Laptop Advice, Please

[Lsbcal]

...(snip)...
So, with zero research I had him take me to Office Depot and immediately bought the i5 version of the Toshiba S55-A which was on sale for $450. I think that model was converted to the i7 because I don't see it available online with an i5 processor any more.

I am quite pleased with my new laptop.

No research? You are missing out on all the fun ... and head scratching.

I spent a few months looking at laptops and tablets before buying my Nexus 7. I went to the Apple store, Microsoft store, and Best Buy plus CNET, etc. on the web. My weird idea of fun and a good tech education. Not for everyone though.

One needs to understand one's usage model. For instance, tablets are really good when you are sitting on the can.

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

But that Dell XPS 8700 i7 desktop that Costco will have on sale for $700 Black Friday weekend looks like a winner--considering Costco's great concierge service. (I checked out a similar unit reviewed by PC Mag, with 2TB storage that I don't need, considering I have an external backup HD, for well over $1,200.) So, if I could get my laptop screen to work again, I'd use that as my on-the-road work processing PC until it fully dies, and could have a real powerful home desktop.

Decisions, decisions. What to do.

Except that's just for the tower. I'd need a new 'Touchscreen' eventually to get the full benefits of the new OS; my old monitor wouldn't suffice.

 

[Dawg52]

One needs to understand one's usage model. For instance, tablets are really good when you are sitting on the can.

Haven't tried it there but brought it on my trip to the coast. Good way to stay in touch.

 

[Animorph]

One needs to understand one's usage model. For instance, tablets are really good when you are sitting on the can.

I have to cut that out. Not good for my Preparation H budget.

 

[W2R]

No research? You are missing out on all the fun ... and head scratching.

Well, I guess I mis-spoke. I didn't mean that I never did any research - - I had a pretty good idea of what was available and what I wanted, because I like reading about such things. What I meant was that I didn't do any research between the time the computer fried and buying the new one. I wanted it that afternoon so I just went over there and bought it, and really lucked out because it was on sale and they still had (only!) one left.

 

[Ready]

I had a chance to play with some laptops at Costco this weekend. It seems most of the new Windows laptops are touch screen, and there doesn't seem to be any additional cost for buying a laptop with touch screen capabilities. I have to admit I really liked having a touch screen on a laptop. I left wondering why Apple has not come out with touch screen Macs, especially when they practically invented the touch screen when they came out with the iPhone, and later the iPad.

I still much prefer the Mac operating system, but I could see really enjoying a touch screen Windows 8 computer if I had to make the switch back to Windows.

I do use Windows 8.1 on my Mac through Parallels, and I find it horrible to work with. But I think it's because it's designed to be much easier to use on a touch screen system, especially with all the tiles on the main screen.

 

[photoguy]

I have to admit I really liked having a touch screen on a laptop. I left wondering why Apple has not come out with touch screen Macs, especially when they practically invented the touch screen when they came out with the iPhone, and later the iPad.

I think Apple hasn't come out with a touch screen because it's not needed as their trackpads have supported multi-touch gestures for years (I love this). In my opinion, the trackpads provides even more touch functionality then you see on tablets. It also sits closer to where your fingers lie on the keyboard than the screen.

I guess I'm not sure what a touch screen would add (besides fingerprints) -- am I missing a use case?

 

[Katsmeow]

I think Apple hasn't come out with a touch screen because it's not needed as their trackpads have supported multi-touch gestures for years (I love this). In my opinion, the trackpads provides even more touch functionality then you see on tablets. It also sits closer to where your fingers lie on the keyboard than the screen.

I guess I'm not sure what a touch screen would add (besides fingerprints) -- am I missing a use case?

I don't see trackpads and tablets as being a substitute for each other at all.

Trackpads are a substitute for a mouse. I actually dislike trackpads intensely. (And yes DH had an Apple notebook). I am, however, about to receive a Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro notebook on Tuesday which is a touch screen. I do use touchscreen on my iPad and like it a lot. I realized I wanted a touchscreen when my daughter brought me something to look at on her notebook and I started to use my finger to move a scroll bar on the screen. She reminded me that her notebook doesn't have a touch screen. Maybe I've been using the iPad for too long, but it seems antiquated not to be able to touch the screen to do things.

On the other hand, I'll be using a mouse with my notebook. On notebooks that allow it, I disable the trackpad since I never use it. To me it is just clunky.

 

[Ready]

I see the Apple trackpad being somewhere between the typical Windows mouse and a true touch screen. Things like pinch and zoom work on the trackpad similar to an iPad, but you still have to point at something and click, rather than touching it with your finger. I think there is still an opportunity for Apple to incorporate both into one system.

 

[Bestwifeever]

I am also really surprised Apple does not have a touch screen option yet on its computers since the company perfected it on the iphone and then the ipad. Maybe Apple is waiting for marketing reasons. I like my ipad mini so much and dislike windows 8 so much that I would probably jump at one.

I have no problem with a trackpad on my nonApple laptops (no touchscreens there either); after DD laughed at me several years ago for my old-fashionedness in demanding a mouse, I became trackpad proficient in less than 30 minutes and now never use a mouse.

 

[HFWR]

I am also really surprised Apple does not have a touch screen option yet on its computers since the company perfected it on the iphone and then the ipad. Maybe Apple is waiting for marketing reasons. I like my ipad mini so much and dislike windows 8 so much that I would probably jump at one.

I have no problem with a trackpad on my nonApple laptops (no touchscreens there either); after DD laughed at me several years ago for my old-fashionedness in demanding a mouse, I became trackpad proficient in less than 30 minutes and now never use a mouse.

Blame this on CFB, but this is on my wish list for next [-]lapdance[/-] laptop...

 

[Bestwifeever]

Blame this on CFB, but this is on my wish list for next laptop...

You should pick up maneuvering on those trackpads in no time.

 

[photoguy]

I see the Apple trackpad being somewhere between the typical Windows mouse and a true touch screen. Things like pinch and zoom work on the trackpad similar to an iPad, but you still have to point at something and click, rather than touching it with your finger. I think there is still an opportunity for Apple to incorporate both into one system.

I actually do way more touch operations on my laptop than I do on my tablet. On my iPad it's basically scrolling, clicking, and pinch to zoom. On my trackpad I use scrolling, forward/back in browsing, pinch to zoom, and whole bunch of three finger gestures for navigation between windows and virtual spaces.

 

[photoguy]

I don't see trackpads and tablets as being a substitute for each other at all.

Trackpads are a substitute for a mouse. I actually dislike trackpads intensely. (And yes DH had an Apple notebook). I am, however, about to receive a Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro notebook on Tuesday which is a touch screen. I do use touchscreen on my iPad and like it a lot. I realized I wanted a touchscreen when my daughter brought me something to look at on her notebook and I started to use my finger to move a scroll bar on the screen. She reminded me that her notebook doesn't have a touch screen. Maybe I've been using the iPad for too long, but it seems antiquated not to be able to touch the screen to do things.

On the other hand, I'll be using a mouse with my notebook. On notebooks that allow it, I disable the trackpad since I never use it. To me it is just clunky.

To be more clear, I should have said on my laptop I use the trackpad for pretty much all the user interface actions that I would do with touch on a device like a tablet. E.g. for scrolling, I just use two finger on the trackpad and move them up or down (basically the same as with a tablet).

On most pc notebooks, I hate the trackpad and think they are basically s***. They are not very responsive and even simple actions like scrolling work terribly. On my last corporate laptop you could only scroll by touching the trackpad along a narrow strip on the right hand side (and it didn't register touches very well).

I'm not a fan of touching the screen because it isn't very efficient in terms of the distance your fingers/hand needs to move from the keyboard.

 

[Katsmeow]

I'm not a fan of touching the screen because it isn't very efficient in terms of the distance your fingers/hand needs to move from the keyboard.

I agree with this mostly. When I've actually without thinking reached to touch a notebook screen is to do something like I would do on the iPad. When I got ready to order my new notebook I debated whether to get touchscreen. I doubt I will use the touchscreen much in the regular notebook mode. However, I bought a notebook that could be converted to a tablet or could be used in a tent or stand mode to view media. For those uses, the touchscreen seems worthwhile.

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

That's the first thing to do is check it with an external monitor. Since that works the graphics system should be ok. Next things are broken/loose video cable, bad LCD inverter, bad LCD screen. Note that some laptops don't use inverters. Some laptops have a switch that turns the LCD off when the lid closes, that can get stuck.

If you can see faint images on the LCD most likely is the inverter, some info here

The Symptom of the Laptop Screen Inverter Malfunction & Replacing Guide - laptoppartstore

I have replaced inverters and screens, many times like other PC repairs it's not worth the cost compared to a new one even though it is not difficult.

A new screen is ~$75, inverter ~ $15. Then there is labor cost if you don't do it yourself.

These past couple of weeks it's been hit-n-miss: sometimes the laptop screen works, sometimes not. The 23" external monitor I've attached works fine, so I've placed the laptop to the side of home desk and as a result I've freed up much of my desk "real estate."

Did much online research and checked some diagnostics about why my laptop screen goes black much of the time--with no definitive answer. Diagnostics did recommend that I replace the battery; my current laptop battery is the original 2006 one. A replacement would run a generic $40 on up to some $80 or so.

So my current thinking is back to using this old 2006 laptop (perhaps with a new battery) as my desktop (with my confidential financial info, etc), using the external monitor when needed. And soon eventually buying a "state of the art" 15.6 touchscreen laptop (without such confidential info), for some ~$500-$750.

Again, I'm not into gaming, video editing, or other high-processing needs.

Hmm.

 

[rbmrtn]

These past couple of weeks it's been hit-n-miss: sometimes the laptop screen works, sometimes not.

How is it failing ? Is running and then just going black or does come on sometimes and sometimes not ? Usually with inverter or LCD they go bad and stay bad. I would lean towards a loose or broken cable. The cable snakes its way from the motherboard to the LCD through the hinges and can get pinched or cut. Moving the lid back and forth to different positions sometimes will show this as LCD will come on in the right position.

So my current thinking is back to using this old 2006 laptop (perhaps with a new battery) as my desktop (with my confidential financial info, etc), using the external monitor when needed.

That can be done. Use the external monitor with a mouse/keyboard connected. You can remove the LCD and use it "headless", put under the desk or in a drawer.

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

How is it failing ? Is running and then just going black or does come on sometimes and sometimes not ?

It always depends upon when I first boot-up. If I boot-up and the laptop screen is working, it works thu-out the time I am using the laptop--even with the external monitor attached and showing. On the other hand, if I boot-up and the laptop screen isn't working, it doesn't work at all throughout the session.