Best Value Laptop

[bunnyoswaldo]

I'm in the market for a new laptop....any recommendations. I was considering a Samsung QX410-J01. Can spend up to $1200.....

 

[ArteEtLabore14]

My only advice would be to stay away from Macs. They're great computers, especially if you plan on using their multimedia software a lot, but you're paying a ridiculous premium for the brand and you can get a much more powerful system at the same price point.

 

[godofcoffee]

Sony laptops are great at this price point; very reliable.

I suggest getting a good processor and some sort of graphics card (not an accelerator), and keeping in mind that memory can be upgraded as needed.

And ditto to the non-mac advice, unless you're already used to the system or need it for processional reasons.

 

[ArteEtLabore14]

Originally Posted by godofcoffee

Sony laptops are great at this price point; very reliable.

I suggest getting a good processor and some sort of graphics card (not an accelerator), and keeping in mind that memory can be upgraded as needed.

And ditto to the non-mac advice, unless you're already used to the system or need it for processional reasons.

Sorry OP I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but what's an "accelerator?"

 

[JhwkMac]

hard to argue with the new macbook air

 

[ArteEtLabore14]

Originally Posted by JhwkMac

hard to argue with the new macbook air

That is unless you want to watch a movie, listen to music, install a program, or do anything that requires inserting a CD. Unless you want to go through the hassle of buying, setting up, and carrying around an external CD drive...

 

[sonlegoman]

Macs make up for the high price with high resale value. Just check eBay.

Originally Posted by ArteEtLabore14

That is unless you want to watch a movie, listen to music, install a program, or do anything that requires inserting a CD. Unless you want to go through the hassle of buying, setting up, and carrying around an external CD drive...
For rents.

 

[bunnyoswaldo]

I had already eliminated the Mac from contention. Its a good machine but when you have to use a lot of PC programs the work arounds can be mind numbing....

 

[ter1413]

Originally Posted by JhwkMac

hard to argue with the new macbook air

?? Very easy to argue! Glorified netbook with less storage!

 

[Tokyo Slim]

You should check out the Toshiba Portege R705-P25

 

[dave333]

Asus laptops have a lot of power for the money if you looking for that sort of thing.

No Macs. Great stuff, but waay overpriced.

 

[godofcoffee]

Originally Posted by ArteEtLabore14

Sorry OP I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but what's an "accelerator?"

A graphics accelerator. Modern computers always have either a graphics accelerator on the motherboard, or an independent graphics card. Graphics cards are more performant but use more juice (in modern computers, though, that'll be corrected for when the laptop is unplugged).

A lot of people think that graphics cards are useless unless you're some sort of gamer fanboy (I used to think that), but graphics cards dramatically increase laptop performance under all sorts of conditions, and OP could get a pretty sweet deal @ Sony, including a graphics card, for less than $1200. Thus the suggestion!