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    Default New Laptop Recommendation

    I need a new laptop in the next two to three months. My 2011 Macbook pro is a tad old.

    I am so out of the computing know. The last PC I had was the Intel Pentium 2 at 350hz.

    My budget is $1500-2Kish
    I want something decent, everyday stuff with some gaming. I cant play games with Mac's so in guess its time to go back to PC.
    I would like something with up gradable RAM or with a lot of RAM (16-32G+) and dedicated graphics card.
    I do like the new AMD processors but it seems Intel is still the primary processor.

    I have narrowed it down to Dell XPS 15. I prefer the 13, but the 15 you can configure.

    A outside contender was the Razor, but the memory is not upgradable.

    Am I missing anything? Should I wait till the Labour day sales?

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    I know you said no AMD, but the ASUS Zephyrus G14 has been a shining star-more processing power and less power consumption than the comparable Intel processor.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cyra1ax View Post
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    I know you said no AMD, but the ASUS Zephyrus G14 has been a shining star-more processing power and less power consumption than the comparable Intel processor.
    I watched some reviews on that. I just realized, I think that and the Razer dont have webcams.

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    Have a look at the Asus G14, that's what I would buy if I was picking something up today. Ultrabook form factor, right in your budget, smaller than an XPS15, better GPU (2060 vs 1650Ti), dramatically faster CPU (4900HS vs 10750H), glowing reviews, great for casual gaming with higher refresh rate display, etc.

    Honestly buying any laptop with a rehashed 6-year-old Intel CPU in 2020 is just plain silly outside of a tiny subset of niche cases. The performance benefit from Ryzen 4000 is enormous, all the while giving you cooler temps, more cores, higher IPC and longer battery life (~12hr on a G14 for browsing - unheard of for a 'gaming' laptop).

    The new XPS line only offering Intel (so far) makes them rather underwhelming, but rumors are there will be Ryzen 4000/5000 options in 2021 after all the backlash they've been getting for handicapping them, especially since their target market is creatives where the Ryzen/Intel performance variances are largest. 2020 is probably the worst possible year to invest in an XPS because it will be the last year of Intel's ancient 14nm Skylake-based mobile CPUs and almost certainly the last year of Intel-only CPU options.

    If you really need a webcam, just by a tiny one and toss it in your bag. Not worth making a massive sacrifice on performance & battery life just for that IMO.
    Last edited by Mitsu3000gt; 09-01-2020 at 01:54 PM.

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    Whats the difference between this and the G15? Im not a fan of the silver..

    https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX81031

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    Quote Originally Posted by tonytiger55 View Post
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    Whats the difference between this and the G15? Im not a fan of the silver..

    https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX81031
    The G14 is the more premium unit of the two, despite the smaller screen. It also has the 4900HS and a better cooling design.

    The G14 comes in black too.

    G15 has a slightly better display for gaming and an Ethernet jack.
    Last edited by Mitsu3000gt; 09-01-2020 at 02:11 PM.

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    https://www.costco.ca/asus-rog-strix...100659823.html
    nvm.. seems the memex one is much better
    Last edited by dirtsniffer; 09-01-2020 at 02:18 PM.

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    What screen size? Does it need a numberpad?
    Ultracrepidarian

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    Quote Originally Posted by msommers View Post
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    What screen size? Does it need a numberpad?
    My 2011 Macbook is 13' and im happy with that. But tech has changed so much some of the new 15' are almost the same size as the 13.
    No numberpad needed.

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    Old thread bump.
    Moving my posts here from the Chrome Thread.

    So I did not buy a new laptop from when I posted in 2020. Funny enough I looked at the date and time at the start of this thread. I had a car accident a few hours after that and 2020/ 2021 was a life changing year. Everything went on pause. My mental health has only come back into the real world in the last few months.

    Blimey..tech has changed and how we use it. Its made me think how we use technology. Do I stick with my old habits or change things up? For example. Should I get a Ipad or a simple chrome book for basic stuff. Then build a gaming PC later? But I know nothing about chromebooks.

    Or do I go to a gaming laptop as my original plan...? But how will that be for travel? I was in Best buy the other week and saw the Asus Rog G14, this tickeled my balls.
    https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...s-eng/17076786

    But when I packpacked SE Asia in 2018(don't laugh) I took my old macbook pro. It was actually a life saver. Other travellers had thier ipads. But I found the laptop easier to research hotels/hotels. Great for navigating several tabs comparing on where to go, book stuff and make urgent skype calls on. This is what pushed me exploring the Macbook Air again. Lighter and a simple interface.

    From the chrome thread:

    Quote Originally Posted by ThePenIsMightier View Post
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    If you want to squeeze more years out of it, then you need to not cheap out on the initial purchase.
    That's the thing I think I've learned.
    I agree. Thats why I was thinking the Mac Air route initially for logetivity. I then glanced the chromebooks and asked wtf are these? When did these come into existence? How reliable are they?

    Quote Originally Posted by mr2mike View Post
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    I've done this to extend life a bit further for a imac.
    https://dosdude1.com/software.html
    Thanks for this. I just downloaded the patch and updated from High Sierra to Catalina ths evening.
    The Macbook pro is still running slightly slow and the Chrome browser does not work at all now. I moved to using to Chrome as Safari is not loading pages properly due to version age.
    When I go into my email on Safari its still jittery. Im running 16G Memory and a SSD. I don't notice any difference updating the OS in terms of performance.

    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
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    They still have m1 mba. I actually prefer it. Keyboard has brightness settings, way cheaper. I don’t find our m2 mba any faster.

    Both are bottom of the barrel base model 8gb. I’ve been doing lots of 4k hdr final cut work on it (using external ssd) and it’s been terrific.

    I can’t see needing to upgrade it for a long ass time. My kids only use it for basic shit like your use case, and I’m still doing high end video work quickly on it.

    $1169 using education store. Can’t go wrong.
    The problem I have with the base M1 is the the 8G Memory and 256 SSD storage. The 8gig memory scares me as you can't upgade it after.
    The rule of thumb I follow for memory is to buy the double of the standard memory at that given time. In this case its 16G so I would upgrade to 32. For the M1 the most I can upgrade on the is 16G with 512g SSD is $1800. At that price I might as well go for the new M2.
    But the most memory I can do on the M2 is 24G. All priced out with 512 SSD is $2399. Pricey, but hell.. I don't have a gf or kids.

    I shall have a ponder next week at the apple store and best buy.

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    You don’t need anywhere near as much memory on an M1 Mac as you think you need unless you are into video editing etc.

    The base MacBook Air is the correct model for 97% of people.

    I have nothing else to add.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
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    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

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    I’m doing video editing on my 8gb m1 mba perfectly fine.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    Ok fine. 98% of people.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
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    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

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    I'm too lazy to look back, but what are your uses beyond Beyond (ok internet usage )? Do you prefer Apple and Windows UX?
    Ultracrepidarian

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    If you really like apple, buy apple. I don't reccomend people jump back and forth between the ecosystems.

    And that's coming from a fully android/Chromebook family.

    Where Chromebooks really shine is on the low end. Great for kids school computer, especially since the CBE went to google classroom platform. Cheap enough I'm not stressed about the kids losing it, or spilling pop into it.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
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    Great for kids ... spilling pop into it.
    Triggered by kids drinking pop

    Tony, what games you play and don't go overboard on specs for that game's requirements?
    In general a gaming laptop will get you garbage battery life, if you care for that.
    Also the one you linked from bestbuy, is not sold by bestbuy, but refurbed by some garbage seller. Stay far away.

    Boring details if you want: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdc9_uPETIE
    Last edited by jwslam; 04-23-2023 at 09:49 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
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    If you really like apple, buy apple. I don't reccomend people jump back and forth between the ecosystems.

    And that's coming from a fully android/Chromebook family.

    Where Chromebooks really shine is on the low end. Great for kids school computer, especially since the CBE went to google classroom platform. Cheap enough I'm not stressed about the kids losing it, or spilling pop into it.
    Can you ELI5 me what a Chromebook is? I am regarded.
    It feels like an inexpensive, small laptop that is loaded with Android stuff to talk to Android items. Is there more to it than that?
    Why can't I do the same shit by loading some apps onto my current laptop?

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    So, to me, and for my use-case, here's what a Chromebook is:
    -cheap, because it's low end hardware
    - runs chromeOS, a lightweight OS designed for shitty hardware
    - defaults to and runs best with native google/android type apps. Mostly browser based functions.

    Most recent one I bought was $199 Asus cx1 14".

    There are better Chromebooks where they overlap with a cheap laptop in price. That's not what I personally want.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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    Can it run Microsoft Office? Or does it not need to?

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    You can run the "mobile" version of office or the browser based version.

    If office is a key requirement I'd get a real windows laptop. If you need to view or edit office files only occasionally the browser stuff is survivable.
    Quote Originally Posted by killramos View Post
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    You realize you are talking to the guy who made his own furniture out of salad bowls right?

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