Buying a new laptop or ultrabook - high end/business grade

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557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784762 20-Mar-2013 23:20

billgates: Lenovo X1 Carbon with i7, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD along with built in 3G modem is NZ$3040 incl GST with 1 year warranty. I agree that upgrade from 128GB to 256GB is a plain rip off. Could just get it with 128GB as it would be really cheap and have a portable USB3.0 external hard drive for additional storage.

X1 Carbon has rapid charge tech which charges the battery from 0 to 85% in 30 minutes. This is not a gimmick. It actually does this. Tying this from a X1 Carbon :-)

Does the Carbon get as hot as they say?

I could not find an option on the website with a 256GB SSD as part of the base package, only an upgrade per my earlier mesage.

Also I could not not find the touch version..

paulspain

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#784764 20-Mar-2013 23:26

As a general rule high end ThinkPads are very good. Local support quality dropped off after they dumped IBM for their warranty support in NZ/AU however.

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#784766 20-Mar-2013 23:42

Dumb question:

Any high end laptop never has the SSD i want ... If i bought a lenovo with the 128gb ssd and i swap a say 512gb+ ssd ... Will i void warranty or earn negative brownie points if i make a warranty claim?

billgates

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#784769 20-Mar-2013 23:49

blair003:
Does the Carbon get as hot as they say?

I could not find an option on the website with a 256GB SSD as part of the base package, only an upgrade per my earlier mesage.

Also I could not not find the touch version..

I haven't had mine getting hot but for the period I have had it, it has only made the fans spin faster just couple of times due to the work load I was putting the machine under. For some reason the touch model has been removed now from NZ website due to shortages in part as they are trying to fulfil US orders first.

The non touch version with their most expensive model is $2000 odd excl GST on the NZ page. Add 256GB SSD and it comes to $3048 incl GST.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Regs

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Snowflake

#784776 21-Mar-2013 01:19

paulspain: As a general rule high end ThinkPads are very good. Local support quality dropped off after they dumped IBM for their warranty support in NZ/AU however.

all the thinkpad T series or W series units I've used from the last three years have been great. my support experiences have still been fine also - but I've needed them a lot less than with Toshiba/HP/Acer.

you can also buy an SSD separately and install it. you don't need to keep their one (or order the Lenovo with HDD instead and swap out).

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surfisup1000

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#784794 21-Mar-2013 08:16

I have only bought Lenovo for the last 7 years, great quality machines.

So my plan for my next lenovo is to install a 256gb MSATA SSD in the WWAN slot for the OS, and , a mechanical data drive in the harddrive bay.

I buy minimum ram/hdd and upgrade myself.

Lenovo are pretty good at allowing customers to change basic items such as memory and HDD without affecting warranty. New models are beginning to come with soldered components so you need to check.

The lenovo t431s is being released next month -- but, not sure I like the trackpad so I'll see if the t430s has any good sales. Lenovo have not been doing any good sales recently -- only offering 30% of accessories and software.

SQLGeek

135 posts

Master Geek

#784798 21-Mar-2013 08:26

I brought a HP Elitebook 8470p from Direct.co.nz about 9 months ago and it has been rock solid. Lots of different CPU/RAM/Disk options and only took 3 days to ship.

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Krishant007

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#784853 21-Mar-2013 10:48

i would vote for the Lenovo machine. personally have used a few machines, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Lenovo, Macbook.

I would recommend Mac the most - ease of use, battery life, speed etc.

But from the windows bunch - I would only go for Lenovo for myself. they have the best keyboard for typing, the build quality of the machine itself is rock solid - i realise the switch from IBM to Lenovo does kinda put people off, but IBM wouldnt tarnish its name and I have seen that Lenovo has kept up to IBM standards and are shipping very good laptops.

The only thing that would put people off is the looks. Many claim that the black boxy look is too boring - personally i feel its very professional and looks quite nice, but thats just me.

I have heard good things about the Samsung series 9, but for 3k, i know i am safe with lenovo.

I have used their on site service previously in the past. It is top notch, quick return of my laptop and all faults were fixed quite quickly - it was kinda my fault for the laptop screen being screwed but they fixed it for me no questions asked.

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#784930 21-Mar-2013 13:17

I'm pretty much sold on the X1 Carbon. Even in discussions where many think the thinkpad range has gone downhill, the Carbon owners all seem pretty happy.

I ruled out some of the others mentioned as they had a 1366x768 screen. I am used to a 1080p 16" screen on my existing laptop and feel that would be a bit much of a downgrade.

The online help guy said the touch version may be back in stock next month, but I don't know if I should wait. I have an HP Probook I can use temporarily, and 70% of the time the machine will be docked anyway, so I might just get used to the non touch version..

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#784942 21-Mar-2013 13:21

blair003: I'm pretty much sold on the X1 Carbon. Even in discussions where many think the thinkpad range has gone downhill, the Carbon owners all seem pretty happy.

I ruled out some of the others mentioned as they had a 1366x768 screen. I am used to a 1080p 16" screen on my existing laptop and feel that would be a bit much of a downgrade.

The online help guy said the touch version may be back in stock next month, but I don't know if I should wait. I have an HP Probook I can use temporarily, and 70% of the time the machine will be docked anyway, so I might just get used to the non touch version..

I have never understood the attraction of touch on notebooks, or actually mostly at all, It's so much less energy to use a mouse than a lift your whole arm and a mouse is pinpoint accurate.

blair003

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Ultimate Geek

#784985 21-Mar-2013 14:08

For me it was just because Windows 8/Server 2012 interface sucks so hard with a non touchscreen, I figured it might be somewhat usable with a touchscreen.

billgates

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#784995 21-Mar-2013 14:25

The trackpad on the X1 carbon is just as good on a MacBook. Supports all the Windows 8 gestures so even if you buy the non-touch version which is lighter, thinner and has better battery life than the touch version, you can still use it with Windows 8 with ease.

Do whatever you want to do man.

networkn

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#785000 21-Mar-2013 14:36

billgates: The trackpad on the X1 carbon is just as good on a MacBook. Supports all the Windows 8 gestures so even if you buy the non-touch version which is lighter, thinner and has better battery life than the touch version, you can still use it with Windows 8 with ease.

The words with ease and windows8 shouldn't ever be in the same sentence!