Helping buying laptop for boyfriend

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lavinia

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#157588 5-Dec-2014 13:55

Hey there, looking for some help purchasing a new laptop as a gift for my boyfriend. He's a postgrad uni student, and the computer will be his main one, so used for work mostly, but entertainment too (he's not a gamer - just TV shows/movies etc.).

My budget is roughly $1000 (up to $1200 at a stretch), looking for a Windows, 15" screen, and basically the best specs I can afford in this price range. I know that this budget is rather restrictive, but that's really my limit --- I know I'll be buying middle of the range at best, but that's ok.

One model I'm looking at currently is this Asus one: https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers/notebooks/pc-notebook-computers/asus-f550ld-xo225h-15-6-notebook/prod130185.html

I'm a total amateur when it comes to computers (so is he, fyi) but from what I've read online, the graphics card isn't so great in this model, but I'm thinking will probably be adequate for his needs? I went and had a look at it today at Noel Leeming, & was told that its current price is below cost --- is this a good choice??

Anyway, any opinions/alternatives to consider would be much appreciated! Cheers

Chrissy14

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#1189358 5-Dec-2014 13:58

It's not bad, and it has dedicated graphics which is good and the CPU is good, that's a really good deal for the price!

lxsw20

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#1189361 5-Dec-2014 14:07

If he's not gaming then maybe something like this: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=422987

Try and avoid 1366x768 res displays on a 15" screen, they look terrible and you get very little content on there considering screen size.

jonathan18

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#1189370 5-Dec-2014 14:23

lxsw20: Try and avoid 1366x768 res displays on a 15" screen, they look terrible and you get very little content on there considering screen size.

Totally agree on this - this wasn't something I considered at the time when purchasing our current laptop and still regret it to this day. It's actually a bigger problem than you may think, as often apps are simply not designed to work on such low resolution so key parts can be missing from the screen! Do see if you can find something with resolution above this.

shk292

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#1189374 5-Dec-2014 14:25

lxsw20: If he's not gaming then maybe something like this: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=422987

Try and avoid 1366x768 res displays on a 15" screen, they look terrible and you get very little content on there considering screen size.

Totally agree - I can not understand why laptop manufactruers and their customers think it's OK to have a 15.6" screen on a $1000-$1500 laptop, that has less screen real estate than a $500 smartphone or a $250 tablet.

I have a Sony Vaio that I bought 18 months ago that has a 1600x900 14" screen, this would be my minimum spec for a laptop screen

Dairyxox

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#1189378 5-Dec-2014 14:33

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=2774415

Or this. It will have better battery life at the expense of slower graphics performance.
I still play the odd 3D game with my laptop and Intel HD4000 so its not too bad.

Has a 128GB SSD so will feel miles faster. No touch screen.
Full HD Matte screen will be miles nicer to look at too.

Krishant007

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#1189390 5-Dec-2014 15:00

I agree with the resolution comments - that resolution isnt ideal for 15 inch laptops - 1080p should be standard i guess.

I think the laptops suggested so far are pretty good ones and either would work out.

Just out of curiosity - is there any reason you are going with 15 inch and not considered a 13 inch laptop?

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lavinia

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#1189392 5-Dec-2014 15:01

shk292:
lxsw20: If he's not gaming then maybe something like this: http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=422987

Try and avoid 1366x768 res displays on a 15" screen, they look terrible and you get very little content on there considering screen size.

Totally agree - I can not understand why laptop manufactruers and their customers think it's OK to have a 15.6" screen on a $1000-$1500 laptop, that has less screen real estate than a $500 smartphone or a $250 tablet.

I have a Sony Vaio that I bought 18 months ago that has a 1600x900 14" screen, this would be my minimum spec for a laptop screen

Ok, thanks heaps for pointing this out! I hadn't actually realised how low res the display was on the Asus one, does seem out of step with the other components.

Thanks for the other suggestions so far too, it's definitely helping me refine my search.

lavinia

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#1189400 5-Dec-2014 15:20

Krishant007: I agree with the resolution comments - that resolution isnt ideal for 15 inch laptops - 1080p should be standard i guess.

I think the laptops suggested so far are pretty good ones and either would work out.

Just out of curiosity - is there any reason you are going with 15 inch and not considered a 13 inch laptop?

Ok well, I'm not totally against 13", my reasons for leaning toward 15" are reasonably soft:
- he spends long hours on computer, so slightly larger screen more enjoyable to use (I know this is relative to resolution too though)
- portability/weight not so much an issue - as in, he won't be carrying laptop to uni every day, but does need have the option available to do so occasionally
- seems a lot more choice available in 15" size.
- also, that's what he has now --- this is going to be a surprise, so default size is maybe safer choice! But as far as I know, he's not strongly committed to this screen size either.

But if there was something that stood out in 13" size, would be open to considering. I have a 13" myself, and have no problem with it.

Krishant007

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#1189403 5-Dec-2014 15:21

Ahh ohk cool. Na I was just wondering if there was any particular reasons for going with 15 inch and not 13 inch. Since you mentioned uni, I personally know how painful it is to lug a 15inch laptop to uni and I wouldnt recommend that to others. But if he wouldnt take it to uni much, and it will mostly stay on a desk, then 15 inch is fine.

timmmay

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#1189407 5-Dec-2014 15:28

That first laptop has a fast processor, not a lot of RAM, and a standard disk. Is there a laptop in this price range with SSD and 8GB RAM, even if with a lesser processor?

Stan

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#1190285 8-Dec-2014 00:01

This version has a matt 1080p Display better specced than the noel leeming asus:
https://www.heathcotes.co.nz/products/la1069-asus-15-6-inch-8gb-1tb-notebook

Otherwise maybe a probook with an ssd?
http://www.impc.co.nz/products/im_2700573.html?utm_source=pricespy&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pricespy&ref=pricespy

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matisyahu

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#1190289 8-Dec-2014 03:07

timmmay: That first laptop has a fast processor, not a lot of RAM, and a standard disk. Is there a laptop in this price range with SSD and 8GB RAM, even if with a lesser processor?

I was going to say the same thing; the 1TB HDD and process would be 'good enough' but I am concerned about the memory. Windows 8 (and soon 10) have become very memory efficient but even then it is always good to have extra memory just in case.

Maybe this would be a better fit:

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers/notebooks/pc-notebook-computers/asus-f555ld-xx110h-15-6-notebook/prod132865.html

Slightly gruntier processor and more memory.

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nakedmolerat

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#1190303 8-Dec-2014 07:22

kawaii:
timmmay: That first laptop has a fast processor, not a lot of RAM, and a standard disk. Is there a laptop in this price range with SSD and 8GB RAM, even if with a lesser processor?

I was going to say the same thing; the 1TB HDD and process would be 'good enough' but I am concerned about the memory. Windows 8 (and soon 10) have become very memory efficient but even then it is always good to have extra memory just in case.

Maybe this would be a better fit:

https://www.noelleeming.co.nz/shop/computers/notebooks/pc-notebook-computers/asus-f555ld-xx110h-15-6-notebook/prod132865.html

Slightly gruntier processor and more memory.

No! Look at the screen resolution

dickytim

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#1190314 8-Dec-2014 07:57

by the looks of what the OP has stated most laptops available today would work for them.

personally I wouldn't be so worried about the resolution, but I'd get a cheaper laptop then an external monitor for the budget.

For watching movies and TV even the integrated graphics would do the job.

roobarb

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#1191896 9-Dec-2014 06:29

Nobody suggested asking the boyfriend?

Any laptop is a minefield of compromises, I suggest you can't make those choices for other people and still expect them to be totally happy to use it as their main laptop.