Does your laptop resemble the laptop I'm trying to buy?
May 11, 2013 7:03 PM Subscribe
I'm looking to buy a laptop that meets a few simple requirements. Does this describe your machine?
I'd take four out of six. No idea why it's been so hard for me to find. Thanks in advance for all help!
- Customizable before purchase -- it's essential to me that the factory install e.g. the SSD and the CPU that I specify
- 17" screen
- Trackpad is responsive, ergonomic, satisfying to use
- "Home", "End", "PgDn", "PgUp" and "Delete" keys are all clustered together, not strung out in a row
- High-end
- Not made by HP
I'd take four out of six. No idea why it's been so hard for me to find. Thanks in advance for all help!
I don't actually have a serious recommendation here, but if it helps - the reason it's been so hard to find is probably that 17" laptops have gotten pretty uncommon since laptop chipsets got fast enough to put "desktop" levels of performance in a 15" chassis. Between the power of 15" machines and the glut of cheap, huge external monitors, there's just not that much demand any more for enormous "laptop" machines that weigh a ton. If you're willing to go down to a 15" machine, you'll probably have a lot more options (and, yeah, the ThinkPad would be my immediate suggestion in that circumstance.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:24 PM on May 11, 2013
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:24 PM on May 11, 2013
Response by poster: I believe the ThinkPad may also fail point 4 -- it seems that its new keyboard splays "Home", "End", "PgDn", "PgUp" and "Delete" awkwardly into two separate lines where they can't easily be identified by touch. Not a deal-breaker, but a turn-off. But so far it's the best fit I've seen. Thanks and please keep them coming.
(Frustrating that 17" would be dying out -- for me, the existence of cheap, huge external monitors is precisely why I struggle to return to a cramped 15" display.)
posted by foursentences at 7:45 PM on May 11, 2013
(Frustrating that 17" would be dying out -- for me, the existence of cheap, huge external monitors is precisely why I struggle to return to a cramped 15" display.)
posted by foursentences at 7:45 PM on May 11, 2013
I have lusted over one of these from afar for years. If you can stand not having Windows, maybe this is what you are looking for: System 76 17.3" Laptop
posted by brownrd at 8:44 PM on May 11, 2013
posted by brownrd at 8:44 PM on May 11, 2013
The Dell precision m6700 measures up as follows :
1) you can select the processor, screen type (all are 17.3"), ram, storage (ssd and hdd) and raid type.
2) 17.3"
3) no personal experience with it, but notebook check says it's decent.
4) page up and down are beside the up arrow key and the rest are by the function key, one positive is the delete key has a ridge like the j and f keys on most keyboard.
5 precision and latitude are the Dell thinkpad rivals, I prefer lenovo offering but as stated earlier they no longer make a 17"option.
posted by Harpocrates at 9:00 PM on May 11, 2013
1) you can select the processor, screen type (all are 17.3"), ram, storage (ssd and hdd) and raid type.
2) 17.3"
3) no personal experience with it, but notebook check says it's decent.
4) page up and down are beside the up arrow key and the rest are by the function key, one positive is the delete key has a ridge like the j and f keys on most keyboard.
5 precision and latitude are the Dell thinkpad rivals, I prefer lenovo offering but as stated earlier they no longer make a 17"option.
posted by Harpocrates at 9:00 PM on May 11, 2013
Yeah, ThinkPads seem to be the go-to recommendation from my Windows friends.
But there might be another option: how about getting a MacBook Pro and installing Windows? They don't make the 17" model any more, but you can buy refurbished ones from Apple. (Apple refurbs come with a 1-year warranty and are, in my experience, indisguingishable from new.) Pop an SSD inside and I think it might fit all your criteria except for the keyboard: great build quality, great screen, and Apple trackpads are the best around.
Probably more expensive, though.
posted by Georgina at 9:56 PM on May 11, 2013
But there might be another option: how about getting a MacBook Pro and installing Windows? They don't make the 17" model any more, but you can buy refurbished ones from Apple. (Apple refurbs come with a 1-year warranty and are, in my experience, indisguingishable from new.) Pop an SSD inside and I think it might fit all your criteria except for the keyboard: great build quality, great screen, and Apple trackpads are the best around.
Probably more expensive, though.
posted by Georgina at 9:56 PM on May 11, 2013
Precision. Anything else lower end will piss you off, trust me. Especially the displays. Even the higher end "gaming" stuff, while somewhat better in build quality still has huge issues in a lot of ways.
Very few 17in laptops even have 1080p anymore, most are 1600x900 with awful cheap screens, and low quality cases that crack/chip easily and feel like they're made of the worst plastic in the world.
Personally, I own a 17in MacBook Pro. But sadly they discontinued it, and the SSD prices were absolute robbery before they did.
I think the precisions even still have 1920x1200, which is amazing. You also get a metal frame with either of those choices, and on the precision a metal case like the MacBook Pro. The fit and finish are in "cut above" category, and it definitely doesn't feel like a dell. You also get a lot of options, especially when it comes to the screen(glare with a glass cover, anti glare, RGB LED, etc. better cooling, all kinds of stuff.
It bugs me that Lenovo and apple dropped the 17in models honestly. If you're dead set on that size, dell is basically the only game in town. It's not a bad choice by any means though.
I almost bought one of those recently, and looked at them a lot. I liked them more than anything but the Mac I already have. I ended up keeping the Mac, but with Lenovo having dropped out it really felt like the only other valid option.
posted by emptythought at 2:11 AM on May 12, 2013
Very few 17in laptops even have 1080p anymore, most are 1600x900 with awful cheap screens, and low quality cases that crack/chip easily and feel like they're made of the worst plastic in the world.
Personally, I own a 17in MacBook Pro. But sadly they discontinued it, and the SSD prices were absolute robbery before they did.
I think the precisions even still have 1920x1200, which is amazing. You also get a metal frame with either of those choices, and on the precision a metal case like the MacBook Pro. The fit and finish are in "cut above" category, and it definitely doesn't feel like a dell. You also get a lot of options, especially when it comes to the screen(glare with a glass cover, anti glare, RGB LED, etc. better cooling, all kinds of stuff.
It bugs me that Lenovo and apple dropped the 17in models honestly. If you're dead set on that size, dell is basically the only game in town. It's not a bad choice by any means though.
I almost bought one of those recently, and looked at them a lot. I liked them more than anything but the Mac I already have. I ended up keeping the Mac, but with Lenovo having dropped out it really felt like the only other valid option.
posted by emptythought at 2:11 AM on May 12, 2013
Dell XPS?
posted by Mario Speedwagon at 5:06 AM on May 12, 2013
posted by Mario Speedwagon at 5:06 AM on May 12, 2013
Precision Series.
Customizable before purchase -- it's essential to me that the factory install e.g. the SSD and the CPU that I specify - Very customizable. You can even do up to 3 separate HDs (i have an SSD and a separate larger HDD
17" screen - Check.
Trackpad is responsive, ergonomic, satisfying to use - Not bad.
"Home", "End", "PgDn", "PgUp" and "Delete" keys are all clustered together, not strung out in a row - Page up and page down are by arrow keys but everything is also on the "keypad"
High-end - depends on how much money you wanna spend
Not made by HP - Dell
Pricy, but the result is impressive.
posted by pyro979 at 5:54 AM on May 12, 2013
Customizable before purchase -- it's essential to me that the factory install e.g. the SSD and the CPU that I specify - Very customizable. You can even do up to 3 separate HDs (i have an SSD and a separate larger HDD
17" screen - Check.
Trackpad is responsive, ergonomic, satisfying to use - Not bad.
"Home", "End", "PgDn", "PgUp" and "Delete" keys are all clustered together, not strung out in a row - Page up and page down are by arrow keys but everything is also on the "keypad"
High-end - depends on how much money you wanna spend
Not made by HP - Dell
Pricy, but the result is impressive.
posted by pyro979 at 5:54 AM on May 12, 2013
Look into configuring your own Clevo or Asus notebook. It might not be a name you are familiar with, but they do offer very high quality shells typically used by custom builders and on par with high-end Lenovo and Dell. Sager and Ava Direct are two resellers that use these notebooks. You will be able to customize everything down to HD, RAM manufacturer, network card, operating system, etc.
posted by sophist at 6:43 AM on May 12, 2013
posted by sophist at 6:43 AM on May 12, 2013
Have you not looked at Toshiba? It appears that they have three customizable 17-inchers right now. You married to that key scheme are you? On at least one, I see H/PU/PD/E in a horizontal row. Personally, I always look for the keys in a vertical line, as that seems completely intuitive to me, but I'm pretty sure I could retrain myself to handle horizontal keys.
posted by sageleaf at 12:46 PM on May 12, 2013
posted by sageleaf at 12:46 PM on May 12, 2013
how about getting a MacBook Pro and installing Windows?
Last time I looked, Mac keyboards don't have Home and End keys at all. I frequently rely on using those keys without thinking about it, and consequently find the Apple machines incredibly irritating.
posted by flabdablet at 7:44 PM on May 12, 2013
Last time I looked, Mac keyboards don't have Home and End keys at all. I frequently rely on using those keys without thinking about it, and consequently find the Apple machines incredibly irritating.
posted by flabdablet at 7:44 PM on May 12, 2013
OP: I am dying to know what you end up buying. Please let us know!
posted by brownrd at 4:55 PM on May 15, 2013
posted by brownrd at 4:55 PM on May 15, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 7:15 PM on May 11, 2013