(Second-hand) laptop recommendation please - robust with big screen. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 07:55:11 pm
content: I'm looking for a second hand laptop, looking to spend up to £150.It does not have to have much grunt, I won't be gaming or video editing.I travel a lot, so it mustn't fall apart in a rucksack.I am learning to program, blundering my way through Python; I like to use daft_long_variable_names, so would like a good, sharp, large wide screen.Can anyone please recommend any makes and modles to look out for on the Bay etc, or conversely anything to avoid.Thanks!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 07:58:28 pm
content: I'm a big fan of my Latitude E6530. Takes chunks out of walls. You just have to dig around to find the proper screens.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 08:13:45 pm
content: The series mentioned by Monkeh is quite nice; I have used the E6520 for several years and they are war tank (heavy as heck as well). The only drawback of the E6520 is the absence of a suitable USB3.0 port (which can still be added on the dock) - the E6530 does have native USB3.0 ports. Another is screen resolution: the model I used was full HD (1920x1080) but the majority is the 1600x1200 or something similar. Always pay close attention to the specifications.If you need a bit more portability, I got an off-lease Latitude E5440 for my mother and it is quite nicely built as well.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2019, 09:07:23 pm
content: Lenovo Thinkpad T or W series. Look on ebay for what you can afford.I've used T-series or X-series for the last decade or so and they have had the shit beaten out of them and just will not die! Spare parts are cheap. I just upgraded the screen on my T440 to a full HD IPS one for £39 delivered to door for example.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2019, 11:24:45 am
content: Ah yes, ten years ago or so when I was a Field Service Tech we all had company Dell laptops (can't remember the models) and they seemed pretty sturdy. I will keep my eyes peeled for an E65X0 with a 1920x1080 display.I've had two Lenovos; the first was back from the IBM Thinkpad days (402?) and isstillgoing, albeit without a battery. The only reason I upgraded was because its 1024x768 resolution just became too low for modern websites.That thing took a HUGE amount of punishment, and I mean HUGE - beer spilt all over it, dropped onto concrete whilst open and running... It has a replacement hinge which a friendly mechanic machined for me from a lump of brass...!I bought another Lenovo to replace it based on that, but the newer one (non IBM branded) feels nowhere near as tough (and has just developed a fan problem), so I think I might try a Dell this time. Might even push the budget up to £200!

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 11:34:34 am
content: Seconded (thirded?) on the Thinkpads. If you need a big screen then you'll probably want a t5x0 15.6" series. For £150 you're probably looking at a T520 or T530, I doubt your (ebay) budget will stretch to a T540. All are Magnesium rollcage internal chassis so plastic corners tend to take the beating).The T520 gives you 4 x USB2, the T530 gives you a USB3. You can always stick a USB3 card into the 34mm ExpressCard slot (albeit needing a second cable to a USB2 slot to get sufficient power to run an external HDD).The basic HD (1366x768) screens are pretty poor contrast. The HD+ (1600x900) is a decent compromise, FHD (1920x1080 Full HD) models tend to go for rather more. The processor performance difference between the T520 (Sandybridge) and T530 (Ivybridge) is pretty small but the T530 has rather faster graphics.What is more or less essential (the difference is night and day!) is to either put in an SSD, or better still, a 128GB MSATA drive into the internal dedicated slot. Then you can cheaply add plenty of traditional HDD storage and still get SSD speeds from the OS. If you pick up a £5 HDD Ultrabay caddy off ebay you can add yet another HDD, so you can have a laptop with 3 drives that way.T520s come with a Windows 7 COA, I think the T530 is Win 10.List of differences here (albeit for the smaller 14" T420/430 models)...https://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=127525&sid=d878b7ec3b3e2b2c997224481b43ca3b

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 12:56:21 pm
content: I've spotted a Dell E6520 with a 1920x1080 display that seems good.It's only got an i3 processor, but does have 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. (Most of them seem to be 4GB / mechanical HDD).I'd think that more RAM + the SSD would give snappier OS performance, compared to a more grunty CPU with less RAM and a spinning disk, so this could be what I'm after.I will also search for some Thinkpads....

author: knapik
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 01:23:00 pm
content: I had a thinkpad t420 for quite a while and that took quite a beating! Dropped many times and the only thing that ever broke from doing so was the mechanical hard drive, which is shock mounted. Too many drops I guess, an SSD would definitely help for extra robustness. Unfortunately what took it out in the end was a can of fish opening in my bag with my laptop, damaging the screen with oil. I decided it just wasn't worth the money to repair and bought a new laptop instead.I use a thinkpad t540p now which I'm quite happy with as well. I recently dropped this one onto a corner from chest height while cooking and nothing was damaged.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 01:25:58 pm
content: That is a good find, if the price is right and it was not abused by the previous owners. The E6520's screen is harder to replace than the processor (if the need arises). IIRC these computers can take 16GB, but I only have 8GB on mine as well and can't tell for sure without searching.The USB 3.0 dock adapter for the E6420 works on the E6520 (despite the Dell website does not list it as compatible). I have been using this adapter for about five years without a problem.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 01:26:11 pm
content: Any 17" MacBook Prounibody(from early 2009 on), the i5 A1297 are the best imo.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 02:09:38 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 17, 2019, 01:26:11 pmOkay, he asked for a big screen, but he also asked for robust and on a budget..

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 02:33:12 pm
content: Err yeah they’re certainly not robust!

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 03:18:37 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on January 17, 2019, 02:33:12 pmThe core2duos and i5s are very robust, the i7s not so much. And the battery is huge: 95Wh!

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 03:51:24 pm
content: No they're not. 6 inch fall onto carpet when closed. Yes it was mine (2013 15" rMBP)

author: nsrmagazin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:27:16 pm
content: The delivery to the EU is 20 EURO.https://www.kvantservice.com/

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:27:56 pm
content: Well... don't drop it ! :-)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:28:30 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 17, 2019, 04:27:56 pmWhat if you hold it wrong?Apple need not apply to this discussion..

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:44:35 pm
content: You mean a Lenovo doesn't break when dropped? LOL

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:46:47 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 17, 2019, 04:44:35 pmEventuallyI have NEVER broken a Thinkpad (I've had 7 of them) and they have been knocked off tables, fallen out of car doors, all sorts.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:52:09 pm
content: Quote from: GeorgeOfTheJungle on January 17, 2019, 04:44:35 pmDepends how and where you drop it..I'll re-iterate: My Latitude takes chunks out of walls. It breaks things it hit, not the other way around.My old Thinkpad has a great deal of cracked up plastic but nothing else has been damaged, and it's been dropped, kicked, dragged across concrete by cables..They don't crack hinges or frames, rot away at the first sign of moisture in the air, have glued on parts start separating..

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 04:59:48 pm
content: The video: LOL. I've got three A1297s, I've never broken one.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 05:01:51 pm
content: Quote from: bd139 on January 15, 2019, 09:07:23 pmI have a T420S, the last in the T series with a decent keyboard AFAIKI maxed it to 16GB RAM, and changed the panel to a FHD IPS as well. Very usable.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 05:02:07 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 17, 2019, 04:52:09 pmThe unibodys don't have any glued parts, they're a single piece milled out of a solid block of aluminium. I can't stand this guy, but... look:

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 05:17:44 pm
content: Battery is glued in on all the new ones. They’re a fucker to get out too. Have done one already. Was being stripped for parts.

author: GeorgeOfTheJungle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 05:23:04 pm
content: Quote from: bd139Nope, not on anyunibody17", it's not glued. Nothing is glued in fact.https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+17-Inch+Unibody+Battery+Replacement/3403

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 05:40:43 pm
content: The E6520 I've got my eye on has a duff pixel(s?). I'm not fussed by that at all,unless it is a sign that the screen is on its way out and this problem is going to spread?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 06:53:42 pm
content: Stuck pixels are quite common and rarely a sign of any impending failure. It's entirely possible it shipped from the factory like that.A replacement FHD panel is about £50, so it may be worth considering an E6530 or a higher spec E6520 and replacing the panel.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2019, 06:59:37 pm
content: Quote from: Delta on January 17, 2019, 12:56:21 pmI sent you an ebay link via PM. May be of interest.

author: nsrmagazin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 09:06:16 am
content: Also its country dependent, the quality is different in different countries.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 10:39:03 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on January 15, 2019, 09:07:23 pm100% Agreement on this !I have several T models and they run perfectly all the time.And my W520 runs CAD and EAD Software better than any large workstation I had with its two graphics adapters.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 10:47:15 am
content: +1 on the Thinkpad T series

author: s8548a
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 04:35:43 pm
content: +1 for the Thinkpad T models.I have got a refurbished T420 and it is still running fine after around 4 years, and never felt to switch to nvidia graphics while working on pcb's.btw, I could't get a cable to connect my external monitor via HDMI cable, tried one cable from amazon and it didn't worked and returned.