High end laptop for student

[FBGKimpan]

Hello!

I used to have a MacBook Pro (the one without touchbar) which I never used, so I sold it. However, now I'm having classes and I find myself in need of a laptop way to often.

 

But I am having trouble picking and I seek your advice.

 

I'm studying to become a teacher so I don't really need a power house. But I want a premium feel / laptop that can last atleast 3-4 years.

 

I got a desktop for heavier use.

 

My demands?

120GB SSD atleast.

Prefer 13" (but I could possible go for 15)

8 GB RAM

 

I think I want touchscreen, a lot of people say that once you test it, you can't go back. Linus praise it a lot also. I can see myself using it on the train / in bed when reading PDF files and student work.

 

 

I've looked at these options so far:

 

1. Dell XPS 13 with touch

i7,250gb ssd, 8gb ram and touchscreen

15,500 SEK

 

2. Dell XPS. Two in one.

i7, 250gb ssd, 8gb ram and touchscreen

16,490 SEK

 

3. HP Spectre 13. no touch.
i5, 250gb ssd, 8gb ram

11,990kr SEK

 

4. HP Spectre x360. Two in one.
i5, 250gb ssd, 8gb ram  and touchscreen

9990kr SEK

 

5.HP Spectre x360. Two in one.
i7, 500gb ssd, 8gb ram och qhd skärm.

 14,490 SEK

 

I'm using SEK because I am from Sweden and you should be able to see the price difference between the devices.

 

----------------

 

I really love the new design (blackish with gold / coppar) of HP, but design aint everything.

 

The Spectre 13 I feel like I should skip due to no touch.

 

Everyone praises Dell XPS so much, but is it really worth 50 % more money over the Spectre x360 with lower specs?

Linus granted Spectre x360 it the best two in one.

 

 

 

So what do you guys think?

 

[dizmo]

XPS 13 as long as it's the newest one. It demolishes the rest in battery life, and really as a student that should be your main concern.

[FBGKimpan]

27 minutes ago, dizmo said:

XPS 13 as long as it's the newest one. It demolishes the rest in battery life, and really as a student that should be your main concern.

So the extra 1-2h makes it worth 50% more?

The newest spectre 360 is supposed to have 12,5h

[dizmo]

4 minutes ago, FBGKimpan said:

So the extra 1-2h makes it worth 50% more?

The newest spectre 360 is supposed to have 12,5h

Never go by the numbers given to you by the company, always go with reviews, preferably all from the same source.

The hardware, thermals, etc will all have different affects on performance.

 

You also have to consider the fact you're comparing the i7 model to the i5 and adding touch. Apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

[FBGKimpan]

44 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Never go by the numbers given to you by the company, always go with reviews, preferably all from the same source.

The hardware, thermals, etc will all have different affects on performance.

 

You also have to consider the fact you're comparing the i7 model to the i5 and adding touch. Apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

X360 has touch and was higher rated by Linus than dell xps 2 in 1. 

 

So i7 and 1-2h extra battery life is worth 50% more money? 

 

I'm not arguing, I'm trying to see reason to spend the money over less.

 

Because there is always a point where you spend alot more money for a slight increase in stuff you can live without (1-2h battery life, water proof and such)

 

 

In Sweden there are power outlet all.over the place. Most study rooms at our campus has like 4-5 each

 

 

Edit the x360 had stylus option also, which might be nice.. But do you believe it pushes it over the Dell with that?

[NA_NotAvailable]

what about a ipad? or a surface pro

 

 

[FBGKimpan]

1 hour ago, NA_NotAvailable said:

what about a ipad? or a surface pro

 

 

Thats actually a very good point. I havent really thought about it. Gah, its even harder now.

 

The thing about Dell XPS is that, while everyone praises them. I get the feeling that they simply aint worth it. The extra 'premium' you get, is not really worth the amount of extra money. WHile you lose options like pen mode / touch and so on.

 

When people compare XPS with Spectre, it's often like "While the XPS infinity edge and 1-3h battery is a lot better, the spectre win here and here". But the XPS is 50 % more xpensive.

 

 

[dizmo]

9 hours ago, FBGKimpan said:

X360 has touch and was higher rated by Linus than dell xps 2 in 1. 

 

So i7 and 1-2h extra battery life is worth 50% more money? 

 

I'm not arguing, I'm trying to see reason to spend the money over less.

 

Because there is always a point where you spend alot more money for a slight increase in stuff you can live without (1-2h battery life, water proof and such)

 

In Sweden there are power outlet all.over the place. Most study rooms at our campus has like 4-5 each

Edit the x360 had stylus option also, which might be nice.. But do you believe it pushes it over the Dell with that?

Worth is a relative quantifier, only you can answer that.

Also, you're comparing apples to oranges. The i7 model vs the i5. Which only has a 29% price premium, not 50%.

Why not compare the i5 XPS to the i5 X360? Or the i7 XPS to the i7 X360?

[Pendragon]

2 hours ago, FBGKimpan said:

The thing about Dell XPS is that, while everyone praises them. I get the feeling that they simply aint worth it. The extra 'premium' you get, is not really worth the amount of extra money. WHile you lose options like pen mode / touch and so on.

3

Macbooks. 

[NA_NotAvailable]

14 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

Macbooks. 

Macs have the OSX..................................... and you can answer your texts though it aka the apple ecosystem. its soooo good i would recommend buying a 2nd hand because you probably wont see THAT much difference to justify a brand new purchase

[Pendragon]

8 minutes ago, NA_NotAvailable said:

Macs have the OSX.....................................

Never saw what was so special even though I used it for a few years. Always had a itch to go back to Windows (boot camp is shit). Only good point was that it's light, and the battery life was nice. And the trackpad, yes that's something I miss. It was good. Really good. Not good as a mouse, but good. 

[FBGKimpan]

34 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Worth is a relative quantifier, only you can answer that.

Also, you're comparing apples to oranges. The i7 model vs the i5. Which only has a 29% price premium, not 50%.

Why not compare the i5 XPS to the i5 X360? Or the i7 XPS to the i7 X360?

 I am comparing the cheapest models with the 'features' I want. I don't mind a i5, but XPS forces you to go for a i7 for touchscreen.

 

Also, the normal Dell XPS, after some more thinking.. Wont really be ideal for me. As a teacher I spend a lot of time reading pdf files and such. Having the ability to lie down in bed while reading is godlike.

 

30 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

Macbooks. 

MacBooks offers extremly well resell value. While Dell does not (Actually true) due to the 'Brand status'. Dell XPS is mostly valued within communities that knows their stuff about computers and they won't pay higher resell than needed. MacBooks are wanted by people just for the Apple logo.

 

And the eco system.

9 minutes ago, Pendragon said:

Never saw what was so special even though I used it for a few years. Always had a itch to go back to Windows (boot camp is shit). Only good point was that it's light, and the battery life was nice. And the trackpad, yes that's something I miss. It was good. Really good. Not good as a mouse, but good. 

Yeah, the trackpad is GODLIKE. Force touch is amazing.

 

I used to have a MacBook pro, but I sold it. I'd buy a new one (due to having apple tv, watch and iphone), but I kinda feel like touchscreen will be a huge asset for me.

[Pendragon]

11 minutes ago, FBGKimpan said:

I used to have a MacBook pro, but I sold it. I'd buy a new one (due to having apple tv, watch and iphone), but I kinda feel like touchscreen will be a huge asset for me.

Thinkpad Yoga. more options. 

[dizmo]

1 hour ago, FBGKimpan said:

 I am comparing the cheapest models with the 'features' I want. I don't mind a i5, but XPS forces you to go for a i7 for touchscreen.

 

Also, the normal Dell XPS, after some more thinking.. Wont really be ideal for me. As a teacher I spend a lot of time reading pdf files and such. Having the ability to lie down in bed while reading is godlike.

No you're not. The cheapest HP doesn't have touch.

[FBGKimpan]

20 minutes ago, dizmo said:

No you're not. The cheapest HP doesn't have touch.

Yes it does. 

[NA_NotAvailable]

I am doing this BUT 2nd hand macbook + http://www.wacom.com/en-hk/products/pen-displays/wacom-cintiq-pro-13

 

or the 16................. its stupid but surface would be the best option. unless you are a art student stay away from wacom.