Buying a new Windows laptop

DigiCorn · July 18, 2012, 10:46:25 AM

I'm not a laptop guy. Don't like 'em. I got one for my wife when she was in school, and now it's basically just lying around.

Our accountant is asking me for laptop recommendations, and I told her to get as much RAM as she could, an SSD hard drive (if they make one, and if it's affordable) and get at least an i5 or better Intel (skip AMD - they don't seem to perform as well in laptops).

She will be using it for MS Office and Quick Books exclusively. Her only requirements are that she wants a fingerprint scanner and a backlit keyboard. She priced one from Dell, and it came back with a quote of $1,800, which i think is outrageous. I found several other Dell, HP and Acer models (without the fingerprint scanner and backlit keyboard) in the $750 range with more RAM, blu-ray and a larger hard drive. The Sony model was more, at $1,400.

I guess my questions are:

What is the difference in the construction of the cheap laptops versus the expensive ones?

Why the huge disparity in pricing (do the backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner really warrant the extra cost? are they that expensive?)?

Is there one brand that's really better? (I hear good things about the new Samsung and Toshiba models)

Which one would you get?

Joe · July 18, 2012, 10:52:30 AM

Quote from: DigiCorn on July 18, 2012, 10:46:25 AMI'm not a laptop guy. Don't like 'em. I got one for my wife when she was in school, and now it's basically just lying around.

Our accountant is asking me for laptop recommendations, and I told her to get as much RAM as she could, an SSD hard drive (if they make one, and if it's affordable) and get at least an i5 or better Intel (skip AMD - they don't seem to perform as well in laptops).

She will be using it for MS Office and Quick Books exclusively. Her only requirements are that she wants a fingerprint scanner and a backlit keyboard. She priced one from Dell, and it came back with a quote of $1,800, which i think is outrageous. I found several other Dell, HP and Acer models (without the fingerprint scanner and backlit keyboard) in the $750 range with more RAM, blu-ray and a larger hard drive. The Sony model was more, at $1,400.

I guess my questions are:

What is the difference in the construction of the cheap laptops versus the expensive ones?

Why the huge disparity in pricing (do the backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner really warrant the extra cost? are they that expensive?)?

Is there one brand that's really better? (I hear good things about the new Samsung and Toshiba models)

Which one would you get?

A Macbook Pro. :tongue:

The more crap they have to cram into a tiny space the more it will cost. She could save some bucks by getting a USB fingerprint scanner. I would think almost all laptops have a backlit keyboard but I suppose some cheap ones might not.

I hate all name brand computers because of all of the trialware, adware, crapware shit they put on it but it is not easy to build your own laptop. Any of the name brand ones will work. The ones that are more expensive are more expensive for a reason though. Compare the specs and you should see why they cost more.

And yes, they have SSD's for laptops. In fact, most SSD's have a 2.5" form factor which is what a laptop uses. It will raise the price though.

Farabomb · July 18, 2012, 11:50:51 AM

Very few laptop PCs have backlit keyboards that I have seen but I also haven't looked in about a year. Depends on what they want to do with it. Most people do fine with a "cheap one" but I'd stick to known brands.

David · July 18, 2012, 11:56:37 AM

for me, if it doesn't have the backlit keyboard, I just can't work...
it's just all too dark, and well, just unlit.

Farabomb · July 18, 2012, 12:23:34 PM

My big laptop has the WORST keyboard. You can only see the keys with bright, direct overhead light. Anything other then that and you can't see anything.

So I got a backlit keyboard...

David · July 18, 2012, 12:33:30 PM

I need me one of them there backlit mouses..

and a ashtray...

yep, just a mouse and this ashtray...
and this chair..
just the mouse, ashtray and this chair...

Joe · July 18, 2012, 12:37:24 PM

Quote from: Farabomb on July 18, 2012, 11:50:51 AMVery few laptop PCs have backlit keyboards that I have seen but I also haven't looked in about a year. Depends on what they want to do with it. Most people do fine with a "cheap one" but I'd stick to known brands.

Really? I had an el cheapo HP a while back that had a backlit keyboard. I just assumed if it had it that most of the others did.

Personally if it was between a good tablet and a laptop I would go for the tablet. I really don't like using a trackpad on a laptop.

Farabomb · July 18, 2012, 12:48:36 PM

I might have to agree with you, that's why I was looking at the ASUS transformer but the nexus 7 is drawing my eye as well.

DigiCorn · July 18, 2012, 01:08:00 PM

Again, not for me.

Our accountant is freelance and goes from office to office with her craft. She needs a portable device that can run full versions of Office Suite and Quickbooks and needs to be able to hook up to a local network to print out checks and stuff. She's an older lady, and not tech saavy. A tablet won't work for her, nor will a Mac.

Joe · July 18, 2012, 01:12:56 PM

Quote from: DigiCorn on July 18, 2012, 01:08:00 PMAgain, not for me.

Our accountant is freelance and goes from office to office with her craft. She needs a portable device that can run full versions of Office Suite and Quickbooks and needs to be able to hook up to a local network to print out checks and stuff. She's an older lady, and not tech saavy. A tablet won't work for her, nor will a Mac.

Macs can do all of that. It is 2012 ya know. And for the "not tech saavy" it's the best way to go.

Joe · July 18, 2012, 01:14:22 PM

Quote from: Farabomb on July 18, 2012, 12:48:36 PMI might have to agree with you, that's why I was looking at the ASUS transformer but the nexus 7 is drawing my eye as well.

That Nexus 7 would be great if it weren't for the 7" screen. They should offer a 9.7" to 10.1" model as well but I guess they are trying to compte with the Kindle Fire and the Nook instead of the iPad.

Farabomb · July 18, 2012, 01:26:54 PM

Umm if she's not tech savy wouldn't a Mac be perfect? It's a OS a drunk can use.

Joe, yea I'd like a bigger screen but the price is good.

mwc · July 19, 2012, 01:37:19 PM

Quickbooks for PC and Mac are different products, with different feature sets and cross-platform use is a joke. If she uses QB for PC already, stay away from Mac (AccountEdge by Acclivity is a great mac/pc product BTW).
Fingerprint Scanners are easily beat if someone cuts off your fingertips, then soaks them in milk and toner...used to happen all the time around here, till the boss got sick of replacing the band-aids in the shop medical kit.
for a pc laptop, i like ASUS... 'cause it's fun to say....how's your ASUS today? problems with you ASUS? KissMy..

DigiCorn · July 19, 2012, 01:52:54 PM

Quote from: mwc on July 19, 2012, 01:37:19 PM...i like ASUS... 'cause it's fun to say....how's your ASUS today? problems with you ASUS? KissMy..

There's a big red truck in Mianus (, CT)
Jackass Mianus

Greg_Firestone · July 19, 2012, 02:28:37 PM

Supposedly the "business" models uses higher quality parts. I believe the life-cycle is also longer which can be important for companies which want to have a similar model.

At the end of the day, the support contract will be what is most important. We typically go with Dell at our office for PC's. If there is a problem, we usually have a technician on site within 24-48 hours with new parts. We don't utilize their phone support that much, mostly hardware support.

From a cost standpoint, a PC will be much less expensive.

Greg

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Buying a new Windows laptop