Know what I need, just want to know of brands NOT to get. And favorite brands.
~Matt
Depends on what you need. But if you’re a roadwarrior, can’t really go wrong with a Lenovo Thinkpad, Panasonic Toughbook, HP Elitebook, or Dell E series latitude.
This conversation starts and ends with two words: MacBook Pro.
Depends on what you need.
I know what I need as far as specs, just want something that’s relatively well built with decent components…because I have no desire to be repairing a laptop. Not particularly rough use or alot of travel…except it’s for my wife who has been known to destroy electronic equipment on occasion.
~Matt
Depends on what you need.
I know what I need as far as specs, just want something that’s relatively well built with decent components…because I have no desire to be repairing a laptop. Not particularly rough use or alot of travel…except it’s for my wife who has been known to destroy electronic equipment on occasion.
~Matt
Which is why I just bought my wife a used, 2-year-old MacBook Pro.
This conversation starts and ends with two words: MacBook Pro.
Sorry I wasn’t clear…I meant a real computer and preferably one I don’t have to take a second mortgage out on the house on to afford 
Besides being Apple, which I don’t use, Macbook would be way over kill for what it will be used for.
~Matt
Which is why I just bought my wife a used, 2-year-old MacBook Pro.
Not Apple. I’m WAY to used to windows to try and learn everything backwards and despite this being my wifes…anything doesn’t work, I’ll have to fix it.
~Matt
See my last post. MacBook Pro. Used. 2 years old. Under $600.
This time two years ago we bought my son a Toshiba from Walmart. I think it was a Black Friday sale. It cost right around $300. No problems since and he runs all the stuff that a junior in high school needs to run.
Depends on what you need.
I know what I need as far as specs, just want something that’s relatively well built with decent components…because I have no desire to be repairing a laptop. Not particularly rough use or alot of travel…except it’s for my wife who has been known to destroy electronic equipment on occasion.
~Matt
Can’t go wrong with any that I suggested or a Macbook Pro. They are all premium business laptops, overbuilt, and more than enough for the person who babies their stuff. If it’s mission critical and your wife really abuses it (like sandblasting, submerging in water, freezing/baking), I’d look into the Toughbook or Latitude ATC
Know what I need, just want to know of brands NOT to get. And favorite brands.
~Matt
I’ve bought 4 lenovo thinkpads over the last 4 years for wife and kids. All are running well. We also have them at work so I get an Employee Purchase Program price which makes them a few hundred cheaper than they would be otherwise.
ACER is what I buy. Best bang for the buck. More features per dollar than HP or Toshiba.
Know what I need, just want to know of brands NOT to get. And favorite brands.
~Matt
I’ve bought 4 lenovo thinkpads over the last 4 years for wife and kids. All are running well. We also have them at work so I get an Employee Purchase Program price which makes them a few hundred cheaper than they would be otherwise.
+1 on the Lenovo. Good price and good quality.
I’ve never had good look with HP in computers. Printers, yes, computers…not so much. I hold grudges for a long time
I’ve heard good things about Lenova as well as Dell and Toshiba.
~Matt
This is my experience based on the ridiculous number of laptops we have and have had in our home:
Dell - my wife’s constantly experienced problems connected and staying connected to the home wireless network. My old work Dell did the same. My kids both have them and have no issues. So, we are 2 for 4 on this issue.
HP - no performance issues, but, the frick’n HP updates/self-diagnostic shit drives me NUTS. My work HP will interrupt me in the middle of work. My personal HP (only used with my Computrainer) will interrupt my Computrainer session with useless bullshit.
Lenovo - no issues.
Agree on HP. I got one at work and in the first week had the screen fail so they had to replace the entire lid. Was told it happens regularly. Also told they are notorious for have hard drive failures around the office.
but, the frick’n HP updates/self-diagnostic shit drives me NUTS.
I’ve never had anything but problems with HP, except all my experience has been with desktops. I’ll never buy an HP computer again…or an MSI motherboard…ever…ever…ever.** **I just saw MSI has laptops…noway…ever.
~Matt
If you are looking at Lenovo - make sure it is a ThinkPad series and not their house brand. You can pick up an older T61 refurb for 3-500 (depending on memory/storage config. I had one failed HD once on a thinkpad - that was it for 12 years of using them.
PM me if you are interested - I can get you into the EPP program.
Agreed. Lennovo do make some good models. HP’s hardware is probably fine, but it is so loaded with crap.
If she is hard on laptops … I’d rec a Sony Z series. Magnesium chasis, carbon fiber lid, solid state hard drives, i7 chip - yummy. This is the machine I run to work with in a backpack, through in my car, dictate patients on, carry from room to room, etc. Oh, and it is 2.9 lbs!!!
Tried that originally with a MacBook Air - killed it. MacBook Pro - dead. Still use a great MacBook Pro 17 at home though since they are better for the family/kids.
The other would be a Panasonic toughbook, but it is a beast to lug around and just as pricey.
Downside? Cost of course, a decent Z-series starts at $1800 or so with a loaded one around $3k.