Team-BHP - The Laptop Thread: Configs, deals & questions

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandeepmdas (Post 4108318)

Can anyone please suggest me a laptop that has minimum 8GB RAM, no OS or Linux, Core i3 or equivalent AMD CPU and priced less than 30K?

8GB RAM is the prime requirement, and without that this lappy would be no use for me. I don't want Windows at all. Ubuntu would be the preferred OS.

Thanks in advance..:)

Dell Inspiron Core i3 5th Gen - (4 GB/500 GB HDD/Linux) Z565103UIN9 3558 Notebook (15.6 inch, Black)

You can upgrade the RAM , if it has just 1 slot then switch it with an 8gb RAM chip, it is priced at 24+ so you have budget for the RAM

Hey Bhpians

I am looking out for a laptop for my sister. Would be mostly used for Programming(aptana/dreamviewer/Visual studio etc) ,occasional Photoshop and general browsing/movies. She has a budget of 50k.

Now The basic specification im looking out are I5 6th gen (minimum) processor,14 or 15.6 inch screen, 4gb Ram and 500gh Hdd and discreet graphics card. Not really interested in the AMD CPUs

I have narrowed my search to either an Asus R558UQ-DM540D or HP 15-AY503TX OR Pavillion 15-au111tx. Now the Asus is withing budget but i cannot locate this model on their website. I only get a R558UF,which is a slightly older model,guess Asus doesnt update their website regularly.:Frustrati
The HP 15 series is within budget but is less specked as compared to the Asus and the pavillion is similar specked but over budget.

I got a couple of quotes of the various models but this being Goa, the max discount i could get is 500 to 1k off the MRP, i guess demonetization isnt affecting dealers here:D

So i would like to know if the Asus is inferior to the HP since it offers the same specks and more for much less money, any hidden cost cutting or Hp is charging extra cause of its brand name?
Anyone has any experience with Asus laptops?

And People from Mumbai,Bangalore /hyderabad, know of any good offers running in your City? Im sure i can expect much better discounts compared to the paltry we get in Goa.
Im not too keen on online purchase, due to potential warranty issues.

If anyone has any other brand/ model in mind do let me know

Regards

Asus is an OEM for many major brands and it also has its own "house brand" - kind of like how a supermarket offers its own inhouse brand, mostly sourced from the same wholesalers and processed at the same factories that eg Tata and other food manufacturers may use.

So - uniformly cheaper stuff for a higher spec. Just see how good or bad their service network in your city is. HP / Dell have excellent and widespread service networks.

You are not likely to find offers here. The other alternative might be to find a year end sale on Amazon USA and get a friend coming from there to buy one for you. Definitely far cheaper that way.

Folks,
Now its my turn to get some suggestions / help in this Ocean of Knowledge/ experiences.

Looking for a laptop for doing some Autocad/ Catia / ProE projects. ( For my nephew) basically.
In my time,( Read late nineties and early 2000), AMD was the best processor for the above kind of S/w.
Not sure how is the trend now.

High level specs:
RAM: 8 GB.
Processor: Need suggestions.
Screen size: Need suggestions.
Budget: around INR 40 K.
Graphic Card: Inbuit? Need suggestions.
Brand: Dell/ HP/ Acer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick79 (Post 4112275)

For CAD work especially 3-D, you need a lot of processing power and fast graphics apart from a lot of RAM and as high a screen resolution (and size) as is affordable. What is needed is a "Mobile Workstation", any thing less is a compromise. I doubt that 40K will get you anything worth while.

Good Mobile workstations certified for Autocad and Catia are available from Thinkpad, Dell and HP, but all cost upwards of 80K at times touching 150K+.

What you have to consider is the complexity of projects undertaken and quantum of work. A lower level laptop will run these applications but at a much lower throughput, which may be fine if finances are at a premium and projects are one off, but if project size is substantial, then it will frustrate the user to no end.

http://shopap.lenovo.com/in/en/lapto...moID=LEN735626
http://www8.hp.com/in/en/workstation...ltrabooks.html
http://www.dell.com/in/business/p/pr...workstation/pd

I picked up a HP pavilion over the Asus due to the better service support from Hp. I bought the laptop on flipkart and got a splendid deal with exchange of my 12 year old fully functioning IBM thinkpad,got 8k for for itlol: I really dont know how flipkart can carry on like this but i used the opportunity to my advantage.

Felt a little sad that i had to part ways with something that has been with me since my school, high-school and engineering days without a single hiccup. but since it was really too old to run anything now and mostly used as paper weight and the offer was too tempting, decided to let it go.
Final price after exchange, seller discount and cashback offers came to 44k rupees.The current price in a retail store is 58k, the difference is staggering!:Frustrati

Anyways, coming to the New HP, the following are the specks:
i5-7200U processor
8 gb ddr4 ram
1 tb Hdd
nvidia 940mx 2gb graphics card
Windows 10 home
backlit key board and 15.6 HD screen

Initial impressions are good, though there were a couple of stutters/hangings while opening/closing programs but ill complete updating all the drivers and windows before giving my final verdict.
The inbuilt Hp support app is really slow in updating drivers so using Driverpack solutions is way faster.

I Thank all those who contribute to this thread, all your posts helped me focus my search much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hserus (Post 4111760)

Asus is an OEM for many major brands and it also has its own "house brand" - kind of like how a supermarket offers its own inhouse brand, mostly sourced from the same wholesalers and processed at the same factories that eg Tata and other food manufacturers may use.
So - uniformly cheaper stuff for a higher spec. Just see how good or bad their service network in your city is. HP / Dell have excellent and widespread service networks.......................................... .....

My cousin is flying down from US, this coming Monday and I wanted him to get this laptop:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K1IO3QW...ing=UTF8&psc=1

But, unfortunately, because of some payment error the order was cancelled and now I will have to rely on a purchase from the physical stores in a very remote part of US. Why? Because my friend is flying out tomorrow night, so he has 36 hours to buy a laptop for me, and no website (Amazon, Newegg) will deliver a laptop in US on Monday, considering the weekend is already here.

My only requirement from this laptop is browsing, watching movies, casual gaming i.e. CS:GO and DOTA2 on medium to low settings. I hardly play for about 7 hours a week. And I do a lot of writing.

I've selected the following laptops, please help me in picking one. I prefer Dell and ASUS because you can avail international warranty on it. However, I want to get the best laptop for the money, so don't really mind other brands. My last 2-3 laptops have lasted me 4-7 year except the Acer netbook which met with an earlier demise.

Without further ado, here are the following choices:

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Inspiron...roduct_2148359

http://www.staples.com/HP-NOTEBOOK-1...roduct_2460647

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-15-6-...?skuId=5606100

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-1...?skuId=5496140

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo-id...Drive/54947076

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-ins...?skuId=5579387

Please reply ASAP with one or two options.

Quote:

Originally Posted by diyguy (Post 4123376)

Any of the above are okay and can pickup depending on closeness. You may get better warranty and add-ons from a Costco or Sams club if he has the membership.

Thanks. Unfortunately he does not have any ecomm/retail memberships. And staples, Walmart and Best Buy are within 20 miles radius from his home.

Am still looking to get something with i3 7k kaby version. Guess will have to settle with a previous gen only. As I can't cross $350.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbanator (Post 4123460)

Ask him to check at Microsoft Stores, they have latest variants and signature editions ( without any bloatware)

I bought this one yesterday for my colleague

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store...tID.5082141700

Did you buy it online and then picked it up from the store? Or you just went to the store and picked one up? If they do stock the laptops at these stores from various brands, I can ask him to check out as there is one 20 miles away from his home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbanator (Post 4123625)

Picked from stores, they stock different brands but Dell is more prominent. It looked a value deal to me, If he can go then nothing better. You can also get an extended warranty / accidental damage insurance from Microsoft for $ 100 or so and these are signature editions devoid of crap Apps/Software.

Thanks. Mostly getting this one picked up: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store...tID.5073147000

Total VFM. But the store is 130 miles away from where he lives. 😂