Please recommend a Laptop

[Ian J]

My partner Jane is wanting a new laptop and she is frustrated with the amount of choice and lack of reviews.

Main requirements:

Up to £800
15 inch Screen (minimum)
Matt Screen
1080p (not bothered about 4k)
Number Pad

She doesn't want an apple product.

 

[ekianjo]

Easy.

Lenovo Thinkpad T550s !

 

[EvilDragon]

I've got the MSI MS-175a and love it

 

[Binky]

Easy.

Lenovo Thinkpad T550s !

I'd second that.
I've got a T550.
Everything works with Debian (Jessie+backports) without a hitch, theres a real trackpoint, decent keyboard (as laptop keyboards go), easy-to-open case and two batteries (You can hotswap one while running off the other one)

Only downside is that the internal M.2 SSD slot only accepts short (2242) cards, which can be hard to find.

 

[ekianjo]

I'd second that.
I've got a T550.
Everything works with Debian (Jessie+backports) without a hitch, theres a real trackpoint, decent keyboard (as laptop keyboards go), easy-to-open case and two batteries (You can hotswap one while running off the other one)

Only downside is that the internal M.2 SSD slot only accepts short (2242) cards, which can be hard to find.

A very nice machine.
I don't have a T550 myself but I am very much aware of all the Lenovo line-up since it works de facto with Linux perfectly. I am sticking with my x220 for now until they make a proper replacement for it (the x230 to x250 were not as good (keyboard was worse, trackpad as well), or too limited in memory) - Here's hoping that the x260 will be something else, but we'll soon know about that since it comes out in January.

 

[Ian J]

Cheers guys I'll pass on the info and let Jane have a look.

 

[Linux-SWAT]

Thinkpads rock.

 

[DaMummy]

Another Lenovo recommendation from me as well. I've had the Y500 for 2.5 years. Still works well.

 

[FBnil]

I fifth that (Lenovo). However, make sure it is from the T series... I have heard bad things from the other series... reduced manufacturing quality and such...
(not that bad as other cheap laptop producers). Still, that T550 is a bit big if you want portability.

 

[rygD]

I also support the Thinkpad suggestions. Maybe something a couple years old to save a little money.

Personally, I am with ekianjo on waiting for them to fix a few issues/decisions, keyboard being a big one, before buying myself a new one (and I will probably wait to get it cheap unless I have a real need for it immediately).

 

[Ian J]

What are the issues with the keyboard?

 

[rygD]

I prefer the layout of the old keyboard and don't really like chiclet keys, although I haven't tried the Thinkpad chiclets.

 

[ekianjo]

I prefer the layout of the old keyboard and don't really like chiclet keys, although I haven't tried the Thinkpad chiclets.

Yes, that's exactly it. The new chiclet keys are not the best. I much prefer the previous design. But i am not sure they intend to come back to it...

 

[rygD]

Yes, that's exactly it. The new chiclet keys are not the best. I much prefer the previous design. But i am not sure they intend to come back to it...

If they decide to make the "retro" Thinkpad that was mentioned a while ago they should give a lot of thought to the keyboard since that seems to be one of the biggest complaints about recent models.

 

[Rockthesmurf]

I have owned a few laptops over the years, I have personally found the Mac Book Pro to be the most solid (being a Windows user I am booted into Windows 99%+ of the time and rarely in OSX). I am currently using an early 2011 model, getting on for five years old, and it really is still as good as new (hinge isn't loose, screen has never flickered, all keys firmly attached and not loose, etc.) over the years I have upgraded the memory to 16GB (£80) and put in an 1TB SDD, both of which Apple provide instructions (and welcome you to do). Prior to getting the Mac Book Pro I was anti Apple (only brought it out of necessity to build iOS software) but I now have an exception for Mac Book Pros (nothing else from Apple!) they do cost a little more but I personally have found it to be worth while.

Second place for me is AlienWare, I have a pretty solid laptop from them, however it is just over two years old, in that period the battery has been replaced (wouldn't hold any charge) and the replacement battery is now exactly the same (within a few months of replacement) so apparently it would need a new motherboard now (these replacements have been out of their warranty). I appreciate you always get good/bad hardware from any company, but certainly it has tarnished it a little for me (the AlienWare purchase was almost a Mac Book Pro purchase but I didn't want to get tied to one company and also thought I would save a little money, but in retrospect I would have preferred to get a MacBook Pro).

I know this thread started with saying please don't recommend a Mac, however that is also how I felt five years ago and have been converted!

 

[TrashyMG]

I was issued a Mac book pro recently at work, it is a well built machine, fast, screen is great to look at and what not... but seeing how my job involved using a ton of unix gui applications with specific keybinding, I found the keyboard and touchpad crippling to get any work done. It is missing some major keys like a real delete key and insert key. It's a bit better when I'm in my office and have a PC keyboard and three button mouse hitched up, but the insert key still doesn't function the way it should. I know some may say FN+ENTER toggles write through and insert mode, however this works with Mac applications only, doesn't help with Unix/Linux programs I'm running remotely. I can run Linux in a virtual machine and that at least gives me a proper working external keyboard, found the whole experience a hot mess. I know other people don't have the same work conditions I do, if I had a job that didn't involve working with ancient systems I suppose I could manage with the Mac a little better.

 

[ekianjo]

Prior to getting the Mac Book Pro I was anti Apple (only brought it out of necessity to build iOS software) but I now have an exception for Mac Book Pros (nothing else from Apple!) they do cost a little more but I personally have found it to be worth while.

Problem is that all recent macbooks cannot be opened anymore and therefore you need to ship it to the MacStore to get anything done. It's ridiculous.
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Second place for me is AlienWare, I have a pretty solid laptop from them

Alienware laptops are massive, though, and super heavy. Not really "portable" in my experience.

 

[Grench]

If they decide to make the "retro" Thinkpad that was mentioned a while ago they should give a lot of thought to the keyboard since that seems to be one of the biggest complaints about recent models.

I have had many Thinkpads. I currently still have and use a T61p and a W500. I have, of course, modded both to 8GB of RAM and SSD drives. They both run Linux Mint and Debian Jessie flawlessly.

Something I noted that was missing from your spec - Discrete Graphics. More specifically, an Nvidia or AMD graphics chip so that the machine can play 3D games. If you have even the slightest inkling of wanting to play anything beyond browser flash based games on a laptop, discrete graphics is a must.

I'll have to check out the T550. However, I'm REALLY wishing they would get on with it and produce a retro Thinkpad line of 2 machines. One a 15.6" or even 17" 'full blown' unit with multi-battery multi-drive, 64GB RAM capable and maybe even a Xeon processor. I.e. a true portable workstation. The other a 15.6" machine as thin as it can be and still have the 'classic' Thinkpad keyboard with ultranav.

 

[Ian J]

Many thanks for everyone's input on this thread.

We have been out and about looking & feeling laptops today (checking screens & keyboards)

RocktheSmurf - Excellent argument, we have been looking at Apple today but the gloss screen is a bit of a stumbling block.

rygD, ekianjo - Re Keyboard, thank you a decent keyboard is high on the list of priorities.

TrashyMG - Agree, had similar issues ourselves on Mac's previously when forced to use them with windows.

Grench - Jane would rather have dedicated GFX but we didn't put it on the list as it's not a deal breaker if the unit meets the other criteria. She would also like things like a backlit keyboard & weight be under 2.5kg but we narrowed the list in the 1st post down to things she wouldn't sacrifice.

Can anyone recommend a seller for the Lenovo T series in the UK?

Preferably one they have used that have good after sales service if the unit fails in warranty.

 

[Caine]

rygD, ekianjo - Re Keyboard, thank you a decent keyboard is high on the list of priorities.

Since no laptops exist with good keyboards, a decent keyboard is the best you can get. The only valid candidate for this, is this insane machine, which is rather ridiculous and barely qualifies as a laptop.

I've used a mac keyboard once for a few months and that was the first and only time I've ever experienced pain in my fingers from typing. Most horrible keyboard experience ever, I highly recommend you to stay away from them. That said, your mileage may vary.