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Resolved Question

Should LoneWolffe Buy Lenovo Z70-80 or HP ProBook 450 G1?

Mar 31, 2015 12:32AM PDT

I'm really torn between two laptops, and I'm wondering if anyone here can shed some light on the subject. For the last four years, I've been using HP ProBook, a 4530s which my wife inherited, after which I have been using a 4540s. I like that the design is fairly bulletproof, and it has enough oomph to keep a dozen programs running without a hiccup. I am a freelance writer, and typically run a lot of programs back and forth between dozens of tabs in Chrome, five or six Word documents, a couple of Excel spreadsheets, one Access database, Photo Pos Pro, Winamp, IObit driver, defrag, malware, system maintenance, StarDock sidebar, a few Windows Gadgets, well, you get the idea. RIght now, for example, I have about 185 processes running, idling at 17% CPU and 38% of my 8 GB memory free.

I'm looking to upgrade, but there's a catch. I like my HP ProBook 4540s, but would like a bigger screen. I'm currently doing volunteer work in the highlands of Peru, but I'll be heading back to the US in April/May, at which time I will buy a new laptop. I'm only going to be in the US for a month, so whatever I buy has to be bulletproof, because I don't know when I'll be back. In other words, if there is something wrong with the laptop, I won't be able to just swap it for another within a reasonable amount of time. Seeing as this is my sole link to the outside world, as well as my livelihood, do you have any insights on these two models, the Lenovo Z70-80 and the HP ProBook 450 G1?

Lenovo - http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/le ... es/z70-80/
HP - http://www.microcenter.com/product/4278 ... er_-_Black

I'm currently working with a 2.4 GHz dual-core i3. The Lenovo features a 2.1 GHz dual-core Intel i3, while the HP is equipped with a 2.5 GHz i5. The HP already comes with 8 GB RAM, but I'd add another 4 GB to the Lenovo, anyway. HDD space isn't all that important, but the anti-glare 17.3-inch monitor really caught my eye on the Lenovo, and I can't find anyone else selling a 17.3-inch anti-glare laptop. As far as I can tell, both selling at $600, this is the main difference for me.

Questions:
1. Would switching from 2.4 GHz i3 to 2.1 GHz i3 be that much of a loss?
2. Will the Lenovo be just as reliable as I've found the HP to be?

"There is no such thing as a foolproof system. Someone will make a better fool, tomorrow." @LoneWolffe

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Best Answer

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Comparing 5th gen CPU to 4th gen?
Mar 31, 2015 11:18AM PDT
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Thanks
May 11, 2015 2:31PM PDT

Thanks for the links and the help. Since I don't do a lot of a gaming or 3D work, I ended up going with the bigger screen. It's much more comfortable for my work. So far, I'm liking it.