WTB: Laptop that will last for at least next 3 years

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Forums › Offers and Wanted › WTB: Laptop that will last for at least next 3 years

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neb

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#3231977 17-May-2024 20:49

Abrdgr: I might have an HP laptop within that price range for sale soon. Can’t remember exact specs off the top of my head, but I think it’s an i7-1165, 16gb ram, 500gb SSD, 15.6 inch display type thing, backlit keyboard etc. can find out and send through specs if you’re interested.

Not sure how well it’ll game though.

If it's got Intel graphics it'll game just fine, provided the game is Rogue or Nethack.

Just for a laugh I once loaded up some FPS or other on a laptop with "Intel HD Graphics 6x0" or something. It was like watching a slideshow. Seriously.

cddt

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#3232271 19-May-2024 09:23

Scott3:

My personal laptop is a dell Precision M4700 mobile workstation, I am not sure how old mine is, but I think the series was released in 2012. I brought it used in late 2013, to give you some idea about getting a long life out of a laptop.

It's still still going strong, more than a decade after I purchased it. That said:

I have upgraded to a SSD (with the mechanical drive moved to the optical bay)
The graphics card died (meaning I was stuck with integrated graphics for a bit), but I swapped it out with one from ebay.
I replaced the fans (one was getting a little noisey) - I do leave it on 24/7
Every couple of years I pull it apart and vacuum the dust from the heat sinks
I added a Bluetooth module.
The screen on it really sucks (dull) - But i mostly use an external 1440p screen anyway.
It is build very heavy and strong.
Have gone through many batteries.
I hardly use it for anything serious anymore. (I have a expensive work issued mobile workstation)

My personal laptop is a cheap Toshiba from 2012. It cost about $600 new. It still works perfectly since I have probably used it only about once a month on average through the last 14 years.

I have replaced the HDD with an SSD when it failed, then replaced that SSD too when it in turn failed. I added an extra stick of RAM which I got for free (well, $5 shipping). Other than that the hardware is fine and will hopefully continue to fulfill the rare need of a mobile computer for the coming years.

My referral links: BigPipe | Mercury

networkn

Networkn
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#3232281 19-May-2024 10:12

cddt:

My personal laptop is a cheap Toshiba from 2012. It cost about $600 new. It still works perfectly since I have probably used it only about once a month on average through the last 14 years.

I have replaced the HDD with an SSD when it failed, then replaced that SSD too when it in turn failed. I added an extra stick of RAM which I got for free (well, $5 shipping). Other than that the hardware is fine and will hopefully continue to fulfill the rare need of a mobile computer for the coming years.

Your situation would be the exception, not the rule. Let me explain it differently, did you pay $600 brand new for that Toshiba? It hasn't really 'lasted' all that time, since you have upgraded it and replaced some parts in it. Typically when people say 'will it last' what they mean is, will I need to spend any extra money. Also, are you doing video editing, light gaming etc, ala the OP's request? I doubt it.

Can you make cheap equipment last a long time? Sure. Is it the usual? Nope. Why? Because if a $600 laptop was designed to last and meet all needs, that would be the median price, which it most certainly isn't.

Qazzy03

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#3232285 19-May-2024 10:55

Any laptop should be fine with PC Ultimate Gamepass, you can do all the 'cloud' gaming you like as long as you have a stable and faster internet connection.

https://www.xbox.com/en-NZ/cloud-gaming

I don't know the spec requirements for video editing and coding, so that might be your bottleneck.

Better bang for buck for 2nd hand tho, $600 goes pretty much no where in the brand new market.
Find it interesting some GZ.... without knowing it, saying well back in my day....
(2012-2013) $600 got me XYZ laptop and I only needed to do 123 to the laptop and its fine today.

Mehrts

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#3232335 19-May-2024 11:15

lxsw20:

Assuming you're a windows user, it needs at least an 8th Gen processor for Windows 11..

I'm happily running W11 on a 6th gen i7, no issues at all. Obviously installation isn't as streamlined as an 8th gen or newer, but once it's sorted it's all good.

johno1234

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#3232390 19-May-2024 12:09

networkn:

johno1234:

Why wouldn't any reasonable quality laptop last 3-4 years? Do bits wear out, fall off or something?

As someone who has worked in IT for 30 years, I can tell you, that whilst it's possible for a machine to last 3-4 years in that price range, the type of specification produced in that price range would be very unlikely to cope with that workload for 3-4.

Quality laptops don't start in the $600 price range.

Price, features, quality, pick any two.

So if it can cope with the workload after 1-2 what changes that it can't cope with the workload after 3-4 years?

The spec requirement for laptops I use professionally has dropped over the years as these days I'm just running remote access to virtual desktops that the client sets up for me. The limitation on machine longevity is mostly compatibility with versions.

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