I'd like to get a new laptop, a bit better than the one I have
November 27, 2015 3:26 AM
I want a small laptop that I can use to watch netflix and videos, and play steam games on. I often hook it up to my projector, so it needs an HDMI output. I am also curious about possibly getting one with a touchscreen to I can draw and make art in bed. Lots more details inside.
I like my laptop, but it's a few years old and with all the work I'm doing lately I'd like to get something to have more fun on. Also one of the hinges is breaking, along with a few other things. This is the one I have, except mine has 8GB of ram.
current laptop specs:
Processor 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory 8GB,
Hard drive 450GB
Screen size (diagonal) 11.6 inches
I like how small it is, and it doesn't bother me that the battery isn't great.
My first interest would be to find something that would play games a bit better. For example, I have been playing The Talos Principle which is fun, but it plays a bit choppily. What particular specs should I be looking at to improve the game performance? I am a gaming lightweight so I don't play any fast paced games, mostly puzzles, and atmospheric arty stuff like Gone home, or Dear Esther.
Second interest is a touchscreen that I can use for drawing. I used to draw a lot, but since I have been doing most of my art and design work on a computer, a paper sketchbook's lack of undo has made that less fun. (yes I know erasers exist but try doing that in bed you will be sleeping with a bunch of little rubber greeblies). Are there particular touchscreen specs that I need to look out for?
It seems like a good time to buy with all the sales going on, I'd like to spend under $1000, but would there even be anything available with all those features at that price? I'd be willing to go higher if I found something cool.
I wouldn't be opposed to getting a tablet with a separate keyboard, if that's what would work best.
to sum up, I'm looking for:
- under 13.5" screen
- better gameplay than my current laptop (and suggestions about how to look for this)
- as good netflixing/film watching
- HDMI output
- bluetooth
- possible touchscreen
suggestions? opinions? information? I'm in Toronto, so I can get it anywhere downtown, or order it online. Mostly I'm looking for information on specs from you awesome people who know how computers work.
Thanks!!!
I like my laptop, but it's a few years old and with all the work I'm doing lately I'd like to get something to have more fun on. Also one of the hinges is breaking, along with a few other things. This is the one I have, except mine has 8GB of ram.
current laptop specs:
Processor 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory 8GB,
Hard drive 450GB
Screen size (diagonal) 11.6 inches
I like how small it is, and it doesn't bother me that the battery isn't great.
My first interest would be to find something that would play games a bit better. For example, I have been playing The Talos Principle which is fun, but it plays a bit choppily. What particular specs should I be looking at to improve the game performance? I am a gaming lightweight so I don't play any fast paced games, mostly puzzles, and atmospheric arty stuff like Gone home, or Dear Esther.
Second interest is a touchscreen that I can use for drawing. I used to draw a lot, but since I have been doing most of my art and design work on a computer, a paper sketchbook's lack of undo has made that less fun. (yes I know erasers exist but try doing that in bed you will be sleeping with a bunch of little rubber greeblies). Are there particular touchscreen specs that I need to look out for?
It seems like a good time to buy with all the sales going on, I'd like to spend under $1000, but would there even be anything available with all those features at that price? I'd be willing to go higher if I found something cool.
I wouldn't be opposed to getting a tablet with a separate keyboard, if that's what would work best.
to sum up, I'm looking for:
- under 13.5" screen
- better gameplay than my current laptop (and suggestions about how to look for this)
- as good netflixing/film watching
- HDMI output
- bluetooth
- possible touchscreen
suggestions? opinions? information? I'm in Toronto, so I can get it anywhere downtown, or order it online. Mostly I'm looking for information on specs from you awesome people who know how computers work.
Thanks!!!
For gaming, what you really want is a discrete GPU ("graphics chip"). Unfortunately, "cheap," "small/light," and "discrete GPU" is really a "pick 2/3" situation.
The Microsoft Surface Book is a little interesting to me, though it's on the pricey end ($1900 for the model with the nVidia 950m-ish discrete gpu, which is barely adequate for low-quality-settings modern gaming). The Surface Book does have the benefit of a stylus, though it's not the same tech that Wacom uses. I believe Lenovo licensed Wacom's stylus tech for some of their Yoga convertibles -- I can't tell if the model givennamesurname is recommending has one, but if it does, they're pretty good..
Asus has a 15" ultralight gaming laptop (x501) that's probably not ideal for you, but it has a 960m (slightly beefier GPU). I've been told that the industrial design's a bit wonky.
posted by Alterscape at 7:43 AM on November 27, 2015
The Microsoft Surface Book is a little interesting to me, though it's on the pricey end ($1900 for the model with the nVidia 950m-ish discrete gpu, which is barely adequate for low-quality-settings modern gaming). The Surface Book does have the benefit of a stylus, though it's not the same tech that Wacom uses. I believe Lenovo licensed Wacom's stylus tech for some of their Yoga convertibles -- I can't tell if the model givennamesurname is recommending has one, but if it does, they're pretty good..
Asus has a 15" ultralight gaming laptop (x501) that's probably not ideal for you, but it has a 960m (slightly beefier GPU). I've been told that the industrial design's a bit wonky.
posted by Alterscape at 7:43 AM on November 27, 2015
Thanks so much for the help! I checked out all of those, and got myself a specter. Also thanks for the heads up about the coupon code that saved me a bunch of $
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:31 AM on November 28, 2015
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:31 AM on November 28, 2015
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Lenovo has a very similar model - the Yoga 700 - but without a 2k IPS screen and with the option of an upgraded processor (i5 to i7) and a dedicated graphics card (the Nvidia 940m - roughly twice the performance of the Iris 520). It's also 14in - slightly above your limit. It costs $899USD configured thus.
posted by givennamesurname at 7:10 AM on November 27, 2015