Best place to buy mid-level laptop with SSD?

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SumnerBoy

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#161924 23-Jan-2015 13:24

Hi there,

I am in the market for a new laptop. It will be used for day-to-day email/web/office stuff and development tasks, i.e. writing Java/python/C (for Arduinos). No gaming.

I want something with a reasonable CPU, 16GB of RAM, mid-size screen (15-17"), and a SSD. I just upgraded my work PC to be SSD based and can't believe the improvement in usability - so want to replicate that on my personal laptop.

The problem is, I am finding it very difficult to find anywhere that will sell one of these mid-level laptops, with SSD. It only seems like the top-of-the-line laptops have SSD included. I only want to spend about $1500 max.

Is this just the way it is? I will need to buy and install the SSD myself? Or is there somewhere out there I haven't come across yet that offers something like this?

Open to any suggestions or tips!

Many thanks,
Ben

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#1220750 23-Jan-2015 13:37

Bigger the screen usually = bigger the cost, which means SSD is usually neglected.

Look at the Dell Inspiron range, and install your own SSD. Keeps the costs down.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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macuser

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#1220751 23-Jan-2015 13:37

Also ram is usually cheaper installed yourself also.

SumnerBoy

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#1220752 23-Jan-2015 13:38

Yep - been looking at Dell, have always bought them in the past. I guess I was hoping to get something ready made. I presume it is not too difficult to add a SSD after-market? Any particular thing I need to ensure the laptop supports - i.e. multiple bays or the like to fit the extra SSD? Or does it generally replace the original HDD entirely?

Thanks for your comment.

macuser

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#1220755 23-Jan-2015 13:41

SumnerBoy: Yep - been looking at Dell, have always bought them in the past. I guess I was hoping to get something ready made. I presume it is not too difficult to add a SSD after-market? Any particular thing I need to ensure the laptop supports - i.e. multiple bays or the like to fit the extra SSD? Or does it generally replace the original HDD entirely?

Thanks for your comment.

It will replace the original HDD, you can sometimes find larger models that have two bays, alternatively if you're ppurchasing a laptop with a DVD drive you can remove the DVD drive and replace with a 2.5" hdd caddy where you can put in that regular HDD.

If you buy a laptop from dell, pay the extra money for recovery media, it will make it a lot easier to install the OEM OS on the HDD.

lxsw20

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#1220757 23-Jan-2015 13:41

You should be able to find a 17" HP Probook with an SSD in that price bracket. Do an advanced search on Price Spy. You can get the 15's too but they are only 1366x768 res.

gzt

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#1220759 23-Jan-2015 13:47

Does Dell not offer SSD option? Also check lenovo.

xpd

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#1220763 23-Jan-2015 13:52

Regardless what brand you go for, ensure it supports the amount of RAM you want.... still come across the odd ones which only support 8/16GB when you really want 24+.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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macuser

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#1220767 23-Jan-2015 13:56

xpd: Regardless what brand you go for, ensure it supports the amount of RAM you want.... still come across the odd ones which only support 8/16GB when you really want 24+.

Usually because they only offer 1 or 2 DIMM slots an the max so-dimm memory you can buy is 8GB per module

timmmay

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#1220769 23-Jan-2015 13:59

Why a laptop?

I have a work laptop, Toshiba i5 with SSD, brand new and works well. Haven't done dev on it but I do design stuff and it's fine, snappy, boots very quickly. Personally I buy Asus Dell or Lenovo generally. I don't like small laptop screens, I don't like laptop keyboards, I don't like laptop pointers. I use it almost exclusively plugged into monitors, keyboard, and mouse, though I do have an occasional meeting I take it to, presentations, etc. At home I put it on the network and remote into it rather than having to plug everything in.

If you install your own SSD (Samsung 8x0 recommended) check the bay height first.

SumnerBoy

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#1220785 23-Jan-2015 14:25

I like to tinker away in the living room in the evenings, would rather stay out of the office outside of work hours (I work from home 100%). Don't want another desktop in the living room, there isn't really a spot for one, but I can happily sit at the dining table or kitchen island and tap away on a laptop. Allows me to move around, which includes re-programming the various Arduinos I have located around the house, that are not easily moved (i.e. screwed to walls etc).

Can't seem to find anything suitable in the HP Probook range (doing an advanced PriceSpy search). The Envy looks like it will tick all the boxes (15") but again, no SSD.

Looking at the Lenovos I can get an i7 16GB with 128SSD, only 15.6" screen, for $1830.

I am pretty happy with building desktops/workstations (have built my own home server etc) but am a little nervy about laptops - with the obvious size/space restrictions. Hence the desire to grab something ready made.

Appreciate all your comments!

SumnerBoy

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#1220786 23-Jan-2015 14:27

gzt: Does Dell not offer SSD option? Also check lenovo.

The cheapest Dell with an SSD and 16GB RAM I could find was $2400.

richms

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#1220788 23-Jan-2015 14:29

HP probooks are one of the easiest to get to the drives and ram on when I last worked on one. Same thing that let you remove the battery popped a panel off the bottom with everything there.

Richard rich.ms

SumnerBoy

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#1220822 23-Jan-2015 14:43

So what about something like this for $1288;

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=NBKHNB2700566&name=HP-ProBook-470-G2-Intel-i7-4510U-2.0GHz-8GB-750GB-

Looks like it supports a second stick of 8GB RAM, and then I can replace the HDD with a suitable SSD.

Thoughts?

lxsw20

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#1220840 23-Jan-2015 15:15

Looks good to me.

SumnerBoy

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#1220853 23-Jan-2015 15:27

Is this the correct RAM stick to extend it by another 8GB?

http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=MEMHNB2446027&name=HP-8GB-DDR3L-1600-1.35V-SODIMM---8-GB---DDR3-SDRAM

Sorry but I am not overly confident in making sure I pick the right parts here!

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