I need to get a new laptop for work. It has to be a Windows machine and I’d like something in the 15 to 17" range that can run AutoCAD well.
What are people’s opinions on makes these days? We’ve been getting Lenovo recently, but the quality really hasn’t been great (actually more a service issue than anything, with machines requiring multiple service calls to fix a problem).
I think Toshiba used to be good, as well as Sony. But otherwise I’m in the dark (Mac user at home, currently desktop user at work).
In the past, I used to get Dells and really, really hated them. Perhaps they’re better now?
I voted for Lenovo as it is my favorite brand, but would also recommend Fujitsu. Not very flashy, but solid build and specs, and excellent service.
And there’s nothing wrong with Dell either, I’ve owned a few (mostly through work) and don’t recall any problems.
ASUS seems to have gained a good reputation as well. I haven’t owned their laptops but their Android tablet has excellent build quality and software support.
That was just a distraction so I could get into your desk. I’ve already gotten what I needed and so I have no need to cause further chaos in that vein.
To the OP: I think ill of Dell laptops on the consumer level, but not the enterprise level. Anybody else with similar experience?
All consumer PC laptops are, more or less, the same. Similar components, same plastic designs, etc. If there’s a meaningful differentiator, I’ve yet to find it.
The only lines I’ve seen that stand apart are Sony, ThinkPad, and Apple. For laptops, Apple system are worth it if you can afford the “Apple tax” (and the cost of a Windows license to add Win7). ThinkPads are excellent computers, doubly so if the spartan styling doesn’t bother you. Sonys I have no personal experience with, but know a few fans.
Thinkpads are engineered to be rugged and easily maintainable – anything can be replaced by removing a few screws, and you can easily find service manuals. I’m very happy with my x201i.
Another “premium” line that I recommend are HP Elitebooks. They’re also quite rugged, fairly slick in a no-nonsense way, and are simple to repair. Also, they come standard with a very good 3-year warranty. My wife has one, bought from some random bargain internet site. It’s had a few problems, but each time HP pays to overnight the laptop to their repair facility where they’ve happily replaced some major components.
If you usually buy longer warranties or service plans, consider that once you buy a mid-range laptop and get an equivalent warranty, the Elitebooks aren’t much more expensive.
Among the upscale/“enterprise” laptops, Sony makes slick hardware that’s really hard to maintain.
I continually had nagging issues where things would stop working: the CD drive, the screen hinge, the power outlet, motherboard issues. This was for 2 of them between 2003 and 2006.
Now days, a good laptop can handle 3D CAD without problem.
Work is sending me overseas the coming year, so I need to able to access CAD files, though I won’t really be using the software to its full potential.
But when not travelling, I’ll be using the laptop as my fulltime desktop via a docking station. I did this at my last job using a Macbook Pro and everything worked great.
I got the top-of-the-line Toshiba Satellite that was available at my local Best Buy in July, and it was quite good at running Visual Studio 2010, Photoshop CS5 and Firefox 5 together with no problem, on Windows 7.
It DOES feel a little flimsy but I never mean to move around much with it, so that didn’t matter to me. The power I needed was all there for sure.
My work Lenovo Thinkpad does fine with GIS software, as well as being a dual boot test web server. It doesn’t get carried around a lot, but runs great. I think it’s an SL510.
At home, I have a solid state HD x300 that has been heavily used and banged around a bit and I’ve had zero issues in 3+ years. I’ll probably look to Lenovo again when the time comes.
I’ve owned two Fujitsu Laptops, followed by a Toshiba, now typing on my Sony. Fujitsu was great, the toshiba netbook was a lemon. Sony is chugging along nicely, so I voted for the vaio!