Re: The Laptop Thread: Configs, deals & questions All,
On the hunt for laptops with requirements similar to that of TrueDreamer - this will be for our small startup. Thought of sharing my experience and also get some tips.
Looking for i7 based CPUs as these laptops will be Desktop replacements - mainly used for compile and VM jobs - so good CPU + lots of storage needs (atleast 512GB) + Docking options. I have used Thinkpad, Dell Latitude and currently use Mac pro - so I was open to all 3 with a preference towards Dell thanks to good experience with their support. Budget is not a big criteria as these are the "most important tools" for a software company.
Shortlisted Precision 5520, X1 carbon and added Macbook pro thanks to some experiences that I am listing below. Happy to hear about suggestions to mitigate the cons.
Dell/Lenovo
Pros:
1) Business models like Precision/Latitude allow for a lot of customizable option. For eg I can get a small SSD + large HDD, multiple CPU options etc allows us to get good bang-for -buck.
2) MIL standards, specifically reasonable spill proof protection. My current Macbook pro had a small amount of water splashed on it and went kaput. To make matters worse, pretty much everything is soldered onto the MB - so no way to "rescue". As a side note, in some cases even speaker issues and keyboard issues lead to MB replacement (not sure whether this is because the service folks wanted to take it easy thanks to warranty or not).
Compared to this my Dell latitude had a full water bath thanks to my kid pouring water on it. Left it to dry for a day and thats about it - it still keeps going after 4 yrs.
3) Anti-glare screen options. Glossy screens look great for many jobs, but one thing they don't like is Vim editor with dark black background :-). Also a startup like ours will have to manage with office spaces that don't have the most ideal lighting - so matte screen is preferred.
4) Related to point 2, repairability and flexibility to add stuff later: adding RAM, batteries, keyboards - you name it.
Cons:
1) Maybe specific for me - I am particular about keyboard and trackpad feel. Dell/Lenovo have no experience centers to try out their business offerings!! Given that we are talking about something that will be used for 3-4 yrs, I am really keen to know what I will be getting. Went to Dell/Lenovo experience showrooms and no one even offers to get a demo piece. To make matters worse, some sales reps end up asking us to try the models present there claiming that response will be similar.
Dell/Lenovo really need to fix this - they don't have to stock a demo piece for every config, but they need to have a representative piece for every product line.
2) Lack of India specific website to configure things. I know this is the exact opposite of point 1 in pro - but I am not contradicting. You need to find a small business contact to make this happen. Tried and failed with Lenovo, but luckily got a contact for Dell through our forum member.
Believe me, the chat/contact-us button in those sites are hopeless - it doesn't take us to the proper sales rep at all. When I contacted Lenovo folks on that number and asked for a way to try out the laptop, the person asked me "Whats the need to go a shop when I am giving you such a good price" :-)
Mac
Pros:
1) Tried out the mac pro and yes, just the fact that I could try it out itself is a big advantage. The butterfly keyboard wasn't so bad like what I expected and after 20 mins, I started enjoying it. Fyi, I have a mac pro that has the Chiclet keyboard.
2) Solid build, great trackpad - didn't care too much for the gimicky touch bar though. Not a deal breaker, but its a feature for the sake of doing something different.
Cons:
1) Lack of hardening, lack of repairability - a machine so costly and that too for enterprise use needs to be more rugged. The build is solid, but basic spill proofing is a must. To make matters worse, even if I am ready to buy insurance - there is no tie-up by Apple. I will anyway go ahead and buy the insurance if I do go ahead with this.
2) Lack of configuration flexibility - again it hurts. I really want atleast 512GB storage and this means getting pushed into the higher end model. |