Got a friend looking for $400 or less laptop...

[XDelusion]

I got a friend who would like to spend no more than $400 on a laptop, but does not want a cheap one that will due in less than 3 years, and would also like to be able to have a 128Gb SSD drive installed.

Windows 7 would be preferred over 8, and at least 2Gb of RAM.

Laptop must be new. Any suggestions on models that could fit this bill?

[XDelusion]

Lots of decent ones for under $400, but I wouldn't expect a 128 GB (or even an SSD at all) for that price.  Finding one with Windows 7 on it might be another issue in itself.

I've spent some time with the ASUS D550CA-RS31 ($379 MSRP) recently and came away fairly impressed, and I'm a real hard arsed critic of lower end laptops.  It doesn't come with an SSD or W7, however.

But Windows 8.1 is just fine.  Windows 8.0 was a bit of a stinker, but 8.1 can be run in desktop mode just great.

Only thing I dislike terribly about any low end laptop is the usual Intel integrated graphics, but not gonna get away from that one at that price point by any means.

Thanks, according to the reviews, the  ASUS D550CA-RS31 looks nice. SSD can always be a future upgrade.

[XDelusion]

I build machines day in and day out too.... just beware of what you're buying. I personally have not sold this model so can't confirm reviews. However, you might want to read here...

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-15-6-Inch-Laptop-500GB-Drive/dp/B00HNWLYSK

If it's true that this machine can not boot from optical, you're donzo! You MUST be able to recover the system from some other source than the internal HDD at some point. And doesn't appear to have 8.1 installed. And yes, it takes 8 to 10 hours to update an 8.0 machine. Asus has really gone downhill with their budget machines in the last couple of years IMHO.

Suggest a Joy Systems Dell refurb from Tiger Direct Joy Systems machines also come with a 1 year warranty. I just bought a bunch of i5, 15.6", 2BG mem, 320GB HDD, Wireless N, Giga Ethernet, Bluetooth, DVD-RW, Win 7 Pro 64bit laptops from Tiger for $270 each (but they all had to have BIOS and OS updated - takes a while and ya kinda need to know what your doing).
 
 Ya, they still have 'em....
 
 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=9544685&srkey=JOS-102804737
 
PS - Just another peeps opinion - but I've been in this biz for a long time!

Word, sound advice there, I like the Tiger link!

A little higher than Ebay pricing on the same unit, but with the comfort of security!

[XDelusion]

If you order one of these, you're gonna need some help with the drivers. Dell really screwed up the driver list for the E5510. There are three drivers in the 64bit list that are actually 32bit and the 32bit drivers are actually the 64bit drivers. I know.... sheesh! That screwed me up for two days! Installing the wrong drivers (the 32bit drivers will go on the 64bit install without complaining) will trash the install during the Win Updates! But I can always just zip up the 64bit drivers for you to download from me and install including the two BIOS updates that must be installed first! It ships with BIOS A3. But, you must install A10 before you can get to the latest A16 BIOS. I have them. I can then tell you the order the drivers must be installed. THEN, you can start the 8 hours of Windows updates. Then, one really nice thing, I can tell you where to get Dell's Backup and Recovery program that will allow you to create a full set of complete RECOVERY disks that takes a bootable snapshot of your entire drive at that moment! You'll never have to pay someone to reinstall Windows for you again! It's a sweet program! I can help you out no problem. Or, you can just start Win Updates as it is shipped and see if it works and installs the proper drivers from Dell...  but I ran into a problem doing that as a message would pop up during the Win Updates that the driver download needed an acknowledgment from Dell. Well, how the hell is a guy supposed to do that while in Win Updates! :roflmao: But the thing is, where are you going to get a Dell i5 widescreen laptop for $270.00 with a 1 year warranty. And Joy Systems are great! Oh, and the battery is included in the warranty - no NEW laptop includes the battery under warranty. I finally figured out what was going on with the drivers after trying a 32bit install. While installing the 32bit drivers - Windows complained that they were 64bit! BINGO! Problem solved. Maybe that's why they're selling them so cheap - no one knows that Dell's driver list is screwed up! LOL

Actually, are you in the states? If so, I'll just send you a set of recovery disks for the Latitude E5510 - Win 7 Pro 64bit! Pop 'em in and go! Takes about an hour or so and the OS will be activated and completely updated to yesterday! You'll have to create a new account if you want a different user name though. Easy Peasy. And a couple of other things after a system has been imaged - I'll tell you what to do. Oh, and BTW, if you use the recovery disks from me, Dell burning software (Roxio Creator), Dell DVD playing software (Power DVD), Adobe Reader & Flash, MS Security Essentials (excellent free Anit-virus) will be installed and everything will be configured for proper use.

Wow, yes, thank you for the offer. I do live in the States and should she purchase this I'll certainly be willing to take you up on that offer... sounds a bit like my trusty Precisions M4400. The GFX drivers were tricky....

It's it odd how these companies can make great machines but can't do their drive pages correct, like EVER?!

[XDelusion]

BTW, HP doesn't use lead in their solder (for a long time now) and the motherboards fail constantly due to the solder joints cracking (ever notice that you can fry an egg on an HP laptop?)! The HP motherboard failure rate is an epidemic with their consumer products!

I've heard about such things, very curious! Do you know where any official articles are on this that I could share with people so they would believe me if I told them?

[XDelusion]

I wouldn't bother with that, just use 8.1 that comes with all laptops. You can install the free Classic Shell or Start8 and it is pretty much identical to Win 7 (you never see the Metro/New UI stuff).

I've used both, Classic sucks, and Start8 was better, but neither totally hid the fact that I was still running Windows 8. It's an OK work around if you've no other option, but as for me, I'd rather avoid 8 and hardware built for 8 all together. They seem less friendly to work with... kind of like what happened to cars...

[XDelusion]

It's not just HP, nobody uses Lead Solder since it was effectively banned in the EU almost 10 years ago:

"On July 1, 2006 the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) came into effect prohibiting the inclusion of significant quantities of lead in most consumer electronics produced in the EU."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder#Lead_solder

The ban on Lead isn't so harsh here in the States.

[XDelusion]

Most of Hp's problems were caused by certain Nvidia GPU's developing poor connections, but the the same thing happened to Dell, Sony, Acer and older MacBook Pro's and others. Google "Nvidia lawsuit" for more info. The model I recommended ( HP Probook 6550b) is not on the "list" and at this I don't have any to sell so I wasn't looking to make a sale. BTW, the affected units can often be repaired by reflowing or reballing the GPU, however results can be mixed, a simple reflow often fails in a year or so. Reballing usually lasts longer.

Interesting, my Dell has an Nvidia... where can I find this "list:?

[XDelusion]

I'd imagine most machines are designed for the international market though, is lead solder still common on computers in the US?

Good thought, good question, but I've no answer on either. Unless their are different factories that cater to different countries, but I don't believe that is the case.

Maybe we are all lead free now?

[XDelusion]

Here's one list ... http://www.canadiannvidiasettlement.com/  .... Click on the link halfway down the page.  There are computers that are affected but not on the list as well, like some Acer's.

Aghh good, I'm off the hook!