IF you were going to buy a new laptop

[ketchenany]

Well it won't be long before that happens Cliff. The hut and ATV expenses for this year should pay for it.,

 

MAC or go for an iPad. Just like the one I'm on now

 

ONE problem with iPad NO USB but it may come one day

[FloatnFly]

Well it won't be long before that happens Cliff. The hut and ATV expenses for this year should pay for it.,

 

MAC or go for an iPad. Just like the one I'm on now

 

ONE problem with iPad NO USB but it may come one day

 

and he can't output it to a monitor and keyboard

[Fishwilly]

+1 for iMac...Overall better product. I'm typing on the same one I've had since 2009. Still runs great. Most of my friends with Windows replace them every other year.

The Apple support is also amazing, either over the phone or at the Apple store.

[SirCranksalot]

I have tried to use an Apple at my sister's house and don't find it any more user friendly than a PC----just another system to get used to. After spending a long time just trying to get into my e-mail I gave up.

 

Maybe in the past they were much more user friendly but not any more IMO.

Edited January 18, 2016 by SirCranksaLot

[Jon]

Not sure of your needs but I have a refurbished HP desktop, Dell laptop and Ipad at home. I like and dislike them all for different reasons.

 

Laptop

Had a few problems with the battery and fan. Backlit keyboard is nice, as is Bluetooth for a mouse so that you don't use up a USB port for a wireless transmitter.Portable but not as portable as a tablet.

 

Desktop

Old school but comfortable. I like the feel of a real keyboard.

 

Ipad

Portable, good battery life and many apps. Don't like using the touch screen for typing too much but you can get a Bluetooth keyboard if all you are doing is answering emails. Storage can be expanded (http://www.macworld.com/article/2904073/4-handy-options-for-adding-storage-to-your-iphone-or-ipad.html). I have a similar thing to the Sandisk option (Sandisk Media Drive) and it works well. Great for bringing movies along on a trip. They do most things that a PC does but can be issues with copying stuff from a USB or memory card (maybe impossible) and cutting and pasting text is functional but a pain.

 

Other tablets allow you to expand the memory.

 

Happy shopping when you go.

 

Jon

[FloatnFly]

Not sure of your needs but I have a refurbished HP desktop, Dell laptop and Ipad at home. I like and dislike them all for different reasons.

 

Laptop

Had a few problems with the battery and fan. Backlit keyboard is nice, as is Bluetooth for a mouse so that you don't use up a USB port for a wireless transmitter.Portable but not as portable as a tablet.

 

Desktop

Old school but comfortable. I like the feel of a real keyboard.

 

Ipad

Portable, good battery life and many apps. Don't like using the touch screen for typing too much but you can get a Bluetooth keyboard if all you are doing is answering emails. Storage can be expanded (http://www.macworld.com/article/2904073/4-handy-options-for-adding-storage-to-your-iphone-or-ipad.html). I have a similar thing to the Sandisk option (Sandisk Media Drive) and it works well. Great for bringing movies along on a trip. They do most things that a PC does but can be issues with copying stuff from a USB or memory card (maybe impossible) and cutting and pasting text is functional but a pain.

 

Other tablets allow you to expand the memory.

 

Happy shopping when you go.

 

Jon

 

 

He posted what his needs are in the first post, has to have a dvd/cd tray, has to be able to output to a monitor/keyboard, and has to be able to run MS Office as well as other programs he has on DVD/CD, and has to be portable.

 

a tablet and desk top are out of the question, and he said he does not want a tablet, so not sure why people are saying tablet.

 

Macs are very expensive to buy, and even more expensive to repair, for the price of a mac book, you can buy a very nice windows based laptop, since macs start around $1500

Edited January 18, 2016 by FloatnFly

[BFSC Kevin]

I have a Lenovo Thinkpad and it is solid. Four years old and after a few drops, it boots up does what I need it to do. The most CPU demanding thing I do on it is video editing. I also have a monitor hooked up to it, that's a check mark off your list.

 

If you don't mind, there are lots of good deals on refurbished lenovo laptops. This one will handle microsoft word no problem.... https://ca.refurb.io/products/lenovo-thinkpad-t420-laptop-4gb-320gb-i5-2-5ghz?siteID=CAqD7bLWUPI-298_zlIC2J05mQqIm8ye1A

[Old Ironmaker]

Consigliere said,

 

"This is crazy. If you need office and surf the Internet get a chrome book for 150. Use google docs. By far the cheapest option for the most functionality. There is no comparison for the money. I have had Mac, good windows etc. Will buy chrome every time from now on."

 

The best advice for Beans here as of yet. I have never met Beans but I am familiar with him as far as IT stuff goes. Not clueless but maybe has just enough intelligence to be detrimental to the cause. Very much like me.

 

I will give an analogy. He is looking at 4X4's with a V8 (new laptop with 7 jigaboobles, maybe a V6 minimum), maybe even Military grade aluminium box (Mac). He never tows anything and it doesn't snow where he lives. Besides that he never puts anything in the trunk of his car anyway. Although not very sexy all he needs is a Ford Escort ( a note book to use for these sites and type a letter). But Beansie is willing to save up for something he doesn't realize he doesn't need because everyone else has one.

 

When I was in business I had 5 PC's and 7 laptops because I needed them and probably more.

 

Johnny D, the other Consigliare.

Edited January 18, 2016 by Old Ironmaker

[Terry]

It's too bad that it's Big Cliff waiting it and not Beans.

And he needs a real laptop with a DVD in it.

[i2cool2fool]

I picked up a Lenovo G50 laptop before Christmas for $500. I am quite happy with the purchase.

Big Cliff... Here is the unit I purchased before Christmas. It works for me. Maybe you?

http://m.staples.ca/en/Lenovo-80E301Y6US-G50-156-HD-Notebook-AMD-A86410-4GB-RAM-1TB-HDD-Integrated-AMD-Radeon-R5-Graphics-Win10-Black/product_1974023_2-CA_1_20001?langId=1

[Old Ironmaker]

Steve said "It's too bad that it's Big Cliff waiting it and not Beans.

And he needs a real laptop with a DVD in it."

 

Exactly what I think he needs too Steve. In fact that what he asked for. 10 trillion gigabibbles of space not required.

 

Sorry " Steve" not "eve".

Edited January 18, 2016 by Old Ironmaker

[Beans]

I ain't waiting for 'nutting

​

Edited January 19, 2016 by Beans

[Big Cliff]

Big Cliff... Here is the unit I purchased before Christmas. It works for me. Maybe you?

http://m.staples.ca/en/Lenovo-80E301Y6US-G50-156-HD-Notebook-AMD-A86410-4GB-RAM-1TB-HDD-Integrated-AMD-Radeon-R5-Graphics-Win10-Black/product_1974023_2-CA_1_20001?langId=1

Checked the product specs out, doesn't say if it has DVD or not, does yours?

[Terry]

it doesnt have one

[iFish4real]

If you have it and wanna spend it, MAC all the way, I had one and Windows 7 ran on a partition better than on any PC I've ever seen

Otherwise, I back the guys that said to stay away from Win 8 or 10, they're crap, so far Win 7 best ever that came out of Microsoft

[FloatnFly]

If you have it and wanna spend it, MAC all the way, I had one and Windows 7 ran on a partition better than on any PC I've ever seen

Otherwise, I back the guys that said to stay away from Win 8 or 10, they're crap, so far Win 7 best ever that came out of Microsoft

 

depends on what version of windows you have/had, the version i had did not support dvd playback, i had to search for a 3rd party player to watch any dvds on my laptop

[i2cool2fool]

Checked the product specs out, doesn't say if it has DVD or not, does yours?

Yes sir. Check under Product Information. There is a Detail tab and a Specification tab. Windows10 included. PM if you have specific questions. For $500 it turns out to be a good laptop. I have a second monitor attached. You could easily plug a usb keyboard in if you wish. Edited January 19, 2016 by i2cool2fool

[SirCranksalot]

 

If you don't mind, there are lots of good deals on refurbished lenovo laptops. This one will handle microsoft word no problem.... https://ca.refurb.io/products/lenovo-thinkpad-t420-laptop-4gb-320gb-i5-2-5ghz?siteID=CAqD7bLWUPI-298_zlIC2J05mQqIm8ye1A

 

 

That's about the same price as my wife paid for her new Thinkpad.

[ccmtcanada]

Every laptop I've ever had for business has been a Thinkpad. Great multitasking machine and I've never had issues with them.

 

And I'm not just saying that because I now work for Lenovo. Lol

[Big Cliff]

Well, I know I have been very pleased with the Lenovo I have, it is about 7 years old and still works quite well and it's had a lot of use. I already have Lenovo on my short list when I do upgrade.

 

Congratulations BTW Cliff

[Mister G]

 

and he can't output it to a monitor and keyboard

Sure you can.........

[Terry]

I think the fact he said he didn't want a tablet and had to have DVD , kind of makes the argument pointless

[davey buoy]

And windows 10 is not ok?,who are these people and why???

[smitty55]

And windows 10 is not ok?,who are these people and why???

 

It's never a good idea to upgrade early to a new OS anyway. There are always lots of kinks to work out. In this case with Win10 there are a lot of legitimate privacy issues. Microsoft want to know everything about everyone. Google it.

Even worse is that now Microsoft has managed to slip in some of the same user tracking software into their "recommended" update category a while back for Win7 and 8. Check this out. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2978239/windows/microsoft-slips-user-tracking-tools-into-windows-7-8-amidst-windows-10-privacy-storm.html

 

Cheers

[scugpg]

If you can find something at Costco that you like, that is a great option due to extended warranty and no hassle returns (I think it's 90 days for laptops?) if it doesn't come with a dvd drive you can easily get a USB external one.