Wondering if there are any decent options at this price point. I'm looking for a family member who recently had to return two Dell Inspirons from EOFY sales because of flexing rendering the touchpad buttons unclickable.
Specs aren't a big deal since it's just for web/email/videos (so integrated graphics is fine). Mainly focused on thin/lightweight and build quality.
Damn, I saw them going for $1100-1200 during EOFY but didn't think much of it, didn't realise it was such a good deal. Would've been a better choice than the Dell, in hindsight
Thinkpad T15
https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpad-t-ser…
Not cheap though, the base model with quad core i5-1135G7 + 8GB of soldered memory (ew) goes for $1,566.55 (with the coupon: JULY7)
If you can make do with the 14 inch ThinkPad T14 Gen 2, this meets your budget at $1,471.55 and it has i5-1135G7 + 16GB of soldered memory. Laptop weighs in at 1.28kg.
Plus another 5% cashback.
Didn't realise those were metal! Not sure if they'd dig the ThinkPad styling but I'll keep an eye on it (they're willing to wait for deals). Thanks :)
Thinkpad T series are built to be tough and durable corporate machines, and have a integral magnesium alloy chassis / roll cage design that makes them able to withstand abuse and drops.
Yes they don't look very attractive to Generation Z's and have kept to the same black / red design for the past 21 years, but people who buy Thinkpads usually swear by them. Usually boomers and old fossils like me though :P
The smaller and lighter alternative to the T series is the X series, which are generally only available in 12~13 inches. My current machine is Thinkpad X13 (AMD) which is now superseded by the X13 Gen 2 (Intel).
Well I'm not Gen Z and I'm into the old ThinkPad look because then I can cosplay a greybeard. :P
The person who will be using the computer, however, is older and prefers the modern aluminium look.
Mac book air
Only comes in 13" apparently (and I suspect it'd blow the budget out even if it were available in 15")
ah sorry missed the 15" bit. I moved from 15" to 13" and when I back to 15" it is almost laughable too big. TWSS
Older family member so the extra screen space helps them when viewing webpages zoomed in (cramped enough on 15", really, 17" would be better but those are very expensive and are heavier)
I've been using a Latitude for work for the last few years. It's copped a lot of abuse from working on site and to and from the office etc
I think they're too turned off of Dell by the poor quality of the Inspiron to buy another. Not sure it's a design flaw or bad luck but it seems very weird that a metal chassis would flex enough so as to make the buttons stop working.
Dell Latitudes are a different product line, they are business grade machines which are made to be more durable and long lasting compared to the consumer grade Inspiron series.
Many corners are cut with consumer grade laptops to make them profitable to sell and to make sure they can fight on even ground with competitors but often it's a race to the bottom to see who can make the cheapest laptop.
That said not all Dell Latitudes are the same — they are typically 3 tiers (3000 series (basic), 5000 series (higher end) and 7000 series (premium) with each line having different sized chassis and screen sizes.
I'm aware that companies have better quality on their business-grade products but it doesn't really build confidence in the brand when a $1200 (at the time of purchase) laptop has such a crucial flaw, and I'm not about to try to convince them otherwise to be honest.
"Vote with your wallet", as they say.
Runout Microsoft surface laptop 3