Maximum PC

Hey guys,
I currently have a Dell M1210 Laptop. It is starting to really lag and make some very loud fan noises. I have done my best to keep it clean and running well, but it seems to not just be up to snuff any more. It was a great unit and I was able to use it for almost 6 years. I am now wanting a new laptop but the market seems so confusing!

The unit is mostly for school, which entails, matlab programming, processing data, storing large files. I am thinking I want to give priority to processing power and storage. Graphics are less in demand for me, I rarely watch video on the unit. I was hoping to spend around 1000-1200 Can$. No bigger than 13-14 inches, and a long battery life would be good. I never use the unit outside so a screen that is capable of that is not needed.

I was checking out Dell, Sony, Lenovo, but it seems that when you increase storage and CPU, you alos have to pay for increase in video.

Does anyone have any suggestions, I am getting very confused.

Phad

Buy for the CPU and add HDD space yourself it would probably be cheaper any way.

Asus Zenbook 13.3" UX31E-DH52 ultrabook. $1100 @ newegg.ca...

Intel Core i5-2557M 1.7GHz 3MB L3 Cache
13.3" 1600 x 900 LED backlit
4GB DDR3 1333
128GB SSD
802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Bluetooth v4
3 lbs, 2.1 oz
Up to 7 Hours

MPC Zenbook Review (Link). The biggest down size is that it only has a 128GB SSD and you can't replace the drive, but if you want something light to throw around and be powerful, its a good PC for it. Add some small 2.5" usb storage drives and you should be good.

This is one I have been looking at for sure. It is on the low end of the cost I was looking at and it is getting super reviews.

Any thoughts on the Lenovo x220?

Phad

If I had the money, I would totally go for an x220t with the 6 cell slice battery. You'd get 20+ hours of continuous use in a fairly compact body. One of the main down side is that it'll be a bit hard to handle in tablet form for all day use, but honestly, people should grow a pair.

Also, like the ultrabooks, it uses Intel's HD gpu core so don't expect to play high end games; that's probably my biggest beef with the x220's besides the 1366x768 resolution lcd. If it had a discrete card, nothing crazy mind you, I would have purchased one last year.

You can cheap out and get the regular x220 non-tablet version for $250 less, but the zenbook is pretty much just as feature rich in other aspects for the same size laptop.

It looks like some of these might be going on sale as the models are replaced in the next little while.

Then i just have to convince myself that I do not need the new one!

Phad

You can find a i5 or i3 with without a discrete graphics card fior between 400 and 700 that should work for you.

^not in a 13" or 14" chassis. 13" i5's start around 700-800. You can find a few 14" i5's in the 600 price range, but most are still 700 and up.