Best laptop for under $1,000 + External storage for under $100

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Adelynn wrote on 2011-08-06 20:53
Since my current one is slowly dying, and I'll soon be getting close to enough money, I figure I'd ask for advice. It does need to be a laptop because I'll need to carry it to and from school.

So what I need from it:
- To be able to run Photoshop smoothly while still running some other minor programs at the same time. (I'm talking images around 4K pixels wide and over).
- Be able to run flash for frame-by-frame animations...
- To be able to run Mabi at decent settings.
- A relatively large screen, since CGing on a small screen drives me insane. Weight's not too much of an issue, since I only have to walk short distances with it.
- Preferably already with Windows 7, although I don't think it's much of an issue at this point.
I'd also like another external hard-drive to store things. The portable kind, not the kind that needs its own power supply. These things like crashing at the worst times so I'd like to be extra careful this time around.

I'd prefer 1TB or 750GB but if that's not possible, 500+. Anyone have a brand they trust specifically? I've only ever bought one external harddrive so I have no experience with more than just this one. I'm not using it as a back-up for my computer, just for my own personal work and files.

Any help is appreciated~ >o<
Halfslashed wrote on 2011-08-06 23:06

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220959

This is your dream right here. I'd buy it soon, because i'm sure a $300 discount won't last long.\

As for external storage, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136755

The brand is known for great hard drives, and it's nice and portable. If you ever get a USB 3 adapter, it will have much faster transfer rates, but it's fine for the most part.
Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-07 01:18

First, you have to define what "best" is to you. :P
Also, I'm curious how your current laptop is dying and if it could be fixed instead. But I'll assume you already considered that.

If you want the most performance you can get under $1k, then Asus is competitive here and the one Halfslashed linked is a good example. It does sacrifice quality and reliability to get there, though. Also, the screen resolution of 1366x768 is kinda crappy for work. x(

Personally, I'd recommend spending money on quality and durability, rather than more processing power. This is because you can easily satisfy your usage requirements with a lower specced modern machine. My top pick would be the top-grade Lenovo ThinkPad, with the T-series being the most recognized one. They use quality parts and the amount of engineering work that gets poured into making these things reliable and durable is pretty remarkable. Feel free to look up scary ThinkPad stress (aka torture) test vids on youtube. xD

If you're interested in paying a premium for reliability and quality, check out the different models here: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/products/laptops/thinkpad/index.html
I think the ThinkPad T520 listed for $980 is great. You can downgrade the OS to Home (from Pro) and save $50. It has a screen of higher resolution than the Asus. The screen is also matte, which is somewhat rare these days.

Oh and don't worry about the sale deadline and coupon code expiry or whatever, they always have those sales and coupons available. >_>;

If you don't like the ThinkPad, the business grade offerings from the other manufacturers are usually better built than their consumer-oriented models, too.. although I don't think they can compare with Lenovo's.

The third option is to just get something cheap. You can get a random laptop in the $500-700 range, maybe even lower and it'll work fine for what you asked, too. Your typical consumer HPs, Dells, Acers, Asus..es, etc. I don't really know how Lenovo's consumer-oriented models stack up against the competition in terms of quality. They're probably not bad. Maybe you can find a good "back to school" deal at BestBuy or wherever.
Adelynn wrote on 2011-08-07 03:24

Thank you both! I don't know how soon I can get to one. It will probably still take me like...a month to have enough money for the lap top depending on what I go for.

As for my current one, I'm kind of amazed (but grateful) that it still works, and I'll jut leave it at that. It's taken abuse that's starting to show. Something that can take a bit more is probably better. x.e
TA wrote on 2011-08-07 03:30

14 & 15 inches is pretty small... Couldn't she get a 17 inch or something? I mean there's 3 of them here under $1000: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%20600004346&IsNodeId=1&name=17%22%20-%2017.3%22
Halfslashed wrote on 2011-08-07 05:05

Quote from TA;541569:
14 & 15 inches is pretty small... Couldn't she get a 17 inch or something? I mean there's 3 of them here under $1000: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%20600004346&IsNodeId=1&name=17%22%20-%2017.3%22

In the sub-1000 range..

Screensize, resolution, performace. Pick Two.

I posted the ASUS because it's a reliable brand, has great specs for the price, and has an average screen size. She didn't say she needed the largest standard screen size (Standard, bar the dual screen laptops, 20" laptops, and M18x), just a decent screeen size for photoshop. Well, there's a decent size for photoshop.
TA wrote on 2011-08-07 05:17

How about this? Specs look amazing, and it's well under her budget: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220868

Better resolution, better specs, much bigger monitor... in stock...
Adelynn wrote on 2011-08-07 05:36

As long as it's leaning more towards 16/17 than 14, I don't mind a bit of size. Largest would be ideal, but only if I can pay for it.
Otherwise, I'm settling for 15.

@TA: Mind telling me which 3? I'm pretty much hardware illiterate so I want to look at the differences between the 3 and the other ones there that are under 1K but you wouldn't pick over those.

EDIT: This is what I get for AFKing then hitting the post button xD
TA wrote on 2011-08-07 05:59

2.5 ghz, vs 2 ghz
17.4 inch vs 15.6 inch
the ram is the same but the other was "faster" ram (you'd never notice)
500gb vs 750gb hdds, both 7200rpm though (not a ****ty 5400rpm)
1600 x 900 vs 1366 x 768

and it has a dedicated video card with a gig of vram... most laptops don't.

That's basically what you're looking at, but that one for $300 off posted earlier already sold out.

I dunno how durable it is though, lol.. you might want to get some kind of heavy duty carrying case or something, or at least some kind of padded leather case or something in case you drop it, idk.
Halfslashed wrote on 2011-08-07 06:41

I'm blind. TA is 100% right.
Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-07 07:44

No she isn't. :P You're comparing the Sandy bridge vs the outdated Arrandale there, and the Sandy Bridge is a quad core on top of that. And it turbos to 2.9 GHz. :P The former had better specs (except for screen res), but at a higher cost. ;(

Anyway...

The reason I didn't recommend a 17" model is because those are inherently less durable. More surface area + more weight = more pressure weakness, flexing, wear .. and breaking. ;( 14" is an ideal size for general use, but I recognize that more screen size would help so I recommended 15".

Asus makes top-quality motherboards, but their consumer laptops are average at best. Their only real advantage is bang for your buck performance.

If you tend to abuse your laptop like you seem to do.. D: .. then I would highly recommend a ThinkPad for the durability. If you decide you want something more affordable and go with some consumer laptop instead, I'd suggest you avoid the 17" models. ;(
Adelynn wrote on 2011-08-07 19:16

It's not me necessarily that abuses it. xD; But said people are not going to be allowed to touch whatever the new one is. Since things seem to be selling out, I guess I better make up my mind quick and ask mom if she's willing to loan me some money. x.e
Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-07 20:50

Doing something in a rush like that is always a mistake. :P Don't worry about stuff selling out, as more stuff will be put up for sale. Maybe wait until the back-to-school sales crazyness kicks in.

EDIT: wtf
[video=youtube;mRCfo-eTj8k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRCfo-eTj8k[/video]
Crazy people. xD
Adelynn wrote on 2011-08-07 23:42

Wow at that video. xD
Chockeh wrote on 2011-08-17 22:54

I am sooo using this thread for the new laptop I'm going to buy soon.