Dan Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I'm about to buy a new laptop for a coworker. I've kinda narrowed it down to these 2 options - they had similar features and the target price range. The Dell is $604. The Lenovo is $529. I know which way I'm leaning, but curious whay others think.
Dan Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 I'm leaning Lenovo. I know Thinkpads are good computers and the ideapad is basically the same thing only not quite as well equipped. Dells seem to have become very average of late, but they're still pretty cheap.
Just Jack Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I'm about to buy a new laptop for a coworker. Will you buy one for me too?
dib Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Dell- rhymes with Hell. I bought a Sony Vaio-love it.
The Dean Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I haven't played with the Y-Series yet, but in general I like Lenovo laptops. This is the least expensive Y model I would look at: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...000F3:000024D6: It has a Core 2 Duo processor (only 2.2 GHz, but that should be fine for most people I think), 4 GB Ram, 6-Cell battery and 1 year warranty, If you got the cash, this might be more to your liking, I'm just not sure the upgrade justifies the price difference from the other model: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...000F3:0000255C: The Dell Inspiron 14 is fine. However, if I were going Dell, I'd look at the Vostro line from the business line. This is a good deal, IMO, but is a little bigger than the 14: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/con...s=bsd&cs=04 In my experience the business models (essentially the same as the consumer line) seem to be slightly better constructed and you can get some very good deals. Based on a quick look, it doesn't seem like the deals are as good as usual today. I'd also consider HP and Sony laptops. You can sometimes find very good HP deals. I'm in a hurry now. I'll do some more checking for deals when I get back tonight, if you haven't made up your mind yet. In the meantime, my advice is to make a Core 2 Duo your minimum acceptable processor. If you can wait another couple of months, Dell will be blowing out the Core 2 Quad and maybe even the Core i5 machines...or so I hear.
Dan Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 Will you buy one for me too? Thata depends... do you need a job? I haven't played with the Y-Series yet, but in general I like Lenovo laptops. This is the least expensive Y model I would look at: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...000F3:000024D6: It has a Core 2 Duo processor (only 2.2 GHz, but that should be fine for most people I think), 4 GB Ram, 6-Cell battery and 1 year warranty, If you got the cash, this might be more to your liking, I'm just not sure the upgrade justifies the price difference from the other model: http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...000F3:0000255C: The Dell Inspiron 14 is fine. However, if I were going Dell, I'd look at the Vostro line from the business line. This is a good deal, IMO, but is a little bigger than the 14: http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/con...s=bsd&cs=04 In my experience the business models (essentially the same as the consumer line) seem to be slightly better constructed and you can get some very good deals. Based on a quick look, it doesn't seem like the deals are as good as usual today. I'd also consider HP and Sony laptops. You can sometimes find very good HP deals. I'm in a hurry now. I'll do some more checking for deals when I get back tonight, if you haven't made up your mind yet. In the meantime, my advice is to make a Core 2 Duo your minimum acceptable processor. If you can wait another couple of months, Dell will be blowing out the Core 2 Quad and maybe even the Core i5 machines...or so I hear. Thanks, Dean. The primary diference between the Y series Lenovo that you spec'd out and that I spec'd out was a slighter faster processor (2.2 vs 2.1 Mhz); 4 vs 3 gigs of ram; and about 70gigs of hard drive. So is it worth $130 for that? I'm not sure what they reccommend for ram with Windows 7 (that's my concern)? The Vostro has similar specs to the Y series that I spec'd out, but it does have a 7200rpm drive. That's nice! And it has a 15" monitor - not sure he needs that. But, it's ugly. Not that looks are terribly important, but what is life without a little flare. But, it does seem like a good deal. A little more background: The guy's laptop went out about a week ago. I could probably fix it real cheap, but it's about 4 years old and he really could just use a new one. So, why not, right? So, I'd like to get it soon, but I can wait a day or 2. Well, I kinda like the 14" laptops, because he'll definitely travel with it. Not, that he needs something ultra portable (like those net books). Basically, I see the 14" as a compromise between portability and every day usablity. Although, I don't think the 15" monitors are that big. I think just about any processor speed and hard dirve is going to be fine. The bulk of all his work is Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet (email and web cruisin..... for porn). So, the graphic processing, gaming speeds, and all that are largely irrelevant. With that said, I'd kinda like to stick to the Core 2 Duo's as a minimum as well, just so it'll still be a decent machine 3-4 years from now. Thanks for everyone's input. ..... and lack of votes.
bartshan-83 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Dell- rhymes with Hell. I bought a Sony Vaio-love it. Yeah yeah...stop being rude and introduce me to your friend dressed like Pocahontas.
Astrojanitor Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I bought a lenovo ideapad over the summer and love it. Easily the best laptop I have ever owned. weirdly though, they initially have a problem that prevents the user from using wifi. there's a program on there that gets in the way somehow--you have to call support and they walk you through getting rid of it. besides that? near perfect
Dan Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 I bought a lenovo ideapad over the summer and love it. Easily the best laptop I have ever owned. weirdly though, they initially have a problem that prevents the user from using wifi. there's a program on there that gets in the way somehow--you have to call support and they walk you through getting rid of it. besides that? near perfect Interesting. Thanks for the insight.
BuffaloBill Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I have a lenovo x-60 for work. Now over 3 years old. It has been very reliable. I travel a lot. I take it home every night. Point is simply that while I do not abuse the machine I am not exactly delicate with it either. I would stay with the brand based on my experience.
Just Jack Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 Thata depends... do you need a job? Sent you a message
The Dean Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 Well, I kinda like the 14" laptops, because he'll definitely travel with it. Not, that he needs something ultra portable (like those net books). Basically, I see the 14" as a compromise between portability and every day usablity. Although, I don't think the 15" monitors are that big. I think just about any processor speed and hard dirve is going to be fine. The bulk of all his work is Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Internet (email and web cruisin..... for porn). So, the graphic processing, gaming speeds, and all that are largely irrelevant. With that said, I'd kinda like to stick to the Core 2 Duo's as a minimum as well, just so it'll still be a decent machine 3-4 years from now. I agree about the 14" laptop (that's what I have). If he travels it really can make a difference. I think that Lenovo is a pretty good deal. This HP has the same processor as the Lenovo and specs out to be quite similar. On sale at Staples this week for $549.90: http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-dv4-154...3?cmArea=SEARCH All things being equal, I'd take the Lenovo. But for $150 less, I'd take a good hard look at the HP.
Dan Posted January 14, 2010 Author Posted January 14, 2010 I agree about the 14" laptop (that's what I have). If he travels it really can make a difference. I think that Lenovo is a pretty good deal. This HP has the same processor as the Lenovo and specs out to be quite similar. On sale at Staples this week for $549.90: http://www.staples.com/HP-Pavilion-dv4-154...3?cmArea=SEARCH All things being equal, I'd take the Lenovo. But for $150 less, I'd take a good hard look at the HP. Thanks again. That's one sweet deal. But, when I clicked to get shipping details... it's an instore only sale, that has expired. Oh well. I just bought the Lenovo. But, upon your advice, I went ahead and got the nicer one (what the hell 3 years from now who'll even remeber the extra money spent). It listed at $699. I found an online discount code (USPDISPLAY) and that got it down to $629. So, not really bad at all. Thanks all for your input!
pBills Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 Save the money and buy a mac. Or wait and get the new mac tablet ($expected to be about $500-$700)
The Dean Posted January 14, 2010 Posted January 14, 2010 Thanks again. That's one sweet deal. But, when I clicked to get shipping details... it's an instore only sale, that has expired. Oh well. I just bought the Lenovo. But, upon your advice, I went ahead and got the nicer one (what the hell 3 years from now who'll even remeber the extra money spent). It listed at $699. I found an online discount code (USPDISPLAY) and that got it down to $629. So, not really bad at all. Thanks all for your input! Outstanding! For that price, I would buy the Lenovo, too. (But for the record, my flyer says that HP deal is good until 1/18. What kind of show are these guys running? )
Dan Posted January 14, 2010 Author Posted January 14, 2010 Save the money and buy a mac. Or wait and get the new mac tablet ($expected to be about $500-$700) I would LOVE to switch everyone in my company to Macs. I use Macs for all my personal use (and some business) and love them. By far the most stylish, stable, and durable computers I've used. But, to switch 30+ computers to Mac would be a chore and cost of epic proportions. I've thought about doing 1 or 2 a year, but then you've got a mess of half with ones set of problems and half with the other. It's bad enough there's 3 or 4 versions of Windows out there (XP, Vista, 7, 64bit Vista/7). I'd really cause headaches adding Mac OS to the mix. Outstanding! For that price, I would buy the Lenovo, too. (But for the record, my flyer says that HP deal is good until 1/18. What kind of show are these guys running? ) Yeah, when I found that online coupon, it pretty well sealed the deal. I'm kinda anxious to see it. I've never played with a Lenovo, so we'l lsee how it goes. I can only guess the deal as good til 1/18 or while supplies lasted? Oh well.
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