Laptop

Chit-Chat / Rumor Mill
#1

Let’s say one has $500 to spend on a laptop. The laptop needs to be able to run ROBOTC, & Inventor. What laptop brand/model would you purchase :slight_smile:

Thanks!

#2

Just did some quick searching and I would go with the Toshiba Satellite C870-ST4NX2 (link: http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/C870/C870-ST4NX2)

It’s just inside your budget and:

  • Dual core 2.4Ghz which isn’t bad for your price range
  • 4GB RAM
  • 500GB storage (necessary for the 3D work)
  • 17.3" screen (Good for 3D work and long lines of code)
  • LED Display: Crisper colors for programming and 3D work
  • Full keyboard
  • 5.7lbs, which is heavy for some but I’m using a 10lb laptop so it seems very light to me.

Of course, remember the choice is always up to you but I’ve had very good experiences with the Satellite series in terms of speed, durability, and reliability.

The windows 8 part sucks but it’s hard to find anything without it these days. I’ve heard of some people having issues with RobotC and Windows 8 so you may want to look into that before settling on this.

Edit: Regarding Windows 8, you may want to take a glance at this thread: https://vexforum.com/t/prolific-robotc-and-windows-8/22443/1, so shouldn’t be a problem.

#3

I have been looking at those :slight_smile: Thanks for the thumbs up on that model…

I found this: http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/L870/L875D-S7332/

It is more expensive, but then I checked on ebay here: [http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-Satellite-L875D-S7332-Dual-Core-2-7GHz-6GB-640GB-DVDRW-17-3-WINDOWS-8-/271200579210?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3f24d06e8a

Is that model better (it has more capacity).](http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-Satellite-L875D-S7332-Dual-Core-2-7GHz-6GB-640GB-DVDRW-17-3-WINDOWS-8-/271200579210?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3f24d06e8a)

#4

It is more expensive, but then I checked on ebay here: [http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-Satellite-L875D-S7332-Dual-Core-2-7GHz-6GB-640GB-DVDRW-17-3-WINDOWS-8-/271200579210?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3f24d06e8a

Is that model better (it has more capacity).](http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-Satellite-L875D-S7332-Dual-Core-2-7GHz-6GB-640GB-DVDRW-17-3-WINDOWS-8-/271200579210?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item3f24d06e8a)

The ebay one is cheaper, slightly better specs, and I’ve never had problems with refurbished laptops. However, I always like to get the 3 or 4 year drop warranty for laptops in which case you’d have to get it through Toshiba. I’ve always found that drop warranties pay for themselves, especially with a laptop that you will likely be treating roughly (ie carrying it around at competitions)

#5

I don’t plan on treating it bad. I will be carrying it around competitions in a bag.

We will see.

#6

I don’t treat mine poorly but I don’t baby it either. Just remember that bad things happen, especially in the stressful competition environment.

#7

If you’d be willing to cash out just a little more money, I’d recommend a Thinkpad. Some computers look great on paper, but with some brands, especially Toshiba, Dell, and HP, they just aren’t very reliable and don’t last very long. It’s probably a better investment to get a reliable and sturdy laptop like a Thinkpad and use it for 5 years than to get 2 slightly cheaper Toshibas and use them for 2 years each.

As for models, I’d say take a look at the Edge and X series.

#8

I have had a Thinkpad before, and did not like it :slight_smile: It lasted me 1.5 years. I took good care of it, but it kept needing fixed and stuff, so I sold it.

#9

I Would get an Asus as they have some of the lowest failure rate of any laptop manufacture according to square trade.

#10

Which one would you get and why?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-L875D-S7332-17-3-640-GB-AMD-Fusion-2-7-GHz-6-GB/190854226835?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D11%26meid%3D8302432351185990972%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1005%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D271200579210%26

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-L755D-S5130B-AMD-Quad-Core-A8-3520M-15-6-6GB-640GB-Windows-7-/290920221888?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item43bc324cc0

#11

I have 2 Toshiba’s, one I am still using after 5 years, and one that I have been using for 1.5 years. I have had no problems with them. On my newer one, I got a i7 processor, 750gb hard drive, and 8 gb ram for $550 dollars.

#12

Does Inventor Professional 2012 or 2013 run on Windows 8?

#13

Not sure about 2012, but 2013 does.

#14

I purchased this laptop: http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/satellite/L770/L775D-S7222/

What do you guys think? If needed I can buy a 1TB exterior hard drive for more space, and also get the max 8GB of RAM for the laptop. I will see how things go though.

#15

Did you get it for a good price? Its been available for a while now.

#16

I got it for $429 Manufacturer Refurbished on eBay.

#18

My school uses a bunch of Dell laptops for programming and so far I haven’t heard any complaints about them, and I see them playing Minecraft and roblox once so I imagine it can handle inventor, and I know they can handle ROBOTC. I wish I could tell you their names right off the top of my head but I can’t remember, I just remember they are fairly cheap at about $320-350 and they are made by Dell.

#19

That was a spam post last night, this thread is 6 years old. Feel free to open a new thread about laptops if you want to start an updated discussion. @DRow can we use the auto lock after one year function like CD?

2 Likes
#20

Oof, didn’t even realize it. Lol

#21

No worries not your fault, I would encourage you to try and start a new thread see what people think about current laptops and other solutions.