My Dad Is Looking To Buy A Laptop


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Okay, the first model he might want to look at is the T61:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...176AD5FB80FA5D8

He would most likely be interested in the "ThinkPad T61 14.1" widescreen with integrated graphics". I'd recommend a hard-drive upgrade to at least 120gb, and the 6-cell battery instead of 4-cell. If you're comfortable with installing memory (it's very easy and there's a video on Lenovo's website), then just get 1gb (be sure to select the 1 DIMM option, so that you have an empty slot for another 2gb DIMM) and then you can upgrade it to a total of 3gb with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820134549.

As for other features, since you have money to spend, you might want to add the integrated card reader, integrated bluetooth PAN, DVD-RW. I DO NOT RECOMMEND getting the 1gb TurboMemory as some users have seen problems with it.

Another model he might like, and the one I personally highly recommend, is the X61s:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...678EA089EF892A3

This laptop uses an ultra-low voltage processor for extended battery life. This means it's a 1.6ghz Processor, but it performs pretty damn well and give you a longer battery span. Since he won't do any intensive work that require mad processing like video editing, I think this is the most suitable option for his needs. Again, keep the 1gb RAM and make sure to choose 1GB in only 1 DIMM so that you can get that same extra 2gb's I mentioned earlier. I recommend upgrading to the Intel Wireless ABGN card for future proofing, and also get integrated Bluetooth PAN. I also recommend getting the 8-cell high-capacity battery for a much longer battery life. Remember to upgrade the hard-drive here as well. And anything else to suit his needs.

And the third model I'll recommend from Lenovo is the X61 (no "s"):

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...7E1A6952DF8E9DF

The only difference from the one I just mentioned last is the fact it uses a regular-voltage processor which is also faster and performs stronger on more processor-intensive tasks. Same options apply, it'll just have a bit lower battery life.

Remember, the X's are Lenovo's top-of-the-line laptops, and are lighter and slimmer than the T-Series. The T-series is still an amazing laptop, and also very slim and low-profile, the X's are just slimmer and MORE low profile, and lighter. I personally recommend the X61s on your budget, he will be very satisfied. If you have any questions, let me know, I'll be more than happy to answer them.

I'll let someone else comment on Dell, as that's not my beach :p

Edit: I see someone mentioned the X300, unfortunately that's way over his price range. But if he wants to shell out three grand, than it's perfect.

Okay, the first model he might want to look at is the T61:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...176AD5FB80FA5D8

He would most likely be interested in the "ThinkPad T61 14.1" widescreen with integrated graphics". I'd recommend a hard-drive upgrade to at least 120gb, and the 6-cell battery instead of 4-cell. If you're comfortable with installing memory (it's very easy and there's a video on Lenovo's website), then just get 1gb (be sure to select the 1 DIMM option, so that you have an empty slot for another 2gb DIMM) and then you can upgrade it to a total of 3gb with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820134549.

As for other features, since you have money to spend, you might want to add the integrated card reader, integrated bluetooth PAN, DVD-RW. I DO NOT RECOMMEND getting the 1gb TurboMemory as some users have seen problems with it.

Another model he might like, and the one I personally highly recommend, is the X61s:

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...678EA089EF892A3

This laptop uses an ultra-low voltage processor for extended battery life. This means it's a 1.6ghz Processor, but it performs pretty damn well and give you a longer battery span. Since he won't do any intensive work that require mad processing like video editing, I think this is the most suitable option for his needs. Again, keep the 1gb RAM and make sure to choose 1GB in only 1 DIMM so that you can get that same extra 2gb's I mentioned earlier. I recommend upgrading to the Intel Wireless ABGN card for future proofing, and also get integrated Bluetooth PAN. I also recommend getting the 8-cell high-capacity battery for a much longer battery life. Remember to upgrade the hard-drive here as well. And anything else to suit his needs.

And the third model I'll recommend from Lenovo is the X61 (no "s"):

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/control...7E1A6952DF8E9DF

The only difference from the one I just mentioned last is the fact it uses a regular-voltage processor which is also faster and performs stronger on more processor-intensive tasks. Same options apply, it'll just have a bit lower battery life.

Remember, the X's are Lenovo's top-of-the-line laptops, and are lighter and slimmer than the T-Series. The T-series is still an amazing laptop, and also very slim and low-profile, the X's are just slimmer and MORE low profile, and lighter. I personally recommend the X61s on your budget, he will be very satisfied. If you have any questions, let me know, I'll be more than happy to answer them.

I'll let someone else comment on Dell, as that's not my beach :p

Edit: I see someone mentioned the X300, unfortunately that's way over his price range. But if he wants to shell out three grand, than it's perfect.

This is awesome. I really like it. He chose the X61s out of these. Thanks.

Now if someone can do it for Dell that will be all...

I'm sorry but the X61's listed on Lenovo's site are complete rip offs. $1300 for 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo? I got the same specifications for an HP for <$1000.

I recommend the X61 but not with those specifications... Those specifications went out of date two years ago.

I'm sorry but the X61's listed on Lenovo's site are complete rip offs. $1300 for 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo? I got the same specifications for an HP for <$1000.

I recommend the X61 but not with those specifications... Those specifications went out of date two years ago.

Did you not read the other replys? Does HP/Dell/Acer and so on have the following? (excluding "tough" books)

*magnesium roll-cage and magnesium-alloy front and bottom covers

*an accelerometer to detect any falls and disable the hard drive

*security chip

*metal hinges

*spill proof keyboard

The Lenovo will be more, almost guaranteed. Their build quality comes with a premium. Sure a HP/Dell/Acer/whatever will cost less, but will it hold up to the abuse?

I'm sorry but the X61's listed on Lenovo's site are complete rip offs. $1300 for 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo? I got the same specifications for an HP for <$1000.

I recommend the X61 but not with those specifications... Those specifications went out of date two years ago.

The whole point of the X61s is that the 1.6ghz C2D is a ULV processor, or Ultra-Low Voltage. It has 4mb of L2 cache, and you'd be pretty surprised at how well it performs. It's part of Intel's new "Penryn" line of processors, and don't let the clock speed fool you. Here is a full review of the X61s, and it assesses the performance if that's a concern:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?...amp;review=X61s

The L7500 benchmarks pretty well, and the rest of the laptop does pretty good. Remember, his dad does not need processor power for typing in data. The L7500 will run everything he needs smoothly without a hiccup. Forget the Mhz myth =)

He can always go for the X61 and get the higher end T8xx or T9xx processors. Heck, his budget very well allows it. But I believe he's more concerned with having longer battery life rather than unnecessary processing power. Again, the X61s is made to still perform great, but excel in mobility.

Wish I could help you out with Dell, but I'm glad he found something he likes at Lenovo. Again, IBM (now Lenovo) ThinkPads have always come at a premium, and that premium used to be an extremely high price and long wait for certain configurations. Now with IBM's consumer/business division taken over by Lenovo, they have become a lot more accessible and still retain the great quality. I'm sure he'll really appreciate the features I've mentioned that are unique to Lenovos.

Let us know how it goes!

Y510

[LINK]

it's pretty good for almost anything. there are 6 default builds all below 1.2k, cheapest is 669.

No more Lenovo recommendations. my Dad has chosen his Lenovo laptop but still wants to look at Dell or maybe Vaio.

So... any Dell or Vaio recommendations?

No more Lenovo recommendations. my Dad has chosen his Lenovo laptop but still wants to look at Dell or maybe Vaio.

So... any Dell or Vaio recommendations?

I'm recommending you stay away from Sony Vaios. They are overpriced and sub-par for the most part. Just not worth it, their support is not great either from what I hear. My friend has a Vaio and it was way overpriced for the hardware he got and plus it feels cheap. I don't know what other people have to say, but I personally do not recommend going with a Vaio.

XPS 1330 with LED backlit screen and 6 and 9-cell batteries, 4 year warranty and accidental damage coverage.

I say this is a great recommendation. I have an inspiron 1520 but I have personally seen the xps 1330 gavce a recommendation ffor it to somebody who asked me for one and they love it.

Its a nice small laptop thats perfect for bringing places and doesn't sacrifice on the power (has a geforce 8400gs gpu).

Also go to www.notebookreview.com to get dell coupons to get some money off of the purchase.

I would stay away from DELL with their issues with customer service and lousy repair stories its not a wonder why they are being sued...

I have a Dell Desktop XPS 420 and it has been doing great. Warranty and repair service are great here (I haven't had a problem but thats what I have heard) and they look great.

So Inspiron or XPS? For a light-weight business laptop?

I thought Dell's business line was called "Vostro".

I'm not really familiar with Dell's newer models apart from the XPS1530. However, I know HP dv6700 Special Edition laptop (if equipped with a 9 cell battery) will perform VERY well for $1600.

The three Dell Models are;

1. Dell Vostro M1310

2. Dell XPS 1530

3. Dell Inspiron 1525

4. Dell XPS 1330

Which ones of these are light and have long running batteries and perform really well?

Can someone tell me about these laptops and which is the best?

+1 for the HP camp... The HP Compaq business series are very sturdy at a fair price.

Dell: crappy performance, cheap(400~1000), breaks, looks cheap

HP: pretty descent performance, not that expensive (1000~2000), very durable, looks OK/strict (semi sexy IMHO :p)

Lenovo: kick ass performance, hell expensive (easily 2000+), extreme build quality, looks fugly :x

Apple is descent but overpriced .. Toshiba's / Sony's underperform .. Acer and ASUS are total crap (look nice/perform nice .. and then break in 2) .. BTO/Zepto/Homebuild = sucky build quality/durability... all else is fail or overpriced...

either you have bad taste or just not enough knowledge about aesthetics. Heard of Latitude notebooks? Neither looks cheap nor crappy...whatever runs breaks.

The three Dell Models are;

1. Dell Vostro M1310

2. Dell XPS 1530

3. Dell Inspiron 1525

4. Dell XPS 1330

Which ones of these are light and have long running batteries and perform really well?

Can someone tell me about these laptops and which is the best?

I think he wont like the XPS1330, its so called small for everyday use unless he plans to dock it and use it most of the time. I would max out the XPS 1530. Also look at the Dell Latitudes they are rock solid...

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    • Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair review: The Ikea of chairs by Steven Parker I've reviewed a few gaming chairs over the past three years or so and generally found them to score well in our reviews. SIHOO reached out asking if I was interested in taking a look at their flagship chair, the Doro C300 Pro V2. I never got the chance to check out its predecessor, but the V2 is described as an "Adaptive Ergonomic Chair." It became available to buy in April of this year. Let's get things rolling with a closer look at the specifications and features. Specifications Doro C300 Pro V2 Model Ergonomic Materials Mesh Back and Seat; Soft PU Coated Armrests Height adjustability 45.5 - 53 cm / 17.5" - 20.9" Seat (w+d) 52 x 43 - 47 cm / 20.5" x 16.9" - 18.5" (adjustable) Backrest 52 – 60 cm / 20.5" - 23.6" (adjustable) Lumbar support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Armrest adjustability 8D Bionic Armrests Rocking angle 105°, 120°, 135° (fixed) Neck support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Net weight 27.3 kg / 59.64 lbs Weight support 150 kg / 330 lbs Colors Black, White Warranty 5 years (upon registering) Price $499.99, $539.99 Introduction At first glance, it looks like a chair that in another life wants to be a Herman Miller; It certainly looks like my Aeron Remastered, but the Doro C300 Pro V2 has quite a few more features and costs quite a bit less. SIHOO says that it is made up of a "DynaCore" system that tracks your movement and synchronizes the headrest, backrest, lumbar support, and armrests as you shift, twist, or recline. They also say that the "SyncroFlex Backrest" molds to your spine, which kind of describes how the mesh fabric works in most ergonomic chairs, but anyway. Below are the meat and potatoes measurements for the chair. Here is the same tech sheet, but in inches. Durability I would be remiss to not talk about the various durability testing this chair underwent before coming to market, as this is claimed on the product page. First of all, the chair is BIFMA-, SGS-, and TÜV-certified. As for durability, the tests undergone were: 100,000 Castor cycles tested 120,000 Armrest cycles tested 120,000 Recline cycles tested 120,000 Gas lift cycles tested 60,000 Armrest durability cycles tested 120,000 Rotation cycles tested Nothing about weights testing, though. Now that's all disclosed, now onto my own personal findings. Assembly The Doro C300 Pro V2 came in two large boxes (1) (2), and everything was packed very well, protecting the different parts of the chair. In the box, there is a folded sheet that explains the 12 steps to assemble it; they are: Remove the bottom cover on the aluminum base; Insert the five legs into the aluminum base and use ten screws to fasten them; Insert the castors into the legs; Replace the bottom cover on the bottom of the aluminum base; Place the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder into the aluminum base; Screw the bottom part of the arm rests, taking care of the orientation using two screws on each side; Use three torx screws to fasten the footrest to the bottom of the seat; Fasten the backrest to the seat using four torx bolts; Fasten the armrests to the backrest using four Torx bolts (two on each side), taking care to note the orientation; Place the chair onto the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder; Insert the headrest into the top of the backrest; Use two torx screws to fasten the headrest to the backrest. There's also an online guide you can refer to. Carefully unpacking the two boxes took around 15 minutes because almost everything is wrapped in plastic and protective foam; the chair assembly itself took around an hour. I say in the above assembly steps to take note of the orientation, because it's not obvious which way around the bottom portion of the armrests go, and although there is an L and R on the bottom of the armrests, it also wasn't clear from the instructions which was actually left or right, facing the chair, or in the seated down orientation? Anyway, I ended up putting the bottom portions on the wrong sides, and after securing one of the armrests, I discovered that although it was on the correct side, the armrest base could rotate a full 360°, but not when bolted to the chair, so I had to remove it, rotate it, and then bolt it back on. Truly an Ikea experience! Also, to complicate things further, although all the parts are labeled from A to X (yes, that's 24 parts) unhelpfully, these letters do not appear on the parts themselves or the package with the bolts, screws, and washers. There's also a pair of protective gloves in the box, but I think they were made for much smaller hands than I have. Even my friend, who is 5.1, had difficulty putting them on. Once assembled, I needed to sit down. Anyway, as I said, it looks quite similar to my Herman Miller. And here is the back of it. If you look at the product page and on Amazon, it seems like a lot of thought has gone into the chair itself and what it's capable of, but there is no mention at all about the castors, and this is an area where I think the chair trips up quite quickly. I found it difficult to move the chair in any direction. I asked a friend who came to visit me earlier this week to test my findings, and she said that the wheels were "no good," so it definitely isn't just me. I am 6'2 myself and a big guy, I work from home and gained a few pounds from mostly staying in and the hell away from other people. However, the Doro C300 Pro V2 is rated for up to 150kg (330lbs), which in my case is used well within its max rating. Ergonomics The number of adjustments you can make, right up to setting it in nap mode — which I haven't fully tested yet — is what you'd expect from a premium chair. Yes, you can go up and down (max 7.5 cm adjustment), rock back and forth (with tilt adjustment), and lock the chair between three stages of 105°, 120°, 135°, which is not quite as flat as the AndaSeat I tested at 160°. Some thought has also gone into the "8D" armrests, too, which are cushioned but quite firm; you'll only know it if you press hard into the PU-covered tops, which give about half a centimeter, but it's enough to ensure your skin won't get awkwardly stuck to it in warmer (or sweatier) conditions. It almost feels like plastic and is very easy to keep clean. However, the armrest positions move far too easily, and I am not sure what that "elbow" function is. Maybe it is good for a short person with short arms, anyway, I never used it and kept it flat at all times. There are eight levels of adjustment for the armrests, they are: backwards, forwards, swing left/right, height up and down, tilt, and 360° rotation, which can be handy for desk clearance. As I said, the armrest pads shift far too easily, which could give off an ergonomic vibe, but who wants the armrest sliding when you are shifting weight? The height adjustability does lock into place when lifting and adjusting. Comfort This is ultimately what it boils down to at the end of the day, right? Quite a lot of reviews praise the comfort of this chair, and I don't disagree that the mesh seating is quite comfortable. I am used to the material from my daily Herman Miller. However, the backrest cannot be locked into place, and this is actually a feature; as you shift or recline yourself on the chair, the backrest moves with your body. It took some getting used to. The lumbar gives ample support, but I would have preferred an adjustable one built into the seat base, as this causes the backrest to move up and down at will. Again, as with my previous chair review, this chair is also rated for tall people, but nowhere in the product documentation does it say how tall. Being 6'2 myself, I'm happy to say that the backrest is tall and wide enough, and thought has been given to being able to adjust the neck rest, but as others have mentioned in their reviews, people as tall as 6.2ft is about the limit for the neckrest. Conclusion What I didn't like The footrest is rated for 15kg (33 lbs), which to me seems a bit light, and after looking online, it seems like a chair footrest for adults must be at least twice that rating. In all honesty, they are just hollow metal tubes, so it is not recommended to let a kid sit on them. I also feel like it doesn't really go out far enough for my height, so that kind of puts the dampener on me being able to use it regularly. I'll just have to continue to use my subwoofer as a footrest! I do not like the armrests being able to shift around as easily as they can, and they are a little too forward-positioned in the chair to comfortably sit close to my desk, because even in the lowest height position, they don't allow me to go under the desk like is possible with my Herman Miller. I also feel like this chair could have been delivered partially constructed, especially the armrests on the seat, and why the aluminum base wasn't already pre-constructed (without the castors) is baffling, considering it would have fit in one of the two boxes that way. The instructions also need to be clearer. On the pamphlet, there's an A to X listing (which is also used in the steps), but none of the physical parts use this lettering system! What I did like I'll be honest, I haven't used it for very long, just one week, and seating comfort is subjective after all! Any spills wiped straight off it, the stitching, and the lines look great, not a fray to be seen or stitch out of place. It looks kind of cool, too. My favorite feature of these seats is the nap mode. While you're not lying completely flat, it leans far back enough to make you easily doze off after a heavy gaming or working session. Overall, this chair offers plenty of comfort features. The MSRP does vary quite a bit depending on the region, at £549.99 in the UK, and €580 in Europe, and $599 before tax in the U.S. However, shipping is free, which is a bonus for such a heavy item. Is it worth it, though? At three years' warranty, I think it's a decent deal. Another firm out of Germany sent me a free replacement hydraulic gas spring for a chair that failed after almost four years, so it was well outside its two-year warranty. My advice is to always try, as you might have the same luck I did. If I could fault it at all, it would be the constant shifting of the armrests and backrest. Where to buy Although the footrest variant normally costs $539.99, it has been discounted to $469.99 on the official website in Black or White. In fact, the non-footrest variant is only $40 cheaper. On Amazon, it currently costs more at $499.99 links below. Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $469.99 (official website) Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 for $499.99 at Amazon US SIHOO provided a free sample without any review or pre-approval. Good to know This Amazon link is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Making US citizens pay is a prominent tool? Joke of the week…
    • Price Drop: Save 86% on Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus lifetime digital license by Steven Parker Today's highlighted deal comes via our Apps + Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where you can save 86% on a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows. This bundle is for families and small businesses who want classic Office apps and email. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneNote. A one-time purchase installed on 1 Windows PC for use at home or work. Lifetime license for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, & OneNote One-time purchase installed on 1 Windows PC for use at home or work Instant Delivery & Download – access your software license keys and download links instantly Free customer service – only the best support! Microsoft Office Professional 2021 (for Windows) includes: Microsoft Office Word Microsoft Office Excel Microsoft Office PowerPoint Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Office Teams Microsoft Office OneNote Microsoft Office Publisher Microsoft Office Access No faffing about with subscriptions, just classic apps that don't expire. Good to Know ONE-TIME PURCHASE INSTALLED ON 1 DEVICE Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 30 days of purchase Access options: desktop Full versions No subscriptions – no monthly/annual fees Version: 2021 Updates included* *Support for this version of Office ends on Oct 13, 2026 A lifetime subscription to Microsoft Office 2021 Professional normally costs $219.99, but this deal can be yours for just $29.97, that's a saving of $190. For full terms, specifications, and license info, click the link below. Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for just $29.97, or learn more Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
    • The only reason I want to know where you from is because if you are not from the U.K, then why should you care what we in the U.K do or don't do? Racist I am not, I am fed up with the amount coming over here and feel they can come over here and think we need to support them. Do you know how much it costs this country to support these people coming over here? Even when we give them a place to live it is not good enough. We had a barge that was being used to house immigrants, oh but that was not good enough. A mate said to me at the time, when he was homeless, he would have been happy to live on the barge, instead of ending up sleeping on a bench on the beach. I am not scared to say what my family heritage is, unlike you who is scared to say where they are from or where they live. Father side U.S, mother side Wales, still have family living in the U.S. A mate who sadly died a few years ago, had a load of people from different races recording in his studio, I got on with all of them. Skin colour don't bother me, where they are from don't bother me. Religion don't bother me as long as they don't push it onto me and it is not crazy stuff. I am not religious. But if you are not living in the U.K, then why should you care if we are in the E.U or not? This the problem, too many people poking their noses into where it don't belong. But you believe what you believe, if you think I am racist, then be it, I really do not care. Just grow a pair
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