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Laptop Recommendation

M

Maullus

n00b
Joined
Jan 15, 2012
Messages
14
Hello there,

I've just started back at school and I am required to have a laptop that I can take to class. The following specifications were provided:

64-bit Multi-core processor
8GB or more memory
128GB SSD or 250GB HDD minimum
2.4GHz/5GHz 802.11n wireless
Win7

They're not too specific beyond that, and I've never had a laptop before so I'm at a bit of a loss. The truth is, my desktop is a pretty solid rig, so I'm not looking to use this as my primary machine. I'm an Applied Mathematics major, so I suspect that I'll mostly be using it for programming; no serious graphics or video editing or gaming.

I took a quick look at NewEgg and Amazon, but I have no idea how to really assess what I'm seeing.

I have to make a purchase ASAP, so that and price are the major concerns. What's the least amount of money I could get a laptop to do what I need it to do?

Thanks very much.
 
Dell outlet + coupon code for the cheapest. Should be able to get an E5430 w/1600x900 screen for <$500.
https://twitter.com/delloutlet for codes

For taking to class I'd try to stay in the 14" or less range. I also recommend business class laptops for frequent transport. Dell Latitude, Lenovo Thinkpad, HP Probook/Elitebook.

My personal pick would be the Lenovo T430, with just the 1600x900 screen upgrade for $645 (thru that link). Add in a second 4GB DIMM yourself to save some $, and if you find it necessary pick up a msata SSD later for a boot drive.
 
Budget? Guessing you want to keep it cheap.

Personally I suggest the Thinkpad x230 with IPS screen & the i5-3320m.

Otherwise I second what Kueller said -- Thinkpad X or T series is fantastic. Dell Latitudes are a great option also. If you're willing to buy from an outlet then Dell has some fantastic deals. Lenovo also has an outlet.

You shouldn't need the SSD, but some business laptops (like the x230 or T430) do have an mSATA slot if you want to add one later.

Definitely agree to keeping it to 14.1" max size. I prefer the 12.5" myself.
 
Thanks very much for the suggestions.

Yea, I didn't give a specific budget because I've never had a laptop before and I'm not sure what's reasonable for a decent machine, and what'll get me a very fancy paperweight.

Cheap is better. Least expensive appropriate to my needs. I'm not going to use it as my primary rig... I've got a great tower I just built not too long ago that's more than capable of handling any heavy lifting I have to do. I just need something for class, mostly programming stuff... Python, MATLAB---maybe XML, Java. I'm not really sure how demanding all that would be.

Yea, I don't really care about having an SSD in the laptop, I was just listing the general requirements the school listed.
 
OrangeWolf said:
Budget? Guessing you want to keep it cheap.

Personally I suggest the Thinkpad x230 with IPS screen & the i5-3320m.

Otherwise I second what Kueller said -- Thinkpad X or T series is fantastic. Dell Latitudes are a great option also. If you're willing to buy from an outlet then Dell has some fantastic deals. Lenovo also has an outlet.

You shouldn't need the SSD, but some business laptops (like the x230 or T430) do have an mSATA slot if you want to add one later.

Definitely agree to keeping it to 14.1" max size. I prefer the 12.5" myself.
Click to expand...

I would second the x230 with IPS. It is great for portability. I have the x230t and currently use it for programming on the go. Screen is a little small, but the size and performance can't be beat. It can support 16gb of RAM (great for multiple VM's), full voltage processor (vs. Ultrabooks lesser ULV), and it is great with a docking station for when you are back home and can utilize multiple monitors. I purchased mine from the outlet for around 600, so good deals are out there (it is an i5 and came with the base HD, 4gb RAM, bluetooth, backlit keyboard, etc.). Outlet is hit and miss on pricing, so you have to be patient for a decent deal. Quality and experience was top notch on my order though. Also, note I have the tablet version, straight up x230 will be cheaper, just make sure you get the IPS screen (makes a huge difference).

I would highly recommend an SSD though, speed and efficiency jump is just too great to pass up. I put a Samsung 840 Pro in mine once it arrived. Will never look back :)
 
In that case another +1 for x230. I ran an x220 last summer and with an i7, SSD and 16GB RAM it was a beast of a VM dev machine. So small, yet so much power. I traded it for a R710 Server.
 
The T430 has better resolution and is a bit bigger, but otherwise I think all the advantages for your personal situation will be with the x230 w/IPS (only a $50 upgrade). It's smaller (and therefore more portable) and has a better screen while not sacrificing any performance. Similar costs as well.

I don't have an SSD in mine but I find that the startup times are still better than most. I'm satisfied, though I do intend to put an SSD in later just for the fun of it.
 
The viewing angles and black levels of the T430 are terrible. Black is like this gray-ish blue. Ugh.
 
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