Laptops in 2017

[MRoss]

I used to post a yearly list of top laptops, but given the power of even entry-level notebooks these days this wouldn't be very useful. Let's do things differently this time around. What laptops are YOU using, and why? I'll start.

My laptop: Samsung NP900X3L i5
Reason I chose: Super-duper light yet good screen size. Powerful enough to run League of Legends without hiccups.
What bothers me about it so far: Honestly, this is the most happy I have every been with a laptop; and I have owned over 100 laptops. Of course I would like double the ram and dedicated graphics (keeping the weight constant); but a man can dream, can't he...

Your turn!

 

[Daniel Duffy]

100 laptops??? tell us more

 

[MRoss]

100 laptops??? tell us more

I mentioned this in a thread back in '11 or '12, I don't remember.

I used to buy and sell broken laptops and tablets so I got to see what is really going on inside the machines. I would try to enhance/upgrade them beyond recommended specs, etc. It was loads of fun and I became a bit obsessed with trying out new laptops and an unhealthy habit (and an "intense dislike" for all HP machines) formed...

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Cool.

MRoss,
I would like a laptop

1. Linux and Windows 7
2. 12-16 multi-core
3. GPU inside

for parallel heavy duty + interoperable oode.

What's a good choice?

 

[ExSan]

Cool.

MRoss,
I would like a laptop

1. Linux and Windows 7
2. 12-16 multi-core
3. GPU inside

for parallel heavy duty + interoperable oode.

What's a good choice?

UltrabookReview.com - Ultrabook Reviews 2017, Comparisons and News

salut mon ami !

I am fond of ASUS.

MRoss, could you advise which one would you choose?

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Thank you Exsan.

 

[MRoss]

Daniel, Exsan,

If you both tell me what screen size and weight you are looking for I can direct you better. Note there is an inverse relationship between price and weight.

Exsan, regarding Asus: I have owned (if memory serves me right) 3-4 Asus laptops since they started making them look like Apple products. My thoughts in general are as follows:

1. They look amazing
2. While everyone boasts about their weight and size there are lighter and thinner laptops available for less
3. The entry level models tend to be too weak for heavy applications and the price jump to the more expensive models is massive (from $800 to $1800+)
4. Opening up the units , I can tell you that Asus laptops lately have been very stubborn about customization. I would double check whichever model you choose because I know they do not allow for memory upgrade in many of their newer models (memory is soldered in). Even parts that can be upgraded usually were very inconvenient (first unscrew the 16 screws around the battery, remove battery, then behind removing HD)

Just a heads up on this.

 

[BlackMamba]

Amazon.com: ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH71 15-Inch Gaming Laptop, Discrete GPU GeForce GTX 960M 2GB VRAM, 16GB DDR4, 1TB (ROG Metallic): Computers & Accessories

Managed to snag this Asus over the blackfriday/cyber monday period last year for like $850. It's a monster, couldn't be happier.

 

[MRoss]

Amazon.com: ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH71 15-Inch Gaming Laptop, Discrete GPU GeForce GTX 960M 2GB VRAM, 16GB DDR4, 1TB (ROG Metallic): Computers & Accessories

Managed to snag this Asus over the blackfriday/cyber monday period last year for like $850. It's a monster, couldn't be happier.

That is one gorgeous looking laptop, $850 sounds like a steal.

 

[BlackMamba]

That is one gorgeous looking laptop, $850 sounds like a steal.

Yea dude, it was a phenomenal find/deal. To me Asus offers the hardware of an Alien w/o the extra premium tagged on for the brand name.

 

[MRoss]

Yea dude, it was a phenomenal find/deal. To me Asus offers the hardware of an Alien w/o the extra premium tagged on for the brand name.

Alien stopped being "brand name" to me once Dell bought them. They always used to be so ahead of the tech curve.

 

[BlackMamba]

Alien stopped being "brand name" to me once Dell bought them. They always used to be so ahead of the tech curve.

I hear ya. Yea Asus is my at-home beast. I am in love with the MSFT Surface I must say, would love to get my hands on the Surface Book.

 

[IntoDarkness]

cmon! alienware all the way!

 

[BlackMamba]

cmon! alienware all the way!

If they weren't so expensive

 

[Daniel Duffy]

Daniel, Exsan,

If you both tell me what screen size and weight you are looking for I can direct you better. Note there is an inverse relationship between price and weight.

Exsan, regarding Asus: I have owned (if memory serves me right) 3-4 Asus laptops since they started making them look like Apple products. My thoughts in general are as follows:

1. They look amazing
2. While everyone boasts about their weight and size there are lighter and thinner laptops available for less
3. The entry level models tend to be too weak for heavy applications and the price jump to the more expensive models is massive (from $800 to $1800+)
4. Opening up the units , I can tell you that Asus laptops lately have been very stubborn about customization. I would double check whichever model you choose because I know they do not allow for memory upgrade in many of their newer models (memory is soldered in). Even parts that can be upgraded usually were very inconvenient (first unscrew the 16 screws around the battery, remove battery, then behind removing HD)

Just a heads up on this.

Ideally, I use an external keyboard with BIG keys and a large screen (an external one is even better). The weight is not an issue.

Does the laptop have ~ 12 cores and a NVIDIA double precision card?

 

[MRoss]

Ideally, I use an external keyboard with BIG keys and a large screen (an external one is even better). The weight is not an issue.

Does the laptop have ~ 12 cores and a NVIDIA double precision card?

I found you a great laptop. It is refurbished so you save $2000. (If you want it to be portable just tape a flat screen monitor to the side).

12 CORE COMPUTER with 24 Hyperthreads | HP Z800 Workstation | 2 x SIX CORE Xeon 3.46GHz |*NEW* 4TB HDD| 500GB SSD | 24GB DDR3 RAM - WIFI - Quad Video Output - DVD-RW - Windows 7 Pro. - Newegg.com

For graphics I would just swap out the existing graphics cards and buy two of these:

PNY Technologies NVIDIA Quadro GP100 VCQGP100-PB B&H Photo Video

You might want to pour some milk inside the machine for liquid cooling too. Iced tea works if the milkman is off and you're in a pinch.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

 

[IntoDarkness]

I found you a great laptop. It is refurbished so you save $2000. (If you want it to be portable just tape a flat screen monitor to the side).

12 CORE COMPUTER with 24 Hyperthreads | HP Z800 Workstation | 2 x SIX CORE Xeon 3.46GHz |*NEW* 4TB HDD| 500GB SSD | 24GB DDR3 RAM - WIFI - Quad Video Output - DVD-RW - Windows 7 Pro. - Newegg.com

For graphics I would just swap out the existing graphics cards and buy two of these:

PNY Technologies NVIDIA Quadro GP100 VCQGP100-PB B&H Photo Video

You might want to pour some milk inside the machine for liquid cooling too. Iced tea works if the milkman is off and you're in a pinch.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

this looks like the trader desktop i'm currently using at work

 

[BlackMamba]

this looks like the trader desktop i'm currently using at work

Those specs look intense

 

[JonesUCF]

I bought a thinkpad T560 before starting my MFE program and couldn't be happier. Thinkpads are tanks and I love how customizeable they are. I manually upgraded the RAM and hard drive to an SSD with ease without ever having opened a laptop before.

 

[Andy Nguyen]

Thinkpad was legendary before when it was still under IBM. I got one of the T60 when I did my MFE but been using Macbook Pro the last few years.