Laptop Brands

jeffbeish · May 19, 2024

I have used Dell laptops and desktops since the 1980s and have been mostly satisfied with them. However, in mid-2022, I bought an Insprion 3510, because it was fast and had Windows 11 (yes, the best free windows). It turned out to be the fastest and most efficient laptop I ever owned, but the screen hinges are absolutely the worst ever. Last year, the left hinge froze up and when I opened the screen lid it broke the lid Bessel and ripped the ribbon cable up, and it went blank, so because it was still under warrantee, I called and they came out and fixed it.

Now, the warrantee is out and my left hinge broke again. Besides a crummy design, the lubrication must be sandy. I simply taped it to the open position with aluminum duct tape and will just leave it open. I will have to hide it in the front bedroom because of our cats love to break stuff. So, I looked at Dells' newer laptops, and they all have a poorly designed screen hinge and wide gap at the bottom of the screen, so I am considering another brand.

How do rate laptop brands? I know people who have Hp, Acre, Lenovo and other brands and seem happy with them. No, I will not do Apple MACS, never used one that I liked. Any suggestions

bobkn · May 19, 2024

Panasonic Toughbook? It's only money.

I have a cheap Lenovo Ideapad. (Formerly IBM.) I don't use it a great deal, but nothing has broken on it, so far.

Brink · May 19, 2024

HP x360 2-in-1 type laptops have had strong hinges since they can fold as a tablet.

jeffbeish · May 19, 2024

bobkn said:
Panasonic Toughbook? It's only money.

I have a cheap Lenovo Ideapad. (Formerly IBM.) I don't use it a great deal, but nothing has broken on it, so far.

Thanks

jeffbeish · May 19, 2024

Brink said:
HP x360 2-in1 type laptops have had strong hinges since they can fold as a tablet.

Thanks, lots of friends have Hps.

Catnip · May 19, 2024

I have an older Acer laptop. It's about 7 years old now and still going strong. I have upgraded the Windows version from Win 7, the RAM and put in an SSD, but physically, the hinges have held up nicely, the trackpad is still responsive, and the keys are all working and the legends haven't rubbed off. The only bad part is that I can't upgrade it to Win 11 because the CPU is too old. But it's still going strong and I should get a few more years out of it even though I have to stay with Windows 10.

When the time comes to replace it, I will be looking for another Acer. My current one is almost bulletproof.

pseymour · May 19, 2024

Couple of things… Dell business machines tend to be better built than consumer machines. More metal, less plastic.

Not brand-specific: I almost always loosen the hinges slightly on a new laptop. If I can’t open it with a single hand, it’s too tight.

hsehestedt · May 19, 2024

Brink said:
HP x360 2-in-1 type laptops have had strong hinges since they can fold as a tablet.

Sorry for contradicting you, but in the repair industry HP hinges on the Spectre line are known to be about the worst hinges in the industry.

For full transparency I have to admit that I have 2 HP Spectre x360 models and neither has a hinge problem, although they both have multiple other issues. Both systems have very low usage so maybe that is why my hinge has not broken yet on either

I am merely noting how the repair industry sees these systems.

Bree · May 19, 2024

jeffbeish said:
I looked at Dells' newer laptops, and they all have a poorly designed screen hinge and wide gap at the bottom of the screen, so I am considering another brand.

It seems to be limited to the Inspiron, at least, if you google 'Dell laptop broken hinge' all the top hits are for Inspirons.

https://www.google.com/search?q=dell+laptop+hinge+broken

jeffbeish said:
How do rate laptop brands? I know people who have Hp, Acre, Lenovo and other brands and seem happy with them.

My System One is an Acer which has been in daily use for the past three years. I've been inside to upgrade the drive from HDD to SSD in that time. I wouldn't say it's the most rugged construction I've seen, but the hinges (and everything else) have put up with my abuse over the years.

I've not had any issues with any of my Dell's either but they are all from the business-class Latitude range. My newest is a Latitude 5410 that I've had for as long (and used as often) as my Acer.

As others have said, anything built as a 2-in-1 convertible ought to have a strong hinge. I have two examples, one from Lenovo the other a Dell. Both have been solid and reliable.

Never had an HP, so cannot comment.

Wisewiz · May 19, 2024

@jeffbeish

Just wondering: Do you actually NEED portability? You spoke of taping the old lapper, and that shows that you weren't planning on taking it anywhere. Just consider the fact that you pay for the compactness and the portability, and then you pay again if you have to repair or upgrade the laptop. A small (or even a tiny) desktop box takes up very little space, and is eminently repair/upgrade-able. And there's no problem with plastic frames and flimsy hinges. Do give it a think.

antspants · May 19, 2024

I have owned all of them. I am now convinced that Lenovo actually make the better laptop. But it’s all subjective to personal experience.

hsehestedt · May 19, 2024

antspants said:
I have owned all of them. I am now convinced that Lenovo actually make the better laptop. But it’s all subjective to personal experience.

LOL. That is the same conclusion I have arrived at after having owned a minimum of 50 personal laptops in my days

.

I have owned Sony, Dell, HP, LG, Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, Toshiba, and more.

I used to buy a new laptop every 3 to 6 months, but I no longer do that. It's now several years between laptops so it is only more recently that I start to see the problems associated with aging.

But even a lot of the better laptops do things I am not a fan of. For example, right now, I am typing on a Lenovo ThinkBook laptop. I absolutely love this machine, but they do some things that make servicing difficult. For example, it used to be that keyboards were easy to replace. On this Lenovo, the keyboard is no longer a replaceable part. To replace it you have to replace the entire "lid" including the keyboard, touchpad, etc. That requires complete disassembly of the laptop. But even with the not so friendly repairability, I still find my Lenovo to be the best laptop I have ever had, and that is saying a lot. Note that this is the first Lenovo I have ever owned, so I cannot comment on the even higher end Lenovos. I do know that repair shop option of the high end Lenovos is that they are very well built.

antspants · May 19, 2024

hsehestedt said:
For example, right now, I am typing on a Lenovo ThinkBook laptop. I absolutely love this machine, but they do some things that make servicing difficult. For example, it used to be that keyboards were easy to replace. On this Lenovo, the keyboard is no longer a replaceable part.

I know what you mean. The Lenovo Yoga we have, it’s a sealed case, nothing is able to be opened from the outside, it must be entirely opened to get at anything. I haven’t looked inside. I wonder if everything is hard place in it, like RAM/SSD?

Still, the best to date.

Wisewiz · May 19, 2024

hsehestedt said:
I do know that repair shop option of the high end Lenovos is that they are very well built.

I think you meant opinion not option, Hestedt.

jeffbeish · May 19, 2024

Nice post, Catnip,I will study it to help me decide when and if I decide to get something new.

Your point is understood, pseymour, due to a boat load of medical costs lately I have to watch my spending. Getting old costs a lot theses days.

I hear you, hsehestedt, will keep for words in mind, thanks. I just piddle with my laptop and e-mail, no serious work as in the past.

Bree, you are correct, and I guess I will have to get off my cheap wad ways and shell out some more bucks for quality. But, my recent medical issues has made a dint in my wallet. Maybe this one will last until I am well and better healed in the wallet.

Wisewiz, I used desktops for many years and switched to laptops when I got older and lazy, so I like to sit in my easy chair and compute. Probably need to get up more.

Will keep your post in mind, antspants, thanks.

hsehestedt · May 19, 2024

Wisewiz said:
I think you meant opinion not option, Hestedt.

Correct. Thanks for catching that.

Ghot · May 19, 2024

jeffbeish said:
How do rate laptop brands?

There's a company called Framework, that makes... "modular" laptops.
So if a part of the laptop breaks, you can just replace that part... easily.

I don't know if they're any good or not... but it might be worth a look-see.

Order a Framework Laptop 13 with Intel Core Ultra Series 1

Framework Laptop: A thin, light, high-performance notebook that's customizable, upgradeable, and repairable. Order now for the latest Intel processors.

frame.work

Linus not only likes it.... he's invested in it, too.

DennyZenny · May 19, 2024

Catnip said:
I have an older Acer laptop. It's about 7 years old now and still going strong. I have upgraded the Windows version from Win 7, the RAM and put in an SSD, but physically, the hinges have held up nicely, the trackpad is still responsive, and the keys are all working and the legends haven't rubbed off. The only bad part is that I can't upgrade it to Win 11 because the CPU is too old. But it's still going strong and I should get a few more years out of it even though I have to stay with Windows 10.

When the time comes to replace it, I will be looking for another Acer. My current one is almost bulletproof.

you can always bypass the requirements. :wink:

hsehestedt · May 19, 2024

Ghot said:
There's a company called Framework, that makes... "modular" laptops.
So if a part of the laptop breaks, you can just replace that part... easily.

What I find so interesting is how this little startup has proved this concept is feasible. I absolutely love what they are doing, but I have not priced out their systems yet to see if they are insanely expensive or not.

I just really wish that it was the mainstream practice to make laptops so easily serviceable.

TM21 · May 19, 2024

The only OLD CPU that won't run Windows 11 is one that is SO OLD that it does not have the SSE4.2 Instruction set IN the CPU.
And even that, is only in reference to Win-11, 24H2. All previous versions will load and run just fine.
I actually have a couple of those, but for everything else that MS has hobbled us with, Rufus takes care of it, when burning the Windows ISO to a Flash Drive.

It's easy to find out if your CPU has that SSE4.2 Instruction Set, just get and run CPU-Z.
We've actually talked about that a lot on this forum.

As for what laptop is best. ??? That's up to the person with the Money to buy one. Every brand has its plusses and minuses.
And, most of them are made in China!

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Wisewiz, I used desktops for many years and switched to laptops when I got older and lazy, so I like to sit in my easy chair and compute. Probably need to get up more.