14" Laptop with Core i5

C

c0re

Limp Gawd
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
210
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I just got the HP dm4x about a month and a half ago and I'm loving it. The entire laptop is quite solid and the performance is nice. I can answer any specific questions about it if you have any, but I would recommend it based on personal use.
 
From slickdeals.net a lot of the people on that forum does not like the build quality of the HP brand. You mentioned that this is for long term use, I would go with Lenovo.
 
Lenovo's I looked at in that price range feel pretty cheap.

I picked up the HP 14" i3 dm4-2015x. It's a Sandy Bridge but it doesn't meet your requirement. Still, it's $579 at best buy right now and the build is pretty solid.
 
my dad has a lenovo, not sure on the model but its a consumer one. it doesn't feel very well built, the screen bezel is flimsily. the track pad is textured on it, I can't stand it. it was dropped on the carpet from about 3 feet and it still works, so thats the only good thing I can say about it.

try and get a corporate or business class laptop, everyone says they are built better, warranty is longer and tech support is in the US.
 
Yeah, ThinkPad T models are built to last. Using my IBM ThinkPad T40 from 2003 to write this reply.

I ordered a 14" Lenovo IdeaPad Y470 the other day; more for toying around with than anything else. If it can last half as long as my T40, then I'll be happy. If it doesn't then the next time I fell the urge to buy a laptop it will be a Lenovo ThinkPad T series.
 
Just curious, why does it have to be 14"? You can find a $100 off coupon and get an XPS15 for $699. I love mine, the speakers are awesome. I also paid another $150 to get the 1920x1080 LCD.
 
[F8];1037538520 said:
Just curious, why does it have to be 14"? You can find a $100 off coupon and get an XPS15 for $699. I love mine, the speakers are awesome. I also paid another $150 to get the 1920x1080 LCD.
Click to expand...

Here's why:
10" netbooks like the ASUS Eee series are nice, but the ATOM processor is too slow and the screen is tough on the eyes
11" mini-laptops have the AMD dual-core E-350 cpu like the HP dm1z, lot faster than a netbook, little better screen. no dvd burner.
14" laptops come with Core i3 and Core i5 and dvd burner too, perfect size and weight, seems to be the sweet spot for me.
15" laptops have even better specs, some with Blue Ray burners and HD screens, but just too big to carry around, these are more like desktop replacements.

With all that said, the XPS 15 priced out to $1200 w/coupon with i5-2520M, HD Screen, Blue-Ray burner, Bluetooth and 9-cell. Still kinda high compared to others.
 
Just picked up the Asus U46E-BAL5. Tasty treat so far.
 
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c0re said:
Here's why:
10" netbooks like the ASUS Eee series are nice, but the ATOM processor is too slow and the screen is tough on the eyes
11" mini-laptops have the AMD dual-core E-350 cpu like the HP dm1z, lot faster than a netbook, little better screen. no dvd burner.
14" laptops come with Core i3 and Core i5 and dvd burner too, perfect size and weight, seems to be the sweet spot for me.
15" laptops have even better specs, some with Blue Ray burners and HD screens, but just too big to carry around, these are more like desktop replacements.

With all that said, the XPS 15 priced out to $1200 w/coupon with i5-2520M, HD Screen, Blue-Ray burner, Bluetooth and 9-cell. Still kinda high compared to others.
Click to expand...

In the 13" range, all there is (that I can think of) are:

Apple MBA13 - ULV i5/i7 [1440x900]
Apple MBP13 - i5/i7 (built in DVD)
Sony Z2 (2011) - i5/i7 [1600x900 or 1920x1080 - not a typo! & external HD6650m]
Sony SA/SB/SC/SD - i5/i7 [1366x768 or 1600x900 & HD6470m or HD6630m] (Built in DVD or BluRay)

All ranging around 1200usd to 2000usd for the configs I am thinking of. I currently have a VPC-SC (Sony Vaio SC) with an i5 2410m and HD6470m. Works fine, and the GPU is switchable (hard switch).
 
c0re said:
Here's why:
10" netbooks like the ASUS Eee series are nice, but the ATOM processor is too slow and the screen is tough on the eyes
11" mini-laptops have the AMD dual-core E-350 cpu like the HP dm1z, lot faster than a netbook, little better screen. no dvd burner.
14" laptops come with Core i3 and Core i5 and dvd burner too, perfect size and weight, seems to be the sweet spot for me.
15" laptops have even better specs, some with Blue Ray burners and HD screens, but just too big to carry around, these are more like desktop replacements.

With all that said, the XPS 15 priced out to $1200 w/coupon with i5-2520M, HD Screen, Blue-Ray burner, Bluetooth and 9-cell. Still kinda high compared to others.
Click to expand...

Have you looked at HP's Probook range? Not quite the build quality (or the price) of the Elitebooks, but still more solid than your average consumer machine. Unless you go CTO (which will probably take the price well north of what you want) I don't think the 14-inch 6460b comes with anything more than a 1366x768 screen, so it might be worth looking at the 13" models they have.
 
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