Help me pick a new laptop, please!

February 1, 2010 11:03 AM

Help me pick out a new laptop, please! I normally consider myself a pretty savvy shopper, but with laptops I feel like there are just SO many options that I won't be able to pick the right one- so I turn to you all!

I was planning on having a few more months before I had to get a new computer, but as my laptop screen is currently tenuously attached to the keyboard, it's got to be now.

Things I do on my laptop, to help you estimate what kind of processor/ram I need, as I am a little bit clueless on that aspect:

-Watch movies/tv shows (on Hulu, netflix, or just downloaded onto my laptop)*
-General word processing
-Listen to iTunes
-Occasional Photoshop use

*While I do watch a lot of shows, the quality/size really couldn't matter less to me. I want the videos to play snappily, but I don't want to pay extra for a large screen/nice video card, because I don't care about that part.

Things that are important to me:

-$1000 or less--preferably less, because I don't think the features I require should be that expensive.
-Screen should be bigger than 12 inches but smaller than 15.
-I would like it to be attractive/cute (i.e. not giant, shiny, sleek, rounded).
-It needs to be able to stand up to some amount of abuse- It's not going in the desert or anything but I will drop it every now and then.
-Bonus points for quick shipping... School starts again tomorrow and I would like to be able to have a laptop to use as soon as possible.

I have read a lot of the previous threads on laptop suggestions and I know Macs are a favorite on the green. While I would love a mac (so pretty!), my track record with them makes me think they aren't sturdy enough for my level of carelessness. If you think otherwise, feel free to suggest them.

posted by jouir to Computers & Internet (18 answers total)

I've been looking at the Sony Vaio NW series lately, and that would fit your description quite nicely.
posted by deadmessenger at 11:07 AM on February 1, 2010

Sturdiness-wise, I've always been thrilled with Apple's polycarbonate options - the Macbook, at present. I've seen iBooks that still work fine after years of use by junior high kids, and I'm definitely not too gentle on my Macbook - short of spending huge amounts for an outright "hardened" option, which is way out of your price range, they're the most durable consumer laptops I've seen.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:19 AM on February 1, 2010

Here's a list at newegg that would satisfy all your needs.
posted by Grither at 11:22 AM on February 1, 2010

My girlfriend just bought a Vaio NW and loves it. We had a hell of a time getting one though; we ended up driving three hours to Vestal, NY because it was the closest store to us that had one.

But she adores it and it performs admirably. So there's that.
posted by InsanePenguin at 11:22 AM on February 1, 2010

Thinkpads are great workhorse computers and will last a long time; should be able to find one to fit your needs.
posted by craven_morhead at 11:36 AM on February 1, 2010 [1 favorite]

Nth the Vaio. I just got a new one this fall, after Windows 7 came out. My old one was a workhorse, and we still use it for some stuff. I give serious consideration to the rebuilt Lenovo Thinkpads that odinstream cited, those look like a great deal.
posted by chocolatetiara at 11:39 AM on February 1, 2010

I can offer a few brands to avoid based on personal experience:

- HP
- Compaq
- Dell
- Gateway

I can offer a few brands to consider based on personal experience:

- Toshiba
- Sony
posted by davejay at 11:43 AM on February 1, 2010

Just a bit of supporting evidence for my Sony NW recommendation: SquareTrade did a laptop reliability study, and Sony did pretty well.
posted by deadmessenger at 11:51 AM on February 1, 2010

here's what i will tell you in favor of a mac... you can make a laptop last FOREVER. my last powerbook lasted over 6 years, which included being dropped, having liquid spilled on it, etc. you can also get a shell that covers it to protect it more should you drop it. (you really drop your laptop that much?)

to me, even though macs can be more expensive, they are 100% worth it for the longevity, the ease of use, and the QUALITY. if you want to buy a sony and replace it in 2 years, go for it.
posted by itsacover at 12:03 PM on February 1, 2010

davejay says to avoid a Dell; I have found them to be fairly robust. Not in the Think Pad level, but certainly as robust as a Toshiba.

If you are VERY rough on computers (as I am), you might want to consider a manufacturer who offers accidental coverage. I bought my Dell for this coverage, and though it can cost a few hundred dollars more, it has paid off; they have replaced any parts which have broken due to either manufacturer problems or accidents. My non-Dell computer lasted under 2 years; my Dell with accidental coverage has through lasted 4 years of heavy usage. The cost of a Dell with accidental coverage is comparable to a Think Pad or other robust computer, but obviously it's even more robust (since if you drop it and shatter the screen, you will just get a new screen).
posted by jb at 12:30 PM on February 1, 2010

There is such a thing as a ruggedized laptop--the Panasonic Toughbooks are the best known ones. These are usually sold for use on oil rigs and factory floors and places like that. They're a lot more durable than a Thinkpad or Macbook, but there's a big price premium for this kind of durability. MIL-STD 810 might be a useful search phrase.

Another approach might be to buy a netbook and an external drive (which never leaves your home, and which is synced with the laptop every time you get home). If you break the netbook, just buy another one.
posted by box at 12:59 PM on February 1, 2010

I'm pretty rough on laptops, and I have no complaints with either the plastic or aluminium macs (my old ibook is 5 years old now, and mostly doing fine despite a couple of drops, very heavy continuous use, and a fair bit of rough treatment). They tend to last longer, and the OS is better quality/ more stable / less insecure than the windows ones.
posted by singingfish at 1:02 PM on February 1, 2010

The new white Macbook sounds like it's pretty much perfect for you, although even with the student discount it's on the high end of your price range. The unibody designs they're using now really do feel incredibly sturdy. Plus, if you compare current specs, the MacBook is actually better equipped than the Pro which costs $100 more.
posted by eggplantplacebo at 1:11 PM on February 1, 2010

The number one thing I tell people is to get a substantial warranty on a laptop. I have Dell and Apple, my preference is the Macintosh platform but can go either way. Sounds like you are a consumer of information and the OS doesn't really matter, so I would point you toward the Dell and get the better warranty as the best bang for the buck.

It is difficult to say avoid a specific make in such a broad strokes because every brand of computer has a business class computer and a consumer grade computer; and possibly a really cheap grade. In the case of Dell, I avoid the consumer brand, Inspiron , as an example. They are cheaper, but you'll pay for in the long run. Just about every brand will fall into this categorization, my point is you have ask what people are propping up or knocking down.

There are some kudos going to Toshiba here and personally I won't touch them. I don't care for the internal architecture and are a nightmare to repair. I am hearing tough things about Leveno as of late (quality issues.)
if you have the dollars I would go Macintosh, again with the three year warranty. It simply is great at delivery of media.
posted by fluffycreature at 1:43 PM on February 1, 2010

I have a comment regarding the above quote,
"even though macs can be more expensive, they are 100% worth it for the longevity"

Ok, I realize that this reflects my own experience, not anyone else's, but, in the past 10 years, my wife and I have lost 2 Mac laptops (Powerbooks) and 1 MacBook Pro under normal use. Liquids were not spilled on them, there was no power surge, they were not dropped. The 2 'books just ceased to work after 1 year of use (one of them lasted 18 months, actually) and Apple was going to charge the cost of a WHOLE NEW LAPTOP to fix them, so we gave up.
4 years ago, I bought my wife a cheap ($700) Dell laptop, and it still works like a charm. 2 years ago, I bought a MacBook Pro, and 6 months ago, it died for no reason, costing $300 to repair (but at least this one could be repaired).

Meanwhile, my iMac also died suddenly after 2 years, but any of the 4 PCs I've owned through the years have worked flawlessly until I decided I wanted something newer, faster, better. The 3 previous PCs still work fine, yet when Macs die, they die hard.

So, despite what many other people say, I can honestly not recommend an Apple laptop for people wanting a solid, reliable laptop. I still happen to have faith in the company (and own stock!) but our experiences with the hardware have been less than stellar.
posted by newfers at 2:16 PM on February 1, 2010

You can get a Mac (13" or so) for the price you are looking at, especially with a student discount, and even more so if you check the refurbished options (bought one for my wife, got a really good deal on it - it says refurbished but honestly it is indistinguishable from a brand new machine, and has had some EXTENSIVE testing done to be certain there is absolutely nothing wrong with it, which is more than you can say for any of the machines that passed quality control on the first try).

HOWEVER you will very likely NOT be able to get a Mac for your current budget if you opt to add on AppleCare coverage. But if you get a Mac, you really ought to add in the coverage, especially for a laptop. My three-year-old MacBook Pro has been the recipient of two replaced power bricks, one replaced keyboard, one replaced battery, and an entirely new display screen. This cost me exactly zero dollars thanks to AppleCare.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:40 PM on February 1, 2010

Thinkpad x200 is sturdy, and has the Thinklight, which I want, good price.
Ideapad y550 nice mix of features at a great price
Neither has Windows 7, cheap upgrade if you're a student.
The lenovo outlet has many great options.

I suspect you'd really enjoy the ability to hook up an external display, so hdmi is worth looking for.
posted by theora55 at 2:44 PM on February 1, 2010

get a macbook. Student discount it, and/or get a refurbished model. get a shell for it. my girlfriend has dropped it on several occasions and it's still running fine. AppleCare even fixed her screen and optical drive once. It's a sturdy machine.

DON'T buy AppleCare for the first year. The only advantage of buying it right away is the extended phone support, which most people don't need or use. Set a date on your calendar to buy AppleCare around 11 months from purchase. Then, go on eBay and buy it for a significant discount.

newfers, I really think you should've invested in the warranties for each of those machines. They would've all still been working or replaced with newer models. I've had issues here and there with some of my machines, but they are certainly built to last. My tower, bought in 2001, was replaced last year only because my parents had accidentally left the window right above it open during a snowstorm. My Powerbook, bought in 2004, is still running flawlessly (but slowly) by my mother.

My first MacBook Pro from 2006 was giving me issues after two years. Apple tried to fix the issue, but couldn't. So, they gave me a brand new updated version in 2008. I got new $2000 hardware, that I would've bought anyway, for $250 (the cost of a MBP AppleCare on eBay).

Every problem you faced on all of your computers would've been covered by AppleCare.
posted by smersh at 10:09 PM on February 2, 2010