Laptop Recommendation
 

Looking for a new laptop to replace my Dell. I use it for word processing and web browsing, so I don't need dedicated graphics (I'd actually prefer it not have it) or any wild features. Main concerns are keyboard comfort, low heat, durability, and portability (max 14"). I also have a SSD at home that I'm not using that I would like to utilize for the new laptop. Been looking at business themed laptops like Lenovo Thinkpad T420 and a few Dell Latitudes. Max I am looking to spend is 800 or so.

Any advice, or things to look out for? Any thoughts on refurbs? There are sales going on for the refurbs of both the above laptops.

Thanks fellas.

id buy a toshiba satelite. My satelite has been through the muck. 7yrs and still going.

same here... had it for atleast 4 years no issues

I have also had good luck with various Toshiba laptops throughout the years. Just got one for my sister for Christmas and she loves it too.

- Justin

Cant beat a satellite. Super nice backlit tile keyboard, very good backlight. They make 13.3" laptops too which is why I went with them.

Thanks. Going to check them out today. I've played with my friends' Toshiba in school and hated the build quality on that thing, but hopefully the newer ones are better.

I can tell you with authority that the Dell Latitude E6xxx series of laptops is not what you want.

At work I oversee a fleet of 15 or so of them and they have been shaky. The 6500s are by FAR the worst. Way worse than the D series that they replaced.

Off the top of my head, here are the big 3 (over 1-2 year span):

Laptop 1 (my own personal one, so I can vouch that it has not been mistreated):
4 LCD screens
4 top cases
2 lower cases
2 Motherboards
2 Fans
1 Memory stick
1 Hard drive

Laptop 2:
2 LCD screens
2 Hard drives
1 Motherboard

Laptop 3:
2 Motherboards
1 Hard drive
1 daughterboard

I have gotten to know the Dell professional reps very well. Carson is my buddy. Also, I know the tech service reps by name. Ben is the young nerdy guy, Jeff is the heavy set one, and Mike is the Vietnam Vet.

Also, I have my service tag memorized...yeah...

After speaking with the Dell rep for a while he basically admitted that they are a bad design. In order to change the video card you have to disassemble the entire chassis. In order to replace part of the palm rests you have to replace the entire lower case. If you lose the rubber feet, that's another lower case. Can't just snap new feet in there.

If I were to go with another Dell it would be a Precision series. Those have been flawless and very good, performance-wise.

Personally I'd go HP or Toshiba for personal use. HP over the rest.

And with whatever model you get, buy a quality 1TB or larger external hard drive and run backups to that consistently.

had my HP DV6500 for 5 years now and i have never had a single problem with it. I would prefer it have a back lit keyboard but im pretty sure all of the new HPs have them...

my girlfriend has had a problem with her dell(s) since day 1. they even sent her broken laptops on 2 separate occasions when they were attempting to replace hers...

I didn't really find any Toshibas I liked, with regard to design and keyboard and I've pretty much all but ruled out HP at this point. I think what I've realized too is these new consumer slim laptops put less emphasis on heat dissipation and ergonomics. I found a deal on the Lenovo T420 this weekend but didn't pull the trigger. I am going to keep looking for now as I don't really think I need to make a decision for a month or so.

Also started checking out this guy, and he looks quite promising: http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/lap...late-2011.aspx

Does liking them really matter? liking the looks or feel of it?
guess you have consider what your gonna use it for, and if the laptop can perform the functions you need to do with it realibly.

I use my toshiba satelite for:
Business (invoice,customer info base,taxes,payroll,etc..)
up/down loading of family pics (3 kids so have quite alot)
In my truck for onsite invoicing
general internet surfing
forum posting (like here & tech)
occasional texas holdem (Pokerist...great gaming for pc or mobile)
and of course the natural instinct to visit some sites to see (.)(.)ies

My satelite has surpassed all my friends and familes hp's dell's acer's etc..
They have purchased multiple laptops while Im still sittin with the same one that has been dropped,kicked,in & out of rain, full of dust from the shop etc...

Dont browse retailers for the premade toshibas. Look through Toshiba direct.

I've always liked Toshiba laptops but had a poor experience with my last one. I would buy another one but would also research a little more before making the purchase.

My boss bought a Dell Latitude from their Business Line. Has been working good for him since he bought it (3-4 years ago). Only issues he's had have been user problems, with the way he types I think his keyboard will be the first thing to break.

What about Sony? They have a free adobe package but don't know much about their quality.

Not to downplay anything else you wrote, but to answer the initial question, it is really everything. I will be using it for typing for the most part, so the keyboard and ergonomics are key (pun intended). I just can't get used to those island style keyboards that are on all the 13" Toshibas and am trying to stick with something similar to the flat keyboard I have now on my Dell. I probably should have emphasized that last part earlier to make my thought process seem less arbitrary. I'm certainly not doubting that they are well-built, but the ergonomics of all the ones on the Toshiba website have keyboards that don't seem like they would be comfortable to what I'm used to.

Ronin- I have been checking Toshiba's website and laptopmag.com for reviews.

Steve- Thanks for the input. I am the same way with my keyboard, it's a bad habit.

Matt- Sony's tend to be quite expensive and mimic Apple's island style keyboard which I hate.

At the risk of looking like a pedantic idiot, here is CNET's take on it. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20003544-1.html I believe Office Depot has the new Thinkpad Edge on display, I'm going to go check it out to compare it to the conventional Thinkpad.

last semester I was trying to get a few classes I needed last minute and was allowed to enroll in a computer science course that was at capacity only if I could bring my own computer. I didn't have one so literally one day before classes started I had to go find one locally. of course route 20 was flooded so I couldn't go to microcenter, and was left with best buy/staples/walmart to look.

I HATED 90% of what they had, everything either was huge or just awkward. I ended up going with a HP Pavilion G6. I paid around $300 for it and honestly have no complaints. the only thing is that my thumb kind of lays across the corner of the touch pad and I've accidentally zoomed a few times but that's it. I got a 500gb hard drive, 2.60ghz processer, and 4 gigs of ram. I use it just for light stuff (papers, internetz, light photo editing, hptuners, etc) and haven't had any issues.

I bought it on a whim, but between the price and the size it's perfect for what I needed

Keith- I actually saw that one while shopping initially. It looks great, and appears well built but it's just a little bigger and heavier than what I had in mind. It doesn't fit in the laptop bag I have. It got very positive reviews thought from what I could find.