Laptop Replacement Time *SIGHS*

Posted on by

Laptops and technology in general have a shelflife. You have two choices.

  1. Wait until said piece of tech breaks
  2. Identify the lifecycle of the tech and replace it before it breaks

I’m hoping to accomplish the latter.

Currently I’m using an HP pavillion, and its in the 4 year range. A well maintained laptop is said to have between a 3-6 year life. With game play taking the life because that activity causes the PC to run hot. Heat kills laptops. Which translates to me being on borrowed time.  My computer works well enough but I don’t want to be caught with my pants down so-to-speak. I take some precautions. I have many images saved online spaces. I really need to make hard DVD backups of my pictures.  That would be the one thing I would be upset about.

So lets start with what I use my laptop for.

  • WORK: I have to be able to remote in to my computer at work so having windows makes that process easiest for me.
  • WRITING: I type out blogs on my computer as well as ideas for other projects and emails
  • DRAWING: I have a wacomm that I use to help me digitize my artwork.
  • WATCH: netflix of course, youtube, etc . Often times I will connect the laptop to the TV in the living room by cord or by chromecast
  • STORE: pictures , music and drawing projects
  • SHOP: pay bills and spend money.

One thing that is changing is that I don’t normally travel with my computer. I have a nook and a smartphone. Forecast for the next 12 months will have me traveling more than normal.  Work travel where I should probably have a laptop with me.  Must run Java .  Looking for something lighter than my current HP pavilion (5 lbs), tablet input, able to connect or display screen via HDMI output or wireless.  Running full windows, I already have three other android tablets including the nook.

hp pavilion from CNET

  • Surface 3 –
    1. PRICE $799-$1949
    2. DISPLAY 12 inch multi touch input screen /stylus
    3. RAM 4Gb & 8Gb
    4. WEIGHT 1.76 lbs
    5. OTHER full-size USB 3.0, microSD card reader, and Mini DisplayPort
    6. no HDMI no headphone
  • Acer Aspire S7
    1. PRICE $1399-1599
    2. DISPLAY 13.3 Gorilla® Glass 2 super-crisp WQHD1 touch display
    3. RAM 8GB
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 12.2
    1. Price $649
    2. RAM 3GB
    3. WEIGHT 1.65 lbs
    4. OS Android Kit Kat
  • Dell Venue 11 Pro
    1. PRICE $429
    2. DISPLAY 10.8” HD LCD (1366×768) 16:9
    3. RAM 2GB
    4. WEIGHT 1.57 lbs
    5. OTHER  4G LTE mobile broadband card for Verizon
    6. No Java support!!!
    7. 1 x Full size USB3.0. 1 x Headphone and microphone combo jack, 1 x mini HDMI
      Near Field Communication (NFC)
      Noble Security Lock Slot

Take one. the Dell is out because it has no Java support. Samsung Note 12.2 is out because it runs android and I don’t need another android tablet.  Which brings it down to the Acer and the Surface.  Acer is a pure laptop and would work, but with a base prise of $1399 it’s more than I want to spend on a laptop. For that price I might as well go and get myself a macbook.  Based on these four options. the Surface 3 is the winner.

What kind of laptop are you using these days? Comment below or tweet me @SoularPowered

 

 

 

Leave a comment