Topic Wiki

Please, when posting a link to a laptop listing, make sure to include the price at time of posting. It helps.
Requesting help with a purchase? Please post here: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=135662.msg2794782#msg2794782

Dell:
Precision - Very powerful desktop replacements - great warranty, ridiculously expensive - Usually overpriced or overkill

Latitude - Good Laptops - Great warranty! Highly recommended for any Business environment - Sometimes expensive.

Vostro  - Lower end Business Machines - Better Priced - still durable - Usually 1 Year warranty.

XPS - The nicer looking dell machines, Some are better than others...

Inspiron - YMMV Every model is different

(Plain) Insprion Series - Dells lowest end laptop
(R) Insprion Series - Perfect Home use, dependable, decent build quality, recommended
(Z) Insprion Series - A little slimmer than the R series, Some are Ultrabooks (Very often don't include Optical Drives)

HP:

Spectre - Top of the line personal (dragonfly is the top of the line for business) - lightest laptops, and beautiful!

Pavilion - YMMV (Some better than others)

Probook - Stable durable business systems - Usually a little on the heavy side.

Elitebook - Business Higher end systems, usually pretty expensive

ENVY - Used to be the HP sleek and nicer systems, they pretty much replaced most of the standard pavilions now and call them either ENVY or sleekbooks

Sleekbook - like it sounds slimmer line of laptops

Lenovo:

Thinkpad Series - Very Dependable Business Machine, Expensive (Not Pretty but Durable)

IdeaPad Series -

S Series
U Series - Usually the slimmer line Ultrabooks, Doesn't always include DVD Drive
Y Series - Nice machines with good specs and features (Cool Backlit Keyboards)
Z Series - Step up from the G Series, all around decent build, priced nicely, great home use laptop
G Series - Lower end

Samsung:

Series 3
Series 5
Series 7
Series 9 - The nicest, sleekest looking laptops I've seen in a long time - Can pass for a Macbook!!


HT: Dh Data Recovery & Name Changed


A great post by caliheat:
I believe that there are many factors when deciding what laptop to purchase.
1) What is your intended use and necessary features. e.g. light use vs. heavy use & optical drive, computer speed etc.
2) As mentioned several times in this thread, RAM itself is very easy to upgrade after you purchase.
3) Brand - IMHO this is pretty important as well - which do your prefer vs. which brand do people recommend.
4) Price - you should decide a price range that best suits your needs.
5) Operating System - Many people like myself prefer Windows 7 vs. 8.1, so this would be another consideration.
6) Warranty - does it include 1 year or more, cost for extending warranty.
7) Detailed Specs:
  Processor  - model and speed i3, i5, & i7 2.0 Ghz, 3.0 Ghz etc.
  RAM - This IMHO should be minimum 8GB, especially if running 8.1, however can be added easily.
  Hard Drive - SATA vs. SSD, the latter being much faster. SATA itself offers 5400 RPM vs. 7200 RPM again, the latter being faster.
  Screen Size - this is a personal preference as you can always attach a larger screen in an office setting.
  Battery & Weight - overall laptop weight preference & battery life.
  Graphics - Integrated graphics vs. dedicated graphics, e.g. Intel 4400 vs. Nvidia GTX etc.

In summary, you have to decide what are you priorities, what can be upgraded and what you are flexible on.



Excellent article about the differences between the Intel processor suffixes.

Excellent "Laptop Buying Guide" by @dailykasha, written for Black Friday 2021, updated for holidays 2023

Author Topic: Laptop Deals Master Thread  (Read 3184759 times)

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 3099
  • Total likes: 327
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8900 on: November 09, 2015, 02:47:06 AM »
Acer Aspire 15.6" - Core i5 for $389 from walmart.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/36998829?athcpid=36998829&athena=true&athpgid=categorypage_5496618&athznid=SingleItem_Top%20computer%20values&athppgid=athenaMultiModulePage_5496618&athpznid=SingleItem

Platform:    PC
Primary Color:    Black
Processor Brand:    Intel
Processor Type:    Intel Core i5-4210U Processor
Processor Speed:    1.70 GHz, with a Max Turbo Speed of 2.70 GHz
System Ram:    6 GB
Maximum Memory Expansion:    16 GB

Offline unavailable

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 546
  • Total likes: 20
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: bp
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8901 on: November 09, 2015, 02:36:28 PM »

Offline avromie7

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8293
  • Total likes: 2742
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8902 on: November 09, 2015, 02:52:16 PM »
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline Aaaron

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jan 2012
  • Posts: 1396
  • Total likes: 39
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
  • Location: Baltimore
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8903 on: November 09, 2015, 04:03:15 PM »
bump
is this a good deal for $500?

Just got my Pavilion today.  Decent power but the chassis feels cheap.  Just a heads-up.

Offline dove

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 339
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Location: usa
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8904 on: November 09, 2015, 06:26:52 PM »
HP 250 G4 15.6" Laptop only $399!!!!!
i5-5200U
2.20 GHz
4GB RAM
500GB HDD
WIN 7 Pro




Link

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 3099
  • Total likes: 327
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8905 on: November 09, 2015, 10:49:26 PM »
HP Envy for $549

    Windows 8.1 64
    5th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-5500U Dual Core Processor + Intel(R) HD Graphics 5500
    8GB DDR3L - 1 DIMM
    39.6 cm (15.6")

http://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/Laptops/hp-envy---15t-l4r36av-1

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8906 on: November 10, 2015, 12:50:00 PM »
What's better - 4th generation i5, or 5th/6th generation i3?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline avromie7

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8293
  • Total likes: 2742
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8907 on: November 10, 2015, 12:57:09 PM »
What's better - 4th generation i5, or 5th/6th generation i3?
Check the benchmarks
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8908 on: November 10, 2015, 01:02:49 PM »
Check the benchmarks
Where would I find that? (I'm looking at specs on dell.com)
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline avromie7

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8293
  • Total likes: 2742
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8909 on: November 10, 2015, 01:04:21 PM »
Where would I find that? (I'm looking at specs on dell.com)
Cpubenchmark. Net
Compare them I assume the I5 will be better
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8910 on: November 10, 2015, 01:13:21 PM »
Cpubenchmark. Net
Compare them I assume the I5 will be better
Nice resource - thanks!

Here are the two I chose to compare: http://cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=2623&cmp[]=2259 How do I know which is better?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline avromie7

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8293
  • Total likes: 2742
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8911 on: November 10, 2015, 01:54:09 PM »
Nice resource - thanks!

Here are the two I chose to compare: http://cpubenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=2623&cmp[]=2259 How do I know which is better?
CPU mark is the overall rating, in this case they are really close
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8912 on: November 10, 2015, 01:59:15 PM »
CPU mark is the overall rating, in this case they are really close
Which is interesting, because the i3 has 2.3 GHz as opposed to 1.7 GHz in the i5.

What is the max CUP mark?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline avromie7

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 8293
  • Total likes: 2742
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8913 on: November 10, 2015, 02:11:20 PM »
Which is interesting, because the i3 has 2.3 GHz as opposed to 1.7 GHz in the i5.

What is the max CUP mark?
Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 @ 2.30GHz    22,309   $3,745.49*

that is a top of the line server processor with 16 cores

on the home page there are links to charts if you want to look around
I wonder what people who type "u" instead of "you" do with all their free time.

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8914 on: November 10, 2015, 02:14:13 PM »
Intel Xeon E5-2698 v3 @ 2.30GHz    22,309   $3,745.49*

that is a top of the line server processor with 16 cores

on the home page there are links to charts if you want to look around
Cool, thanks! I took a quick look at the charts but didn't understand what I was looking at. Will have to peruse them later.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 3099
  • Total likes: 327
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8915 on: November 10, 2015, 02:53:17 PM »
Cpubenchmark. Net
Compare them I assume the I5 will be better
Maybe this & other such useful links should be added to the wiki.

Offline dove

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jul 2011
  • Posts: 339
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Location: usa
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8916 on: November 10, 2015, 08:51:06 PM »
ASUS Laptop only $369.99!!!
Intel Core i5 5200U (2.20 GHz)
4 GB Memory
500 GB HDD
Intel HD Graphics 5500
15.6"
Windows 10 Home 64-Bit


Link

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Posts: 3099
  • Total likes: 327
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 34
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8917 on: November 10, 2015, 09:25:23 PM »
ASUS Laptop only $369.99!!!
Intel Core i5 5200U (2.20 GHz)
4 GB Memory
500 GB HDD
Intel HD Graphics 5500
15.6"
Windows 10 Home 64-Bit


Link
Not bad, but low resolution screen.

Offline etech0

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 12918
  • Total likes: 3371
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: not lakewood
  • Programs: DDF
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8918 on: November 11, 2015, 10:57:01 AM »
Do business laptops last longer?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline thaber

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 3915
  • Total likes: 467
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 4
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #8919 on: November 11, 2015, 09:28:13 PM »
Do business laptops last longer?
Like business desktops I'd guess