Looking for opinions on new laptops

I've been using my IBM Thinkpad T61 for about 2 and a half years now and looking to replace it. I mostly use it at home as a desktop replacement notebook, but I also take it with me whenever I travel.


My main issue with the T61 is that no matter what I do to it, it has always been slow to boot. It also seems that the service for the Thinkpads is slowly dwindling. I used to be able to hit the Thinkvantage for all my driver updates and it would connect instantly and I would find a whole bunch of up-to-date drivers but recently there have been a number of times where I've had to find my own driver updates. It seems like you pay extra (up front notebook costs) just to have this service but the value seems to be diminishing.


I like the big screen and I like the keyboard on the Thinkpads. The keyboard is well spaced and it feels "right" when you use it.


So basically I'm looking for any opinions people may have about the laptops they're using. Ideally it would be one that comes without a whole bunch of pre-installed junk. I was tempted by a Mac, but as we use Microsoft Access in the office, and apparently I can't get that on Mac then that's pretty much out.


My past customer service experience with Dell also leads me to think that I wouldn't go there again.

I agree with the slow boot on the Thinkpads currently. Too much bloatware. Thing is: other manufacturers have not been any better.


A couple of nice developments right now:

- With Windows 7, Microsoft has been pressuring the manufacturers to lessen the bloat. Faster boot times are a priority. 7 also boots faster in itself.

- If you go for a SSD (Solid State Drive) your performance for things like boot will skyrocket. Unfortunately you'll pay for the privilege. Personally I think it is worth it. Upgraded in all my machines recently, including the current Thinkpad, and they fly.

- You can use a program like Revo Uninstaller (one of my faves) to get rid of a lot of all the bloatware you don't need. That helps a lot.


After 11 Thinkpads (and one Dell (blech!)) I still love them. The only other make I think has the same feel is Apple. The Macbook Pro is a lovely machine and runs Windows very nicely.


If you mostly have it at home, I'd consider an R series instead. You don't get the titanium shell but the price is lower. If you travel a lot, stay with the T. The X is also an option, but it has pretty a small screen.


Every now and then, I'll see a less than one year old T series in one of the second hand shops in the Wan Chai Computer Centre. The price on those, often with 2 years warranty left, is definitely right.


Agreed about Dell. I work part time fixing people's home machines. Dell tops the list of breakages and it is a long way to second place.

I've got a Lenovo X200 - lightweight - and as with all IBM products it's never in the repair shop...

I'm now thinking about the HP 4510s. I checked out the reviews online, and they seemed to be pretty good. The only issues they had with it were the graphics scores, but a large number of those were based on lower specs than the ones they have in Fortress.


I'll have to check out the Wanchai computer centre to find the best deal on them...


Of course if anybody has any major horror stories with HPs I'd love to hear them... I'm just not sure I want to go with Thinkpad again

In terms of laptop reliability Apple is #1, followed by Asus. Toshiba, IBM and HP are up there. Dell down at the bottom end. The Mac OS is quick to boot from cold. I think the Macbook Pro is a sweet machine. You pay more for it but you're also getting a great machine. If I was forced to use a PC, then I would get a nice Toshiba with Windows 7. Something about the screens on Toshiba machines - they are very nice.

"The Mac OS is quick to boot from cold. "


True but if you're still booting from cold you're doing it wrong. ;) On Windows, learn about sleep modes and USE them. Learn about Hibernate, which uses no power but keeps your session intact, including open programs.


Mac OS does all that stuff too, just better. That's due to complete control and knowledge of the hardware by Apple.

On my iMac, I use the sleep mode a lot of the times unless I know I am not going to be on for a few days, then I shut it down. But even from shut down it is very fast - less than 30 sec to full operability. I only use PC at work which is on all the time.

PCs are working on it. Also things like Solid State Disks are radically cutting boot times. My laptop is in the 30 second range with an SSD. It was over a minute with a hard drive.


Macs can boot very efficiently because Apple controls the hardware completely and there is a very limited number of configurations. Windows machines can be configured in virtually endless combinations, and thus there's more to do during boot. Also Windows machines tend to be more weighed down with bloatware. (I mean, who needs Adobe Updater, Flash Updater, Adobe Quick Start, etc running at boot time?)