Windows 8 Laptops

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2012-11-20 8:20 AM

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Subject: Windows 8 Laptops

Anyone have one?  What would you get?

I am a software developer, and have a nice powerful Win7 laptop at work, and want to get something for home.  Cost IS AN ISSUE, I can not break the bank (this isn't a tri bike).    

Thoughts:

I think I would like a touchscreen.

I will use this computer for many years (I hate replacing things every few years. My current home computer is 8 years old).

SSD would be nice but is it a necessary expense when that money could be used for more RAM or a larger screen, and then added later?

Need at least 6-8 gb of RAM.

What brands should I consider?  

Thanks to anyone who can help...

2012-11-20 8:31 AM
in reply to: #4504633

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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
velocomp - 2012-11-20 8:20 AM

Anyone have one?  What would you get?

I am a software developer, and have a nice powerful Win7 laptop at work, and want to get something for home.  Cost IS AN ISSUE, I can not break the bank (this isn't a tri bike).    

Thoughts:

I think I would like a touchscreen.

I will use this computer for many years (I hate replacing things every few years. My current home computer is 8 years old).

SSD would be nice but is it a necessary expense when that money could be used for more RAM or a larger screen, and then added later?

Need at least 6-8 gb of RAM.

What brands should I consider?  

Thanks to anyone who can help...

I'm personally running away from Windows 8.  It seems like the biggest POS microsoft has ever put out, but that's just me. 

I'm not real up on the latest hardware deals so I can't help you a lot there.  I'd look at the major manufacturer websites for deals, especially this week.  Dell, HP, Gateway, Lenovo, etc...

2012-11-20 9:14 AM
in reply to: #4504633

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Master
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
I agree with you in terms of Win8 being questionable, but as a developer, you have to learn the technology, and you need a win8 computer to write win8 apps.  I could just do the VM thing, but I don't really see this going away, and so I figure I'll get ahead of the curve.  Worst case scenario, I can always install win7 on the newer better hardware.
2012-11-20 10:06 AM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

In my experience every other Windows OS is POS.  

3.1 ==worked .. kinda.

ME ==crap

XP ==worked

Vista == crap

Win7==Worked

Win8 must be crap. 

So either go with Win7 or wait for the Win8 successor. 

2012-11-20 10:10 AM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

velocomp - 2012-11-20 10:14 AM I agree with you in terms of Win8 being questionable, but as a developer, you have to learn the technology, and you need a win8 computer to write win8 apps.  I could just do the VM thing, but I don't really see this going away, and so I figure I'll get ahead of the curve.  Worst case scenario, I can always install win7 on the newer better hardware.

 

I'm with Tony - run away from it.

I'd stick with that powerful Win7 work machine and run a Win8 vm on it.

 

 

2012-11-20 11:02 AM
in reply to: #4504633

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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
I understand you problems, like Win 8 or not, you will have to be familiar with it if you have to support it. I think I saw a Dell tablet/laptop option that should answer your need, sorry , I don't remember the price.

2012-11-20 11:07 AM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

kenb - 2012-11-20 11:02 AM I understand you problems, like Win 8 or not, you will have to be familiar with it if you have to support it. I think I saw a Dell tablet/laptop option that should answer your need, sorry , I don't remember the price.

Yeah, and the good news is it's the time of year for PC/Laptop deals.  I'd look at the online Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

2012-11-20 12:04 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
If you're looking at RAM vs SSD, now vs. future, I'd say go with RAM now, SSD later. RAM is ridiculously cheap right now, and SSDs are still working their way down to lower prices. I think more competition, as well as ultrabooks have helped a lot in reducing SSD costs and I expect the trend to continue. I have an SSD in my machine that I paid $1.38/GB for in Oct 2011 and can get now for 1.17/GB or I could double the size and get one for $0.83/GB.
2012-11-20 1:20 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

I bought  a Lenovo Yoga and absolutely love it.  Depending on what software you run you will get a greater benefit using an ssd vs going from 4 gb ram to 6-8gb of ram.  SSD = faster access times for everything, more ram = faster access times for apps that are already running.  Granted I only use MS Office, a proprietary sales tool and Siebel but I have never had a problem or experienced a slowdown by using 4 gb of ram vs 6-8.  

As a comparison I have a home PC with 12gb DDR3 and a core I7 @ 3.8mhz and it makes no noticeable difference in performance unless I want to run a computer game, work on a document/ppt and run folding@home simultaneously.  My $1k laptop outperforms it in every other normal function simply because of the SSD.

 

Standard HDD startup = 2-3 min before the laptop is usable, MS Word startup = approx 20 seconds

SSD startup = 20-30 seconds, MS Word startup = 4 seconds

Windows 8 - no idea, Iuse the standard desktop so it functions just like windows 7 did. 

2012-11-20 1:56 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
melle - 2012-11-20 12:20 PM

I bought  a Lenovo Yoga and absolutely love it.  Depending on what software you run you will get a greater benefit using an ssd vs going from 4 gb ram to 6-8gb of ram.  SSD = faster access times for everything, more ram = faster access times for apps that are already running.  Granted I only use MS Office, a proprietary sales tool and Siebel but I have never had a problem or experienced a slowdown by using 4 gb of ram vs 6-8.  

As a comparison I have a home PC with 12gb DDR3 and a core I7 @ 3.8mhz and it makes no noticeable difference in performance unless I want to run a computer game, work on a document/ppt and run folding@home simultaneously.  My $1k laptop outperforms it in every other normal function simply because of the SSD.

 

Standard HDD startup = 2-3 min before the laptop is usable, MS Word startup = approx 20 seconds

SSD startup = 20-30 seconds, MS Word startup = 4 seconds

Windows 8 - no idea, Iuse the standard desktop so it functions just like windows 7 did. 

The big issue is that as a developer, I am running visual studio, various graphics programs, IIS, Browsers, and probably various VMs at any given time.  These can eat up resources quickly.  I'm not really concerned with how quickly an app opens vs how well it performs when running.  That is where I am not sure I will see the benefits of an SSD.  I will probably get one eventually, but to start, I need at least 8GB RAM.

2012-11-20 5:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

My SIL bought an all-in-one touch screen desktop that is running Win8.  She decided to retire her 6yr old desktop.  It had a learning curve for me, but I figured out a lot of it on my own while trying to setup her computer and transfer the files from her old computer.  

It seems like the whole Win8 is with the start button interface (to me).  I can revert back to the regular desktop.  

2012-11-20 8:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
I upgraded my dell work laptop the other day to Windows8, Office 2013 and Visual Studio 2012. Have had no issues with it. Visual Studio 2012 has some great new features. I am also running the same setup on a MacBook Pro Retina using parrallels, again no issue with it. I tried to boot camp the MacBook, but ran into all kinds of driver issues. Parrallels 8 works fine.
2012-11-20 9:31 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
I'm a developer too and I'm debating upgrading but really don't want to screw up my development laptop.  I've read a few reports of issues with VS 2010 and SQL Server but I didn't look into in depth. I have an older laptop that is running Windows 7 that I'll probably upgrade and then try out some of my development tools.  I would love to try out VS 2012 but I would have to pay for it at this point and I don't have the funds for that right now.
2012-11-20 11:20 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops
I'm starting to go thru this right now too, kinda leaning towards Asus Zenbook Touch UX31A. I've never had an Asus, have not even seen or touched that one, just liking the specs on it. Not sure I'd run that for Dev machine though.

I do have Win8 on 6 year old HP laptop, and a 5 year old Lenovo (T61P) laptop right now. For the most part I like it, took a little while to get used to hitting the Windows button to find apps, Star8 is a good little app that brings the Start Button back.

I'm going to wait it out a little bit more to see what other options emerge for laptops. I do want slim profile, battery life, touch, higher resolution screen, and 8GBs memory (or more). SSD or HDD does not matter to me, but given my slim size and battery wants, SSD is likely. I'm really not liking the array of mini video output connectors, I'll use the laptop for presentations often enough carrying a dongle is going to drive me nuts.
2012-11-22 3:50 PM
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Subject: RE: Windows 8 Laptops

Win8 is pretty much required if you want a touch screen/tablet interface - win7 just isn't meant for it. 

I see no carrot to upgrade from a working win7 machine to 8. I would suspect the older win7 machines would have better discounts right now.

On my older desktop I use a 60G SSD for the OS then whatever 1+ tb drives for games/data. It does make a difference even with 8G ram. 128gb/256gb SSD drives are cheap enough now to jump on one for a laptop. No way I'd buy a new laptop with a mechanical drive now. 

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