Laptop Advice

[Thomasc_3]

Hello, I am having troubles finding a new laptop at a decent price. It will not be used for gaming like most laptops are marketed towards right now for some reason. I need a very nice looking laptop for college. It needs a fair amount of processing power as I am in school for computer science, specifically, artificial intelligence and machine learning. I am looking for at least a full i5+, 8 gigs of ram, and minimum 256gb ssd. I'll make it easier to see with a list below. Thank you for the help.

 

Budget: Below 1000USD if possible

Priority:

• Slim (Ultrabook)
• Aluminum
• Kaby-Lake I5+
• 8gb ram
• 256gb ssd
• Not mac (lol look at budget)

Non essential

• Qhd
• 12" - 18" display size
• Tiny bezel
• 2 usb c ports (if its an ultrabook)
• Not touch screen
• Decent sound quality

Edited April 19, 2018 by Thomasc_3
Added display size

[Thomasc_3]

Yes I did see the Huawei matebook x on sale, but I can't get that right now

[cflanders]

6 minutes ago, HayHay said:

I know you might not like my suggestion but when it comes to productivity and lightweight, I kinda think you should go for a Macbook?
I use the Macbook Air 2013 edition and it still works extremely well and is amazing for productivity/coding/heavy applications in general! Maybe the 2015 edition of the 13" macbook pro/non touchbar version would work well for you? 

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro

Budget limitations.

[genexis_x]

Preferred display size? FYI aluminum doesn't equal to good build quality. It's how the aluminum is used in chassis design.

[Thomasc_3]

4 minutes ago, HayHay said:

I know you might not like my suggestion but when it comes to productivity and lightweight, I kinda think you should go for a Macbook?
I use the Macbook Air 2013 edition and it still works extremely well and is amazing for productivity/coding/heavy applications in general! Maybe the 2015 edition of the 13" macbook pro/non touchbar version would work well for you? 

https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro

I'm not apposed to getting an apple. The only thing that stops me from doing it is what is inside the computer for the price. Also the transfer from using Windows my entire life (except in elementary school) to Mac would be difficult with having to relearn the UI. Im sure what Im about to say could have gone somewhere else in this message, but i just thought of it. But I have a few programs licensed to windows, some would require me to pay a fee to switch it, or completely repurchase a license (like ProPresenter)

[Thomasc_3]

6 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

Preferred display size? FYI aluminum doesn't equal to good build quality. It's how the aluminum is used in chassis design.

True, but nothing tiny, and nothing huge. Im thinking minimum 12", max 18"

 

Edit: I mainly meant not cheap plastic

Edited April 19, 2018 by Thomasc_3

[genexis_x]

All with KBL-R CPU:

XPS 13 9560/9570

Envy 13

Ideapad 720s 14 +LP MX150

Ideapad 720s 13

Zenbook UX330UA

Zenbook UX430UA

Zenbook UX331UN +LP MX150

[Thomasc_3]

46 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

All with KBL-R CPU:

XPS 13 9560/9570

Envy 13

Ideapad 720s 14 +LP MX150

Ideapad 720s 13

Zenbook UX330UA

Zenbook UX430UA

Zenbook UX331UN +LP MX150

Those all look really nice, thank you so much

[Thomasc_3]

56 minutes ago, HayHay said:

I understand tbh
I tend to use both Windows and Mac OS everyday and it's pretty easy for me to switch between them. 
If you're sticking with Windows, I find that the Microsoft Store has some real nice deals from time to time!
Maybe go for something from Dell like this; https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/dell-xps-13-9360-laptop/8w789mc0fm55/CPM2?tduid=(66aa709257bb448d8e0f8199c07dd35b)(261853)(2939310)(wtbs_5ad92a791b696b06f5b12fe4)()&activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab. 

My friend has a surface, and I dont know if I could program on it due to the weak support without the stand

[Thomasc_3]

2 minutes ago, HayHay said:

Oof thats not a surface

That's a dell xps 13. Dell makes really good laptops that I think are amazing for work and amazing for portability. The battery life on the XPS 13 seems to be good for your budget. 

Oh the link didnt work for me, but i saw the microsoft link and assumed