I need a new laptop (not a Mac). Can anyone recommend one, or a particular make, or tell me which processor I should be looking for, or the best place to look, or anything else useful?
RAM is where mine usually seem to fall short after a few years; Chrome and Forefox seem to use loads of it.
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Replies (38)
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I'm not a techy but...
I got a Dell and am really pleased with the performance and price that I paid for it.
It's running on Windows 8.1 though which I detest. If I was to purchase one again, I would probably downgrade to Windows 7.
Windows 7
I read recently that support for Windows 7 is being stopped soon (not that long after XP was dropped).
I think you can make Windows 8 look and work like 7.
What sort of money do you want to spend?
I got an excellent Samsung one for £600 early last year put Samsung have pulled out of the market now and only do tablets. Lenovo seem popula now and you get a lot for your money with them.
dell are also always safe bet as said above. get the fastest one you can afford would be my advice.
Why not Windows 8?
I'm glad you said that mrme89 as I have just been looking at the Dell Inspiron 15 5000 and I have liked my last two Dells.
Any reason you don't like Windows 8? I've never used it.
Windows 8.1
It's dramtically different from Windows 7, Vista etc. Its almost as if its a tablet interface on a laptop. Navigating is difficult too.
The laptop itself is very quick and I can have multiple programs open with no reduction in speed.
Windows 8.1
It's dramtically different from Windows 7, Vista etc. Its almost as if its a tablet interface on a laptop. Navigating is difficult too.
The laptop itself is very quick and I can have multiple programs open with no reduction in speed.
Get an SSD
Try to include a Solid State Disk (SSD) in your specification. This will make the biggest single difference to performance (especially start-up and shut-down times). For normal office usage an I3 or I5 CPU is perfectly adequate.
Captain
HP
I got an HP envy towards the back end of last year, as my desktop died suddenly (fortunately I use a hosted desktop for work) and I wanted to be a bit more mobile. i7 quad core, with 16GB RAM.
It's Windows 8 (not ideal, but choice was limited there) and has a touchscreen which makes Windows 8 usage a bit easier. Apart from a few niggles and a couple of days getting used to it, I can't say Windows 8 has hampered my work too much.
Cost about £800 inc VAT, and I expect my computers to last a couple of years on average, so it's money well spent for a good one.
WS
@mrme89 - Make Windows 8 look like Windows 7
@mrme89 - Have a look at this http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/make-windows-8-8-1-look-like-windows-7-xp/ , especially this http://xxinightxxcreative.weebly.com/free-windows-aero.html
Surface Pro 3
As an employee of Microsoft I can't resist the urge to jump in here!
I am currently working on the Surface Pro 3 and strongly suggest you trial this - the weight allows it to not weigh me down as I am a rather mobile worker, the kickstand allows me to work on the train and the touch screen is phenomenal.
The Lenovo yoga is one that customers are raving about too if you are looking for a larger screen.
Note that if you are purchasing for your business you should work with your IT Partner/ reseller to ensure that you can achieve business/ bulk rates.
Windows 8 just like Windows 7
If you work via the traditional desktop (easily accessible in Windows 8) then the use of the computer is very much like (almost identical to) using Windows 7.
Windows Explorer is actually better in functionality in Windows 8 than Windows 7 and before.
The main issues that I've experienced with Windows 8 (and 8.1) have been compatability issues - the worst two instances being with a Canon printer (now resolved) and WD Smartware back up software (seems to have recently been resolved) - I believe that Windows updates over time upset the software used for my Canon printer and WD Smartware.
Before going for Windows 8 I'd check with that any specific software that is likely to be used is fully compatible.
64 bit / 32 bit
Thanks everyone, particularly JC for the links.
Just reinstalled Windows 7 using the 64 bit version based on the fact that a Google search showed people saying 64 bit would be fine for this laptop. Now I'm thinking maybe I should have installed 32 bit. Can't remember what it came with.
Why not a Mac
May I ask...why not a Mac?
Very expensive for no discernible benefit.Seems to tie you in to other Apple products. No Mac version of much of the software I use. Seems to tie you in to other Apple products. Emulators are just another layer of software to go wrong.
Mac
I've got a MacBook Pro and I absolutely love it.
However it may be different for accountants, I'm not sure how well some accounting software packages work on it.
But I find the interface, speed and usability a lot better than Dells or HPs I've had in the past.
Saying that I'm sure they have improved since and it may depend on what make and model you go for.
In terms of reliability my Mac has been going steady with absolutely no issues, viruses, etc, for nearly 3 years now. A record for me.
+1
I've got a MacBook Pro and I absolutely love it.
However it may be different for accountants, I'm not sure how well some accounting software packages work on it.
But I find the interface, speed and usability a lot better than Dells or HPs I've had in the past.
Saying that I'm sure they have improved since and it may depend on what make and model you go for.
In terms of reliability my Mac has been going steady with absolutely no issues, viruses, etc, for nearly 3 years now. A record for me.
I also have to +1 a Mac. I switched just over a year ago as I didn't want Windows 8 and it was the best thing I did. I went for the best processor I could afford but kept the RAM down and bought and installed my own as it worked out a hell of a lot cheaper. I even use it for video editing now (1080p 60fps) and it has no issues.
Windows 8/8.1 just take some getting used to
Windows 8 & 8.1 do look very different from Windows 7 when you first start using them and it is easy to panic and think that you will never get the hang of them.
However, after the initial frustration, they are very easy to use especially 8.1 as it has a something similar to the Start button in the bottom left hand corner. If you right click on that, you can get to the control panel, programs, etc. It was a big mistake that Microsoft left this out in Window 8 and that is why it got so much bad press.
Budget
What to recommend really depends on budget and what you want to use it for.
If money is no object then look at a i7 processor with 16gig of RAM and a dedicated video card.
For a more sensible budget an i5 with 8gig of ram will be more than powerful enough for office use, so something like this - http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/hp-pavili...
It's actually what I'm using at the moment and it's really nice, good build quality etc.
For less than £400 you will be looking at an i3 processor so something like this - http://www.staples.co.uk/laptop-computers/cbs/428131.html?promoCode=3003...
New laptop
Up until end of last year, I have struggled to run all business software on one laptop. Windows is known for its forever updating and resource-heavy background operations.
When I moved accountancy software from Sage to CCH Central, I decided to move all of the business applications to a remote server connected via Remote Desktop. Now my laptop is running very fast and all the business applications (CCH Central Accounts Production and Tax Compliance, Sage Payroll, IRIS Company Secretarial, Sage 50 Accounts and of of course MS Office Exchange) run from the server.
This way the speed is excellent, back-up and maintenance is taken care of by the hosting company and any updates of the software is covered as well. Highly recommended and can connect using various PCs, laptops, etc.
why not a mac? continued
OK, so I am unashamedly a mac-fan, but my son-in-law had an expensive and very lovely Sony laptop for a year (for biz use) before throwing it out of the window in frustration at Windows ... he then reluctantly bought a Mac, and now thinks it's the best thing he's ever done ... especially for speed and ease of use, not to mention longevity ... the new ones have a hybrid drive, say 1TB standard hard disk interlaced with 125 GB solid-state drive, which allows good storage capacity alongside extremely fast start-up times and generally really fast computing. Best thing for me, though, is that I only ever replace my computers now every 6 to 10 years, rather than every two years with Windows machines.
There's no reason
why a Windows computer shouldn't keep going for a considerable time. I have a very fast booting Lenovo laptop (I love SSD) which is 3 years old and my main desktop is 5 years old. I have no expectation of replacing either of them in the near future. (Famous last words!). So longevity ought not to be an issue. I usually find 6 years is when the urge to have the latest toy exceeds the horror of the prospect of setting it up as I want it. :-)
I have never had a problem with Windows
I don't have a problem with Windows. My PCs have always worked fine and I have never kept one for less than 4 years. I can see no reason to get a Mac or a hosted desktop. Having seen other people's experiences with Apple gear, I am very keen to avoid it.
Reply to Chatman
Not sure what he paid for his mac, but I do know he bought a refurbished item direct from Apple, and I think he mentioned something like it cost him about 20% less like that ... I also don't know exactly what mac he bought, apart from the fact he bought two machines, a desktop iMac and a Macbook ... I'd ask him but he's tearing his hair out right now trying to meet a book deadline (which is already past, as far as I can work out....). Prior to that he had the top of the range Sony portable which he kept for a couple of years ... no idea which one that was, either. I can say he is totally non-computer savvy, so maybe that's why he likes his new macs so much.
non-computer savvy
he is totally non-computer savvy, so maybe that's why he likes his new macs so much.
That often seems to be the way.
SSD
I echo what Paul and Captainblack say - get an SSD. Everything else are minor details and preferences.
I bought a refurbished Lenovo T410 business laptop for £180 which is a model introduced a few years ago running Windows 7 (i5 processor). I put in a Samsung 250GB SSD for £80 and it boots up and loads Excel (under 1 second) in a total of 30 seconds from pressing the power button. Shut down is 10 seconds. It makes the dreaded "restart required" when installing software a breeze. I would never consider buy any computer without installing an SSD now!
I timed the same computer before putting in the SSD and it was 3 minutes to startup to the point of Excel running and 30 seconds to shutdown.
I am going to upgrade the RAM from 4GB to 8GB for £30 so I can turn off the paging file (virtual memory) which may help operation speeds.
So, a total of £290. Makes you think!
Now that's seriously good value
Brilliant .... now if only windows computers could easily run Mac OS .........
Mac OS on Windows?
now if only windows computers could easily run Mac OS .........
Why would you want them to?
Cheap, if they work well
Why would I want Mac OS to run on Windows? ... Simple; if you could get a good Windows PC working well, it is cheaper than a Mac and easier to upgrade, so you'd have the best of both worlds ... a massive selection of cheap hardware plus a brilliant operating system ... e.g. I like Toshiba kit, but don't like Windows......
Readyboost
Hi everyone - Change of plan. I have just discovered Readyboost. It allows you to use a USB stick as extra RAM. The laptop only has 3GB of RAM and that was my problem. I used readyboost with a USB stick I had lying around and it is like lightning (well, I exaggerate, but it is easily fast enough for work).
I just need a bigger hard drive now and this six-year-old laptop will be as good as a new one!
Thanks for all your advice.
Another Mac fan
Bought my Macbook Air nearly 4 years ago and (as mentioned above) with the SSD it boots up in seconds, plus the battery life is excellent. As I was told when considering a Mac, they just work, everything I download or plug in just works.
Ironically, the only annoyance is that I loaded Office for Mac a year ago, and, like the old days when I used PCs, it is constantly having to update itself, you'd think MS would have got Word processing & Spreadsheets right by now.
@Paul
the only annoyance is that I loaded Office for Mac a year ago, and, like the old days when I used PCs, it is constantly having to update itself
You want to get yourself a Windows PC Paul. They just work.
@chatman
I have about 4 in the loft, I put them up there a year ago and plugged them in and so, when they have finally booted up, I'll see if they are still any good :-)
@KH re brilliant OS
Hi KH - Are you saying that the Mac OS is brilliant? If so, what is so good about it?
haven't the time to reply in full, but...
in a word, everything ... which is why you see so many correspondents complaining about windows this and windows that, but not one single complaint about Mac OS ... which says it all ... and the fact that most people who adopt Mac from Windows then become a bit like people who've suddenly given up smoking ... all you hear from them is how much better they feel, why on earth they were so mad to have kept on smoking for so long, and thank god they've suddenly seen the light ...yep, OTT, but in there is a brilliantly large nugget of truth.
Anyway, enough about my rant against windows (I honestly don't like it) and back to 31st January deadline stuff......... yawn...........
EDIT I used to drive clapped out bangers, but now I drive a really good older car, and the difference is immense ... I see windows compared to mac in the same way ... why use something that doesn't feel quite up to the job when for slightly more outlay you can have something that makes you smile?