Computers..... Too much choice and I needs one.

Jetsam1

Just a little rant for today!!

I am sure the last time I bought a new computer in 2012 it was not as hard as this. Every Windows Laptop I see essentially says "Yay" but the screen is a bit kak. Going through threads on here and elsewhere say that Macs which have very good screens are all garbage as well.

I accidentally broke the screen on my 2012 HP Elitebook yesterday, my 2012 Macbook Pro 15 has been out of commission for a year as no one seems to want to even look at it for a repair and this 2008 Macbook running Linux is not quite there for reliable photography use. Fine for messing about though. I have been holding off projects in the search for a main machine.

So. Used around here seems to be pretty expensive for anything decent. I was looking for more of a business class laptop as these are generally better built. But the new M1 chip Macbook airs have turned my head a little.

So. Lenovo, Dell and HP. So many variations, all reviews whinge about the screens struggling with full RGB and being dark. A desktop is unviable sadly.

Even considering gaming laptops for the better graphics cards. But still the screens in my price range are considered naff.

Oh and as this is essentially emergency replacement needs to be finance for anything new. I like keepng computers for a while so build needs to be right.

I am a fussy sod. Or just pick one out at random and go "Good Enough"? It is essentially what I used to do!

Lenovo Ideapad? Dell Latitude? HP Probook?

I am a lost little bunny (Even as I work in IT!! It is hard when it is your own money!!).

Yeah and in this country this stuff is quite a bit more expensive than back in the UK. And I don't tihnk any vendors would sell a full system to me from there. No Dell Store either as an XPS for a grand would sort me out. Double that here! ROFL!!

Anyways. Joy.

PolarityMan

Could you use an external monitor for applications where colour accuracy is important? That would let you sacrifice a little on the inbuilt screen

fields5069

When I had to buy something for work, I went for an HP Elitebook. Like you I saw complaints about dark screens, but in HP's case the max brightness goes up if you get one with a software privacy screen. I presume that's because things gets unreadable at normal brightness when you switch the privacy screen on. 

Jetsam1

fields5069 said:

When I had to buy something for work, I went for an HP Elitebook. Like you I saw complaints about dark screens, but in HP's case the max brightness goes up if you get one with a software privacy screen. I presume that's because things gets unreadable at normal brightness when you switch the privacy screen on. 

Interesting. I actually bought the HP as a refurb. Just at the moment nothing at the usual places jumps out as particularly good VFM. A proper warranty would be nice!

I am leaning towards sticking with Windows this time and just going with Lenovo IdeaPad as there are a few with decent enough specs out of the box.

Only issue with an external monitor I suppose is somewhere for it to live. 2 small kids and a general house overhaul. My work computer takes up a lot of space and that is only for work as our security is quite high.

Chris.B

I've had a Dell XPS (15") for a couple of years and found the screen calibrates well and has plenty of brightness - a very nice laptop but they get a bit pricey when you move up the specification table. 

fretmeister

My last 3 have all been from Chillblast and they've been excellent.

My next one will be from them as well.

RaymondLin

If I were to dip into a new laptop and windows, then I would go for the new Asus G14, or one of the new Asus range this year with AMD chips.

Or a Apple M1 MBA.

Kittyfrisk

@Jetsam1   Hi, what's up with your MacBook Pro? And where do you live?

webrthomson

fretmeister said:

My last 3 have all been from Chillblast and they've been excellent.

My next one will be from them as well.

^ This - me too - Chillbalst FTW

Jetsam1

Kittyfrisk said:

@Jetsam1   Hi, what's up with your MacBook Pro? And where do you live?

Amusingly I am in Hungary now!

The Macbook Pro had, shall we say, a "Rapid Decelaration Event"......................

Worst case Logic Board is done. Best case, a connection that can be repaired. However it will not power up at all. Shame as it is a 2012 non retina with some serious specs and I can't quite believe how much they still go for even with worse specs than mine. 

@RatmondLin wasn't actually looking at Asus. May do now.

RaymondLin

Jetsam1 said:

Kittyfrisk said:

@Jetsam1   Hi, what's up with your MacBook Pro? And where do you live?

Amusingly I am in Hungary now!

The Macbook Pro had, shall we say, a "Rapid Decelaration Event"......................

Worst case Logic Board is done. Best case, a connection that can be repaired. However it will not power up at all. Shame as it is a 2012 non retina with some serious specs and I can't quite believe how much they still go for even with worse specs than mine. 

@RatmondLin wasn't actually looking at Asus. May do now.

Check out this video of their upcoming range.  

Kittyfrisk

Jetsam1 said:

Kittyfrisk said:

@Jetsam1   Hi, what's up with your MacBook Pro? And where do you live?

Amusingly I am in Hungary now!

Ahh, I see   Pity, as if you'd been in the UK I would have been happy to look at it for you (typing this on my much repaired 2012 15" MBP i7) or @Danny1969 ; here is really genuinely excellent at professional repairs.
He is very good at recommendations for replacement laptops too as he gets to fix the bad ones 
I'd hang on to it though, as it is one of the last repairable, upgradeable MBP's they made, IMHO.

Danny1969

Jetsam1 said:

Kittyfrisk said:

@Jetsam1   Hi, what's up with your MacBook Pro? And where do you live?

Amusingly I am in Hungary now!

The Macbook Pro had, shall we say, a "Rapid Decelaration Event"......................

Worst case Logic Board is done. Best case, a connection that can be repaired. However it will not power up at all. Shame as it is a 2012 non retina with some serious specs and I can't quite believe how much they still go for even with worse specs than mine. 

@RatmondLin wasn't actually looking at Asus. May do now.

Shame your not in the UK as I could probably have repaired it for you. Because Apple make very few different models of laptop in comparison to Dell, Hp, Acer etc their boards have schematics available and people like myself are able to build up a decent knowledge of what goes wrong and how to fix it.  
Not only do other manufacturers make too many models to make this process possible and profitable their owners would generally rather dance on the grave of their dead Windows laptop than pay me to fix it at board level ..... they are eager to move on to the next one hoping it will be a better experience I guess.

Changing the LCD on an Elitebook is pretty easy ... but you need to match the firmware in the LCD as well as the screen part number otherwise the LVDS won't play ball. Or buy the screen on the HP PN which is generally on the end of the LCD cable in the format of xxxxx-001 or 0B1 etc. 
I generally buy my screens from AJ Parts, formally Rolta 

I'm not a fan of Asus, the DC sockets and hinges always break and there is no official spares service so if you need a part you will buying grey market and used parts like I have to on Ebay to complete a repair. 

I'm sure someone has a good Asus story in the same way somebody owns an Ashdown bass amp that never broke but in general they are pretty bad. 

RaymondLin

Some of the Asus laptops can be charged via Thunderbolt and DC socket, so essentially no different to an Apple laptop now.

Danny1969

RaymondLin said:

Some of the Asus laptops can be charged via Thunderbolt and DC socket, so essentially no different to an Apple laptop now.

All the USBC Apples are pretty bad laptops design wise. The last well made ones were the retina's. 

The trouble with USB C is before charging  / running from charger commences the laptop has to identify it's self to the charger as something that needs 20V at 3amps for example. Not the 5V or 9V or other voltage USB C can supply. The default is 5V to begin with. Then there is a little handshakes and that process should commence. 
However any trouble with the MUX chip on the laptop board  and that process will go wrong because the voltage will stay at 5V idle and that's not enough to do anything for a 20V laptop. 
So now you have a laptop that won't work. Not because there's an issue with the high stressed buck convertor that supplies the CPU core voltage or the 30V that runs the LVDS or there's been a USB short that needs it's zero resistor changing  ...... 
It won't work simply because it can't identify it's self as a laptop.  

So I'm not a fan of USB C. Already done 2 Lenovo's and a little Asus with USB C faults that exhibited exactly that fault. To my thinking it's pointless tech as it adds a layer of complexity to something that was simple and most people use a standard 5V USB charger to charge their phone and don't swap gadgets about on big 60 watt USB chargers.  

RaymondLin

You are preaching to the converted, I LOVE Magsafe.

monquixote

I have a monitor that outputs power over usb c so I have 1 cable to my laptop.

Love it!

Magsafe was shit. The chargers fell to bits and they changed the connector.

Roland

It helps to remember that laptops are built to a price point, particularly those aimed at the domestic market. I’m pleased that you’re looking at a “business class” laptop because they are more likely, though not guaranteed, to be more reliable. Something else you can do to improve reliability is use an external mouse, keyboard whenever possible. They also improve ergonomics, as will an external screen.

You say that Dell don’t sell into Hungary. Can you get a reconditioned XPS? Can you get one sent via a friend or colleague in another EU country?

Dave8

The screens on elitebooks are fine.. the g4 and below screen was a bit shite, but g5+ (We are on g7 if you are getting up to date modes) are great. 

Jetsam1

All good stuff. Yep the next issue is whether the newest models actually get here! Yes unlike the UK Dell don't sell direct, only through resellers. To be fair onboard graphics cards are fine.

I was looking at Dell, HP and Lenovo as these are the main business laptops. And the Elitebook I had was actually a refurb, no complaints it did quite well really.

@Danny1969 yep I have replaced screens in laptops before and the firmware tip is noted!

There are some Apple specialists but they are in the big city and I am not! And the plague has reduced the potential for running to and fro. Might still take in the Macbook Pro just to get an opinion.

My only real criteria is a good screen as I will be editing photographs. However if I find the right Lenovo T series Thinkpad it might just be worth going that route and saving up for a decent monitor. These should be at upgradeable.....

Jetsam1

One thing, Lenovo Thinkpad E series, decent enough?