Our home laptop has done a solid decade of sevice even if a bit slower since Windows 10 got ahold of it. Now making a case for it's replacement.
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My usual approach for work is go for a midrange gaming laptop but for home don't think I need that much grunt or a graphics card for word processing and running Netflix (don't make time to game).?ÿ Am thinking 16gb ram, 500gb SSD, i5/i7 processor and better start playing with windows 11 for when I have to update at work.
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With a bazillion options have been trying to narrow down and wondering if the business laptops are likely to last longer than the home/student variety (more durable keyboards/internal construction etc.)? Also does windows pro offer any advantages over home?
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My goal is long term use/reliability but only needs basic functions. A Model 3 not a Model S.
Lenovo Thinkpad - they come in a bunch of different flavors. I have two; one is 13 years old - I've added an SSD and replaced the display in it, but it's still chugging along. Both have AMD processors (I'm not an Intel guy), but they also come with Intel processors.
I know you don't want a gamer and Best Buy ain't known for super deals, but you may consider taking a look at this.
I have been buying used Dell Business Computers 'just coming off lease' forever. The one's coming off now have a processing ss drive AND an huge storage drive and for the price of a walmart computer.
@flga-2-2 I buy most of my electronics from Best Buy and my last purchase was a high end desktop gaming PC. I paid $1,800 for it with a large high resolution monitor.
I'm not at all a gamer but I wanted great graphics, more memory than I need and a large capacity HD that is fast, it's also water cooled. I overdid it because I'm hoping it will still keep up with technology years down the road. The machine is super fast, I can run Carlson, C3D and multiple other programs at once with no caching.
@flga-2-2 I buy most of my electronics from Best Buy and my last purchase was a high end desktop gaming PC. I paid $1,800 for it with a large high resolution monitor.
I'm not at all a gamer but I wanted great graphics, more memory than I need and a large capacity HD that is fast, it's also water cooled. I overdid it because I'm hoping it will still keep up with technology years down the road. The machine is super fast, I can run Carlson, C3D and multiple other programs at once with no caching.
This what I'm looking at. Getting as good a machine as I can afford. Last time I got one I thought it would be enough for a while core I7 16 gigs.
Then windows 11 come along 3 years later, they're only supporting processor version 8 and up, of course mine is version 7.
Try to get the newest processor you can. Windows 12 is just around the corner.
Gaming machines are not always good CAD machines. The GPUs are optimized differently. Not so much the hardware as the firmware. Personally, I'd shy away from that. I look to Dell Precision for work laptops. You should be able to pick up a nice device in that line for ±$2500. If your budget is real tight an off lease gadget can be easily had for under $1000.
With a bazillion options have been trying to narrow down and wondering if the business laptops are likely to last longer than the home/student variety (more durable keyboards/internal construction etc.)? Also does windows pro offer any advantages over home?
Qualifiers: 1) This may be dated info and 2) I don't claim any particular expertise, just general knowledge.
The difference in lasting/durability is probably not going to be an issue. The differences between the two are usually a matter of options of which components and software they are pre-packaged with. Business usually starts out with some components/software that are options for home laptops. Many/most of the parts (especially case/keyboard/screen) are going to be the same within a particular manufacturer's price points. Unless you are specifically looking at a "rugged" laptop with durability specs, you'll probably be getting similar durability.
So pick a price point and see which package works best for what you want. You might run across a low end business one that is perfectly optioned out or you might option out a home one to have what you want.
The key difference between windows pro vs windows home, I think, used to be the difference between a 32 bit and a 64 bit operating system. I don't think that still applies. I think some of the bigger differences now are recognizable memory (which in home edition is much more than you will probably ever have in your laptop) and something to do with the remote desktop (which probably would not matter).
something to do with the remote desktop (which probably would not matter).
Yes I use windows RDP for some contract work I do and my work laptop is a gaming one running windows 10 home and works fine so must need to be only the computer being controlled that needs windows pro.
Gaming machines are not always good CAD machines. The GPUs are optimized differently. Not so much the hardware as the firmware.
Good to know next time work laptop needs an upgrade.
My current work one (16gb ram, 4gb graphics card, 500gb SSD, i7 & windows 10 home) was equivalent of 1200 USD new and the gaming graphics card seems to refresh the larger aerial photos I have behind plans super quick so maybe I got lucky with firmware. Not asking it to do fly throughs or process photogrammetry though.
something to do with the remote desktop (which probably would not matter).
Yes I use windows RDP for some contract work I do and my work laptop is a gaming one running windows 10 home and works fine so must need to be only the computer being controlled that needs windows pro.
I'm pretty sure the actual difference between home and pro is being able to join a domain and deal with group policies.
They will both do rdp.
@bobwesterman Last I checked, both Windows Home and Pro have RDP clients, that is, they can connect to other windows machines. However the machine you are connecting to needs to be Pro. I had to upgrade my data collector tablet to Windows Pro so I could remote into it. When I get back to the office I plug the charger into the data collector and put the data collector on a shelf. I then remote into my data collector from my desktop PC to transfer the days' work to my desktop and to setup the next day's project. Much nicer than hunching over the tablet.
@bobwesterman Last I checked, both Windows Home and Pro have RDP clients, that is, they can connect to other windows machines. However the machine you are connecting to needs to be Pro. I had to upgrade my data collector tablet to Windows Pro so I could remote into it. When I get back to the office I plug the charger into the data collector and put the data collector on a shelf. I then remote into my data collector from my desktop PC to transfer the days' work to my desktop and to setup the next day's project. Much nicer than hunching over the tablet.
It seems to me I might have been aware of that at one time, but I've never tried to remote into a home machine and so it slipped my mind.
Being as there are ways around that without going to the expense of the Pro upgrade, I've always thought the domain awareness was the more important difference.
