Solved Advice Requested on New Laptop Choice

[TVeblen]

I am helping someone with the purchase of a new laptop. I have found 4 models that are currently available in the States that meet the criteria:

• Under $1000 US
• i7 2670QM
• 6 GB + RAM
• Dedicated Graphics
• 640 GB HDD or better
• USB 3.0 - 1 port or more
• 15" display or better

The finds:
ASUS K53SV DH71 Specs (15.6", Core i7 2670QM, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 6 GB RAM, 750 GB HDD) - Laptops - CNET Reviews

ASUS K53SD DS71 Specs (15.6", Core i7 2670QM, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 6 GB RAM, 750 GB HDD) - Laptops - CNET Reviews

Newegg.com - lenovo IdeaPad Y570 (08626KU) Notebook Intel Core i7 2670QM(2.20GHz) 15.6" 8GB Memory DDR3 1333 750GB 5400RPM HDD + 64GB SSD HDD DVD±R/RW NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M

Newegg.com - Acer Aspire AS7750G-9823 Notebook Intel Core i7 2670QM(2.20GHz) 17.3" 8GB Memory DDR3 1TB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi AMD Radeon HD 6650M

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1753820&CatId=4938

What would you pick?
Any advice/warnings about the brands? I have no experience with Lenovo machines.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I'm sure you can go in the toilet with any of them, but I've heard of some particularly atrocious things regarding Acer customer support--if that matters. They also seem to have a cuckoo partitioning scheme by default--at least for desktops.

 

[TVeblen]

Hey thanks for that. And, yes, I do not really care about customer support. I am customer support!

My intent is to clean the system up as soon as I get it. It will make my life easier.
So I guess it just comes down to the best bang for the buck.

 

[TVeblen]

Which would you choose?

 

[essenbe]

I would throw this samsung in the mix. It comes with 4 GB ram but will take 8 and can hold 2 hard drives. I have owned this for a while and has been very good. May not be a great gaming laptop but for normal usage is quite capable.

 

[torre]

Core i5 vs. Core i7: Differences Between Intel's i5 and i7 Processors


Check the above link about difference between i5 and i7 processors. Per this article, difference is negligible, with the exception of hyperthreading.

Sony has some laptops with the i5. I have a 3 year old Sony that has been great. Personally, I prefer the major brands (Sony, Dell, HP, Toshiba)

 

[boohbah]

this hp is i5 but looks sweet
HP Laptops - HP Pavilion dv6-6b51ea Laptop includes FREE Bag (worth £29)

 

[TVeblen]

Morning guys, thanks for all the nice suggestions, but....

"The specs is the specs"!

I did a lot of planning with the buyer and the specs I listed in OP are "must haves", and for reason. Any other spec in a laptop can change, but not those.

The main purpose of the machine is to run some high end video editing software that will utilize all the cores and RAM you can give it, so the i7 was was not a frivolous decision. And there is a lot of transfer of large files from external drives so the USB 3.0 is huge.

I was really surprised to find just how few choices there were in that $1000 range.

 

[torre]

"The specs is the specs"!

I did a lot of planning with the buyer and the specs I listed in OP are "must haves", and for reason. Any other spec in a laptop can change, but not those.

In that case I would recommend to research the Lenovo. The brand was recommended to me 3 years ago. Not sure how it ranks on the market at present.

 

[TVeblen]

Do you have a Lenovo machine? How do you like it?

 

[torre]

o,

Do you have a Lenovo machine? How do you like it?

No, I have a Sony. But Best Buy (clerk seemed very knowledgeable) stated the Lenovos were good machines. When I looked at the Lenovo, it seemed well constructed (keys, screen) and had the latest hardware.

However, best for you to do research of Lenovo on the current market.