Engineering Student Laptop ~$1500- 2000 AUD

[Ramke_99]

okay, so I'm starting year 12 and going into uni to do engineering and I need a laptop which will be able to last me most of this time. I am willing to spend about 1500 - 2000 if it has the specs and recommendations to back it up. I'm looking for a light (sub 1.5 kg) laptop with a 13" screen (to easily fit in carry bag/ backpack ). core i5, or i7 processor, a minimum of 256gb ssd, able to comfortably be able to do CAD/ 3D design and survive an 8 hour or more day.

 

It would also be benificial to not have to be replaced for 4/5 years if possible... provided battery doesn't die in the meantime  
 

I'm assuming I'm going to have to go with and ultrabook of some description.

does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations.

all replies are appreciated and will be taken into consideration. 

[Guest]

Do you need to game on it? 

[Ramke_99]

1 minute ago, deXxterlab97 said:

 

Do you need to game on it?

 

no, I have a tower for that but It could be possible that I would need to use 3D drawing software such as autodesk inventor or solid works ect. 

 

2 minutes ago, wrathoftheturkey said:

Your battery expectations are unrealistic m8

even for just like, word processing and web browsing?? I thought that time length was pretty standard now... possibly mistaken 

[SydneySideSteveSomewheres]

What about the Dell XPS 13, I bought a powerful gaming laptop in my second year at uni. Thinking that I would need the power under the hood of such a machine, but now realise that I could have got away with something more suited to just study. My alternatives at the time of spending AUD$1,400 were very bleak, if making that choice again today I would buy the XPS 13 (without a touch screen for better battery performance). The library at uni had some available to borrow overnight and although they were not the most recent iteration I was suitably impressed, especially with the battery lasting longer than the borrow period!

Would probably buy the Dell DA200 Adapter (AUD$109) if I was going to give the CPU any sort of file-intensive work, though.

 

Link:

http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-13-9350-laptop/pd#AnchorZone2

[Ramke_99]

17 minutes ago, SydneySideSteveSomewheres said:

What about the Dell XPS 13

reading through dell's webpage on it, it is looking like an exceptional option. I do like how it has options for basically every component and it will be very high on the potential purchase list. 

[TechQuest]

2 hours ago, Ramke_99 said:

okay, so I'm starting year 12 and going into uni to do engineering and I need a laptop which will be able to last me most of this time. I am willing to spend about 1500 - 2000 if it has the specs and recommendations to back it up. I'm looking for a light (sub 1.5 kg) laptop with a 13" screen (to easily fit in carry bag/ backpack ). core i5, or i7 processor, a minimum of 256gb ssd, able to comfortably be able to do CAD/ 3D design and survive an 8 hour or more day.

 

It would also be benificial to not have to be replaced for 4/5 years if possible... provided battery doesn't die in the meantime  
 

I'm assuming I'm going to have to go with and ultrabook of some description.

does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations.

all replies are appreciated and will be taken into consideration. 

I think you should get Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga, which advertises spill resistant keyboard. The cost is $1839 plus 14" inch display.

[Ramke_99]

23 minutes ago, TechQuest said:

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga

thanks for the suggestion but I think that the 14" display would be too large and from reading some reviews wouldn't be as good for what I need it for as other options. 

[TechQuest]

6 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

thanks for the suggestion but I think that the 14" display would be too large and from reading some reviews wouldn't be as good for what I need it for as other options. 

If you need an 13" display, then you should get Lenovo Thinkpad 13.

[Ramke_99]

17 minutes ago, TechQuest said:

Lenovo Thinkpad 13

possible. but being aimed at business use, would it lack power to run 3D drawing software ??

 

[TechQuest]

1 minute ago, Ramke_99 said:

possible. but being aimed at business use, would it lack power to run 3D drawing software ??

 

with 6th gen Intel Core i5 processor, I believe it will be enough power for this.

[Pendragon]

6 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

possible. but being aimed at business use, would it lack power to run 3D drawing software ??

A XPS13 with a HD620 is a good option. Alternatively, the X270 comes highly recommended. X270 is the successor to the X260. X260 has like 10 hours of actual use battery life and the X270 is set to continue the tradition of the long battery life Thinkpad. 

[Ramke_99]

5 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

A XPS13 with a HD620 is a good option. Alternatively, the X270 comes highly recommended. X270 is the successor to the X260. X260 has like 10 hours of actual use battery life and the X270 is set to continue the tradition of the long battery life Thinkpad. 

I cant find anything on the x270 on lenovo's site but all seems to be in speculation for early this year. however I am leaning toward the XPS13 

[Dackzy]

8 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

I cant find anything on the x270 on lenovo's site but all seems to be in speculation for early this year. however I am leaning toward the XPS13 

that is because it isn't out yet. 

A XPS13 should have a bit better cooling and for some it is better looking (I could not care less about looks), but the x270 will be build better and have longer battery life and I think they have put the TDP up to 20w (not sure), if they have done that then the x270 would be able to turbo boost for longer periods.

 

You can basically look at the X260 and then add kaby lake and maybe TB3 in a USB C port. They don't normally change too much from gen to gen.

[Ramke_99]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

hat is because it isn't out yet. 

A XPS13 should have a bit better cooling and for some it is better looking

I figured as such. 

and I do agree that the XPS 13 does look better

[Dackzy]

30 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

I figured as such. 

and I do agree that the XPS 13 does look better

It should be here fairly soon. I would personally go with a X270, simple because of the battery life and build quality, but remember they are both ULV CPUs, so they aren't that great.

[Pendragon]

53 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

and I do agree that the XPS 13 does look better

I agree, but the X270 would be built better. Longer battery life, better build, only downside is not as good screen. 

[Ramke_99]

1 minute ago, Pendragon said:

would be built better.

how would it be built better ??

[Pendragon]

54 minutes ago, Ramke_99 said:

how would it be built better ??

It's a thinkpad. Magnesium alloy business construction. Literally can survive decades. People still use T420s years back and they all work perfectly fine. You get 24 hour on-site technician backed by the Thinkpad series customer service and god bless the business call line where you get professionals who cater to your needs, not some indian outsourced barely understandable English service that leaves you on hold for an hour. 

 

Thinkpads, Elitebooks, Latitudes are all built the same. Professional business usage rated for 24 hour use at all times. 

[Dackzy]

2 hours ago, Pendragon said:

T420s years back and they all work perfectly fine.

Ey I still use that laptop.

Yep pro support is worlds better than normal support.

[Pendragon]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

Yep pro support is worlds better than normal support.

I feel like this needs to be stressed more. All you people out there who complain about customer service will never have a problem again once you get access to pro support. On consumer support you get left on the line for some idiot who doesn't know what they're talking about and get rerouted 4 times before you hang up. On pro/business support you get a direct person within 5 minutes, you get a price quote or technician sent to your house for whatever you're trying to do with that 1 person. If it's a technical problem you get sent to an engineer that can troubleshoot or offer to remote in or send a professional to come deal with it. It's not the crappy outsourced dumbass technician that has a chance to fuck up your laptop, but an actual good one that doesn't fuck it up, doesn't try to do more than they can on the spot, and will tell you they don't know and it needs to go back to be further examined (rarely happens, but at least you know they take your thing seriously). More often than not, they fix it on the spot and leave, you get a bill or no bill depending on what it is and you're done. If you're a long time customer I'm pretty sure you get a substitute machine for the time your laptop is sent back to be repaired, so 0 downtime. All within 24 hours which is the business pro support guarantee.

[Dash Lambda]

I second the X260/X270.

ThinkPad build quality, ThinkPad keyboard, unmatched (as far as I'm aware) battery life, dual batteries that allow you to swap the external one without shutting it off, plus business customer support.

 

There really is no competition.

[cc143]

Don't you guys do solidworks etc. which I believe can benefit from a discrete GPU? 

 

If that is the case, the XPS13 is not that good an option, don't get me wrong, I own the 2015 model and love it, it's a great machine, its portable and has great specs for the form factor, but I believe you could benefit from a discrete GPU as well. 

 

Also, you don't seem to mention anything about it anywhere, but I wouldn't go with it as a single machine, the size is great for portability, but not that great for prolonged productivity. The XPS 15 is I think a better fit for you, its under 2kg, which is amazing and the difference in weight is minor, has much better specs, a similar footprint to last years macbook pro and could possibly be in your price range. 

 

As far as support goes, you can spend the extra $100 and get the pack that offers it without getting a business laptop. 

[Ramke_99]

42 minutes ago, cc143 said:

Don't you guys do solidworks etc. which I believe can benefit from a discrete GPU? 

yeah I would use solidworks ect so yes would benifit from the discrete GPU but it would be minimal as I already have a desktop more than capable of that so it isn't high on the priorities list although would be benificial. 

I was more aimed at the high portability and not having to rely on being near a power point due to the unpredictable working spaces of uni. 

6 hours ago, Pendragon said:

feel like this needs to be stressed more. All you people out there who complain about customer service will never have a problem again once you get access to pro support.

I doubt I'd use the customer service and it isnt really a make or break aspect for me. 

[cc143]

1 minute ago, Ramke_99 said:

yeah I would use solidworks ect so yes would benifit from the discrete GPU but it would be minimal as I already have a desktop more than capable of that so it isn't high on the priorities list although would be benificial. 

I was more aimed at the high portability and not having to rely on being near a power point due to the unpredictable working spaces of uni. 

I doubt I'd use the customer service and it isnt really a make or break aspect for me. 

I've been looking at the XPS 15 for a while and would easily have gotten that were it available where I got my XPS13 from. Ultimately it came down on getting a really great deal on it. 

 

What I have to say on the matter, being an XPS13 owner is this, it's a great laptop, it's very portable etc. I would still, given the budget sacrifice the extra 300-400 grams and an hour of battery life for the XPS15, there are many cases where I find the XPS13's size, and even specs occasionally lacking, case in point, I'm now back home for the holidays and don't have access to my Desktop, thank god I have peripherals here! I also can't play Overwatch, which is a pro or con depending on ones point of view. 

 

If you can, go look at them up close, you will see the size thing, and the fact that the XPS15 is 1.8kg and has great battery life make it exceptionally portable, while you still get a nice comfortable display. If you can afford a good spec, get the XPS15 and don't look back. This is the how thin does it have to get argument all over. At some point, returns from lightness and battery life diminish, and the XPS15 is I believe at a great sweet spot. 

[Ramke_99]

3 minutes ago, cc143 said:

If you can, go look at them up close, you will see the size thing,

I'm hopefully going to be able to next week which will help with my choice. being able to see them compared, playing with them and talking to salespeople should be good.