Laptop Choice?

X220 ftw. Since 2011 and still going strong. I just can't find a reason to get rid of it. I've gone through multiple batteries and two cables. It's got an SSD and HDD in it. Just about to replace the speakers and install a bluetooth card (music) on it. £5 for the card. Just can't go wrong with it.

I'd go with the Surface Laptop 2 unless you really didn't like the keyboard/touchpad. Second choice would be number 3 but I'd be tempted to look at what the equivalent options with a newer processor were ( like this for instance https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdTnUc3x6y7QkqB767MpfufOFLWLPxV4nQYMVSt%2fQLsghwJWO5I7bzL6VlTltMoQx13b04%2bxH5fsHA4psQm3mB9o30smFg%2bx3EOnHKKvnQynADjAlp9G9Oeh0ulzm9AvGr7xfbXsRQh9imck%2b8omVQUuaQ11J4jMkYM6srkWUIn95iAuYtfeEdj%2ffxBIE8kzaLOEKuZQIlbtyt3odeGlMzVV6lsuxAvR%2bIw%3d%3d )

Or just follow the tips upthread and get a second-hand X220 for £150 like everyone else.

I'd go for one of the Dells rather than the Surface. The Surfaces are impossible to repair - MS will sell you a refurb unit rather than repair it

And on the X220s the replacement battery that Velocio suggested seems to be a decent improvement on the old stock one https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07DXVJMY6

How often do you have to move it around? I have a XPS 13 and love it, but the glossy screen is annoying (minor). I feel like the high pixel density and minimal bezels more than makes up for the slightly smaller screen than a 15", and is much more portable.

Also, could you use a monitor from college, even if the desktop is garbage?

5 years later report.... Endes up going back and being replaced under extended john Lewis warranty. They tried several times to get the touch pad repaired each time it sort of worked and then failed again. So had it replaced at 1 year and 11 month old.
Put full value plus an extra 200 i think into an asus u340 or 440? Which had a 3 year warranty (John Lewis again extends it) inc damage for the full three years.
This new asus (2 or 3 years old now) is perfect. The current mbp came out the same month but even going to the middle tier model (£1750?) it didn't give me much more than the asus.
Asus is 6th gen i5, 8gb medium speed ram, a reasonable ssd, almost 4k screen (14" so honestly 1080p would have been fine, has good brightness and contrast), screen folds all the way back making it into a giant tablet (use this a lot for reading magazines like single-track etc), battery life is epic, never less than 4 hours, can be as high as 10 if you eek it out. Build quality is fantastic, equal to an mbp, poss a better keyboard imo. Most asus you see in the shops are plastic framed with a thin piece of metal screwed om the outside, this one feels like it was hewn out of billet (its not but it feels that solid).
No break downs, only issue is touch pad sometimes freaks out (firmware isnt the best). Touch screen i use occasionally for tablet mode and for light room, but could take it or leave it

I missed out on a locker this year so I'll have to bring it in and out each day, and I move classroom a few times a day. I don't think I'd be able to plug into the monitors. Some of them are all in ones and some aren't even widescreen! I have looked at a portable secondary screen but one thing at a time haha

I've seen some nice i7-5500U 1440p touchscreen 3rd gen x1 carbons on ebay for ~€430, but they have german keyboards, I'm considering it though. I guess I could get some small stickers done or a replacement keyboard (or maybe keycaps?) at some stage. Or the surface just went down to €650.

This is probably the wrong thread but does anyone know what this computer cable is used for?

1 Attachment

Looks like they're just sold as a "printer" cable
https://www.ukofficedirect.co.uk//product/connekt-gear-3m-usb-cable-a-male-to-b-male-(2-pack)/kfa707

Great. Thanks. Five of them heading to the bin now.

Generally plugging into printers, scanners, etc. It's called a type b plug.

Thanks. No use to me. Tidying out boxes of leads today. Loads for the bin.

I have a v. old WD external HD (2005?) that uses that type of cable.

But otherwise what everyone else said.

Thanks. I think I have one of those somewhere - maybe I will keep one - just in case.

Any recommendations for a laptop for my old mum? Doesn't need to be top spec as she's not a gamer (unless you still count free cell as a game) and all she needs is

• Windows 10
  
• Connectability to a reasonably modern printer cos like all old people she just loves to print stuff (she has the printer already)
  
• Microsoft Excel so she can maintain the scores for the old lady's darts team she plays in
  
• interwebz (so she can email and receive massive picture files for other old people to print)
  
  

That's about it. Best buy?

Anything from tier1 - refurbs

I may as well get both of the answers out of the way:

1. A chromebook. It's not Windows 10 but it's very easy to use. Excel online or the app version of Excel would probably do the job for darts scores (or Sheets). They work with most modern printers but you may need a quick google to check.

2. A refurbed laptop. Lenovo X220 is the most popular option (for good reason). I've bought a few different laptops from these. Never had any problems https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/newandusedlaptops4u

Amazon also do refurbed laptops. Worth a look.

Opnions on this hp-pavilion please? I have a HP Zbook for work which I like but this is a different series. Will just be used at home for standard family tasks (streaming, kids games, surfing, storage of family photos etc).

I know next to nothing about laptops, but likely to have to move around a bit over the next year (working in Covid response).
Would like something good enough to do a bit of photoshop, and maybe play something like gta v in the evenings. Doesn’t have to be super light or slim. Happy to go second hand and/or older model to keep the price as low as possible. Any advice really appreciated! :)

Dell xps or surface laptop 15"
Surface is 1800 dell 1500. Is surface worth more?
In fairness my surface pro has lasted very well for years.

If you're buying a refurb'd thinkpad, check this out http://www.cnmod.cn/. Seemingly a group of guys who work for motherboard manufactures developing thinkpad mods as a hobby. A x210 with usb c, i7, 64gb of ram, 4k display - its nuts

I really like my surface laptop 2. The 3:2 screen is brilliant, I know the new 2020 xps is 16:10 but I think I'd still prefer the surface, I definitely wouldn't ever buy a 16:9 laptop again. Not all of the xps models are touch screen either and I think that's something I wouldn't be without either.

The full size usb a port on the surface is handy too, but I do like the idea of thunderbolt ports and being able to charge from any usb c charger. If you're stuck without a charger with the surface it'd be unlikely to find someone willing to lend you theirs or buy one in a nearby shop. It looks like the surface has better battery life though.

I don't think you'd be unhappy with either one, and there are pros and cons to both (and it kind of depends on the specs you're getting for £1500 for the xps, there's different prices floating around and then last years models confuse things as well), but I'd go for the surface personally.

Didnt even think about screen will gice that thought.

I've never used touch once on my surface pro... ha

Yeah, touch on laptops is very much personal preference. Even on my Surface Go I'll never use the touchscreen unless it's in tablet mode (pretty much exclusively Plex whilst on planes and trains).

My girlfriend however tries to use a touchscreen even on laptops that don't have them as it's so ingrained.