Discussion: About Laptops

By Mindovermaster
in Hardware Hangout

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Moderator
Posted

Is it best to buy laptops from manufacturers as Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, HP, etc.?

 

You don't always get the parts you want, but you can easily upgrade some parts of it.

 

Or is it better to get custom made laptops? Such as CyberPower, etc (I cant think of any more on top of my head, but they are out there)

 

Yes, you do get the parts you want, but you pay a premium price for their name.

 

Which is better? Premade or Custommade?

 

This is a discussion, I don't need a laptop, as of yet. Just something I've been wondering...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Veteran

greenwizard88

Posted
Posted

I've always purchased Dell, because it's a known entity. Rather reliable parts department, ease of finding replacements on eBay, and generally speaking they don't break if you don't abuse them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

cork1958

Posted
Posted (edited)

I've always had great luck with Dell's and HP's, myself. The business models don't have so much crap preinstalled, but if getting just a regular model, I've always wiped them out and clean installed Windows, or Linux, which I use mainly now a days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

techbeck

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, cork1958 said:

I've always had great luck with Dell's and HP's, myself. The business models don't have so much crap preinstalled, but if getting just a regular model, I've always wiped them out and clean installed Windows, or Linux, which I use mainly now a days.

You can even get laptops from OEMs with no OS installed and load your own.

 

We order Dell's at work and replace them after 3-4 years.  I then take some to give to family/friends when we replace them.  Still good machines with a hell of a lot of life in them.  I got a Precision M3800 I use now, for free, and still is in perfect condition.  I get the occasional Dell with issues OOB ranging from display issue, bad mobo, or speakers blowing out quickly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Nick H. Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

I've always bought premade ones from known companies like Dell or Lenovo. I would never get an HP though, too many bad experiences through other people's purchases (although that's probably down to how the end-user uses it rather than being an issue with HP).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Where on cyberpower are you seeing "custom" laptops?

 

https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/category/gaming-laptops

 

All I see is options you can get - no different than any other laptop maker, dell, asus, hp, etc..

 

You can order different spec's for your laptop from any of the makers..  And get what you want (within limits).. Unlike going to say walmart and or target and looking through what they have in the shop.

 

Say for example.. Just go here to pick out the specs you want for your 17 inch alienware gaming laptop from dell

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-17-laptop

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted
2 minutes ago, BudMan said:

Where on cyberpower are you seeing "custom" laptops?

 

https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/category/gaming-laptops

 

All I see is options you can get - no different than any other laptop maker, dell, asus, hp, etc..

 

You can order different spec's for your laptop from any of the makers..  And get what you want (within limits).. Unlike going to say walmart and or target and looking through what they have in the shop.

 

Say for example.. Just go here to pick out the specs you want for your 17 inch alienware gaming laptop from dell

http://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-17-laptop

My brain farted... I meant IBuyPower...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

Still not custom build?  To be honest... your just picking and adding options to some bare bone models from specific makers.

 

Your still locked into the "laptop" case aspect... Is there list of cases you can buy, and then put in MB from maker X or Y, and video card from Z, and memory from C.. Fans from G, etc..

 

With a PC I can buy all the different components and then put it in a cabinet you made out of lego's if you wanted ;)

 

Is there some place where you can say you want Screen from A, and you want it X inches in this aspect ratio.. And you want the hinges to be like this.  And you want the keyboard to be this layout.. You want it to have 2 bays for HDD, etc. etc..  I don't really think so..

 

So I think the discussion is more should you just go to the store and pick out what they have on the shelf and take it home and be using it in an hour.  Or should you work out what you need and then go the maker that makes as close to or exactly that you want and then order it from them.. Might take a few days or even week to get it, etc..

 

Just like when you buy a car - you can go to the lot and get the red one, so sure the dealer might be able to swap a few options around like change the rims or leather seats, etc..  But if you really want to tweak the options you have to order it from the maker..  And not be limited to what is in stock and what they built a bunch of because those are the best selling options.

 

And sure when you pick up the unit at the store, or the car off the lot its easier to save a few bucks vs having it built to order... Which is a better term than custom.. Built to order is really what your talking about vs already built or standard build..

 

Can you go anywhere and buy a laptop without HDD and or Memory even?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, BudMan said:

Still not custom build?  To be honest... your just picking and adding options to some bare bone models from specific makers.

 

Your still locked into the "laptop" case aspect... Is there list of cases you can buy, and then put in MB from maker X or Y, and video card from Z, and memory from C.. Fans from G, etc..

 

With a PC I can buy all the different components and then put it in a cabinet you made out of lego's if you wanted ;)

 

Is there some place where you can say you want Screen from A, and you want it X inches in this aspect ratio.. And you want the hinges to be like this.  And you want the keyboard to be this layout.. You want it to have 2 bays for HDD, etc. etc..  I don't really think so..

 

So I think the discussion is more should you just go to the store and pick out what they have on the shelf and take it home and be using it in an hour.  Or should you work out what you need and then go the maker that makes as close to or exactly that you want and then order it from them.. Might take a few days or even week to get it, etc..

 

Just like when you buy a car - you can go to the lot and get the red one, so sure the dealer might be able to swap a few options around like change the rims or leather seats, etc..  But if you really want to tweak the options you have to order it from the maker..  And not be limited to what is in stock and what they built a bunch of because those are the best selling options.

 

Can you go anywhere and buy a laptop without HDD and or Memory even?

I never said anything about the laptop aspect. I'm only talking about its innards.

 

They normally have "set" options, as 15" or 17". You don't get to choose it to the screen aspect, size, refresh rate.

 

To the car part, you can build a new one to your specification. You won't have to pick one out of the lot.

 

If you buy it used, as on eBay, yes. Without hdd, memory, battery...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Jim K Global Moderator

Posted
  • Global Moderator
Posted

...a brand name notebook that fits your needs ... without soldered on memory.

 

/thread

 

I'm going to get the new Dell XPS15 when they come out next month to replace my 7 year old XPS15. Been happy with Dell with respect to notebooks (had an Inspiron 6000 before the XPS15).

  • Mando and DConnell
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

That was my whole point exactly..

 

You can always get what you want from the maker, even with something as big as a car or something as small as a burger ;)

 

When it comes to buy your laptop - look at what they have in stock, on the dealer floor.  If its not what you want - then find it online..

 

I just wouldn't call that custom.. Built to order vs in stock is more the question your asking sounds like to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

cork1958

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, Nick H. said:

I've always bought premade ones from known companies like Dell or Lenovo. I would never get an HP though, too many bad experiences through other people's purchases (although that's probably down to how the end-user uses it rather than being an issue with HP).

Personally, Lenovo is junk, IMO. Not even counting the spyware they got busted for installing, I have never had one of those run as good as a Dell or HP with a clean Windows install, and I've had a few Lenovo's. Granted, a lot of any issues have to co me down to how the end user was using/abusing it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mando

Posted
Posted

Dell latitudes and above no question, although i do fancy trying an asus, i expect it to be as good as rest of their kit tbh. But i cant let my ancient X201 die still rocking w10 with 8gb o ddr3 and a sata 2 SSD :p (i7 ulv 2.62ghz) the last of the IBM built thinkpad, may say lenovo, it aint. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

PGHammer

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, cork1958 said:

I've always had great luck with Dell's and HP's, myself. The business models don't have so much crap preinstalled, but if getting just a regular model, I've always wiped them out and clean installed Windows, or Linux, which I use mainly now a days.

In my case, it has been HP (both desktops and portables) where buying off the shelf.  The single exception (ASUS X45) was due to specifics about the notebook in question - it is the only Core i3 in my entire arsenal.  It also doesn't hurt that HP and ASUS actually share the same parts bins to a large extent.

 

HP, in fact, replaced Dell as my go-to COTS PC supplier due to something that Dell did that I termed an egregious error back in the days of Northwood - unconventional interior inside a conventional case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted

That does make sense... I never thought of looking that way. :/

 

----------------------------------------

 

Part 2 of my question here. Remember, I am not wanting a laptop, I just want to know what's out there.

 

I am a Linux guy, if you haven't figured that out yet, HI!

 

Would you trust a 100% Linux company like System76, that is built for Ubuntu?

 

OR

 

Would you trust a company like Dell or Lenovo? I know most will work fine, but there's always that "if" flying around...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+Fahim S. MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

A bit confused... pretty much every machine can be "built to order" - even a Mac.  The number of options you get depends on the laptop you choose, but pretty much always limited to processor, RAM, disk, screen resolution, touch, and the presence of a 4G/LTS modem/simcard slot.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted
1 hour ago, Fahim S. said:

A bit confused... pretty much every machine can be "built to order" - even a Mac.  The number of options you get depends on the laptop you choose, but pretty much always limited to processor, RAM, disk, screen resolution, touch, and the presence of a 4G/LTS modem/simcard slot.

Well, recent 2 weeks ago, I bought a Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11E. I tried several distros. Nothing worked like I wanted... The track pad wouldn't work, or my external mouse wouldn't work. I tried looking everywhere, and nothing worked...

 

So, I returned it, get my money back...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

satukoro

Posted
Posted (edited)

I recently bought an Acer Aspire (https://www.amazon.com/Acer-E5-575-33BM-15-6-Inch-Notebook-Generation/dp/B01K1IO3QW) a few months ago, added an extra 4GB RAM and put in a 275GB m2 ssd. Total, I spent ~$539 after adding a 3 year warranty.

I swapped out the wireless card with a BCM94331CD from a older dell laptop I had kicking around and then put MacOS 10.12.6 Sierra on it.

 

Everything works (sleep, audio, wifi, etc.) and runs beautifully and I have been using it as my primary laptop since.

---

In the past, I have had a few HPs, a Compaq, a Toshiba, and a Lenovo.

My Lenovo had the best build quality, but it didn't survive getting run over by my car.

The HPs and the Compaq all had crap cooling architecture and eventually fried.

The Toshiba was underpowered from the start (bound to be replaced), but felt somewhat flimsy in general.

 

My Acer is thin and light, but I can tell it's not made from the most durable materials. So far I haven't had any issues.

---

I think if you're looking for a laptop, find one with the specs to suit your needs and then get the build quality that fits your price range.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+Fahim S. MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted
1 hour ago, Mindovermaster said:

Well, recent 2 weeks ago, I bought a Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11E. I tried several distros. Nothing worked like I wanted... The track pad wouldn't work, or my external mouse wouldn't work. I tried looking everywhere, and nothing worked...

 

So, I returned it, get my money back...

Sorry for being so blunt, but it doesn't sound like you did your research.

Before pulling the trigger, make sure you look up on the web that someone has installed a distro you find acceptable on the machine.

 

Whether it is 'custom' or 'off-the-shelf' is irrelevant to this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

+BudMan MVC

Posted
  • MVC
Posted

^ agree... BTW a google for that 11e you mentioned... Says works perfect with opensuse.

https://www.networkworld.com/article/3035259/opensource-subnet/reviewing-the-lenovo-11e-a-sub-300-thinkpad-with-great-linux-support.html

 

I have ran linux on a few different laptops overs the years - and really never had any issues getting stuff to work..  Then again I am not big graphics or mouse guy on my laptops - if the nic worked and could get a prompt I was normally happy ;)

 

Maybe you should go about it the other direction... You have your fav distro, look to see what people are using for laptops for that specific distro, etc.  Then tweak it a bit to your liking -more memory, bigger SSD, etc.  if need be and get it built to order, or off the shelf.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted
30 minutes ago, BudMan said:

^ agree... BTW a google for that 11e you mentioned... Says works perfect with opensuse.

https://www.networkworld.com/article/3035259/opensource-subnet/reviewing-the-lenovo-11e-a-sub-300-thinkpad-with-great-linux-support.html

 

I have ran linux on a few different laptops overs the years - and really never had any issues getting stuff to work..  Then again I am not big graphics or mouse guy on my laptops - if the nic worked and could get a prompt I was normally happy ;)

 

Maybe you should go about it the other direction... You have your fav distro, look to see what people are using for laptops for that specific distro, etc.  Then tweak it a bit to your liking -more memory, bigger SSD, etc.  if need be and get it built to order, or off the shelf.

 

 

 

says here as well: https://certification.ubuntu.com/hardware/201606-22447/

 

But I tried all l/x/k/MATE/Ubuntu, and wouldn't work right. The last distro I tried was OpenSUSE Tumbleweed, still wouldn't work right.

 

It would either not detect my trackpad or not take my external USB mouse.

 

Could be I just got a bad laptop....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Grand Master

Mindovermaster Moderator

Posted
  • Author
  • Moderator
Posted

My Wireless card on my old DELL died, too. Was easy to swap out. Sounds like you got a lower class ASUS...

  • Draconian Guppy
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.