New computer - Mac or PC?

[sal]

ThinkPads are not what they used to be during IBM times. Current ClientCo is all Lenovo laptops shop 5-6 different models, from low to highish grade. All of them plastic and terrible viewing angles on the display. I'm sure their top models are up to scratch, but just don't put all ThinkPads in the same boat.

Also don't forget the fiasco with the baked in the BIOS spyware from couple of years ago and the fact they are Chinese company.


Regarding Docking stations, there should be bundles of them going second hand as the new Lenovo laptops (at least the one ClientCo is rolling out) don't have the old proprietary docking port but use USB-C docking stations, so they are disposing of a lot of old docking stations. Speaking of USB-C docking, depending on what ports you need, they range from £30ish to £200ish new and are compatible with any USB-C laptop.

[northernladuk]

As an example:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd Gen G4 8GB 240GB SSD i7-5600U FullHD https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0749Q6CC9

£600... £500 assuming vat. Decent sort of deal?

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I'd be a little wary of the details on that. Spec says 2017 but if you read down the question and answers it says that batch was bought in 2015. Good deal got a 2017 laptop, not so sure about one that is 4 years old. I'd be doing a bit more research on that one first.

[d000hg]

As an example:

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd Gen G4 8GB 240GB SSD i7-5600U FullHD https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0749Q6CC9

£600... £500 assuming vat. Decent sort of deal?

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[ladymuck]

I've only bought Dell for personal/company use and I've always found them to be of better quality than the competition. I currently have a three years old XPS 13 and I'll be going for the new model at some point later this year. It reviews well and can be bought for a very reasonable discount if one goes to the Dell outlet store.

I have a 29" widescreen monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse, so I don't miss not having a desktop machine... although I have recently resurrected an aged HP N54L Microserver for giggles.

I poked about at a Lenovo S13-something recently for a relative and I was quite impressed by how much more robust it felt than the more expensive HP. I'd be tempted by a Lenovo if I was looking for something cheaper.

I was tempted by a Mac at one point years ago, but I couldn't stomach the Apple Tax. Pound for pound my XPS with Win 10 and Hyper-V for the odd Linux excursion is better value IMHO.

For years I used Toshiba Portege, loved them. Then they seemed to not quite have the spec I wanted for the price I was willing to pay and I went for a Sony Vaio. That recently went to the tip and now I'm on my first XPS13. Really liking it so far. Good keyboard.

My only niggle is that the Fn and Ctrl keys are swapped over compared to the Lenovo so I spend time both at home and at ClientCo pressing the wrong key until I figure out which keyboard I'm using.

I have never, ever, been tempted by any Apple product.

[ladymuck]

Oh wow, I must be behind the times - I'd never heard of USB docking. Does that handle display and everything, presumably via USB 3, on a single cable?

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If you can get a USB-C one (depends on the laptop you go for), then definitely. They're great. Dual monitor, network, mouse, keyboard.

[wattaj]

I've only bought Dell for personal/company use and I've always found them to be of better quality than the competition. I currently have a three years old XPS 13 and I'll be going for the new model at some point later this year. It reviews well and can be bought for a very reasonable discount if one goes to the Dell outlet store.

I have a 29" widescreen monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse, so I don't miss not having a desktop machine... although I have recently resurrected an aged HP N54L Microserver for giggles.

I poked about at a Lenovo S13-something recently for a relative and I was quite impressed by how much more robust it felt than the more expensive HP. I'd be tempted by a Lenovo if I was looking for something cheaper.

I was tempted by a Mac at one point years ago, but I couldn't stomach the Apple Tax. Pound for pound my XPS with Win 10 and Hyper-V for the odd Linux excursion is better value IMHO.

[d000hg]

The USB docking stations are by their nature universal though some come with USB-C so check what fits the laptop you're interested in.

My last client ditched the proprietary Lenovo docking stations for USB to allow hot desking without the aggro of supporting different models of laptop with various docking capabilities.

If you're looking at refurbished laptops then there are also refurbished docking stations that match the laptop, which may be cheaper than a new USB based one. Depends what connectivity you want from the docking station such as multiple high res display support.

Oh wow, I must be behind the times - I'd never heard of USB docking. Does that handle display and everything, presumably via USB 3, on a single cable?

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[Hobosapien]

Does anyone know if docking stations can be obtained more cost-effectively? Are they all proprietary or are there 3rd-party versions - and does every laptop have a different one or are they common across makes? It's a big extra cost but potentially a huge benefit.

The USB docking stations are by their nature universal though some come with USB-C so check what fits the laptop you're interested in.

My last client ditched the proprietary Lenovo docking stations for USB to allow hot desking without the aggro of supporting different models of laptop with various docking capabilities.

If you're looking at refurbished laptops then there are also refurbished docking stations that match the laptop, which may be cheaper than a new USB based one. Depends what connectivity you want from the docking station such as multiple high res display support.

[d000hg]

Thanks for whoever reminded me about Lenovo. I always forget they are the ones who do THinkPad, which seems to be one of the most well-respected lines for business-ware?

I happened to see a few on Amazon refurbished the other day; seems like £5-600 bracket can get almost my exact desired spec. Ideally of course 16Gb is preferable but I can live without it, especially if upgrading is feasible?

Does anyone know if docking stations can be obtained more cost-effectively? Are they all proprietary or are there 3rd-party versions - and does every laptop have a different one or are they common across makes? It's a big extra cost but potentially a huge benefit.

[sal]

For a generic business laptop, is Dell as good as anyone these days, or is it worth shopping around? I've never got on with HP (crapware) but I haven't bought a Windows laptop new for perhaps a decade!

I think my only hard requirement is SSD. I'd probably spec at 8gb, i5, 256gb storage, 14-15".

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Their quality took a nose dive in the past 5 years across the board, laptops, servers, storage, customer service. I guess having a 50Bn debt from going private and buying EMC has something to do with that.

But can't beat the 5 year on site warranty.

As for the crapware I always blast them with my own copy of Windows.

I'd never spent my own money on a Mac before, so took the plunge recently and got a refurbished MacBook Pro. I pretty much regret it. The quality has slipped since their heydey and I've had various repeated, niggling problems with it. The peripherals are appallingly overpriced (£125 for a thunderbolt to USB/HDMI/DP adapter? Really??) and I think the OSX UI is badly designed at times.

I should have trusted my gut and got a Dell or Lenovo and installed Ubuntu. I would've saved at least £500...


The build quality of the chassis isn't as nice on an XPS, but that's a tiny price to pay, _especially_ if you have it docked and connected to a monitor most of the time.

You can get cheaper peripherals, just not from Apple store. MacBooks used to be one of the few laptops with TB3, now everyone uses it and you can get what you described for £20 from Amazon

My opinion of the material used in the Dell laptops is the exact opposite. the white one I got supposed to be some miracle material akin to carbon fibre just white. But feels like cheapo plastic and can't compare to the aluminium of 4 years old macbook air or the magnesium of my 3 years old surface book.