Looking for laptop recommendations for Computer Engineering

[ckowkay]

My school's website lists the following:

Minimum Configuration

Intel Core i3 processor, or better

8GB RAM, or more

256GB+ Solid State Drive

Recommended Configuration – If you are purchasing a new laptop

Intel Core i5 processor, or better

16//32GB RAM, or more

256GB+ Solid State Drive

If you anticipate running CAD applications, be sure to purchase a computer with a dedicated video card.

 

I'm not sure if I will need to run CAD for CE, but I know that my school has engineering labs(including a CAD lab) so I don't think I will need a graphics card on my laptop even if I need to use CAD.

I don't care about gaming as I will have my desktop and nintendo switch for that.

My budget is 1000$ , but of course any cheaper options would be appreciated.

 

Some laptops I've been considering are lenovo thinkpads. One I saw on their website was the THINKPAD E490 which through customization could let me get i7-8565U, 16GB (8GB + 8GB) DDR4 2400MHz, and a 1TB Hard Drive(not ssd, but I have the option to add ssd secondary for more money) for $891.

Any recommendations?

[Votivee]

I don't have any recommendations for you, but I figured I'd give you my experiences with a laptop and desktop in college. I'll be going into my fourth year of college next fall, and I have been to two different schools. My work is 100% on the computer. I can't remember the last time I handed anything in in person.

 

Every school is different, but just like you I thought I needed a laptop for college. As previously stated, I'll be going into my fourth year. I have powered on my laptop probably a total of 5-10 times in the past 3 years. I do 100% of my work on my desktop because screen real estate is key when it comes to taking computer science courses. If I was you, I'd just get a cheap used laptop and throw an SSD in it. As you stated, if you actually need the computing horsepower you can just use your desktop or a school computer.

 

The only time you will need your laptop outside of your dorm is to take notes in class (which some professors still don't allow laptops in class, and pen and paper is much faster and easier), working from home during a break (I'm sure your parents have a laptop at the house), or I guess if you wanted to do some work in the common area or something.

 

That's my 2 cents. If you don't have two monitors I'd use the money saved on the laptop to grab a second one. Just trying to save you some money because there seems to be a large misconception that you need access to a computer 24/7 in college. I was one of the people who wasted a lot of money on a laptop because I believed that misconception. 

[ckowkay]

Thanks for the advice, I'll consider getting a lower end laptop and using my desktop for anything heavy, but my school's campus is quite large and I think it would be convenient to be able to work on assignments in the various buildings and study locations around campus. Of course like you said I can still use the school's resources for really heavy stuff and use a cheaper laptop for everything else, but I'll have to think about it some more.

[genexis_x]

11 hours ago, ckowkay said:

My budget is 1000$

Where are you from? Preferred max weight and min battery life? Any preference on display size? Mind low sRGB display?

[ckowkay]

8 hours ago, GeneXiS_X said:

Where are you from? Preferred max weight and min battery life? Any preference on display size? Mind low sRGB display?

United States. I wouldn't mind it being a little heavy. For battery life, I would prefer it to last me most of the day on one charge.  I don't really have any display size preferences. I don't think I would mind low srgb but I'm not sure

[genexis_x]

1 hour ago, ckowkay said:

I wouldn't mind it being a little heavy. For battery life, I would prefer it to last me most of the day on one charge

Give a range - max weight in kg/lbs and min battery life in hours

[ckowkay]

10 hours ago, GeneXiS_X said:

Give a range - max weight in kg/lbs and min battery life in hours

At least 8 hours of battery life and under 7 pounds

[genexis_x]

If you need 16GB RAM (add RAM by yourself if not enough):

Business:

Lenovo Thinkpad T480 customize (FHD IPS, 8GB, 500GB - add SSD later, 24+72Wh battery)

Lenovo Thinkpad T580 customize (FHD IPS, 8GB, 500GB - add SSD later, 32+72Wh battery)

Lenovo Thinkpad L390 Yoga customize / 20NT000JUS, L380 Yoga - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Thinkpad L390 customize / 20NR000VUS, L580 customize / 20LW000MUS, L480 customize

Acer Travelmate TMX3410-M-5608

 

Consumer:

Lenovo Yoga 730 13 customize (16GB) - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Yoga 730 15 iGPU - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Thinkpad E490 customize / 20N8002AUS, E590 customize / 20NB002BUS, E580 20KSS0MV00

HP Probook 430 / 440 / 450 G6

HP Envy 17t customize +SSD

HP Envy x360 15t customize +SSD

Lenovo Ideapad 530s 14

Acer Swift SF315-52G-55MH, SF314-54G-815P with MX150

Acer Swift 3 SF315-52-81HD / 88A4, SF315-52-52YN / 51NV +SSD

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 / 53BQ, SF314-54-54VT / 524Y +SSD

Lenovo Flex 6 14 / Flex 14

 

+SSD means upgrade SSD by yourself

[ckowkay]

6 minutes ago, GeneXiS_X said:

If you need 16GB RAM (add RAM by yourself if not enough):

Business:

Lenovo Thinkpad T480 customize (FHD IPS, 8GB, 500GB - add SSD later, 24+72Wh battery)

Lenovo Thinkpad T580 customize (FHD IPS, 8GB, 500GB - add SSD later, 32+72Wh battery)

Lenovo Thinkpad L390 Yoga customize / 20NT000JUS, L380 Yoga - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Thinkpad L390 customize / 20NR000VUS, L580 customize / 20LW000MUS, L480 customize

Acer Travelmate TMX3410-M-5608

 

Consumer:

Lenovo Yoga 730 13 customize (16GB) - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Yoga 730 15 iGPU - good sRGB IPS

Lenovo Thinkpad E490 customize / 20N8002AUS, E590 customize / 20NB002BUS, E580 20KSS0MV00

HP Probook 430 / 440 / 450 G6

HP Envy 17t customize +SSD

HP Envy x360 15t customize +SSD

Lenovo Ideapad 530s 14

Acer Swift SF315-52G-55MH, SF314-54G-815P with MX150

Acer Swift 3 SF315-52-81HD / 88A4, SF315-52-52YN / 51NV +SSD

Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-56L8 / 53BQ, SF314-54-54VT / 524Y +SSD

Lenovo Flex 6 14 / Flex 14

 

+SSD means upgrade SSD by yourself

Thank you so much!