Help me choose a laptop (1 Viewer)

[Disco Stu]

I'm looking for a laptop as a PC replacement. Current Dell PC is getting pretty old. I'll use it mainly for surfing the innerwebs, listening to music, and watching movies/hulu/youtube (likely using VGA connection to 40" LCD "monitor").

Here are a couple options I see in the price range I was thinking. The Lenovo looks like the better of these two, but does anyone have another suggestion?

Dell Vostro 3550 Laptop

Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium, 64bit

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M processor 2.30 GHz with Turbo Boost 2.0 up to 2.90 GHz

6GB Shared Dual Channel DDR3 at 1333MHZ, 2 DIMM

Backlit Keyboard with Gesture Touchpad

Intel® HD Graphics 3000 with up to 1.6GB Dynamic Video Memory

500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

15.6 inch High Definition LED Display (1366 x 768) with anti-glare

8X DVD+/-RW with double-layer DVD+/-R write capability

$674 (free shipping)

Lenovo IdeaPad Z470 Laptop

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M Processor ( 2.30GHz 1333MHz 3MB )

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64

Intel Integrated HD Graphics 3000

8 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz

14.0" HD Glare with integrated camera 1366x768

750GB 5400

DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)

$689 (free shipping)

 

[Abraham]

THe Lenovo isn't "better" as the 2G of memory (which is overkill) is also costing you about what 2G of memory should cost you.

I think it comes down to which screen size you want. If you are going to be watching porn and Youtube on it then the 15.6" is a better choice. If you're going to be hualing it around then the smaller screen makes more sense.

 

[Abraham]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

 

[Disco Stu]

THe Lenovo isn't "better" as the 2G of memory (which is overkill) is also costing you about what 2G of memory should cost you.

I was basing that more on the 750GB vs 500GB.

 

[Disco Stu]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

They're different? How can you tell? I'm a newb.Also, is it worth upgrading to something like NVIDIA® Geforce® GT520M 512MB/1GB graphics (assuming that's an upgrade) for watching HD video? I'm not a gamer.

 

[Abraham]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

They're different? How can you tell? I'm a newb.Also, is it worth upgrading to something like NVIDIA® Geforce® GT520M 512MB/1GB graphics (assuming that's an upgrade) for watching HD video? I'm not a gamer.

yes.

 

[drpill]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

 

[Abraham]

THe Lenovo isn't "better" as the 2G of memory (which is overkill) is also costing you about what 2G of memory should cost you.

I was basing that more on the 750GB vs 500GB.

If you have that much stuff to store, you'd be foolish not to use an external hd imo

 

[Abraham]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

misread that. disregard

 

[Disco Stu]

THe Lenovo isn't "better" as the 2G of memory (which is overkill) is also costing you about what 2G of memory should cost you.

I was basing that more on the 750GB vs 500GB.

If you have that much stuff to store, you'd be foolish not to use an external hd imo

I have a 1 TB external to use... not sure if it will be strictly a backup though.

 

[drpill]

The graphics in the dell are much better.

They're different? How can you tell? I'm a newb.Also, is it worth upgrading to something like NVIDIA® Geforce® GT520M 512MB/1GB graphics (assuming that's an upgrade) for watching HD video? I'm not a gamer.

Personally I don't think it's necessary. This is the same integrated graphics chip used in new Macbook Pros so you can expect similar performance -- should handle HD video with ease and be capable of decent performance on games as well. Review here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Intel-HD-Graphics-3000-graphics-solution.43710.0.htmlAlso, the video upgrade might drain your battery faster, not positive though.

I think both laptops are pretty nice; I prefer a 14" screen for portability myself.

 

[Disco Stu]

Another option. Downside here is "ships in more than 4 weeks".

Lenovo B470 Laptop - 431523U

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M Processor ( 2.30GHz 1333MHz 3MB )

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64

NVIDIA GeForce 410M 1GB

4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz

14.0" HD Glossy with integrated camera 1366x768

500GB 5400

DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)

$649

 

[Gadzooks]

Thought the title of the thread was "help me choose a lapdance" I can't tell you how confused and disappointed I was when I started reading the posts. Though I do feel like I know more about laptops than I did previously.

 

[drpill]

Another option. Downside here is "ships in more than 4 weeks".

Lenovo B470 Laptop - 431523U

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2410M Processor ( 2.30GHz 1333MHz 3MB )

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64

NVIDIA GeForce 410M 1GB

4 GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz

14.0" HD Glossy with integrated camera 1366x768

500GB 5400

DVD Recordable (Dual Layer)

$649

I wouldn't sweat the graphics if you don't play games. Get the Lenovo with the extra RAM and hard drive space.

 

[Kenny Powers]

I believe this is the laptop I got a little over a month ago except for $400...Love it, no problems whatsoever. Less GB than what youre looking at but also a lot cheaper.

Sidenote: if he's streaming his pron and netflix, etc thru an HDMI to his HDTV, why do the graphics of the PC even matter???

 

[Disco Stu]

I wouldn't sweat the graphics if you don't play games. Get the Lenovo with the extra RAM and hard drive space.

Done.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

Searched laptops in title and found nothing recent except for the one wanting to use it for minecraft - meh.

Thinkingn of spending around $700. Looking for 17 inch screen and fast processor (I think that is what I need ...I really don't know).

I don't play games, but do a lot of internet surfing, video watching, and spreadsheets. Lots of tabs open.

What is the real difference between the i5 and i7? And what are equals in other processors? Are they really about the same?

 

[gmbacm]

17" is big/heavy for a laptop. Certainly ideal for spreadsheets, but annoying if you plan to be mobile with it. I'd sooner get a smaller laptop, and connect to a monitor when I need a bigger screen.

 

[Binky The Doormat]

17" is big/heavy for a laptop. Certainly ideal for spreadsheets, but annoying if you plan to be mobile with it. I'd sooner get a smaller laptop, and connect to a monitor when I need a bigger screen.

Thanks - yeah, its not really that mobile. I sit on the couch with it sitting on the armrest or have it about 10 feet away at the kitchen countertop. What stumps me is the getting the right combination of processor and whatever else makes it sing without spending an arm and a leg. I don't know what in the hell I'm looking at to really evaluate whether I am going to get a better performing pc for additional cost.