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Thinkpad... If portability isn't an issue, than the new W520 or T520. If you don't like lugging around a giant monster, the new X220. Everyone will chime in

Thinkpad... If portability isn't an issue, than the new W520 or T520. If you don't like lugging around a giant monster, the new X220. Everyone will chime in with a reason to avoid $Manufacturer (for me I avoid Dell and HP), I'm not sure if there's really a consensus.

petervandijck 15y ago
ie. this one http://amzn.to/jRWwyx http://amzn.to/jRWwyx? What do you like about the Thinkpad? I dislike the brand, reminds me of crappy company laptops being handed out to me.
- m0nastic 15y ago
  I like the fact that they seem to be the only well-made laptops anymore. On the inside, pretty much all manufacturers are using the same components (Wifi cards being the only real exception), but Thinkpads have always seemed much better constructed than the equivalent Dells or HP's. There isn't really any PC laptop brand you can buy to escape the "reminds me of crappy company laptops", with the possible exception of Sony. Some point to Vaio's as being the most "Apple-like" PC's. That description can be either positive or negative depending on how you feel about Apple machines. As it is, I've never really liked Sony's manufacturing process for laptops (I've only had 2 over the years though, and it's hard to divorce yourself from personal experience when recommending a brand). For what it's worth, I wouldn't ever buy another non-Thinkpad PC laptop. I've had an Asus, about a dozen Dell's, and a bunch of HP's. They were all giant pieces of shit (Dell's being the worst from a hardware failure perspective). If I get a Thinkpad, I am fairly confident I won't have any issues for at least a bunch of years (my last T series put in a good 6 years of daily use without any issues). As far as I'm concerned, they're the Honda of laptop manufacturers.
  - petervandijck 15y ago
    A Honda.. not bad :)
  - mestudent 15y ago
    I have a samsung qx410 and it is actually of pretty nice quality, and has a good keyboard my only complaint would be the touchpad but most of the time I have a mouse connected or am not using the mouse. HP is absolutely the worst laptop brand I have ever owned, I've known plenty of people with HPs and almost every single laptop has overheated to the point of shutting down the computer and breaking within a year and a half. Thinkpads have the added feature of being pretty compatible with linux, though I think some of the nvidia cards that come with the T series are not compatible yet.
    - dhimes 15y ago
      Anecdotal data counterpoint: I've had three hps in five years- one hard drive crash was the only issue, aside from a keyboard button falling off of one. (Kids have them now and they are doing fine). Currently running two Asus'- a "business" laptop (UL50V) and an eeePC for travel. Both with Ubuntu/Mint linux. The Biz machine is nice, the eeePC is what it is. Boots fast, standby works in ubuntu, etc. Better value than an ipad for my road needs (although the ipad is nice for other things).
- pkamb 15y ago
  The Trackpoint. You'll learn to love it. And once you do, you'll never buy another brand.
pasbesoin 15y ago
From my limited experience, Thinkpads are the only models with consistently good keyboards. (Though I see now they've started to use "chicklet" keyboards in some models; I'm skeptical.) The other factor is a good screen. Pay attention to the parts you will constantly interact with. Spend your "pretty" dollars on a good suit. P.S. Over the past decade, I've found that discrete graphics support has significantly extended the useful life of several acquaintance's laptops. One is on a decade old Dell; still usable for "normal" work -- it just won't play large videos. I don't recommend going a decade, but it works for them and it accentuates my point. This is also from a time when Dell still had good keyboards, and the screen was a good looking, high resolution upgrade.

petervandijck 15y ago

ie. this one http://amzn.to/jRWwyx http://amzn.to/jRWwyx? What do you like about the Thinkpad? I dislike the brand, reminds me of crappy company laptops being handed out to me.

m0nastic 15y ago
I like the fact that they seem to be the only well-made laptops anymore. On the inside, pretty much all manufacturers are using the same components (Wifi cards being the only real exception), but Thinkpads have always seemed much better constructed than the equivalent Dells or HP's. There isn't really any PC laptop brand you can buy to escape the "reminds me of crappy company laptops", with the possible exception of Sony. Some point to Vaio's as being the most "Apple-like" PC's. That description can be either positive or negative depending on how you feel about Apple machines. As it is, I've never really liked Sony's manufacturing process for laptops (I've only had 2 over the years though, and it's hard to divorce yourself from personal experience when recommending a brand). For what it's worth, I wouldn't ever buy another non-Thinkpad PC laptop. I've had an Asus, about a dozen Dell's, and a bunch of HP's. They were all giant pieces of shit (Dell's being the worst from a hardware failure perspective). If I get a Thinkpad, I am fairly confident I won't have any issues for at least a bunch of years (my last T series put in a good 6 years of daily use without any issues). As far as I'm concerned, they're the Honda of laptop manufacturers.
- petervandijck 15y ago
  A Honda.. not bad :)
- mestudent 15y ago
  I have a samsung qx410 and it is actually of pretty nice quality, and has a good keyboard my only complaint would be the touchpad but most of the time I have a mouse connected or am not using the mouse. HP is absolutely the worst laptop brand I have ever owned, I've known plenty of people with HPs and almost every single laptop has overheated to the point of shutting down the computer and breaking within a year and a half. Thinkpads have the added feature of being pretty compatible with linux, though I think some of the nvidia cards that come with the T series are not compatible yet.
  - dhimes 15y ago
    Anecdotal data counterpoint: I've had three hps in five years- one hard drive crash was the only issue, aside from a keyboard button falling off of one. (Kids have them now and they are doing fine). Currently running two Asus'- a "business" laptop (UL50V) and an eeePC for travel. Both with Ubuntu/Mint linux. The Biz machine is nice, the eeePC is what it is. Boots fast, standby works in ubuntu, etc. Better value than an ipad for my road needs (although the ipad is nice for other things).
pkamb 15y ago
The Trackpoint. You'll learn to love it. And once you do, you'll never buy another brand.

pasbesoin 15y ago

From my limited experience, Thinkpads are the only models with consistently good keyboards. (Though I see now they've started to use "chicklet" keyboards in some models; I'm skeptical.) The other factor is a good screen. Pay attention to the parts you will constantly interact with. Spend your "pretty" dollars on a good suit. P.S. Over the past decade, I've found that discrete graphics support has significantly extended the useful life of several acquaintance's laptops. One is on a decade old Dell; still usable for "normal" work -- it just won't play large videos. I don't recommend going a decade, but it works for them and it accentuates my point. This is also from a time when Dell still had good keyboards, and the screen was a good looking, high resolution upgrade.