New laptop - Solid state or HDD?
#46
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Orange County, CA (SNA)
Programs: Delta - PM , MM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Peon
Posts: 911
If you would prefer Apple, you could look for a used MacBook or Mac Air. (New Mac Air starts at $1k now so out of your budget).
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
#47
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 123
If you would prefer Apple, you could look for a used MacBook or Mac Air. (New Mac Air starts at $1k now so out of your budget).
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,801
Maybe it's because you treat and care for something that is that expensive more carefully? I am typing on an Acer laptop that is well travelled and acquired in 2012 (and also have another similar-format Acer acquired in 2011). Also have creaky old Intel Core2Duo desktops of 13+ year vintage still working and in use.
#49
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Orange County, CA (SNA)
Programs: Delta - PM , MM; Hilton - Diamond, Marriott - Peon
Posts: 911
Maybe it's because you treat and care for something that is that expensive more carefully? I am typing on an Acer laptop that is well travelled and acquired in 2012 (and also have another similar-format Acer acquired in 2011). Also have creaky old Intel Core2Duo desktops of 13+ year vintage still working and in use.
However, with Apple's switch to ARM, I think a vintage like mine may have a limited life remaining since it may not get included in the compatibility for later OS releases.
#50
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: RDU
Programs: Marriott Platinum. AA and UA as well, but I don't care about them anymore.
Posts: 308
Maybe it's because you treat and care for something that is that expensive more carefully? I am typing on an Acer laptop that is well travelled and acquired in 2012 (and also have another similar-format Acer acquired in 2011). Also have creaky old Intel Core2Duo desktops of 13+ year vintage still working and in use.
The HP just decided to stop working, the motherboard went in the first one turning it into a brick and the second one the case just popped open because the cheap plastic they use cracked.
my 2013 MAcBook Air is STILL a perfectly serviceable machine and works as well as the day I bought it. The only reason I bought the Pro was because I finally hit the point where I needed more horsepower for virtual machines and photo editing.
YMMV of course but my first Mac has out performed and out lasted everything else I’ve ever owned as far as laptops go.
#51
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,200
If you would prefer Apple, you could look for a used MacBook or Mac Air. (New Mac Air starts at $1k now so out of your budget).
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
Payback comes IME with longevity. My MacBook is early 2015, still used everyday. The one I bought for my daughter when she started college 7 years ago is still in use today.
When I look at my usage pattern for this machine, I am basically at 95% web browsing, email, MS office docs, and a little photo editing. I can install the entire Office Suite for IOS and get what I need for the most part, and do any more complicated design work on Canva.
Do I really need a laptop? I am just not so sure.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
Acer is a great brand for budget computers, but not performance computer. I would pick any other brand over Acer.
Also, it is not the cheapest. As of the time of posting, there is a cheaper Dell with a faster i7 but 4GB fewer memory.
Last but not the least - Dell has better support.
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
I've had bad experiences with Dell including XPS. Dell is out of the question. I don't do gaming. Mostly internet and some pictures. Occasional use of word and excel. How about this:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
(When I looked at this weekend it was on sale for $1K).
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
(When I looked at this weekend it was on sale for $1K).
#55
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,621
Stay away from Acer. I've seen too many of them come across my repair bench over the years. They're built to meet price points, at the expense of good engineering. Also not a fan of HP consumer laptops.
The office I work at now used to be all Dell, and yes, Dell has very nice on-site support if you pay for it. The repair techs were very nice and knowledgeable, BUT, I was constantly seeing them. One Dell Latitude went through 4x motherboards, 5x power supplies, 1x case, and it sat on the guy's desk all day long, never leaving the office. Went Lenovo (IBM) Thinkpads and never looked back.
Re: the Lenovo Yoga UA Fan linked to, we do have a Yoga 910 in the office that Lenovo gave us at a substantial discount, and it's been a good laptop, but is nowhere near as rugged as a Thinkpad. Costco has a Thinkpad X1 for a little more $: https://www.costco.com/lenovo-thinkp...100467548.html
The office I work at now used to be all Dell, and yes, Dell has very nice on-site support if you pay for it. The repair techs were very nice and knowledgeable, BUT, I was constantly seeing them. One Dell Latitude went through 4x motherboards, 5x power supplies, 1x case, and it sat on the guy's desk all day long, never leaving the office. Went Lenovo (IBM) Thinkpads and never looked back.
Re: the Lenovo Yoga UA Fan linked to, we do have a Yoga 910 in the office that Lenovo gave us at a substantial discount, and it's been a good laptop, but is nowhere near as rugged as a Thinkpad. Costco has a Thinkpad X1 for a little more $: https://www.costco.com/lenovo-thinkp...100467548.html
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
Costco has a Thinkpad X1 for a little more $: https://www.costco.com/lenovo-thinkp...100467548.html
#57
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,867
I've been displeased with Dell products for the past decade+, with multiple copies of personal, business, and pro/engineering-class laptops. Their recent and current products are solid, and dare I say the best on market.
Also have a Lenovo Thinkpad now that is good in many ways, but is also poor in many ways.
Those 2 along with Microsoft Surface (if they ever get their port selection right) are the only 3 credible selection in the Windows world, IMO.
Depending on what the new Mac look like though, I just might be back in the warm embrace of Apple.....
Also have a Lenovo Thinkpad now that is good in many ways, but is also poor in many ways.
Those 2 along with Microsoft Surface (if they ever get their port selection right) are the only 3 credible selection in the Windows world, IMO.
Depending on what the new Mac look like though, I just might be back in the warm embrace of Apple.....
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,801
I'd stay away from Acers Aspire laptops - unless they're going to be pretty much stationary. Though I have 2 Aspires from 2011 and 2012 which are both still working, the plastic used for the case is cheap. Though I've never (hard) dropped either computer, the plastic especially where the screen hinge attached to the main case has irreparably cracked/broken. Still works but I have to take extreme care opening and closing the screen.
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,273
I'd stay away from Acers Aspire laptops - unless they're going to be pretty much stationary. Though I have 2 Aspires from 2011 and 2012 which are both still working, the plastic used for the case is cheap. Though I've never (hard) dropped either computer, the plastic especially where the screen hinge attached to the main case has irreparably cracked/broken. Still works but I have to take extreme care opening and closing the screen.