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Question

Laptop/Ultrabook/Tablet

by May 1, 2015 3:52AM PDT

I'm a student looking to purchase a laptop replacement. I'm having a hard time figuring out what exactly would work best for me.

I currently have the Toshiba Satellite L355-S7915 17.0" Notebook and I hate how big, clunky, and slow it is. Starting out my ideal list looked something like this:

4GB+ memory
150+ GB storage
Longer battery life
Lightweight (less than three pounds)
High screen resolution
Windows 8.1 or Chromebook
$0 - $700

After doing a lot of research, I'm finding having all those things in one pc is almost impossible (at that price range). I basically internet surf, music/movie stream, and basic stuff like that so I really don't need much to run. But the hard part is I'm in college and I need something that can handle homework including Office and having multiple tabs/applications open at once (otherwise this decision would be much easier).

I originally saw the Toshiba Chromebook 2 and thought it'd be perfect (that 1920x1080 screen made me fall in love) but I'm not sure about the limited access to Office (I have crappy internet where I live) and if it would be able to handle the homework aspect (I've read a lot of reviews about its lag)...but when looking around I'm finding that I'm having a hard time being willing to sacrifice portability/lightweight/screen res.

Really I think I'm looking for a larger tablet (with a keyboard...I won't rely on touchscreen alone) for weight, resolution, portability and such...but the other specs are telling me I should get a 5 pound windows 8.1 ASUS with a 500 GB hard drive to handle homework stuff. (just thinking about getting something that large and clunky makes me cringe. )

If I had the money, I'd get the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 in a heartbeat (I love how it has a stylus pen and 10" screen and full-functioning windows 8.1) but I'm in college...enough said.

I have thought about just getting a cheap larger laptop with the specs I need and spending the rest of my budget on a tablet but having multiple devices is a pain...especially taking one to class and leaving the other at the dorm and stuff...and I figure at that point I should just get a desktop but I want portability and I don't have room for a desktop. As it is, I put away my laptop when not in use so I have room to do other homework on my desk.

What's your advice?

Note: I'm already on the lookout for an external hard drive (I needed one anyway)

Discussion is locked

14 Posts
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Clarification Request
Have you looked at Dell's
by itsdigger May 1, 2015 4:21AM PDT
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Dell PC's
by emoryjane May 1, 2015 8:40AM PDT

Only has a 2 GB memory...I don't think that'll be able enough for me. Also haven't heard great things about Dell computers...what have your experience been with Dells?

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None really to speak of
by itsdigger May 1, 2015 9:06AM PDT

I've toyed around with a friends Venue 11 and it was pretty peppy even with 2GB and 32 bit OS
MS Office ran well .
The screen was a little small for me but nothing new glasses wouldn't fix Mischief

Digger

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Darn glasses
by emoryjane May 4, 2015 1:33AM PDT

Yeah, those smaller screens could be a drag. Happy

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LOL
by James Denison May 4, 2015 6:02AM PDT

yeah, I'd love to have 17" screen on my laptop.

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Answer
What you are asking may not be possible.
by May 1, 2015 8:01AM PDT

You just have to compromise. Here's the thing, longer battery life means more cells which means heavier computer. I doubt chromebook is what is needed for school work but I maybe wrong. There are such thing as 2 in 1 notebook.

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Battery Life
by emoryjane May 1, 2015 8:42AM PDT

Interestingly enough, most 4-5 lb. computers I've looked at have a shorter battery life (6 hours) compared to chromebooks/ultrabooks with closer to 10 hours.

I'm sure I'll have to compromise...I'm just not sure where I would want to. Happy

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I don't know much about the chromebook, but...
by Oldartq May 1, 2015 1:04PM PDT

I am pretty sure there is a trade off somewhere. Such as cloud storage. Do you know the fees for that? I will refuse to believe the chromebook is that much better.

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100GB free for first 2 years
by emoryjane May 4, 2015 1:40AM PDT

After that they start charging...$1.99/mo for the 100GB and $9.99/mo for 1 TB (15GB is free all the time). But having an external hard drive could solve that problem.

I've never had a chromebook...I've only played with one at staples. I'm big on customer reviews though and people love it....I'm basing my bias for the chromebook off of my little bit of research and the masses of people who say it's a good machine. Whether or not I'd actually like it for myself long-term is the dilemma. Happy

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Answer
Looks like compromise is required.
by Former Forum moderator May 1, 2015 8:19AM PDT
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Flexmodel
by emoryjane May 1, 2015 8:44AM PDT

I've looked at those but I'm nervous about the hinges. I'm not sure they would hold up and I don't buy a pc often enough to replace something like that. Have you owned a 2-in-1/convertible?

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Then you may be unicorn hunting.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 1, 2015 8:53AM PDT

Almost all hinge failures I've seen are on very old machines. And yes, at the office we have something like the Asus T100 for demos.
Bob

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I do like unicorns...
by emoryjane May 4, 2015 1:42AM PDT

That's good to hear. I may wait a little longer on those convertible ones to see how they hold up long-term though.

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The trouble is.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 4, 2015 2:25AM PDT

If you wait that long, what's new would be new and then you repeat the waiting cycle?

As to the hinges, at the office we haven't seen a hinge failure that was not user induced for about 7 years.
Bob

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