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Thread ID: 135788 2013-12-12 02:43:00 Is it worth paying for most current specs?? swazi (16894) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1362352 2013-12-12 02:43:00 Hi

I am about to purchase a new laptop. In my mind I want minimum specs of:
256GB SSD
i5 Haswell Chip
Win8 Pro
Touch Screen
13" - 14" screen

I am looking at the Lenovo T440s which would come in at about $2.3 - $2.4k with above. I haven't actually seen it in the flesh though so am worried it is a bit clunky. I don't really need top of the line specs other than I want to future proof as much as possible and have something that will be still going strong in a few years.

Is it worth paying for top of the line specs? Also, should I be considering something else in this price range?

Cheers
swazi (16894)
1362353 2013-12-12 03:49:00 www.apple.com

Macbook air + Windows?

Edit - for 2.4k, store.apple.com

Retina display + 256gbs storage :)
Nick G (16709)
1362354 2013-12-12 04:03:00 Hi

I am about to purchase a new laptop. In my mind I want minimum specs of:
256GB SSD
i5 Haswell Chip
Win8 Pro
Touch Screen
13" - 14" screen

I am looking at the Lenovo T440s which would come in at about $2.3 - $2.4k with above. I haven't actually seen it in the flesh though so am worried it is a bit clunky. I don't really need top of the line specs other than I want to future proof as much as possible and have something that will be still going strong in a few years.

Is it worth paying for top of the line specs? Also, should I be considering something else in this price range?

Cheers

Of all of that the touch screen part would be a waste of time. If you want touch capabilities in anything get a touch mouse pad.

What are the main tasks you will be using the laptop for?

As to "future proofing" it's more of a marketing buzz word than anything else when you consider that your "super speccd" PC will be outdated in 12 months time when the next latest greatest piece of hardware comes out for half the price you pay for yours tomorrow.
Webdevguy (17166)
1362355 2013-12-12 04:23:00 Of all of that the touch screen part would be a waste of time.

I dunno about you but I'd try using one before saying that. ;)
pcuser42 (130)
1362356 2013-12-12 04:27:00 I'd say no, not a lot of point going top of the line. There's a happy medium between price vs performance that makes a LOT more sense, for most things you'll not notice the difference. Chilling_Silence (9)
1362357 2013-12-12 04:34:00 I dunno about you but I'd try using one before saying that. ;)

No need. I have touch capabilities on my mouse :)
Webdevguy (17166)
1362358 2013-12-12 22:55:00 Agree with Chill re picking a happy medium.

Also agree with the future proofing sentiment from webdev. IMHO this is specially true for a laptop. They wear out, batteries need replacing at high cost, sockets break inside etc.

For 2.4K I'd certainly want more storage. Even the low end $600 ones start at 500GB. The speed of a SSD won't compensate for running out of storage.

Touch screen - mmmmm. If you are going to try it, see what your arms feel like after a few minutes of holding them out horizontal. Personally, I would only pay for a touch screen on a horizontal surface. But, maybe that laptop has a whizz way of allowing for a tablet experience??
linw (53)
1362359 2013-12-12 23:46:00 Agree with Chill re picking a happy medium.

Also agree with the future proofing sentiment from webdev. IMHO this is specially true for a laptop. They wear out, batteries need replacing at high cost, sockets break inside etc.

For 2.4K I'd certainly want more storage. Even the low end $600 ones start at 500GB. The speed of a SSD won't compensate for running out of storage.

Touch screen - mmmmm. If you are going to try it, see what your arms feel like after a few minutes of holding them out horizontal. Personally, I would only pay for a touch screen on a horizontal surface. But, maybe that laptop has a whizz way of allowing for a tablet experience??


Agreed. I'd be looking what will be the main things I will be using my laptop for over the next 2-4 years.

Am I mainly a gamer who might get into design work or 3D animation work - RAM and good graphics + need 1 TB minimum storage + external storage so the gruntyest laptop you can afford
Will I be moving in to office work (spreadsheets - data analysis, business intelligence) don't really need good graphics card or mass storage, just need decent screen and good keyboard and RAM
Am I looking at getting into IT work - Network admin Just need a reliable laptop, could be either Mac or PC
Will I be getting into web design or marketing - Any decent MacBook Pro unless you don't like iProducts.
Webdevguy (17166)
1362360 2013-12-12 23:48:00 i5 will be great , what is the actual CPU speed?
If you want a faster CPU, get a PC or a 15" laptop .
If you want fast, 'futureproof' , a 13" probhably wont be the way to go
Does it need to be small, ultraportable?

These I dont like, just my 2c......
Win8
13" - 14" screen

But go for 64bit Windows, 4G ram (minimum) , SSD . See what the max RAM it can take is.
Look at how long it runs on batt power, warranty :try for 2-3 years manufacturer warranty
You may also need a bigger SSD in a few years, thats OK as they will be a lot cheaper then.
1101 (13337)
1362361 2013-12-13 00:20:00 Will I be moving in to office work (spreadsheets - data analysis, business intelligence) don't really need good graphics card or mass storage, just need decent screen and good keyboard and RAM

This sums up my needs best .

I realise that anything purchased today will be outdated before it even leaves the shop but surely having the latest specs today will extend the usable life at the other end . I'm wanting a good 2 - 3 years from this . The other alternative is to just buy a $1k laptop and keep buying a new one every year but I think that will be a nightmare managing software/files etc .

Re Win 8, I am not sold on it either, but surely it is going to be the standard eventually and software will presumably be written firstly for Win 8 and then made compatible with older OS's . Its the same rationale with having a touch screen . I can't actually ever see myself ever needing to use it but going forward I'm guessing that more and more programs will be made with touch in mind so why cut myself off from this technology for the sake of $100 .

I need something portable (will do a lot of travel which is why I don't want to go any bigger) and practical . I've looked at the Vaio Pro and Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus, and they are certainly great looking machines, but I am almost scared I will break them and I think I am sacrificing too much in the way of ports . I will essentially be docking it at the office .

Thanks for your thoughts .
swazi (16894)
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