This was posted 5 years 1 month 9 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

Related
  • expired

ThinkPad E585 (15.6" FHD/Ryzen 5/8GB/256GB) $829; E485 (14"FHD/Ryzen 5/8GB/128GB) $739 @ Lenovo AU (+12% Cashback @ ShopBack AU)

830
ThinkPad E585 (15.6" FHD/Ryzen 5/8GB/256GB) $829; E485 (14"FHD/Ryzen 5/8GB/128GB) $739 @ Lenovo AU (+12% Cashback @ ShopBack AU)Affiliate
Go to Deal
Cashback
zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 13:12 lenovo.com (1714 clicks)
Last edited 12/03/2019 - 12:19
AMD5
This post contains affiliate links. OzBargain might earn commissions when you click through and make purchases. Please see this page for more information.

TL;DR

Thinkpad E585 (https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-edge/…)
15.6" IPS FHD, Ryzen 5 2500U, 8GB 2400 MHz DDR4, 256GB NVMe.
$829, or $738.57 after 12% CashBack from ShopBack

Thinkpad E485 (https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-edge/…)
14" IPS FHD, Ryzen 5 2500U, 8GB 2400 MHz DDR4, 128GB NVMe.
$739 (+$50 for 256GB)
Or $658.39 ($702.93 for 256GB) after 12% Cashback from ShopBack.

Considering the frequency of these promotions, they're becoming weekly or fortnightly sales (see previous deals and more for some FAQs and discussions).

Super slightly better price than the last deal ($10-20 depending on configuration, before cashbacks sites), and decided to list the E585 first as this time it has 256GB storage and even slightly better price than previous. Do note the newer Ryzen Mobile 3000 series APUs are now available, but the refresh of the ThinkPad E-series might not come until second half of the year, and it is not expected to bring huge improvements (speculated to be ~10% plus or minus 5), while likely $100-200 more.

Again, CashBacks: as the sale ends on 14th March, I recommend holding off to see if CashRewards or ShopBack will increase the cashback rate (to ~8-12% from 4%, usually happens towards the end of a promo) before buying (historically, CashRewards does an increase monthly, ShopBack did it in December and last month).

EDIT (11/03): ShopBack has increased cashback rate to 12% for one day today (as far as its email indicates), ends 11:59PM 11/03/2019 Nope still going!. Now good time to buy if you were previously interested. Thanks Wally Simmonds for the heads up.

Make sure the last click before purchase is from ShopBack AU. The winning affiliate is always the one that receives the last click. Also, please turn off any AdBlock/uBlock/Ghostery as well as Safari (mobile and/or desktop) Cross-Site Tracking.

Notes on memory upgrades (see previous deal for more detailed comments)

  • If 8GB is sufficient for you —> get 4GBx2 config (included in price)
  • But if you want/will use more —> get 8GBx1 config (included in price), then buy a RAM stick separately (Lenovo's prices are exorbitant)
  • If 8GB is sufficient at the moment, but want to upgrade later/when needed, and happy with lower performance in the meanwhile (enough for general office, browsing and media usage, but not gaming) —> get 8GBx1 config and get RAM when you need it.

Newegg's 8GB DDR4 2400MHz SODIMM RAM single stick prices: https://www.newegg.com/global/au-en/Product/ProductList.aspx… (remember to sort by Lowest Price)

Notes on software updates:

It is recommended that you update the Chipset, and especially the Graphics drivers DIRECTLY from AMD rather than (the painfully slow) OEMs, as this fixes a lot of earlier software, driver and stability/incompatibility issues. AMD has now (since end of Feb 2019) taken over the responsibility of updating and releasing the graphics drivers from the OEMs.

Brief Specs:

Thinkpad E585

  • AMD Ryzen™ 5 2500U Quad-Core (4 Cores 8 Threads, 2 GHz base frequency, 3.6 GHz boost) (+$100 to upgrade to Ryzen 7 2700U, 4C/8T, 2.2 GHz base 3.8 GHz boost, Integrated Vega 10 graphics)
  • Integrated AMD Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics
  • 15.6" FHD IPS (1920x1080) AntiGlare Display
  • 8GB DDR4 2400MHz Memory
  • 256GB Solid State Drive PCIe OPAL2.0 M.2 2242
  • Windows 10 Home 64-bit
  • WiFi Qualcomm QCNFA435AC, 1x1 + Bluetooth 4.1
  • Internal 2.5" bay (7mm) available for storage expansion. (See this comment here for a video link that shows how to access the internal 2.5 SATA3 bay)
  • 2 x USB 3.1 (1 x AlwaysOn), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1x HDMI, Ethernet (RJ45), MicroSD, Combo audio/mic jack
  • Dimensions (W x D x H) 369 x 252 x 19.95 mm
  • Starting at 2.1 kg
  • 45W 3-pin USB-C AC Power Adaptor

Thinkpad E485 shares same basic spec as above, except for:

  • AMD Ryzen™ 5 2500U Quad-Core (4 Cores 8 Threads, 2 GHz base frequency, 3.6 GHz boost) (Ryzen 7 upgrade option not worthwhile for the E485)
  • 14.0" FHD IPS (1920x1080) AntiGlare Display
  • 128GB SSD M.2 PCIe NVMe Opal2 (+$50 to upgrade to 256GB NVMe storage)
  • 2 x USB 3.1 (1 x AlwaysOn), 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1x HDMI, Ethernet (RJ45), MicroSD, Combo audio/mic jack
  • Dimensions (W x D x H) 329 x 242 x 21.9 mm
  • Starting at 1.75 kg
Computing 14inch 15.6inch Computer Laptop Lenovo Ryzen Mobile

Related Stores

Lenovo
Lenovo

closed Comments

  • xmchen on 08/03/2019 - 13:17
    +13

    excellent work for the detailed listing..

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:39

      thanks =D (most of it is just copy and pasting the previous deals lol)

  • bennyboy on 08/03/2019 - 13:55

    Looking for a mobile photo editing machine - would either of these suffice? Predominantly LR and photoshop work. Obviously bumping the RAM to 16gb would be a given. But apart from that, what is the overall performance of these machines like?

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 14:08
      +1

      You may need to DIY upgrade the screen if you are doing the more-than-casual, colour critical work, as the stock panels (despite being IPS) are pretty average (but fair considering the price point), and the E585's screen is brighter than E485's.

      The 2500U should outperform the i5-8250U slightly in Photoshop, although that is if the performance power limit can be sustained at 25W. Also do install the latest graphics drivers directly from AMD (https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-ryzen-processors/amd-…), as it fixes a lot of bugs.

      A review here by TechSpot/Hardware Unboxed with the updated drivers (albeit with a different machine): https://www.techspot.com/article/1802-amd-ryzen-mobile-drive… .

      • bennyboy on 08/03/2019 - 14:12

        thanks for the info - I've read about the DIY screen swaps - I'll look into it

  • ripesashimi on 08/03/2019 - 14:06

    The E485 looks pretty good. If you want gaming or just general graphics performance, look for the last generation, 480 and 580 where Lenovo offered the RX 550 option. There will be some throttling due to BIOS config but if you are always plugged in, you can get pretty decent GPU performance.

    Found this at $806: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lenovo-ThinkPad-E580-15-6-Notebo…

  • ibelievesyd on 08/03/2019 - 14:22
    -7

    Ryzen 5 - best for the upcoming winter!!

  • AEKaBeer on 08/03/2019 - 14:27

    I think I mentioned this in one of the previous deals, the 1x1 wireless on any laptop is a pretty poor experience. Can make an otherwise snappy laptop feel sluggish.

  • ragrum on 08/03/2019 - 15:01
    +2

    Does anyone else who's bought the E485 have issues with streaming video? I've had issues where video would turn purple and green during playback, and occasionally cause BSOD with the message "VIDEO_SCHEDULER_INTERNAL_ERROR". By updating all sorts of drivers through the Lenovo service portal, I've been able to improve it 95%, but when Youtube onscreen controls disappear after 5 seconds of inactivity, there's a brief flash of purple/green.

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:23
      +4

      Not sure why you got negged.

      It sounds like a driver issue (brief google seems to have a few other E485 owners experiencing with same), have you tried installing the latest drivers directly from AMD (yes finally AMD is doing it instead of the slow/don't-give-a-care OEMs…)?

      Latest driver here: https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-ryzen-processors/amd-…

      • ragrum on 08/03/2019 - 15:28

        Thanks very much for the suggestion - I've only tried using the Lenovo suggested drivers, but trying the direct-from-AMD driver sounds like a good idea.

      • ragrum on 09/03/2019 - 22:08
        +1

        That update has fixed the video glitches completely - thanks! I thought you might be interested to know that it also seems to have improved performance in a big way too. Look at the results on UserBenchmark compared to the average (presumably non-updated) Ryzen 5 2500U. It's performing in the top 1%.

        • zrmx on 09/03/2019 - 23:32

          Glad to hear it worked out for you =D

          I've only read/watched one review of it so far, but I agree the most of the performance bump would be from bug fixing and things can actually run and let the GPU does it job more properly lol. For the parts that are already working, probably more similar performance (both up or down 5%, within margin).

    • Hendo451 on 08/03/2019 - 19:56
      +1

      Have had this exact problem on the same machine. Go into the settings of Google Chrome and turn of hardware acceleration. Haven't had the problem in 6 months ever since I made that change! Good luck

      • ragrum on 08/03/2019 - 21:11

        Thanks for your reply! Disabling hardware acceleration didn't work for me, and would have felt like too much of a bandaid solution (the processor has to work unreasonably hard without the hardware acceleration). I tried zrmx's solution above and it seems to have solved everything so far!

  • Zondor on 08/03/2019 - 15:19
    +1

    Holy crap this checks off all the boxes for me.

    Reletively small (14")
    USB C Charging
    Long Battery Life

    I wonder if there's a store I can go see one.

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:36

      Hmm, I actually haven't came across any brick and mortar shops selling the E-series. There are quite some youtube videos to show what they are like (but yea can't give you actual hands-on).

      Regarding USB-C charging and battery life, the stock charger is rated as 45W, so if you do plan to use an external powerbank to PD USB-C charge it, note the output ratings (or it might not charge or charge slowly). Battery life wise, just a caveat as mentioned in previous posts, it is more ~3-6 hours continual usage for heavy to medium workload, but yes more for light workloads (which personally it is quite fair, but do consider your own usage needs).

      Cheers.

      • rygle on 12/03/2019 - 13:25

        The battery is not removable either, but same on similar offerings from other manufacturers

  • Wally Simmonds on 08/03/2019 - 15:31
    +1

    I ordered one in the last deal and it arrived yesterday. Installed a sata SSD and 32gb of ram.

    Very impressed with it. Screen is not that bright but for a work laptop it's good enough. Performance isn't bad either and performs much better than the two other 6200u based laptops I have.

    Keyboard is also much better than expected.

    For the price there's not much better than this imo.

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:33

      Many reviews do deem the keyboard to be a very good experience worthwhile of the ThinkPad name =D

      Hope you are installing the latest graphics drivers for it (best to use DDU in safe mode to clean uninstall the old drivers first, and lol, I think I'm over-repeating myself about AMD taking over the graphics drivers from OEMs)

    • Zondor on 12/03/2019 - 12:52

      How thick is it? think it could comfortably fit in a messenger bag while traveling?

  • Skylight35 on 08/03/2019 - 15:47

    Is this laptop any good for a uni student in accounting ? My wife needs a a laptop. Any recommendations is highly appreciated? Please note that I’m not a tech savvy and I really value your input.

    • bidam1 on 08/03/2019 - 16:37
      +1

      yes absolutely.

    • rygle on 12/03/2019 - 14:38

      Got one of these for my son for uni in the last deal. There's a lot to like about this, not least the price.

      For accounting this would be quite powerful enough, perhaps to the detriment of battery life (see below under battery).

      It is not heavy. The 14" is quite readable and a good compromise for weight and size.

      Get yourself another browser as Edge is really slow. I also disabled the McAfee stuff as it seemed to be into everything and slowing it down, but couldn't find much other junk installed on it using ccleaner or by myself.

      The battery life is not the 10 hours advertised, more like 6. The power settings can be optimised a bit to make it last longer. The battery is sadly not upgradeable as it is built in - that's my main regret as many Lenovo models you can upgrade from 3 cell batteries to 6 or 9. This is similar on Dell's of this spec, but the XPS range can at a premium. I think if you really want a low power laptop as your main priority you might be best with an i3 or surface.

      The keyboard and screen are good. The screen is more durable than many in the shops - I regularly test that by pressing gently on the back and watching for visual artefacts - this one gets very little distortion compared to many I've tried. The tablet form PC's are good in this area because the motherboard is behind the screen and they frequently have metallic casing, but they are small and pricey on the whole. Apple laptops are also good because if the metallic casting but again they are pricey.

      The touch pad seems good and there is the track point knob thing if you want.

      No finger print reader but that doesn't bother me.

      Haven't tried the Web cam.

      Hope this helps!

  • Skylight35 on 08/03/2019 - 15:49

    My budget is $1200 including software (MSoffice and antivirus)

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:59
      +1

      If assuming her usage is just general office (plus minus some accounting softwares), browsing and media consumption (not really gaming). Either model will suffice such needs (up to you regarding screen size).

      There are actually lower cost laptop that'll satisfy the mentioned needs, but I do think these two ThinkPad models give good overall experience (the keyboards are pretty good for office uses, and I think probably better than some "desktop" keyboards that come bundled with some desktops) and are worth recommendations.

      • Skylight35 on 08/03/2019 - 16:01

        Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Kind regards,

        • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 16:04
          +2

          You're welcome =)

          I didn't mention MSoffice, which you'll need to acquire separately, but they should still fit into your budget.

          Antivirus, I personally don't use anything extra than the inbuilt Windows Defender (it is often sufficient, as it's more about browsing and download habits and being cautious), but there are often special sales posted here on OzBargain too, so should also into into the budget.

          Another note I forgot to mention, these ThinkPads may require quite some softwares/drivers update before they are "good to use" (access from Lenovo AU's support site: https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/au/en/ , and search for the model), as I don't know whether they ship with new drivers. Pretty straight forward, just download and install. Except for the graphics driver, download directly from AMD (https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-ryzen-processors/amd-…).

    • hero1211 on 08/03/2019 - 17:52
      +3

      Most of uni offers free subscription to Ms Office 365 so it's worth checking with the uni. For antivirus, i never use them, just don't click to any suspicious or unknown links, you will be fine :)

  • cyrax83 on 08/03/2019 - 15:53
    +1

    Interested but want to see bigger cashback from Shopback/Cashrewards

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 15:53

      I recommend waiting as well if not in a hurry (only ~6 days wait) =)

    • zrmx on 11/03/2019 - 10:02
      +1

      ShopBack has increased to 12% cash back rate for until the end of today (11/03) =)

      Cheers.

      • cyrax83 on 12/03/2019 - 12:09

        Thanks! I can see it's still 12%

  • cyrax83 on 08/03/2019 - 16:10

    Here is what I'm thinking. It's for the missus who wants to use it for light work and browsing.. Any comments?

    E485 with 1x8GB Module (will add a second stick later) and upgraded SSD to 256GB (128 sucks). Total $789

    Processor : AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (4C, 2.0 / 3.6GHz, 2MB)
    Operating System : Windows 10 Home 64
    Operating System Language : Windows 10 Home 64 English
    Display : 14" FHD (1920x1080) IPS
    Memory : 8GBx1
    Graphics : Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
    Keyboard : Non-backlit
    Pointing Device : None
    Display Panel : 14"FHD (1920 x 1080) LED, IPS, Anti-glare, Black
    TPM Setting : dTPM 2.0
    Camera : 720p
    Second Hard Drive : 256GB SSD M.2 PCIe NVMe Opal2
    Battery : 45Wh
    Power Cord : 45W USB-C
    Wireless : QCNFA435 ac, 1x1 + BT4.1
    Language Pack : Publication - English
    Warranty : 1 Year Depot

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 16:15

      Pretty good/straight forward, and of course, as long as she doesn't mind the look lol. (Mine couldn't accept its look.)

      • cyrax83 on 08/03/2019 - 16:16

        Will check. It is a pretty ugly laptop

  • bunnybash on 08/03/2019 - 16:14
    +2

    A lot of reviews of the Vega graphics in Ryzen mobile are not obsolete. AMD just fixed their drivers and have a whole new system for updates - so if you're reluctant because of the Vega graphics then it's worth reading the news from Techspot: https://www.techspot.com/article/1802-amd-ryzen-mobile-drive…

    I mention this because quite a few reviews mention that the performance of the Vega graphics being an issue or unstable.

  • DreadPirateRoberts on 08/03/2019 - 16:28
    +1

    If anyone is considering one of these to run Linux on I would not do it. You need between 2-5 different GRUB config options to get the system booting and somewhat stable (not accounting for the different options needed for kernels 4.18,4.19,4.20,5.0). Lenovo did a real number on the BIOS for these laptops and are sticking their heads in the sand in regards to actually fixing the issue. They did patch the A485 correctly however, so it isn't some hardware / knowledge limitation. Just a heads up for those that thought they'd be able to have a stress-free (lol, well lower stress) Linux experience.

    • 00000000 on 08/03/2019 - 17:39
      +1

      Came here to write the same thing.
      Linux support on this unit is piss poor, and lenovos support on this matter is equally piss poor.

  • josho9 on 08/03/2019 - 17:06

    Is there any reason not to get 8GBx1? The performance benefits of 4GBx2 would be negligible in daily use.

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 17:12

      Mmm, for someone who's relatively tight on budget, can't spend much more than the basic configurations, still want to get as much performance out of it as possible, and usage scenarios sufficient with 8GB RAM.

  • josho9 on 08/03/2019 - 18:22

    Thanks but I mean about

    If 8GB is sufficient for you —> get 4GBx2 config (included in price)
    But if you want/will use more —> get 8GBx1 config (included in price

    If 8GBx1 is included in price then no reason to get 4GBx2?

    • Unrvl on 08/03/2019 - 18:51
      +2

      because dual channel runs faster (especially with ryzen)

  • MakeMoneyMoney on 08/03/2019 - 19:19

    Tempted by the 14” for my son who’s in year 7. Probably at the upper limit of what I was wanting to spend. Especially seen as I doubt he will be pushing its specs to much.
    Does anyone have any recommendations of other laptops, that will still get the job done?

    • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 20:32

      If it is just for school, and if doesnt mind second hand, then https://m.ebay.com.au/itm/382736101025 $407 after 20% off code "PILSNER" (cheap and cheery, but plenty good value spec)

      • MakeMoneyMoney on 08/03/2019 - 21:56

        Thanks zrmx, looks pretty good to me!!

        • zrmx on 08/03/2019 - 23:33

          Just had another look, and realised the images of the listing is incorrect (The 14" does not have the numpad).

          However, other than that, the spec is still pretty sufficient for the price. The 4GB RAM is soldered (according to Lenovo, but there's a SODIMM slot for further upgrade to 8GB max if needed later on. Pretty sufficient for school/office and media use (despite only HD resolution screen), while restrictive on the gaming (which I guess is a plus for parental control on gaming lol).

    • rob01 on 09/03/2019 - 15:58

      I bought this one for my mum recently, it's a new Dell Inspiron 15" 3000 laptop with a Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB RAM and 1TB HD for $560 after 20% off with code PONDER (RRP is $899, currently $200 off before the coupon code): https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-New-Inspiron-15-3000-Laptop…

      CPU is decent, however the screen is only 1366x768. Might also want to swap out the 1TB for an SSD for better performance.

  • Jcruzi on 08/03/2019 - 19:55

    Can anyone confirm the color gamut of the lcd?

    • Sinusoidal on 08/03/2019 - 20:21
      +2

      My E485 came with an AUO B140HAN04.2, specs of which can be found here:
      http://www.panelook.com/B140HAN04.2_AUO_14.0_LCM_overview_32…

      and here:
      https://laptopmedia.com/screen/auo-b140han04-2/

      Needless to say it's, at best, 50% sRGB and about 250 nits of brightness. No good for any visual work or outdoor use, very washed out and dull.

      It can be replaced with a N140HCE-EN1 REV.C2 panel which is 100% sRGB and about 350+ nits.

      • DreadPirateRoberts on 12/03/2019 - 08:29

        Have you done this yourself and is it a straight swap? Contemplating doing it because the screens on these things are pretty rubbish

        • Sinusoidal on 13/03/2019 - 07:00
          +1

          Yes I did this swap a few weeks ago. Got a N140HCE-EN1 REV.C2 from laptopscreen.com.

          Note there is a REV.C1 version of this panel that is identical except that the top 2 screw holes do not line up in the E480/E485. I have seen double side tape used instead or a Dremel to widen the holes.

          The REV.C2 variants top and bottom mounting holes line up perfectly so I would suggest either adding an order note or contacting your seller directly so they send you that exact panel version.

          I followed the videos from this page for the ThinkPad E480 LCD Bezel and Panel Removal/Replacement:
          https://support.lenovo.com/au/en/solutions/ht505031

          You do not need to remove the top LCD housing from the base like it appears in the videos. Open the laptop 180° so it is flat on a table and unclip the bezel around the LCD.

          The hardest part is unplugging and replugging the 30-pin eDP connector. Be gentle and have a good look at Lenovo's videos, there is a small arm that is lifted first.

          Quite a quick and easy replacement. Just the bezel clips, 4 screws (Philips #0) and the connector.

  • FOX on 08/03/2019 - 21:38

    How does the E485 ($789 with 256GB) here compare to this one ($815 with the PLUSMORE code) on Lenovo's eBay store?

    • Sinusoidal on 08/03/2019 - 22:01
      +2

      E490 has an Intel Core i5-8265U CPU versus AMD Ryzen 5 2500U in the E485. The Intel CPU in the E490 should give you better battery life, especially while idle, than the AMD. The AMD CPU is a little faster and the integrated graphics in the Ryzen is a fair bit faster than the Intel's.

      Apart from the CPUs they are very similar, same chassis and everything. You get a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader with the E490. The E485 doesn't even have the option for a backlit keyboard or fingerprint reader.

      The only other difference that stands out to me is the wireless card. E490 has an Intel 9260 ac, 2x2 + BT5.0, Bluetooth card that is very good. The E485 has a Qualcomm Atheros QCNFA435AC 1x1 that isn't so good. You can replace the E485's wireless card to the Intel 9260 for about $20.

      It really depends on what's more important to you: battery life at the expense of graphics performance (E490) or graphics performance at the expense of battery life (E485).

      • FOX on 08/03/2019 - 23:18

        Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation!

  • SlowCarSlow on 09/03/2019 - 02:56

    I haven't had a personal laptop in nearly a decade now.

    This laptop looks really appealing.

    For those who already own this laptop, how programmable are the keys? Would I be able to change the caps lock key to work instead as a backspace?

    On the website I couldn't find any information about the max output that these computers could push to a display, is there anybody with that information? I'd like to be able to connect it to a television if it's feasible, or one of the monitors already on my desk.

    • Unrvl on 09/03/2019 - 09:31
      +1

      theres windows tools that can reconfigure any keybindings you want

  • Wally Simmonds on 09/03/2019 - 13:40
    +1

    In case anyone is interested, you can definitely drive two displays off this machine. I am driving a X34 (3440x1440) at 100hz via a usb c/display port splitter and a secondary display (Dell U2719, 2560x1440) via HDMI. Works pretty well.

    • SlowCarSlow on 09/03/2019 - 22:46

      Can you have the laptop closed while still using the external displays?

      • SlowCarSlow on 10/03/2019 - 02:38

        NVM, I did some research and there are options within control panel to do that

  • dein_gesicht on 10/03/2019 - 22:11

    I need one for my kid's school and they recommended this ($640): https://www.lwt.com.au/Product.aspx?ProductId=3666123&WebSec…

    I don't have good experiences with school suggestions and it looks like the E485 has a better and bigger screen (but not touch). Any help would be great

    • zrmx on 10/03/2019 - 22:52
      +1

      How old is your kid? As the 11" may be small but generally sufficient (up to <year 10 or even year 11?) and quite conveniently sized for the younger years . Also are the touch-screen and the Win 10 Pro academic version requirements by the school?

      Its spec is sufficient for school uses, eg spread sheet, PowerPoint (without too much large resolution graphics), essay/word document etc. In a way a lack of graphics prowess is an effective gaming deterrent lol.

      • dein_gesicht on 11/03/2019 - 22:03

        Thanks for your thoughts! She is in grade 4

        • zrmx on 11/03/2019 - 22:22

          Ah, then yea the 11.6" form factor will probably be suitable and smaller/more convenient to use.

          The alternative is the Lenovo Yoga (rather than ThinkPad Yoga):

          https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/233130149449 ($519.20 after "PLUSMORE" if you are an eBay Plus member, $551.65 if you are not)

          Or, the final better price for the same machine is to take advantage of 12% ShopBack and buy via Lenovo itself https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/yoga/yoga-300-series/Yo… ($549, so $489.10 after 12% Cashback)

          Spec wise is similar to the ThinkPad Yoga you linked, but wifi performance, and battery life is lesser than the ThinkPad variant.

  • Wally Simmonds on 11/03/2019 - 08:32
    +2

    Note Lenovo now has 12 percent off with shopback..

    • cyrax83 on 12/03/2019 - 12:12

      Thanks! Buying an E485

  • Jared17 on 13/03/2019 - 04:55

    How is this laptop for a tech Noob like me? coming off using macbook air for 6 years before it went kaput.

    I just need it mostly for browsing, streaming, watching movies, emailing and playing civilization. Thanks.

    • zrmx on 13/03/2019 - 11:55

      I think the 14" E485 would be worthwhile of a consideration, however, there are a few drawbacks worth noting (which may be addressed depending on your budget i.e. buy more expensive machines).

      • The screen is passable for most people and non-colour-critical work loads, but don't expect the screen to be as good/bright as the MacBook (unless if you are willing to DIY a screen upgrade)

      • Configuration-wise, get the +$50 storage upgrade to 256GB. And if your usage will stay as what you've mentioned, for let say next year or two, and you're not comfortable with upgrading RAM yourself (not too difficult, just require youtubing how to take the bottom panel off to access memory slots and insert the memory module yourself), then get the 4GBx2 memory configuration to allow maximum performance.

      • As you can see for yourself, it doesn't look as good as the MacBook (lol), so make sure you can live with the look (you might laugh, but I've came across acquaintances and friends seriously regretting their purchase because they thought they could live with a product's look, then turn out they couldn't)

      • It is a Windows machine, are you familiar/ready for one?

  • lonepine on 13/03/2019 - 22:34
    +1

    Got an E585 for work- thank.

    BTW, deal expires tomorrow

  • cyrax83 on 14/03/2019 - 11:52

    My E485 due to be shipped 20th March

  • willyroo on 14/03/2019 - 13:27

    Thanks OP. Bought the E485. Uni student son tells me there's quite a few E480s in the wild on campus and feedback seems good.

  • Tapek on 14/03/2019 - 17:10

    Went to order one of these but got to the cart and found out zip isn't a payment method even though it says they take it.

    Oh well, signed up for a zip account for no reason - off to find a different deal

  • lonepine on 16/03/2019 - 09:32

    woo hoo $104 cash back - awesome.

    And its tax deductible!

  • lonepine on 18/03/2019 - 23:47

    Expected to Arrive
    March 25, 2019

    Not so awesome….

    • cyrax83 on 19/03/2019 - 14:22

      March 26th here. Super slow. Looks like it's built and ships from Shanghai

  • willyroo on 03/04/2019 - 16:33

    Had to chase Shopback for the cashback. At the time (14 March) I distinctly remember seeing 12% here and on the SB site.

    The credit (effective 13 June) is $32.52. If I'd known this, I would have used CR.

    • zrmx on 03/04/2019 - 19:01

      Thanks for posting back, will be good to know SB's response and follow-up.

      • willyroo on 05/04/2019 - 15:25

        Update - just got a note from SB - cashback increased to $88.69, and date changed from 13 June to 29 May. All good and quick response.
        Looks like date night can include some wine now :)

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join