Suggestions for a business laptop?

[DonP]

Just curious what people are getting these days. Looking at the $400 or less range.

Thanks.

[Jack Napalm]

Depends on your needs. What are your app requirements?

[DonP]

Pretty much just Office 2010.

[Jack Napalm]

At that price point look at something like a Sony Vaio or Toshiba Satellite. Find something with at least 4gig of ram with support for more. You may come a point where you want/need more Ram and having the capacity of being able to switch out/add ram is a good thing.

[emperor_black]

Not sure if you can get them for under $400, but at work, I received a Lenovo T420 and I love it! The battery life is simply amazing. It charges up pretty quickly and lasts for over 6 hrs easily.

[ginsambo]

Went to BestBuy recently with a similar agenda, something under $400. I think the touch screen laptops start at $479+Tax and they all have 4GB Ram as standard. Often the odler ones may be maxed out on the Ram slots though.

Online there are better deals. But my brief was a screen as big as possible, at least 4GB Ram and the fastest processor possible. If you drop the need for a touch screen, which would probably actally work for you but not so much for me, there are plenty of Asus's and Toshiba's with decent specs and 15.6" screeens for well under $400.

The fastest processor and as much ram as you can afford come in handy even using Office, as I assume you'll use the internet too.

All came with 4GB Ram upgradable. Main differences that struck me were the different processors and speeds, of which I haven't a clue.

Don't know if it helps you out, but for me the criteria would be:

Biggest screen size and quality (Dig the black Vaio screens for photoshop, but at this price range they are shyte computers overall)
Fastest Processor
Most Ram and upgradable - check the type of Ram they use is pretty common (Don't know if I'm showing how out of touch I am here or not)
Best Battery Life
Ease of use for the mousepad (Some can be a PITA)
Best Wireless - You know they all promise but some have no probs picking up a signal where as others are nexct to useless even right in front of the hub
What platform it comes with (Ie Full Windows or some Limited Home Premium version)
Touch screen a bonus - But only really if the keyboard removes
Removable Keyboard - A bonus as long as it comfortable as a keyboard - As although oversize, you can use the touch screen tablet to quickly show clients stuff and also look up Craigslist guitar bargains or jack off to porn in the truck. Also you save the keypad getting filthy by not taking it to work. Removing semen from a keyboard can be a nightmare.

Also if you are out and about shopping, take some hand disinfectant with you, as the type of bods who go shopping for computers carry all sorts of diseases and have weakened immune systems by working indoors all the time so develop extremely contagious viruses. NOt to mention the fact that many keyboards are probably returns which will have seen some action at home as well.

Also - Is a DVD/CD drive really necessary when you have an old laptop at home with one? As without one you will save weight and get higher specs for the money and is a removeable/replacable battery necessary?

The Asus - VivoBook 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop looks pretty good for the money at $399 and comes with Windows 8 and is blue tooth enabled to link to you car stereo or download to your phone or what not, but I don't know if 2MB L3 Cache and 1.8Mhz processing speed is comparitively good or not these days and no idea what it's graphics card is up to, which is yet another thing to consider or how hot it gets as it has no fan build in either. All depends on how highly you value your sperm count really.