Help me find an economical laptop!
February 3, 2011 6:08 PM   Subscribe

My Macbook died and I'd like to get a new Windows laptop. I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm looking for an economical laptop, mainly for basic computer work and some image editing (with gimp). Help!

While I did think the Macbook was a great product, I have no problems using any OS, so from a price point of view it makes more sense to buy a Windows laptop. My price limit is $700. I'd like a laptop with a good monitor, good keyboard, and a good trackpad. I am not looking for a netbook (their keyboards are too small for me). I'd use the laptop for basic computer needs (internet, word processing, videos) and occasionally using Gimp.

I've shopped around a bit (on askMefi and elsewhere) and I'm a little unsure of what to zone in on. Lenovo seems to be best bet, though it's unclear which line of their laptops is the best fit for me (and if anything has changed - a lot of the things I've heard are from sites and posts that are over 2 years old).

This laptop seems like it could work, and it has a very good rating on newegg, but reviews on other sites are mixed.

Do any of you have suggestions, based on your past experiences or knowledge?
posted by bittermensch to Computers & Internet (10 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: the lenovo G series are the economy models... cheap components, cheap construction. actually, all brands in the 15.6 screen footprint in that price range will be.

check out lenovo outlet, you can get last generation T-series for under $700, which will be much better all around than the one you picked out. if you have time to check prices daily, the lenovo outlet prices are kind of wonky: they can go lower than what i just listed.

if you want to save a little money you can check out the R-series too...

actually, you can get better prices at the HP business outlet

if you look under business notebook, the 8440p is under $700 and is a better computer for the price than the lenovo. the HP 'p' series notebooks should be the same quality construction as the lenovo 't' series. the hp 'b' series will be less well constructued but cheaper
posted by ennui.bz at 6:45 PM on February 3, 2011 [2 favorites]


What Mac did you have?

Lenovo is generally good, and has a lot of Linux support, so there's that.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 6:46 PM on February 3, 2011


You might want to keep on eye on Bens Bargains in their notebook section, as they often have interesting deals on laptops there...
posted by dancestoblue at 6:50 PM on February 3, 2011


I'd recommend a ThinkPad, even the Edge series, or any other Lenovo. Even a 12.1" X-series ThinkPad -- probably out of your price range, though, aside from used X40/X60 models -- has a proper-sized keyboard.

At any rate, the one you picked out seems fine. And, even if reviews on other sites are mixed, consider the number on each site -- 62 is a pretty good sample size, enough that a 5/5 means quite a lot.
posted by astrochimp at 7:36 PM on February 3, 2011


(And I've found newegg reviews to be of a much higher-calibre than most sites, esp. when you want to find out about linux support).
posted by astrochimp at 7:38 PM on February 3, 2011


I own a Lenovo Thinkpad Edge 14", and have had no problems at all with it.
posted by deadmessenger at 7:39 PM on February 3, 2011


I've had great luck with the Lenovo Thinkpad 410, I got a great deal on it through lenovo proper, after finding a link on gizmodo or somesuch.
posted by Th_ at 7:55 PM on February 3, 2011


Best answer:
My price limit is $700. I'd like a laptop with a good monitor, good keyboard, and a good trackpad.
In my opinion, what you seek does not exist as a new product that is not refurbished or otherwise clearance priced. I partially say this because at least 2/3 of the trackpads on Windows machines suck (I am not differentiating between those that suck from software or hardware, they suck as shipped and simple driver upgrades don't fix the problem).

The good news however is that you can get previous model Thinkpad T series laptops below $700 from the Lenovo Outlet. The x200/x201 is also a good choice. The Thinkpad Edge and SL series are not Thinkpads in my opinion (poor case construction, not the wonderful Thinkpad keyboard, much worse trackpads, and lesser robust chassis design. The R series was a budget line and was a pretty good compromise between Thinkpad awesome and lower cost.
posted by fief at 9:37 PM on February 3, 2011 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: ChurchHatesTrucker: It was a regular MacBook from 2006

Thank you so much for the advice, everyone. I assume refurbished Lenovo's are work fine, correct? I don't have any experience with refurbished computers.

Any more advice is still welcome (for me and I assume for people with a similar question).
posted by bittermensch at 5:11 AM on February 4, 2011


Response by poster: Just as a follow-up, I was able to get a Lenovo T410 for about $750. Works great, thanks for all of your help.
posted by bittermensch at 9:28 AM on March 12, 2011


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