Pulled Trigger: ACER AS7745-7949

[dr.no]

EDIT: Just ordered this for $600 shipped.

Thanks for all the helpful info.

I'm no where near up to date on laptop/computer technology. Is this a good deal for basic home computing/internet use?

Can I buy an aftermarket docking station rather than spend $130 on their "video docking station"?

Lenovo U460

"¢ IntelÂ

Coreâ„¢ i5-480M Processor ( 2.66GHz 1066MHz 3MB )
"¢ Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64
"¢ 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
"¢ 14.0" HD LED Glare 1366x768
"¢ 500GB 5400
"¢ NVIDIA GeForce 305M

 

[whiteslashasian]

Originally Posted by dr.no

I'm no where near up to date on laptop/computer technology. Is this a good deal for basic home computing/internet use?

Can I buy an aftermarket docking station rather than spend $130 on their "video docking station"?

Lenovo U460

"¢ IntelÂ

Coreâ„¢ i5-480M Processor ( 2.66GHz 1066MHz 3MB )
"¢ Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64
"¢ 4 GB PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz
"¢ 14.0" HD LED Glare 1366x768
"¢ 500GB 5400
"¢ NVIDIA GeForce 305M

Seems like a normal price to me. Not a good deal, but definitely not a bad one.

The slow HDD would be a problem for me. Since my notebooks aren't my main storage devices, I wouldn't mind throwing in a 64gb SSD for a huge speed boost.

 

[dr.no]

OK, as long as I'm not overpaying. Don't see the option to upgrade SSD, nor do I know what that is, so I suppose I won't be want for it.

What about the docking station? Have lots of peripherals.

EDIT: Costco has a differently config'd U460 for $499.
Costco U460S

 

[ratratan]

ideapads suck. i bought one since my last ibm laptop was built like a tank. lasted 2 years on me. everything was still running perfect and the specs are mora than i needed but all the hardware just seemed to rot by itself. the hiinges were also hollow so if you drop it a few times the cheap plastic is bound to break. by the time i threw it the screen was already seperated from the keyboard. i'm back on a 4 year old toshiba protege. might get a new satellite since this one runs abit slow nowadays...

 

[whiteslashasian]

SSD (Solid State Drive) would replace the hard drive in the laptop. You can get a 64gb version for under $100 now. They are extremely fast (usually around 2-3x faster than a traditional HDD, especially the 5400rpm dogs that comes with most notebooks these days), use very little power, generate very little heat, and are silent.

That Costco U460s is an ultra portable, ULV type notebook. Not really a workhorse type machine but will do fine for internet browsing, music listening, movie watching etc. Don't plan on doing much photoshop, programming, or gaming on it though.

The only problem I see with the U460s is the usable lifespan due to the much slower processor, compared to the i5 in the other U460. Then again, you'll likely be looking for a replacement either way in 3-4 years.

 

[dr.no]

How about this similarly equipped Toshiba for $499 + tax?
Toshiba Satellite L655-S5160

 

[dr.no]

Laptop purchased - how'd I do?