Solved Finding the right laptop

Notebookcheck have an article on my gripe about soldered ram - quite well written. One argument for soldered ram they give is

"It's worth remembering that, outside of the enthusiast community, any given computer user is liable to have the technological prowess of a ham sandwich, and would balk at the thought of even unscrewing a back panel to replace a battery."

The scourge of fully soldered and non-upgradeable laptops

Hazel123 said:

Notebookcheck have an article on my gripe about soldered ram - quite well written. One argument for soldered ram they give is

"It's worth remembering that, outside of the enthusiast community, any given computer user is liable to have the technological prowess of a ham sandwich, and would balk at the thought of even unscrewing a back panel to replace a battery."

The scourge of fully soldered and non-upgradeable laptops

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I guess that they expect few readers from outside the enthusiast community. Or at least ones who aren't very sensitive.

I'm annoyed by laptops that have to be pried apart to do upgrades (HD, RAM). I suppose that's a necessary consequence of thinner-is-better.

Hazel123 said:

Notebookcheck have an article on my gripe about soldered ram - quite well written. One argument for soldered ram they give is

"It's worth remembering that, outside of the enthusiast community, any given computer user is liable to have the technological prowess of a ham sandwich, and would balk at the thought of even unscrewing a back panel to replace a battery."

The scourge of fully soldered and non-upgradeable laptops

Click to expand...

I'm not a laptop person.

However, if I was going to buy one, I would go to Best Buy and try various laptops to find which one I liked.
They sell new and used as well.
You must have a similar type store available to you. Nothing like hands on, research.

Wonder how the 12th Gen Intel laptops with the little and big cores (low power and high performance) will measure up on battery life and performance. The Mac m1 ARM processor with this architecture performs well and battery life is really good.

Ghot said:

I'm not a laptop person.

However, if I was going to buy one, I would go to Best Buy and try various laptops to find which one I liked.
They sell new and used as well.
You must have a similar type store available to you. Nothing like hands on, research. :)

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I would say in UK 90% of all domestic PCs are laptops. It is only really high end gamers or software developers these days that buy desktops these days.

In part, that is because we only have one major retailer of PCs in the high street who display laptops only pretty much.

cereberus said:

I would say in UK 90% of all domestic PCs are laptops. It is only really high end gamers or software developers these days that buy desktops these days.

In part, that is because we only have one major retailer of PCs in the high street who display laptops only pretty much.

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I think it's because you have those funny wall plugs.

cereberus said:

I would say in UK 90% of all domestic PCs are laptops. It is only really high end gamers or software developers these days that buy desktops these days.

In part, that is because we only have one major retailer of PCs in the high street who display laptops only pretty much.

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Yes that’s the case I reckon. Maybe because houses are generally smaller here too! If everyone in the family had a desktop - no space for the desks lol. Or even one desk in some houses.

I muse a bit about it all sometimes. Laptops used to mainly be 15.6”. The only 13” ones were hugely expensive specialist ones which most people couldn’t afford. Then netbooks came along with 7” amd 10” screens and were highly portable. They died a death when tablets became popular (also portable and more for entertainment). Then smaller touchscreen laptops to compete with iPads. Basically most laptops now seem to be just expensive faster netbooks! Small and portable but capable of doing a lot more than a netbook - but without the good keyboards and upgrade ability. Which I think is purely an economic thing to keep selling more laptops. And to sell extended warranties at time of purchase. But without the good choice of larger laptops just to use at home. And without the good ergonomics of the older netbooks. By that I mean plastic with curved front edges. There are plenty of people complaining of sore wrists from hard squared off metal edges on very expensive laptops.

As someone who had RSI badly in the past I’m very aware of ergonomics but accept most people don’t have this problem using them.

On the plus side I did some research into soldered ram and the general view is that the vast majority of ram will not fail within the laptop’s lifetime - although a few will- just as some motherboards fail before their time- but if it does fail it’s likely to be in the first year or near end of life (the something or other curve). And iPhones go on forever with soldered ram so that should be reassuring.

I’ve also emailed Asus to query whether the sodimm can take over if the soldered ram dies. Be interesting to see if they actually reply!

There are still larger laptops available of course - but still thin and light so more expensive than the bog standard 15.6 used to be.

Anyway - it all changes a bit fast for me. So while I am looking forward to using Windows 11 (we have one desktop in the house that will run it belonging to the teenager) it makes it harder to buy used laptops that will run it. Plenty of choice of good used laptops that won’t run it!

I’m still thinking about a couple of asus laptops (new). But looking at used Dells as well

Ghot said:

I think it's because you have those funny wall plugs.

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Lol!

Hazel123 said:

Lol!

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You should do a search "over there" for: Used ruggedized laptops

They can be had for not too much, and they're indestructible.


Try and find one of these, refurbished...

Hazel123 said:

On the plus side I did some research into soldered ram and the general view is that the vast majority of ram will not fail within the laptop’s lifetime - although a few will- just as some motherboards fail before their time- but if it does fail it’s likely to be in the first year or near end of life (the something or other curve). And iPhones go on forever with soldered ram so that should be reassuring.

I’ve also emailed Asus to query whether the sodimm can take over if the soldered ram dies. Be interesting to see if they actually reply!

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Wow !! That is a great idea. Do post again if Asus replies to you.

Hazel123 said:

Need a new laptop and not finding anything easily. I’m using a battered old HP Pavilion DM4 which I love and had for years. It’s great to type on, chunky enough, not too big or too small (14”). Nice small central mousepad. Good ergonomics. But dropping to bits. Repaired a few times. Running windows 10 on an ssd.

So the problem I’m finding is most 13” or 14” laptops now are too thin. Some of them look fantastic but not that easy to type on. For example son has a 5 year oldHP Spectre x360. Hardly uses it now so thought I’d requisition that. But I can’t get on with it - I type a lot and typing is just too awkward. Partly the keyboard layout and ergonomics but also the enormous trackpad.

Don’t want a desktop - I’m a laptop user. I usually buy used ones for economic reasons but started looking at new ones just to try a d find something that is good for typing as a priority. I’m not bothered about touchscreens etc. Just want something like my old HP Pavilion. But it seems they don’t exist. Because they don’t have dvd drives any more so are thinner - I kind of like the slightly chunkier feel and more stable.

Anyway don’t really care if it’s thin or not but I need to type a lot and be comfortable doing it. Reviews say the HP Spectre X360 has a great keyboard (I disagree and hate the mouse pad). Don’t want a separate mouse as I rarely sit at a desk and based at home.

Any suggestions? I read the surface laptops have good keyboards - they’re available used - but they also look thin so can’t see how it can be easy to type on something so flat.

Ideally something that will run windows 11 as well!

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Hi there
Keyboard and mouse problems disappear if you get external wireless keyboard and mouse combo. I hate the touchpads on laptops - never use them.

I see you don't want a separate mouse but I travel a lot and using a separate mouse isn't a problem. Otherwise almost any laptop is OK these days -- I'd certainly get one where you can attach an external screen. Most have at least HDMI output. Don't get too large a screen on laptop as it's a nightmare travelling with -- 14 ins is about the best compromise I've found and get one with at least 16GB RAM and at least a 256GB SSD. Don't even think of NOT having an SSD these days (or equiv M2 NvMe disks).

Cheers
jimbo

Hazel123 said:

if it does fail it’s likely to be in the first year or near end of life (the something or other curve)

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Bathtub.

Edwin said:

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Cheers! Looks like the 15" one has replaceable ram. The latest 14" one doesn't

Ghot said:

You should do a search "over there" for: Used ruggedized laptops

They can be had for not too much, and they're indestructible.


Try and find one of these, refurbished...

Dell Latitude 5424 14 Inch Laptop

A 14 inch semi-rugged notebook loaded with multiple expandability options. Featuring a multi-touch outdoor viewable FHD display.

www.dell.com

View attachment 9580

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Thanks - yes I have seen a few rugged laptops - like them. They are all quite old. Good but won't run windows 10 - I need to decide if I want W10 straight away or just a laptop straight away

Hazel123 said:

... The latest 14" one doesn't

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Bummer!

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
Keyboard and mouse problems disappear if you get external wireless keyboard and mouse combo. I hate the touchpads on laptops - never use them.

I see you don't want a separate mouse but I travel a lot and using a separate mouse isn't a problem. Otherwise almost any laptop is OK these days -- I'd certainly get one where you can attach an external screen. Most have at least HDMI output. Don't get too large a screen on laptop as it's a nightmare travelling with -- 14 ins is about the best compromise I've found and get one with at least 16GB RAM and at least a 256GB SSD. Don't even think of NOT having an SSD these days (or equiv M2 NvMe disks).

Cheers
jimbo

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Thanks - that's an option. I used to have a mini handheld mouse once - for a laptop where the touchpad buttons had packed up. I guess a mouse would work if I had a lap tray or something. I need 1tb really. Already have a good 1tb 2.5" Samsung drive - which of course won't fit in most laptops now. Getting a laptop which already has a 1tb M2 bumps the price up a lot. I could upgrade one later but it would still be another £200 for a new 1tb M2 ssd. So like the idea of one new enough to run Windows 10 and take a 2.5" drive - or one cheap enough I can afford a new 1tb ssd. I could of course just dump a load of stuff on an external hard drive and manage with 500gb - but would only do that for the perfect laptop :)

iko22 said:

Wow !! That is a great idea. Do post again if Asus replies to you.

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Thanks will do. Last time I emailed Asus (with a suggestion) they ignored me and didn't reply

iko22 said:

Wow !! That is a great idea. Do post again if Asus replies to you.

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Ok so I have a reply :) . The answer basically is "don't know"!

"On the odd chance that the soldered RAM fails that usually would lead to a replacement of the motherboard.

The question " Is it going to work only from the DIMM slot RAM?" is quite a complex one as there are a lot of variables.

I would generally say that it probably will, but again that is just my personal opinion and it is extremely had to say.

I will assure you that the soldered RAM is actually probably the most durable piece on the motherboard. RAM tends to have a really long lifespan.

I do hope that this has been of some help to you. If not, please do not hesitate to contact us again and we will be happy to assist."