Seeking 11" laptop: PC, reliable, decent battery, heavy excel usage
January 29, 2015 9:12 AM Subscribe
Suggestions for lightweight 11" laptop? Need to have: full keyboard, Windows, able to handle large and complex Excel files and long Word docs, good internet connection, reliable performance, decent battery life, good for both work and for netflix-type activities, reliable use with external monitor. After a lemon of an HP, reliability is important. What should I expect to pay for this? Which one should I get?
Background: I purchased an HP Envy 2 for $700 just under two years ago, and it was lightweight with good battery, and I theoretically liked the convertible-to-tablet function. But nothing about it was consistent except its poor and glitchy performance: slow internet, intermittent capacity to connect to external monitors, poor touch screen responsiveness, slow-to-a-crawl when handling large excel files; occasionally does all sorts of weird and annoying things....basically, one big lemon. I've returned it for service more than once, they apparently can't replicate the problems. Horrible. While I push for refund/credit from Costco, I'm ready to consider what my replacement computer will be. My budget can be more flexible if needed, to get something that's not crappy.
My more tech-savvy shmoopy suggested Lenovo. Is their Yoga 2 line along the right lines? Any other suggestions? I really want a computer that simply works as advertised. Touchscreen and convertible-to-tablet are nice ideas but not essential.
Background: I purchased an HP Envy 2 for $700 just under two years ago, and it was lightweight with good battery, and I theoretically liked the convertible-to-tablet function. But nothing about it was consistent except its poor and glitchy performance: slow internet, intermittent capacity to connect to external monitors, poor touch screen responsiveness, slow-to-a-crawl when handling large excel files; occasionally does all sorts of weird and annoying things....basically, one big lemon. I've returned it for service more than once, they apparently can't replicate the problems. Horrible. While I push for refund/credit from Costco, I'm ready to consider what my replacement computer will be. My budget can be more flexible if needed, to get something that's not crappy.
My more tech-savvy shmoopy suggested Lenovo. Is their Yoga 2 line along the right lines? Any other suggestions? I really want a computer that simply works as advertised. Touchscreen and convertible-to-tablet are nice ideas but not essential.
Response by poster: Yes, I could go with 12" if it's going to make a noticeable difference in performance. I prefer the smaller size, but if the performance is significantly impacted, that is probably worth the trade-off.
posted by quinoa at 9:42 AM on January 29, 2015
posted by quinoa at 9:42 AM on January 29, 2015
The 11" MacBook Airs can get be had with pretty decent specs (base model has the i5) - and even if you want to stick to running Windows, run Apple's Boot Camp, and install it - you'd then boot directly into Windows, and get all the power of the computer (vs. if you were to virtualize Windows), and do it all with a nice fresh install of Windows and no bloat-ware from the PC manufacturers. The rumored 12" model that there are renderings floating around of makes for a physical size about the same as the 11", but will supposedly have their retina display and an even thinner form-factor.
posted by GuppieXX at 9:49 AM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by GuppieXX at 9:49 AM on January 29, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Main reason I'm hesitant to get Mac is that I rely *very* heavily on windows keyboard shortcuts. If I install windows on a mac, will there be negative impact to shortcut functionality, given the minor differences in PC/mac keyboards?
I'll still be using PC many hrs/wk at work, so will be continuing to reinforce PC shortcuts in my brain.
posted by quinoa at 10:07 AM on January 29, 2015
I'll still be using PC many hrs/wk at work, so will be continuing to reinforce PC shortcuts in my brain.
posted by quinoa at 10:07 AM on January 29, 2015
After reading this yesterday, this ought to fit your requirements - http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/28/dell-xps-13-review-2015/
"...[T]he redesigned XPS is notable for its nearly bezel-less display -- a design feat that allows it to have the footprint of an 11-inch machine."
posted by 6ATR at 10:10 AM on January 29, 2015
"...[T]he redesigned XPS is notable for its nearly bezel-less display -- a design feat that allows it to have the footprint of an 11-inch machine."
posted by 6ATR at 10:10 AM on January 29, 2015
That XPS 13 looks great, it is over an inch smaller than the 12" Lenovo I linked to but has a bigger screen and is more customizable.
posted by Cosine at 10:25 AM on January 29, 2015
posted by Cosine at 10:25 AM on January 29, 2015
Best answer: One thing to watch out for: almost none of the newer, smaller ultrabooks have dedicated pgup/pgdn or home/end keys. The new trend (thanks, Apple!) is for full-length right shift keys at the cost of decent arrow keys and all of the pgup/pgdn group.
The yoga2 pro is the only 13" ultrabook I've seen that does this part of the keyboard decently. My friend has it and it's a great computer overall. Note also that the yoga 3 pro doesn't have function keys.
posted by ropeladder at 10:41 AM on January 29, 2015
The yoga2 pro is the only 13" ultrabook I've seen that does this part of the keyboard decently. My friend has it and it's a great computer overall. Note also that the yoga 3 pro doesn't have function keys.
posted by ropeladder at 10:41 AM on January 29, 2015
Also consider the Surface Pro 3, it's pretty slick. I know it's 12"... but so tiny. Whatever you buy, try out in person first, as keyboards can be a deal breaker.
posted by nickggully at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2015
posted by nickggully at 10:52 AM on January 29, 2015
Best answer: seconding the lenovo yogas. fast, light, etc.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:31 AM on January 29, 2015
posted by aspersioncast at 11:31 AM on January 29, 2015
Response by poster: Ok, so I'll check out the XPS 13, lenovo yoga 2 pro, surface pro 3.
Helpful input on trying keyboards - I am reminded i miss the menu key when it's not there, so I will pay attention to that.
Is there a good place to go to try them out? (Best Buy?) And is that also the right place to buy from?
posted by quinoa at 12:49 PM on January 29, 2015
Helpful input on trying keyboards - I am reminded i miss the menu key when it's not there, so I will pay attention to that.
Is there a good place to go to try them out? (Best Buy?) And is that also the right place to buy from?
posted by quinoa at 12:49 PM on January 29, 2015
If I install windows on a mac, will there be negative impact to shortcut functionality, given the minor differences in PC/mac keyboards?
Not really. Command/Apple maps to the Windows key, and that's about it.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:43 PM on January 29, 2015
Not really. Command/Apple maps to the Windows key, and that's about it.
posted by drjimmy11 at 1:43 PM on January 29, 2015
I can't in good faith recommend anything but an 11in macbook air. everything else in the price range doesn't give you an SSD stock, and gives you crappier battery life.
I've used windows for work the majority of my life, and i'm big on keyboard shortcuts. The learning curve for OSX was very short, and not very steep. It's basically just putting a find-replace in your brain along the lines of "if ctrl, then command". Everything is the same... you just press command instead of control, and it's moved over a couple keys(this is the only rampy part of the learning curve).
if you care about the quality of the keyboard look at a lenovo x240. having to rate keyboards, i'd say it goes lenovo>>macbook air>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>yoga. I have never used a non-latitude dell with an even ok keyboard. the yoga keyboard is pretty sucky too(i have one right here on my workbench, in for a swap of power jack due to dog attack). The surface keyboard is made to be as thin as possible and blows(admittedly, i've only played with the mk1 and mk2, but i can't see how they'd have gotten around that limitation). I also just don't trust any non pro-grade dell to be worth a damn. they just fall apart, and are made out of crappy materials without a care.
from a purely value for money standpoint, i don't think you'll be able to best a used macbook air 11. everything else in the price range wont get you an ssd, except for maybe yoga variants. It's also worth noting that if you break a mac, you can get same day service at an apple store. I think microsoft does this for the surface, but they have very few stores so far.
As two final comments, there ARE utlities which can remap keyboard shortcuts on macs, so you use control and such. i just made myself learn, but i know people who do Serious Work and that's the first thing they install when they get a new one.
So yea, if you're going to ask me what to get small machine wise, i'm gonna go with this(apple refurbs have the same warranty as new ones, and going that route gets you an extra 128gb of space essentially for free). If pushed for a windows alternative, i'd say a lenovo x240 with the nicer screen and SSD... but that's a lot more, for no great reason.
You can always just run windows on a macbook air, it works perfectly...
posted by emptythought at 2:28 PM on January 29, 2015
I've used windows for work the majority of my life, and i'm big on keyboard shortcuts. The learning curve for OSX was very short, and not very steep. It's basically just putting a find-replace in your brain along the lines of "if ctrl, then command". Everything is the same... you just press command instead of control, and it's moved over a couple keys(this is the only rampy part of the learning curve).
if you care about the quality of the keyboard look at a lenovo x240. having to rate keyboards, i'd say it goes lenovo>>macbook air>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>yoga. I have never used a non-latitude dell with an even ok keyboard. the yoga keyboard is pretty sucky too(i have one right here on my workbench, in for a swap of power jack due to dog attack). The surface keyboard is made to be as thin as possible and blows(admittedly, i've only played with the mk1 and mk2, but i can't see how they'd have gotten around that limitation). I also just don't trust any non pro-grade dell to be worth a damn. they just fall apart, and are made out of crappy materials without a care.
from a purely value for money standpoint, i don't think you'll be able to best a used macbook air 11. everything else in the price range wont get you an ssd, except for maybe yoga variants. It's also worth noting that if you break a mac, you can get same day service at an apple store. I think microsoft does this for the surface, but they have very few stores so far.
As two final comments, there ARE utlities which can remap keyboard shortcuts on macs, so you use control and such. i just made myself learn, but i know people who do Serious Work and that's the first thing they install when they get a new one.
So yea, if you're going to ask me what to get small machine wise, i'm gonna go with this(apple refurbs have the same warranty as new ones, and going that route gets you an extra 128gb of space essentially for free). If pushed for a windows alternative, i'd say a lenovo x240 with the nicer screen and SSD... but that's a lot more, for no great reason.
You can always just run windows on a macbook air, it works perfectly...
posted by emptythought at 2:28 PM on January 29, 2015
Best answer: If you do get a MacBook Air, you'd have to buy Windows separately. Typically you can't re-use the version that came with your previous PC. Any version of Windows you may have bought previously is probably an upgrade version, which doesn't allow for installation on a new computer. Microsoft makes it a bit hard to find non-upgrade copies of Windows, but Amazon usually has them for around $100.
posted by vasi at 2:40 PM on January 29, 2015
posted by vasi at 2:40 PM on January 29, 2015
You can try them at best buy, or a Microsoft store if one is nearby. I would price compare, though -- you can easily get it from Amazon if it's cheaper.
posted by J. Wilson at 2:45 PM on January 29, 2015
posted by J. Wilson at 2:45 PM on January 29, 2015
I've had many Lenovo (and formally IBM) laptops through work and can say without hesitation that I utterly hate the keyboard and trackpads on all them. It's not just me, everyone who has ever reported to me seems to hate them too. I'm on an X220 right now.
And yet, on the internet, everyone seems to rave about them.
My recommendation would be to type a lot on one to see how you feel about it. Seems like either you love it or you hate it.
posted by mr_silver at 3:24 PM on January 29, 2015
And yet, on the internet, everyone seems to rave about them.
My recommendation would be to type a lot on one to see how you feel about it. Seems like either you love it or you hate it.
posted by mr_silver at 3:24 PM on January 29, 2015
Asus has better reliability over 2 years than Lenovo or Apple.
I carry my Asus everywhere; by all rights, it should be falling apart. But it's ticking along like a Timex.
posted by jb at 4:07 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
I carry my Asus everywhere; by all rights, it should be falling apart. But it's ticking along like a Timex.
posted by jb at 4:07 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
as a quick comment on asus laptops, they're like bianchi bikes or something. they make VERY good machines, and they make utterly terrible machines. a lot of their budget stuff is really really awful quality, but their midrange and higher end stuff is excellent quality. lenovo is pretty similar.
that reliability survey is likely skewed by how good their quality stuff is, because their basic/budget machines are reaaaaalllly bad. these are shockingly high quality for example.
posted by emptythought at 7:18 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
that reliability survey is likely skewed by how good their quality stuff is, because their basic/budget machines are reaaaaalllly bad. these are shockingly high quality for example.
posted by emptythought at 7:18 PM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
My SO has two Asus eePCs, both of which are working after several years of heavy use.
posted by jb at 7:37 PM on January 29, 2015
posted by jb at 7:37 PM on January 29, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks y'all! Hoping to visit Best Buy and Apple store tomorrow. Might report back if I do make it there.
posted by quinoa at 9:13 PM on January 29, 2015
posted by quinoa at 9:13 PM on January 29, 2015
Response by poster: Decision: lenovo yoga 2 pro 11, which has the i5 processor. Thanks mefi! Whoo hoo!
posted by quinoa at 4:35 PM on January 30, 2015
posted by quinoa at 4:35 PM on January 30, 2015
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Can you bump up to a 12", the 11" Lenovos all have fairly wimpy processors, the 12" ThinkPad Edge S1 Yoga can be had with an Intel i5 which would push a lot more bits and bytes.
posted by Cosine at 9:27 AM on January 29, 2015 [1 favorite]