New Computer after 4 years

[Giatros89]

General Questions

1) What is your budget?
up to USD $1000-1100

2) What size notebook would you prefer?

c. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
d. Mainstream; 15" screen
Prefer a 15 if its thin like a MacBook or Dell 15z

3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of your country as an indicator.
USA, in store or online

4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?

a. Like: No preference
b. Dislike: none

5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
Yes if warranty is extendable, however prefer new

6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Multi-tasking, browsing, note-taking, video processing

7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?
Both, daily traveling to and from school

8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?
No

9) How many hours of battery life do you need?
4+

10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
Online is ok

11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.

Windows, but open to other

Screen Specifics

12) From the choices below, what screen resolution(s) would you prefer? Keep in mind screen size in conjunction with resolution will play a large role in overall viewing comfort level. Everyone is different. Some like really small text, while others like their text big and easy to read. Click here for Screen resolution information.

13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen?

Prefer glossy for watching movies, don't know about matte for videos

Resolution: Use note taking software and lecture videos simultaneously on one screen. Also watch a lot of movies so high res required.
Midrange Resolutions: WXGA+, HD+, 900p
Actual resolutions: 1600x900

Maximum Resolutions: WSXGA+, WUXGA, FHD, 1080p
Actual resolutions: 1680x1050, 1920x1200 and 1920x1080


Build Quality and Design

14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes, but performance speed, and portability are more important. (Have a dell studio xps 13 inch. I like that level of design)

15) When are you buying this laptop?
ASAP
My old computer is dieing fast. I'm just trying to back up everything


16) How long do you want this laptop to last?
4 years

Notebook Components

17) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?
500GB+ , prefer a 7200+ RPM, no SSD

18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a CDRW/DVD-ROM, DVD Burner or Blu-Ray drive?
Would be a plus, not needed

Would like Bluetooth, HDMI, minimum 2 USB ports


I am a rather experienced computer user and my last post was 4.5 years ago and now i need a replacement.
You guys are awesome.

[ZaZ]

You guys are awesome.

Flattery will get you everything. If you want a 15" the Vaio SE is worth a look. It's 4.4 pounds and has a very good screen, though is probably not as durable as a business class notebook.

[Giatros89]

A few updates:
1. I'll be getting some sort of tablet as a present w/n the next 5 months so I can give up a little on portability.
2. I don't mind buying used/refurbished with a good warranty (like the accident and spills ones) if it comes out cheaper.

I just looked at the :

15" the Vaio SE
15" HP Envy 2012 edition
15" Samsung Chronos 700Z5A-S03

My first impressions:
Viao is nice but the battery falls short w/o the extra batter slice
I absolutely love the look of the HP envy and the 1080p screen
Samsung is also nice however it really pushes my budget.

Do you guys think I could find one of these used somewhere with a nice warranty? I know dell had the "come to your house and fix your laptop deal" does anyone do that anymore? (question answered)

Any one know where I can buy a used laptop something along the caliber of the 3 above? Is Ebay safe?

[ZaZ]

Yes, a lot of notebook companies offer on-site service.

[Giatros89]

Yes, a lot of notebook companies offer on-site service.

Thanks. Unfortunately the cheapest i.e. squaretrade does not. I guess I'll have to evaluate that options when I get to it. Now to figure out which laptop. I read some stuff about the envy having lots of problems. Also read on these forums about a major upgrade in terms of processors coming out. Should I hold out? Would it be worth it?

I'm reading about the HP envy 15 and it doesn't have a slide out battery. I'd say 70% of the time I'm near an outlet so I was wondering if it's going to hurt the battery? A friend told me to take out the battery when you run your computer for long periods of time. I'm a medical student so my computer runs for literally 18-19 hours a day. Should this be a worry?


I'm currently looking at something like this. I may latch a warranty on it for 2-3 years to be safe
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-ENVY-15-1...item5ae633009d

I also saw a i5 model (above is i7) is there much of a difference for me if I'm not gaming. I usually have like 4 programs running. One notetaking, one video lecture playing, a couple of pdf's, and a browser with on average 10 tabs open when doing a project etc.

What do you guys think?
I hear the samsung is good too.

[ZaZ]

I would give the battery much consideration. The fact you can't replace it would be of more concern to me. You'll need to send it somewhere to have it replaced, meaning you'll be without out while it's being serviced.

There's little need for the i7 unless you've got a specific need to run processor intensive apps.

Both the Envy and the SE have nice screens, but the Sony is significantly lighter and less expensive. You could put the savings toward getting a better warranty.

[Giatros89]

I would give the battery much consideration. The fact you can't replace it would be of more concern to me. You'll need to send it somewhere to have it replaced, meaning you'll be without out while it's being serviced.

There's little need for the i7 unless you've got a specific need to run processor intensive apps.

Both the Envy and the SE have nice screens, but the Sony is significantly lighter and less expensive. You could put the savings toward getting a better warranty.

The Envy battery is definately replaceable all you have to do is unscrew 1-2 phillip heads. It's just that it isn't a slide out so I can't take it out when I'm plugged in to an outlet. However, I don't know how important it is to do that. I'll go take another look at the sony.