.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SOKP 4.4.2

 

[flybub]

Thanks for the help everyone, greatly appreciated

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