When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Need to replace my office computer, and would appreciate some help.
Bought a HP ENVY, touch screen 17 inch. The mouse pad is horrendous, and it is already having problems. Bought it two weeks ago, per recommendation, and hating it already.
Requirements:
-Good monitor size (13"+)
-Easy to type on
-Long lasting battery life
-Lots of memory for PDF storage.
I use it to log on to hospital servers, internet browsing.
No photo editing, no gaming, no TV watching.
Wife has Apple MacBook Pro Retina 15"
Debating on going to Apple or maybe getting an Asus?
Office pays for it every 24 months. Budget is $1500 max.
Mac, ThinkPad, ThinkPad Yoga, Dell Latitude or XPS, ...
Mac trackpads are the best. So accurate and responsive.
ThinkPad keyboards are the best if you do a lot of typing. So comfortable and with good tactile feedback. Good travel too. Trackpads are pretty good, but not as good as Mac's
I picked up a Dell XPS13 mid-last year and like it so far.
My main needs were ~13" screen and light. It doesn't have the biggest HD, 128GB I think, but it's good enough for what I need to do. Mostly academic related - Word, Powerpoint, Excel. Plus webstuff.
It's SSD so while the battery isn't the biggest, it does a good job of staying off mains power for the better part of the day if I'm using it on and off.
The keyboard is a personal preference. It's a "chicklet" type (sort of like the Macs, I think) and I had to retrain myself to use it a little bit since I'm not used to it.
Worth a look if you can find one in stores to poke around on.
They did a minor model update at the end of the year to improve a couple things. Can't remember off-hand but it's not enough to re-upgrade for me, but it's enough that I would like the newer one.
EDIT: Overall, I never thought I'd buy a Dell, but they *really* did a good job on this one. Many well thought out aspects. The power cord and block are one of the best designs I've seen - from an engineering aesthetic standpoint.
Mac, ThinkPad, ThinkPad Yoga, Dell Latitude or XPS, ...
Mac trackpads are the best. So accurate and responsive.
ThinkPad keyboards are the best if you do a lot of typing. So comfortable and with good tactile feedback. Good travel too. Trackpads are pretty good, but not as good as Mac's
Thank you. I will look at the Yoga and XPS too as you said.
My previous was a Dell, which was great, which is what the ENVY replaced. I haven't been able to find the XPS locally to check out, I will try again.
Yes I have to do a lot of typing, so that part is very important.
That was the best recommended one, but I can't find one anywhere local to check it out
My needs are very similar to yours. I do need more than 128GB. I prefer to have 1TB
Originally Posted by cu2wagon
I picked up a Dell XPS13 mid-last year and like it so far.
My main needs were ~13" screen and light. It doesn't have the biggest HD, 128GB I think, but it's good enough for what I need to do. Mostly academic related - Word, Powerpoint, Excel. Plus webstuff.
It's SSD so while the battery isn't the biggest, it does a good job of staying off mains power for the better part of the day if I'm using it on and off.
The keyboard is a personal preference. It's a "chicklet" type (sort of like the Macs, I think) and I had to retrain myself to use it a little bit since I'm not used to it.
Worth a look if you can find one in stores to poke around on.
They did a minor model update at the end of the year to improve a couple things. Can't remember off-hand but it's not enough to re-upgrade for me, but it's enough that I would like the newer one.
EDIT: Overall, I never thought I'd buy a Dell, but they *really* did a good job on this one. Many well thought out aspects. The power cord and block are one of the best designs I've seen - from an engineering aesthetic standpoint.
That was the best recommended one, but I can't find one anywhere local to check it out
My needs are very similar to yours. I do need more than 128GB. I prefer to have 1TB
Do you have a Microsoft Store nearby? They should have one. I actually bought from MS online because they were cheaper than from Dell proper.
I got happy with the small HD by looking up the price of a large capacity, small form factor USB drive. Although, I'm not sure you can get the super-tiny ones up to 1GB yet.
The SSD is replaceable, so that might still be a decent package.
I do have one 10 miles away
I will check it out tomorrow
THen decide between the XPS vs Yoga
Originally Posted by cu2wagon
Do you have a Microsoft Store nearby? They should have one. I actually bought from MS online because they were cheaper than from Dell proper.
I got happy with the small HD by looking up the price of a large capacity, small form factor USB drive. Although, I'm not sure you can get the super-tiny ones up to 1GB yet.
The SSD is replaceable, so that might still be a decent package.
That one looks very good. Looks like I can't see it at a store, but I can pick it up a store if I order it online.
How does one "add an SSD?"
Second question
WIth the computer, I also bought MS Office . It had the serial # which I had to "install" on my ENVY.
When I return the ENVY, and replace it, can I use the same MS office code, or will Best BUy take the MS office return (since I opened it)?
Thanks
EDIT
The yoga you linked has the i5 processor. My ENVY has the i7. Thoughts?
You'll have to buy the SSD separately/on your own. The SSD replaces the HDD. Take out HDD, put in SSD. An SSD is flash memory like a USB flash drive. Much faster than a HDD with spinning platters. You'll need to reinstall Windows 10 and drivers on SSD though. Not difficult.
Uninstall MS Office on the HP. You won't have any problems installing on new computer. MS won't care. I've installed same copy of Office on several PC's without a problem. If you use install activation code too many times, you may have to call MS for them to authorize it. Not sure how many installs it takes to trigger that, but it won't happen with 2 or 3 installs.
Plus, I believe MS terms of use say you can install same copy on up to 1 desktop and 1 laptop.
You may want to check Lenovo's website to see if that ThinkPad Yoga goes on sale too. It was $699 a week ago. Currently out of stock.
You'll have to buy the SSD separately/on your own. The SSD replaces the HDD. Take out HDD, put in SSD. An SSD is flash memory like a USB flash drive. Much faster than a HDD with spinning platters. You'll need to reinstall Windows 10 and drivers on SSD though. Not difficult.
Uninstall MS Office on the HP. You won't have any problems installing on new computer. MS won't care. I've installed same copy of Office on several PC's without a problem. If you use install activation code too many times, you may have to call MS for them to authorize it. Not sure how many installs it takes to trigger that, but it won't happen with 2 or 3 installs.
You may want to check Lenovo's website to see if that ThinkPad Yoga goes on sale too. It was $699 a week ago. Currently out of stock.
I personally didn't like the way typing felt on the keyboard of the MacBook. I just couldn't get used to it. It's not particularly bad, it's just.... different. I also think the MacBook is overpriced for what you get.
For $1599, I'd get the 13" MacBook Air over the 12" MacBook. Difference would be 13" Air doesn't have retina display (I like my non retina display just fine), but you get a faster processor, more connectors/ports (12" MacBook only has one USB-C port.... that's it), better GPU, and longer battery life
For $1489, you can get a maxed out 13" MacBook Air (refurb) from Apple
Better yet, for less than $1599, I'd get a refurb 13" retina MacBook Pro from Apple if you want a retina display and/or more processing power.
well new computers seem to have issues (as has my ENVY), so getting a refurbished? I am not too comfortable with that. Would appreciate your thoughts since you guys know your stuff
I don't care for the RETINA. My wife has it, and for looking at x ray and medical chart I don't need the retina.
SO you like the PRO> AIR > MacBook?
I will look at the air and explore a bit
Originally Posted by AZuser
I personally didn't like the way typing felt on the keyboard of the MacBook. I just couldn't get used to it. It's not particularly bad, it's just.... different. I also think the MacBook is overpriced for what you get.
For $1599, I'd get the 13" MacBook Air over the 12" MacBook. Difference would be 13" Air doesn't have retina display (I like my non retina display just fine), but you get a faster processor, more connectors/ports (12" MacBook only has one USB-C port.... that's it), better GPU, and longer battery life
Better yet, for less than $1599, I'd get a refurb 13" retina MacBook Pro from Apple...
I've bought Apple refurbs before. No problems at all. They look brand new. Full 1 year warranty too. Can also buy AppleCare for it if you choose. I know a couple people who only buy refurb. No problems either. That's not to say you couldn't possibly get a bad refurb. It's no different that buying a new Mac and getting a defective unit. There's always that small possibility.
I think Apple has the best and most thorough refurbishment process in the industry.
Refurbished also doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. People think refurbished means there was something wrong/defective with it. Not true.
Refurbished Macs can also be returns from people who wanted to try a Mac out (potential Windows switchers) or someone who bought the wrong model and upgraded to something better (bought MacBook Air and decided to get a MacBook Pro with retina display) or someone who bought wrong configuration (bought model with 4GB RAM/128GB SSD and didn't know nothing is user upgradable so returned for 8GB/256GB SSD trim instead).
These returns can't be sold as new. Apple just looks everything over and if there is a defect, they fix it.
I've bought Apple refurbs before. No problems at all. They look brand new. Full 1 year warranty too. Can also buy AppleCare for it if you choose. I know a couple people who only buy refurb. No problems either.
I think Apple has the best and most thorough refurbishment process in the industry.
Refurbished also doesn't mean what a lot of people think it means. People think refurbished means there was something wrong/defective with it. Not true.
Refurbished Macs can also be returns from people who wanted to try a Mac out (potential Windows switchers) or someone who bought the wrong model and upgraded to something better (bought MacBook Air and decided to get a MacBook Pro with retina display instead) or someone who bought wrong configuration (bought model with 4GB RAM/128GB SSD and didn't know nothing is user upgradable so returned for 8GB/256GB SSD trim instead).
Apple just looks everything over and if there is a defect, they fix it.
appreciate it
quick question
on the "refurb page" there is a "original released" date. DOes that mean when THIS particular product was sold, or just when the model came out?
After I look at them in the store tomorrow, I will decide.
I will update this thread
IF I go to Apple, I guess I lose the $100 something I spent on the MS office?
Buddy of mine worked for IBM and would buy primarily refurbs. His reasoning, from seeing what his industry did, was that as pointed out, Refurb doesn't always mean "problem" and that in order for the company to clear it for resale, it had to go through QA again and get stamped off.
So at that point, when the Refurb is sold, it has been through 2 QA cycles. Without getting into the statistics, the likelyhood of having a latent defect at that point is pretty darn small.
On occasion, I'll look for refurbs as well and have not generally had any more issues with them than any other electronic purchase.
I have resisted the move to Apple, even though my wife/household rest of family is all apple.
That said, when I upgraded to this HP literally 2.5 weeks ago, just using it for work, it has needed to "restart" and "frozen" quite a bit of times.
Its just frustrating
I never hear such complaints from my wife as she switched to her new MacBook few months ago.
Originally Posted by cu2wagon
Buddy of mine worked for IBM and would buy primarily refurbs. His reasoning, from seeing what his industry did, was that as pointed out, Refurb doesn't always mean "problem" and that in order for the company to clear it for resale, it had to go through QA again and get stamped off.
So at that point, when the Refurb is sold, it has been through 2 QA cycles. Without getting into the statistics, the likelyhood of having a latent defect at that point is pretty darn small.
On occasion, I'll look for refurbs as well and have not generally had any more issues with them than any other electronic purchase.
