New laptop, suggestions

[tooln]

I'm thinking of getting a new laptop. Leaning towards a Lenovo. Anyone have any experience with them or have other suggestions.

 

[wiscwhip]

My personal experience says stay away from Toshiba. Got one for my daughter and the HDD failed within the first 2 weeks, 5 weeks later and $50 for new disks and she could use it again. Just last night my neighbor brought his Toshiba over that he hadn't been able to use for 7 months(which he never mentioned to me before), and there is so much crapware and other items on that thing I can barely get it to run. I told him to take it back and get everything he wants to save off the HDD and then I will do a fresh install of Win 8(which I hate but it came on the machine) and then I will remove the crap he doesn't need. I can't speak personally to Lenovo, but they are the old IBM and ThinkPads were decent laptops, as long as they didn't "cheap 'em up" too much. Dell are ok and I personally run an Acer that I got on CL for $60 and installed a new HDD and it has run great ever since, no complaints. Whatever you get, get Windows 7 or 8.1, not 8, and plan on doing the free upgrade to Windows 10 when it comes out in Sept.

 

[jlonll]

I would wait til Windows 10 is out.

 

[Jeff23]

I am typing this on a Lenovo that I have had for about a year and a half. It's nothing fancy, but it is more than enough for me at a good price. Depending how hard you are on a machine, I would feel comfortable recommending Lenovo.

 

[foggy]

I USED to have lots of computer problems. No more. Three words solved the issues: Apple MacBook Air. If you don't have business applications that require windows.....Apple has the real deal, IMO.

 

[CrazyEd]

I've used Lenovo's at work for the past 9 years, never had a problem. Make sure it has an SSD drive as the main system drive and buy as much memory as you can afford, that is where your money is well spent. low-mid end processor should be more than sufficient. I've been running Windows 10 technical preview since it came out, it's solid, basically same as Windows 8/8.1.

 

[tooln]

Thanks for the suggestions. My current is a Toshiba and I can't say it been bad to me. Not very fond of Dell any longer but at one time they were on of the top machines out there. I have Lenovo at work and were tough on them in the shop and they really hold up well. I'm thinking of a SSD or a hybrid with the SSD cache. More than likely will spend the extra $$$ for the SSD. I'm not much of a fruit person as all the software I use is PC based. I know nothing about windows 8 as I have 7 yet. I've heard some about 10 but not much. Not looking for something real soon but within the next year.

 

[jlonll]

then I would wait for Windows 10 as it will have some of the same start features as Windows7

 

[wiscwhip]

Given your not pressed for time I would wait as well tooln. If you are pressed into buying early due to failure, Microsoft has already announced that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade if you already own Windows 7 or 8/8.1 for a limited time after Win10 is released.

 

[chickenlittle]

I bought the cheapest toshiba at Best Buy a year ago, $240. Win 8. It was a major upgrade over the XP laptop it replaced. I run some simple CAD and statistical software with no complaints. Great home machine that sits on my desk and rarely on the couch So it has had a gentle life. I am very happy with it as i was willing to make sacrifices on performance for that price but I don't think I have. I am tempted by the Surface Pro 3 except for the price.