Help need new laptop or iPad thingy

[Allan Davies]

Help. My old 07 Samsung laptop has just died ( with a little punch from a half cut tosser) anyway, the upshot is I need a new laptop thingy, used for word, photos, mapsource, and general porn I mean google
Now what's out there and do I go for iPad or laptop.
Cheers in advance!! If I don't reply the wIfes shot me!!!

 

[Fanum]

Ebay, either second hand auction sniping or a daily deal that you check out thoroughly with proper shops as a comparison.

I got a real bargain on an IBM thinkpad recently......full business machine (IE metal case so nice and sturdy, one of a couple of dozen sold by an outlet after some company upgraded their staff's laptops)

If you buy secondhand, the batteries are 90% likely to be fekked, but again, ebay will supply you with a new one cheaply....it's even worth checking the lists carefully to find one that is in good order with a dead battery, and looking up how much a new battery is to factor it in

Don't be tempted by the "i" fanboi's claims which I'm sure will come soon that a thinkpad will do the job for you.

It won't.
Nor will a BB playbook, or any other tablet........unless you have a desktop that you can synch up with and access via wifi and remote desktop

PS don't go for a netbook either......too slow, too limited and although temptingly cheap, you'll rapidly get very very frustrated with it.

A decent specced notebook or small laptop......if you want new, go get PC PRo magazine and see what's best recommendation, or even better, go to the dentist's and look at the copy on the coffee table says is best...cutting edge is 80% higher priced to start off with, you'll get a far better deal on a 4 month old 'just replaced at the top' type machine

Personally, as a second machine, I'd say go for a secondhand good spec well known brand

 

[Doug]

Help. My old 07 Samsung laptop has just died ( with a little punch from a half cut tosser) anyway, the upshot is I need a new laptop thingy, used for word, photos, mapsource, and general porn I mean google
Now what's out there and do I go for iPad or laptop.
Cheers in advance!! If I don't reply the wIfes shot me!!!

Al, I think the only answer is another laptop if you want Word and Mapsource. iPads are great for recreational stuff with a better battery life than laptops, but limited when it comes to serious stuff.

 

[sparkplug]

Al, I think the only answer is another laptop if you want Word and Mapsource. iPads are great for recreational stuff with a better battery life than laptops, but limited when it comes to serious stuff.

Agreed.

iPad and the other tablets are pretty frustrating if you need to type anything longer than a website address. They are excellent for web browsing, playing music and films but not really for anything more.

 

[IJGser]

Mapsource is a no go on iPad, MS office is coming to iPad very soon plus many writing apps already available inc keyboard cases and porn is fantastic on it! So if mapsource is really important then get a laptop. I forfeited it for portability battery and porn.... Or is that ipornabilty.

 

[Gipsy]

Agree with the above about the unsuitability of the current crop of tablets for your needs. The new upcoming Microsoft offering might do the job for you, but the release date is a long way in the future.
If portability is important then check out the current crop of ultra books. Notebook sized units with full on laptop performance. Not cheap, but would do the job well, and also with solid state memory would likely travel well.

 

[Pukmeister]

Daughter has a Macbook Air, uses my portable BluRay writer if she needs an optical drive.

Intel Core i5 with solid state drive, fast, very lightweight, powerful and portable with long battery life.

Not cheap (although bought in Singapore) but excellent quality.

 

[Gonzo]

Agree. Laptop is functional, iPad is a fashion accessory (albeit a cool one ).

Also another vote for an IBM Thinkpad. Hard as nails, understated design and might survive the next punch.

 

[Gipsy]

If you fancy having a look at a few items before you buy, get in touch and drop in for a beer. Currently running 2 desk tops, one IMac and one PC, 2 laptops, one a MacBook, and one a PC, 2 notebooks, and 2 iPads. Also sundry old computers in the attic. Not true geeks, but through trial and error have a pretty good idea of what's out there.

 

[IJGser]

Agree. Laptop is functional, iPad is a fashion accessory (albeit a cool one )

At last I'm fashionable, for some there may be street cred associated with apple but after having a iPhone then the pad i got a iMac and realised its the superior operating system for my type of use eg travil, media, mobil personal organisation. It's like when you think you have a nice car/bike and can't understand why others pay more for premium brands then you drive/ride one and get it!

 

[Gonzo]

At last I'm fashionable, for some there may be street cred associated with apple but after having a iPhone then the pad i got a iMac and realised its the superior operating system for my type of use eg travil, media, mobil personal organisation. It's like when you think you have a nice car/bike and can't understand why others pay more for premium brands then you drive/ride one and get it!

I'm beginning to be won over on the Mac front. Working on SWMBO in terms of spending double on the next desktop.

My main point was the ipad vs laptop (whichever type) - very different propositions. I too have an iphone, desktop and laptop and can't really see how an ipad would be a useful addition to my life, compared to £500 being added to the laptop/PC fund.

 

[Fluffmeister]

Don't spend a fortune

On one

I use this little puppy, a ThinkPad X61. Core 2 Duo, 8GB Ram, 12.1" Screen, 3 USB ports, SD Card Reader, IR port, Wireless, GB Ethernet complete with a docking station and 160GB drive for around £200. I dropped a 256GB SSD in as prices are coming down.

Great for general use, the docking station includes a DVD writer and it has a 6 + hour battery life.

Thin, light, easily bike portable and the docking station adds another 2 x USB ports.

In fact I have a second one that I picked up and just dropped a 120GB SSD in for the kids to use, complete with docking station. I have bought a few more to refurb and then sell on (not a sales pitch BTW) from a university contract I am working on.

Great little bit of kit, and not breaking the bank, you have £300 left for farkles and premium pron sites

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

If you are thinking of going down the used Thinkpad route I recommend Tier1online. They sell refurbished corporate laptops at very good prices.

Not flashy, but very sturdy and parts are readily available via eBay. All my family have them.

Steve

 

[Fanum]

Don't spend a fortune on one.

I use this little puppy, a ThinkPad X61

That's three votes for Thinkpads then....Mine's an older ( i presume) T60 and it's perfectly adequate, and tough as nails.

As second hand laptops, you can get them nice and cheap because they are so popular for business use, therefore, when they get upgraded, there's a lot of them about.

Kids don't like them because they have a squarer aspect ratio screen so they don't look quite as good for films maybe, but as a solid machine, can't beat'em

 

[Gonzo]

That's three votes for Thinkpads then....Mine's an older ( i presume) T60 and it's perfectly adequate, and tough as nails.

As second hand laptops, you can get them nice and cheap because they are so popular for business use, therefore, when they get upgraded, there's a lot of them about.

Kids don't like them because they have a squarer aspect ratio screen so they don't look quite as good for films maybe, but as a solid machine, can't beat'em

Four votes.

Have said this on another thread somewhere but have used Thinkpads at work for more than 10 years. Current model is an X200 (a small one like the X61) and they take untold amounts of abuse and just work. All the time. Top box, planes, trains, undocked and slapped on desks several times a day.

I also like the anti-bling black case too.