Recommend me a laptop for 2020-2021 range?

Not in a huge rush to get a a laptop these days however the battery on my asus K501U is getting miserable.

I bought a new battery for it but it think it's at 0% all the time and doesn't last much longer than my old one.

I am honestly not that satisfied with the laptops around at the moment anyway. Unfortunately, macbooks have only become more and more attractive to me- although I should remind myself that they are 2,000 dollars.

I have indeed looked pretty in depth on top 10 laptop posts, but I actually have not found much to my satisfaction.

The one laptop I really thought would be good was the Dell XPS 15. I thought it would do everything, then I went through a dell tech support nightmare and one thing I would not accept was its keyboard. The keyboard hurt my fingers. Not sure if I can trust dell anymore. It seems to me that the people reviewing laptops just get the free XPS's that weren't lemons and wrote absolutely fawning reviews. Meanwhile dell just doesn't inspect half their laptops.

So unfortunately one of the top recommendations now I am not so sure about. What gives me the feeling that right now is just not the time is the fact that I look around and can't find something that makes me think that I want it. Would appreciate it if someone knows something I haven't seen.

I'm looking for a laptop that has a few requirements. I would prefer above 900$, and if need be, it can go to 2,000 if you think it helps.

While I am a gamer, I don't really or might not need to game on my laptop a lot. I think a GTX 1660 is the most I might want, if at all.

I'm not sure if I can accept integrated graphics, however. I admit that I would like to run some simple things without feeling restricted. My current laptop has gotten scuffed, even with a 950m it couldn't run CIV 5 well.

Good or at least respectable battery that holds up over time

Bright display (like the one on the Dell XPS)

Good trackpad or keyboard hopefully. I kind of prefer a number pad.

If you give me a laptop with those 3 that's like 70% of what I really really care about. Like, I really prefer a decent trackpad.

I don't care about weight too much. As long as it's not 13 lbs.

I definitely prefer non-flimsy design. It doesn't even have to look that good. But laptops like my current one that bend are.... well... eh.

Probably at least a 950m type GPU

Here are things that I can live without, but do like

Decent design? I considered the HP spectre for a while.

15 inch screen

Would appreciate knowing if anyone is aware of something that fits my specifications. Any chance I should just wait a few years?

Thanks.

------

If it helps, I will link some laptops and state why I would not want them, or what I thought

Acer Swift 3

-I admit, this looks pretty good and the price is jaw-dropping, but I have a feeling the integrated won't work for me. Is it likely it will cover casual gaming needs? For instance, would CIV 6 work alright?

I considered some microsoft laptops, but I'm just honestly not a touchscreen guy. Could those be a waste for me?

I considered some Razer laptops, but was concerned they may be overpriced.

Thanks.

Edited by JimmyKarter, 27 July 2020 - 05:32 AM.

I have purchased 2 Acer Preditors for my son over the years (his first one got stolen), and the last one got him through college, and is still going strong after 5 years. He games and uses it to work from home. He has the 17" screen which is a bit heavy if you are going to do any amount of transportation, but both Acers never gave him any problems at all.

Here are two links, Newegg and Amazon: note that the users' reviews are really good, which is my experience also.

Newegg:  https://www.newegg.com/abyssal-black-acer-predator-helios-300-ph317-53-77hb-gaming-entertainment/p/1TS-000X-012W1

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Acer-Predator-i7-9750H-Keyboard-PH317-53-7777/dp/B07V4QFKDM/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=Acer+Predator+Helios+300+Gaming+Laptop&qid=1595892075&sr=8-5

Note the Amazon Predator give you 16gigs memory, Newegg only 8.

Remember that with ANY laptop you get, first thing you got to do is remove all the garbage-ware and trialware that comes with it. In addition, there are Acer's "helpful" utilities that only do what Windows utilites already do. Get all the junk that is loading on boot off that machine immediately. If you have any questions about that this forum can help you.

I do not recommend Acer's lower-cost laptops; they are no better than any others. The higher-end laps are more trouble-free.

Edited by ranchhand_, 27 July 2020 - 07:04 PM.

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-series/ThinkPad-T15-G1/p/22TPT15T5N1

I have the HP 17 ca1065cl Its a laptop pretty decent specs but doesn't cost as much $599.99.  Its a 17.3 inch touch screen.

In all honesty, that's a very leading post/statement there. I mean, how long's a piece of string?

For every thread like this, you're going to get as many different recommendations as there are folks who respond to the thread....

I'm not going to make a recommendation at all. Only you know what you really consider suitable, and that's going to be trial & error. Personally, I can't stand laptops/netbooks and their ilk; give me a decent powerful desktop any day, where I can swap out/change each & every component on an as-and-when basis. For my use-case, that's far preferable; for me, a laptop just doesn't "cut the mustard", so I have next to no experience with 'em..!

I also have no use at all for carrying access to the internet around with me wherever I go, Yup, that's right; I only have a "dumb-phone", capable of just calls/texts. It's all I need.

Mike.

Edited by Mike_Walsh, 04 August 2020 - 01:52 PM.

@Mike lighten up a little he/she is only asking for recommedations. Its up to the person to ultimately decide what is best for him or her.

@Mike lighten up a little he/she is only asking for recommedations. Its up to the person to ultimately decide what is best for him or her.

Which is exactly what I said. In all honesty, yes; other members can give you items to consider/bear in mind....but at the end of the day, there's no substitute for actually trying the things out for yourself.

What one person thinks is a brilliant keyboard, for example, YOU might think is crap! Ditto for touchpad.....screen.....speed/responsiveness, etc. It all boils down to the individual use-case. For me, personally, I find laptops/netbooks distinctly limiting; so I don't use them. The only reason (well, two I suppose) that I've hung onto my 18 yr old 2002 Dell laptop as long as I have is because it's got the best keyboard I've ever come across for feel of operation.....and sentimental value.

It gets an "airing" every couple of months.....but I couldn't use it as a primary system; it's hopelessly underpowered (a P4 and a gig of DDR1 RAM). But I like to "play" with it.....   

Mike.

I just bought a Lenovo ThinkPad for my wife. Good little $1,000 laptop. Of course my ThinkPad is better, but her's is no slouch.

Friends, the OP has not bothered himself to respond, so probably has abandoned this thread. Another hit & run poster. Save your help for someone who appreciates it.

What are you talking about? That's really unfair and I'm not sure why you're personally irritated about this. I never thought that a lack of response means anything. What even is 'hit and run' when it comes to online forums?

I have read through every post and looked at their suggestions.

Edited by JimmyKarter, 21 August 2020 - 03:22 PM.

What are you talking about? That's really unfair and I'm not sure why you're personally irritated about this. I never thought that a lack of response means anything. What even is 'hit and run' when it comes to online forums?

I have read through every post and looked at their suggestions.

Lack of response on an online forum is as rude as a lack of response in true life. The etiquette between one-on-one human relations do not change just because some are physical and some are virtual.

Manners are manners.

 

What are you talking about? That's really unfair and I'm not sure why you're personally irritated about this. I never thought that a lack of response means anything. What even is 'hit and run' when it comes to online forums?

I have read through every post and looked at their suggestions.

 

 

Lack of response on an online forum is as rude as a lack of response in true life. The etiquette between one-on-one human relations do not change just because some are physical and some are virtual.

 

Manners are manners.

 

Yes I agree, I posted a similar query with 137+ views in 3 days & NO response. fitting quote^^^

What kind of an incredible culture is this?

In what other part of the internet is this standard?

Excuse me if I am not a 'regular' as you are on this site.

You are telling me manners on the internet are that the OP must reply and give thanks when asking questions? Please tell me what other major sites function this way. Reddit?

Yes, etiquette literally DOES change. Are you usually this impetuous and rude in real life? Probably not. It's the internet and therefore you are saying whatever you like if your day is going poorly. Nevermind the thread, these random expectations and this site's knee-jerk reactions are absolutely mind-blowing and illogical. 

You guys must be adults who never venture past a couple of select sites and do not have to consider that the internet does not operate to this standard

 

What are you talking about? That's really unfair and I'm not sure why you're personally irritated about this. I never thought that a lack of response means anything. What even is 'hit and run' when it comes to online forums?

I have read through every post and looked at their suggestions.

 

 

Lack of response on an online forum is as rude as a lack of response in true life. The etiquette between one-on-one human relations do not change just because some are physical and some are virtual.

 

Manners are manners.

 

Edited by JimmyKarter, 28 August 2020 - 12:53 PM.

Ok, I guess I started this flame, so let me try and dump some water on it.  Let's all simmer down.

Jimmy...why did I say this?

Ok, I'll tell you.

Example: you are driving through the Mohave desert on a rural back road at night. Temperature is 102°F. Car suddenly breaks down. You don't know what the heck is wrong, now what? NO traffic, no cell service, remote road. 80 miles from the next town. You are in bad shape.

Finally, a car comes along, and guess what, the guy is an Ace mechanic. He stops. He spends 45" under the hood, replaces something, does something else, and says, "Now try it."

You hit the start button, and *whallah!*, Old Faithful fires up and purrs like a kitten.

You slam the car into Drive and burn rubber out of there. Last thing you see is your helper in the rear view mirror just standing and looking at you go over the horizon.

No thanks, No "hey bud let me buy you a beer", no nothing.

What would you think of someone who did that?

The people here are volunteers. Nobody makes any money.

Many are/were professionals in the field and work/worked in IT for years, such as myself. The advice they give here is free. If you went to a computer repair service you would pay hundreds for the help you get. Here it is for free. It is not unusual for us to spend a lot of time, sometimes hours (no exaggeration!) to research a problem and help someone who is trying to get his computer back up and running. Many of the folks we help here are elderly and on a very limited budget, and just cannot afford to spend extra pension money to fix their computers.

Look at the Virus and Malware infection forum; those helpers are backed up for days helping folks with infected computers. They have gone through extensive training which took a lot of work and study on their part before they qualify to help, for free, people whose computers are infected.

Look at the Internal Hardware forum; we can barely keep up with the help requests.

If I kept track, I would say that at least 50% of the posters we help suddenly just disappear. No feedback as to if the help we suggested did the trick (which will help us with the next person who posts in with the same problem), no thank you, nothing. Just disappear over the event horizon.

That is why to simply abandon a thread with no closure is bad manners, and hurts the feelings of all the helpers who were involved in that thread.

It is not unreasonable to expect a simple "thank you" in appreciation for the free help and to show good manners.

 

What kind of an incredible culture is this?

In what other part of the internet is this standard?

Excuse me if I am not a 'regular' as you are on this site.

 

You are telling me manners on the internet are that the OP must reply and give thanks when asking questions? Please tell me what other major sites function this way. Reddit?

Yes, etiquette literally DOES change. Are you usually this impetuous and rude in real life? Probably not. It's the internet and therefore you are saying whatever you like if your day is going poorly. Nevermind the thread, these random expectations and this site's knee-jerk reactions are absolutely mind-blowing and illogical. 

You guys must be adults who never venture past a couple of select sites and do not have to consider that the internet does not operate to this standard

 

 

What are you talking about? That's really unfair and I'm not sure why you're personally irritated about this. I never thought that a lack of response means anything. What even is 'hit and run' when it comes to online forums?

I have read through every post and looked at their suggestions.

 

 

Lack of response on an online forum is as rude as a lack of response in true life. The etiquette between one-on-one human relations do not change just because some are physical and some are virtual.

 

Manners are manners.

 

 

Wow!!! Just Wow!!! I can not believe that there is really a human being alive in a civilized country that thinks this way.

This is just weird. I sure hope there are no other human beings out there that think like that!!!!

Wow!! Just Wow!!!