Buying two laptops for the office

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to pick up two laptops for our office before the end of the year. Following some initial research, I’ve put together a list of what we’re looking for:

0. We’ll be buying these in Washington, D.C., and we really prefer an option where we can actually get hands-on with the machines before pulling the trigger. We will need a formal business invoice for tax purposes.

1. Size - Laptop 1: 15.6'', Laptop 2: somewhere between 11.6'' and 13.3''.

2. Resolution - To be honest, I'm not tech-savvy enough to know exactly what specs we need here.

3. Both laptops must have anti-glare screens.

4. What will they be used for?
Laptop 1: Programming (not web design or graphics), heavy VPN usage, and multitasking—we always have several apps running at once. Speed is our top priority. We need at least 4GB of RAM, though more would be much better. An i3 processor or higher.
Laptop 2: Standard office tasks and everyday work.

We don't play any games.

5. Both laptops need Windows. We are open to buying the software separately if that makes more sense; it doesn't necessarily have to be pre-installed.

6. Brands
Laptop 1: We lean towards Lenovo or Dell.
Laptop 2: No specific preference, but we do prefer well-known, reliable brands.

7. Budget:
Laptop 1: Up to $2500, but less is obviously fine.
Laptop 2: Around $1000.

Naturally, we want to get the best possible quality for the money.

8. Warranty coverage is very important to us.

9. Other details: Laptop 1 would be happy to have a DVD drive. It should also have an SSD, or at least a very fast HDD. An HDMI port is a must.
Laptop 2 is less demanding. It wouldn't mind a 2-in-1 foldable keyboard or even a touchscreen (kind of like this one).

Thanks in advance for the help!

http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...7472641#ponude
http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...-ghz__17639731
http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...-ghz__18070111

A smaller screen doesn't necessarily mean a cheaper price tag than a larger one. Usually, it's actually the opposite. 😬 Look, the total cost might work out if you shift things around a bit, but it really just depends on what you're looking for.

SSDs are pretty rare in the laptops we usually see here, so you’ll likely be stuck doing an upgrade yourself. As for upgrade options, we have to look at every single model individually because they're all different. You can swap an HDD for an SSD in almost any of them, but finding a second drive bay is rare—unless there's a DVD drive you can pull out and replace with an SSD. RAM can generally be upgraded on most models.

Regarding resolution, 1366x768 is the standard, and honestly, it's enough for whatever you need to do. Those laptops are also the cheapest. The catch is that most of them come with a glossy coating that boosts color intensity and contrast but creates reflections, which limits your choices. A higher resolution like resolution 1920 x1080 means everything on the screen will look smaller, but you'll fit way more onto your desktop or workspace. Unless you have vision issues, I don't see why you wouldn't go for the higher resolution. The main difference is the price—laptops with lower resolutions are much cheaper, especially if they happen to have decent IPS panels.

The hardware requirements aren't anything special, so there's a massive range of laptops that can handle them. Take a look at those links I sent and let me know what you think, then we can go from there.

The first one is a great clamshell style Dell with a lower resolution. A good place to check out a quality review is here. The main specs for this series are pretty much the same, even if the processor, panel type, and resolution vary, so it gives you a good idea of what to expect.

The second one, a Yoga, is actually more than what you asked for. It has a high-res, quality touch IPS screen, a newer processor with better graphics, and a hybrid drive. Upgrading the memory is easy. It’s incredibly hard to find a laptop that ticks every single box, so for example, while this Yoga is excellent, it doesn't have a matte screen.

Then there are a few Dell options with both lower and higher resolutions...

Out of a few other interesting models that fit your specs, there's this exceptionally well-made Asus n. It's pretty much the top of the line for Asus in terms of build quality, but since the components (CPU and graphics) are mid-range, the price stays reasonable. It won't be a beast for heavy computing or gaming, but for what you need, I think it's a winner.

The Acer is actually worth looking at. Besides having a killer setup with a brand new, lightning-fast processor and solid graphics, it’s got an open M2 slot for dropping in an M2 SSD. Makes the whole upgrade process incredibly easy.

darkowl72, first off, thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly!

Regarding the size of the laptops, we weren't really looking at the price tag first; we were focusing on what the actual users need. We have one person who’ll be using their machine for programming, so they’re looking for a standard-sized laptop. Then there's someone else who’ll be bouncing between meetings handling administration, and she really wants something more portable and compact—especially since she's used to huge smartphones, moving to a smaller device will feel like a massive leap forward 😁.

An SSD is definitely a "nice to have," but like you mentioned, we can always upgrade that later. As for the resolution, I think I'll just follow your recommendation. We aren't exactly picky about visual clarity.

Here are my thoughts on the laptops you suggested.

Out of the list you provided, the first one (Dell) seems solid to me. My only gripe is that it doesn't come with Windows, but I can easily pick up a license separately.
The second one (Lenovo) feels like overkill for us. Since it's a larger laptop, I don't really see the point in paying extra for a touchscreen or a 2-in-1 hinge; those features are really only necessary for the smaller, more mobile units.
The third one (Dell) looks wonderful. Honestly, I don't know enough about the technical specs to spot any potential flaws, but at first glance, it seems like an excellent choice.
The fourth one (the small Dell) is great, but it's simply out of my budget. To be realistic, this specific machine might actually be more power than we need—we don't necessarily require that much RAM or an i7 processor.
The fifth one (the small Dell) has a more reasonable price, but it's still pushing beyond what I want to spend.

I have to admit, this one is absolutely gorgeous for a small laptop, but I haven't seen anything priced this competitively here in the States before 😁. Beyond that, it's important to me that the smaller laptop stays under $1400 so I can write it off as an expense for this fiscal year.

The Acer is a good option, but it's pretty important to me that the larger workstation is either a Dell or a Lenovo. The smaller one could definitely be an Acer.

Speaking of the smaller laptop, what's your take on these:
- Toshiba
- Acer

I wonder if the Inspiron 13 7000 series will ever actually land here in any decent configurations. As for pricing, we’re basically paying a tax for being a relatively small, uninteresting market where every single fluctuation in the dollar feels like a national disaster—especially since the dollar just keeps getting stronger. There's honestly nothing anyone can do about that.

Stay far away from those two options you found on Best Buy; they're weak configurations that won't actually get the job done. Forget them and don't even bother looking at them... 😬

Alright, let's say $4,200 is our solid budget ceiling. Based on that, I'd suggest this Lenovo:

http://laptopmedia.com/review/lenovo...-poor-quality/

It has an excellent matte screen and the specs are perfectly fine. Don't let the i3 processor freak you out; it's just slightly weaker than, say, an i5 5200u, but it's still leagues better than those two from your Best Buy links.

There isn't a dedicated service hatch on the bottom, but it's incredibly easy to pop the whole bottom panel off to upgrade the RAM or swap the built-in drive for an SSD. This hits our price target, and you can just handle the upgrades later as you go... 😬 You'll also have to buy Windows separately, but honestly, I don't think that's a dealbreaker. Let's be real: finding a high-quality 13.3" laptop with Windows included for $4,200 is "Mission Impossible." This is the smartest move you can make. One minor downside is the warranty period for business entities, so you might want to look into some extended manufacturer warranty options or perhaps a Geek Squad plan, which would be more cost-effective. But you don't need to worry about that right now; it can wait a year...

To give you some perspective, check out this retail link showing most of what's available in stores. You'll notice that under $4,300, there are only about 11 different 13.3" models total, and only three of them come with Windows 10 or Windows 8—and all three of those have pathetic processors.

On the site, you can see there's an Acer with a very similar setup to the Lenovo I suggested, but it has a standard glossy screen. In my opinion, that makes it a non-starter compared to the Lenovo with the FullHD IPS matte display...

Look, if we're talking big picture, Dell had some solid models in their last shipment of the 5558:

Or you could go with the newer, slightly better 5559 from the most recent batch, though it's stuck with a glossy screen and a basic 1366x768 resolution:

The listings also show an excellent Latitude that hits all the right marks—great specs, an anti-glare FullHD screen, an SSD, and Windows. Honestly, I’m a bit skeptical, though. M-computers is just an online retailer without its own inventory or warehouse, so I have no idea where they're sourcing this stuff when they're the only ones offering it. Either way, do your homework; if it's legit, I won't say another word... just buy it...

That's pretty much it. But I have to mention again that these configurations are very close to what was requested, and these specific builds are definitely worth considering:

And then, finally, take one more look at the Yoga:

You'll see that what it offers is extremely competitive in terms of both build and price. You basically get the touchscreen for free, so if you don't plan on using it, whatever—just let it sit there... 😬

I’m honestly not sweating the fact that the little i3 laptop is a bit modest 😁. Like I mentioned before, a small portable machine doesn't need to be some high-octane powerhouse; the person using it has mostly been getting by on a Samsung Galaxy Note 🙂
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So, looking at your suggestion for a compact laptop, you're pointing me toward that Lenovo. (From what I can tell, it isn't a 2-in-1 and doesn't have a touchscreen. That's a bummer, but I think I can live without those features)
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Do you happen to have any recommendations for something even smaller, maybe around 11.6''? Does anyone in the US even carry those these days? 😁

Moving on to the larger options—is the Dell Latitude actually the best bang for my buck if the price is right?

The runner-up would be the Dell 5559 (though I'm struggling to see any real difference between this one and this one from the link)? I have to admit, that one is currently my top pick 🙂
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After that, there's the Dell 5558 (I don't really get the distinction between this one and this one other than the color; this third option seems cheaper just because of the lower resolution, I assume)
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I'm still mulling over the Yoga, too. It’s such a shame they don't offer it in a smaller size at a price point that actually makes sense 😁
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Right now, I'm just waiting to hear back from a few different vendors. Once I have some actual numbers sitting on my desk, I'll reach out again 🙂. Thank you so much for all your help and for helping me narrow down this list of possibilities
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Yeah, Dell. Those little devils charge an arm and a leg. Even the 13.3" models are already blowing past your budget, and don't even get me started on the 11.6" versions—they're even worse. You aren't finding anything under $5,000 here:

http://www.nabava.net/prijenosna-rac...?&se=70359&s=2

Look, if it's true, that Laurence is a total steal. And honestly, how do you not see the difference between those two 5559 models? That price tag is 😬
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You hit the nail on the head regarding the 5558s. 🙂