I need a new lap top and it's a jungle out there

[juliann]

I'll keep you posted! 

[Tacenda]

15 hours ago, juliann said:

I'll keep you posted! 

Just don't go and put up a "Go Fund Me" account to get one!  

 

[Calm]

Tac, my mind immediately went there when I saw the title as well.  We hang out way too much on this board.  

Edited September 2, 2016 by Calm

[ttribe]

5 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Just don't go and put up a "Go Fund Me" account to get one!  

 

 

9 minutes ago, Calm said:

Tac, my mind immediately went there when I saw the title as well.  We hang out way too much on this board.  

I totally forgot about that!  Good one!

[juliann]

OK,best friend only you would be even better if you would Go Fund Me.  I'm trying to do my last minute googling before going to Best Buy.

Are these the same, better, or worse at Costco?

http://www.costco.com/HP-Pavilion-15t-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---2GB-Graphics---1080p---Windows-10-Professional.product.100307955.html

http://www.costco.com/HP-ENVY-x360-15t-Touchscreen-2-in-1-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---1080p-.product.100301019.html

[ttribe]

1 hour ago, juliann said:

OK,best friend only you would be even better if you would Go Fund Me.  I'm trying to do my last minute googling before going to Best Buy.

Are these the same, better, or worse at Costco?

http://www.costco.com/HP-Pavilion-15t-Touchscreen-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---2GB-Graphics---1080p---Windows-10-Professional.product.100307955.html

http://www.costco.com/HP-ENVY-x360-15t-Touchscreen-2-in-1-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---1080p-.product.100301019.html

Well, better or worse depend on what you want.  The HP-Pavillion (the first one) has something called a solid state drive for main storage.  This means that it has no moving parts (like a hard drive does) and is very fast.  The disadvantage, in this case, is that it has about 1/3 of the storage capacity of the 1TB drive on the laptop I previously linked.  On the other hand, this one has a DVD-Drive in the laptop, and the one I was sending your way does not (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-x360-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-hp-finish-in-natural-silver/5238400.p?id=bb5238400&skuId=5238400). 

As to the second one, the primary difference is that it has a "tablet mode", meaning that you can fold the screen all the way back and it will become a 15inch tablet.  If that's something you want, then it is a decent price for it.  If not, the original one I linked has a better graphics card (if that's important).

Both of the Costco ones have 4GB of additional RAM (e.g. memory) than the one I linked.

Edited September 2, 2016 by ttribe

[juliann]

Is this one at Best Buy, the 15 in to your first 17 in link, http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-x360-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-hp-finish-in-natural-silver/5238400.p?id=bb5238400&skuId=5238400

The same as this as Microsoft store https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-ENVY-15-as091ms-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.2740223200

(They never seem to have the same numbers on the name but these seem to be similar?)

Have I driven you crazy yet?

Microsoft also has https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-ENVY-x360-Convertible-15-w191ms-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.2740202600

Edited September 2, 2016 by juliann

[ttribe]

7 minutes ago, juliann said:

Is this one at Best Buy, http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-x360-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-hp-finish-in-natural-silver/5238400.p?id=bb5238400&skuId=5238400

The same as this as Microsoft store https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-ENVY-15-as091ms-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.2740223200

(They never seem to have the same numbers on the name but these seem to be similar?)

Have I driven you crazy yet?

Microsoft also has https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-ENVY-x360-Convertible-15-w191ms-Signature-Edition-2-in-1-PC/productID.2740202600

The first two are not the same. The first (Best Buy) has a 1TB hard drive and the second (MSFT Store) has a 256GB solid state drive.  The third has the tablet mode I mentioned before.

And, no, you are not driving me crazy.  There's a TON of variation on how these things get built and you need to make sure you get something that meets your needs.  Question - do you need a CD/DVD drive?

[juliann]

I don't have to have an internal drive but will buy an external drive if there isn't one. I take it TB is better than GB? 

Tablet mode doesn't matter to me, I wouldn't likely use it but wouldn't care if it was there.  

I would just do Best Buy but I like Microsoft's no bloatware or Costco's warranty. 

[ttribe]

8 minutes ago, juliann said:

I don't have to have an internal drive but will buy an external drive if there isn't one. I take it TB is better than GB? 

Tablet mode doesn't matter to me, I wouldn't likely use it but wouldn't care if it was there.  

I would just do Best Buy but I like Microsoft's no bloatware or Costco's warranty. 

1TB is almost four times more storage capacity than 256GB.  If you store a lot of pictures, videos, etc., then 1TB is probably preferable.  If all you ever save is Word documents, then you may like the speed and security of the smaller solid state drive.

If tablet mode doesn't matter to you, don't pay extra for it.

I hear you on the Costo warranty thing; their return policy is awesome.  We just had to replace our all-in-one printer and bought it from there specifically because of their policy.

[juliann]

Your recommendation?

[ttribe]

4 minutes ago, juliann said:

Your recommendation?

This one, if you don't need the extra storage space: https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-ENVY-15-as091ms-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.2740223200

One of these two, if you do (although both of them have tablet mode):

http://www.costco.com/HP-ENVY-x360-15t-Touchscreen-2-in-1-Laptop---Intel-Core-i7---1080p-.product.100301019.html

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-envy-x360-2-in-1-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-12gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-hp-finish-in-natural-silver/5238400.p?id=bb5238400&skuId=5238400

 

[juliann]

What would I be losing with less storage? If I keep it until it blows up do I need as much storage as I can get? Or is this what cloud is for? (You have probably explained this somewhere but it doesn't seem to sink in.)

Edited September 2, 2016 by juliann

[ttribe]

9 minutes ago, juliann said:

What would I be losing with less storage? If I keep it until it blows up do I need as much storage as I can get? Or is this what cloud is for? (You have probably explained this somewhere but it doesn't seem to sink in.)

Imagine you are trying to decide between two filing cabinets.  One is six feet tall, and 8 feet deep, but it has manual drawers.  The other is only 4 feet tall, and 4 feet deep, but it has automatically closing and opening drawers. 

Now, the question is, how much stuff do you need to store in these filing cabinets? 

If the answer is "a lot", and if you don't care about opening the drawers by hand (it's slower than the automatic ones), then you'll need to get the first (which is your 1TB hard drive).

If the answer is "a medium amount", and you like the idea of being able to access your stuff quickly, then you'll probably want the second (which is the 256GB solid state drive).

In terms of computer storage, "a lot" would be needed if you store many gigabytes' worth of digital pictures, audio files (e.g. music or interviews), video files (like the ones FAIR posts), or very large databases.  A "medium amount" is only needed if you store some pictures (maybe you take a few pics each month), a few videos (<100), and really only need to store Word documents for your writings.

Make sense?

[juliann]

OK, I get that although when you talk about speed what does that mean? It takes longer to pull the stuff up?

I just checked on Costco and they exclude touchscreens for 2 yr warranty.  So Costco is no longer an advantage.

[ttribe]

1 minute ago, juliann said:

OK, I get that although when you talk about speed what does that mean? It takes longer to pull the stuff up?

I just checked on Costco and they exclude touchscreens for 2 yr warranty.  So Costco is no longer an advantage.

Speed refers to how long it takes to start the computer and access whatever files you need to work with.

My suggestion - go play with some of the demonstration models at your local Best Buy or Costco.  That might let you know how much you like the ergonomics of the computer, the feel of the key board, the screen, the size, etc.

[juliann]

I will do that now. Thank you thank you thank you.

The microsoft one is looking good even with the lower storage. They are giving away a tablet that I could give my grandson and it's cheaper.....

[ttribe]

6 minutes ago, juliann said:

I will do that now. Thank you thank you thank you.

The microsoft one is looking good even with the lower storage. They are giving away a tablet that I could give my grandson and it's cheaper.....

Sounds like a win-win.

[Calm]

If you keep asking questions, Juliann, we can get ttribe over 1000 points.

[juliann]

We should be able to get him to 3000 now!  Bad idea to go look! Bad!

Now I'm all confused again. sob  I really don't want the number pad thing and didn't notice the HPs had them. The HP was also the hottest computer on the table and I don't mean that in a good way.  'm pretty sure my Asus blew up from overheating....

 I actually liked the plain look of the Lenovo but it didn't have a volume button and that is really important when FB goes off on you at 80 dBs as you fumble for the fn keys or mess with the screen volume control. 

I am now descending into the just shoot me stage from the staring at the wall phase....

[Calm]

You are all powerful or so I hear, just give him another 2000.

Edited September 3, 2016 by Calm

[strappinglad]

Time warp.... I remember when I paid $ 300 for an additional 4 Mb of memory. I also remember when we had to crank the phone to get an operator to connect us with another person. That was not long after the Wright Bros conquered Kittyhawk.LOL What a world we live in now. 4000 years of writing on rocks and clay tablets and reeds and sheepskins , then about 450 years of printer's ink, and now the mind boggles at our choices to communicate, and we still have a hard time understanding one another.

Edited September 3, 2016 by strappinglad

[ttribe]

On 9/2/2016 at 9:52 PM, juliann said:

We should be able to get him to 3000 now!  Bad idea to go look! Bad!

Now I'm all confused again. sob  I really don't want the number pad thing and didn't notice the HPs had them. The HP was also the hottest computer on the table and I don't mean that in a good way.  'm pretty sure my Asus blew up from overheating....

 I actually liked the plain look of the Lenovo but it didn't have a volume button and that is really important when FB goes off on you at 80 dBs as you fumble for the fn keys or mess with the screen volume control. 

I am now descending into the just shoot me stage from the staring at the wall phase....

Weeeelllllll, let's start again.  Tell me about your objection to the number pad.  Do you feel it cramps the size of the keyboard?  Are you just not accustomed to having one on a laptop?  If it's just a matter of adjustment, you may find that it is more convenient than you think.  It really is like having a a full size keyboard.

As to heat; they're all going to heat up to some degree.  It could be that the one you had been trying had been used more than the others.  I haven't noticed my HP getting particularly hot.  My old Dell, on the other hand...

Perhaps you could assemble and share a list of important features?

[juliann]

I have been getting by on my little $300 Asus transformer for long enough that I'm now wondering if I even need to be getting an expensive computer. I just need to get the info off of my blown up Asus onto something else. Now that I think about it, I don't do the writing and stuff I used to and I'm not saving huge databases. 

It just seems like such a waste of key board to have a big number pad that I ever use. However, I do have to admit that my dead Asus had one. So I don't know why I'm freaking now. I'm nervous about HP because my daughter and SIL have had 3 HPs in a row with problems. They were lower end though. But like Dell, I have a lingering distrust. I have had enough Asus' to lean towards them. I'm scared of the learning curve of a Mac. 

[ttribe]

16 hours ago, juliann said:

I have been getting by on my little $300 Asus transformer for long enough that I'm now wondering if I even need to be getting an expensive computer. I just need to get the info off of my blown up Asus onto something else. Now that I think about it, I don't do the writing and stuff I used to and I'm not saving huge databases. 

It just seems like such a waste of key board to have a big number pad that I ever use. However, I do have to admit that my dead Asus had one. So I don't know why I'm freaking now. I'm nervous about HP because my daughter and SIL have had 3 HPs in a row with problems. They were lower end though. But like Dell, I have a lingering distrust. I have had enough Asus' to lean towards them. I'm scared of the learning curve of a Mac. 

From just a little bit of looking, it appears everything with a screen size of 15" or larger has a number pad as part of the key board.  My sample size was pretty small, but it does seem to be pretty standard these days on the larger laptops.