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lolinc: Tbh, these days, I'd probably just go with an Apple. . . Macbook Pro or something. Yah, probably closed-system form-factor, but Apple's usually way ahead of the game
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=947op8yKJRY
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Crosmando: From what I've read, the quality of Thinkpad models went down the toilet when the Chinese bought out the company.
For the consumer-focused models, at least. The T series is reported to have held up well (the keyboard apparently went south a little bit compared to what they were under IBM). Actually, I'm not sure IBM had any consumer-focused laptops, and even for a while after Lenovo's acquisition the entire ThinkPad brand was enterprise-focused. The T-series is still a good choice.

Personally, I don't even consider consumer-grade laptops any more - if it's worth getting a new laptop at all, it's worth saving for a bit longer to spend a bit more on one aimed at enterprise customers (they're often available to home users as well).
Post edited November 06, 2019 by Maighstir
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timppu:
Lots of brand computers suffer from being too hot and smaller ones especially. As we see in this video, Apple is not exempt. Most laptops should be thicker with more cooling, which also adds weight.
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lolinc: Tbh, these days, I'd probably just go with an Apple. . . Macbook Pro or something. Yah, probably closed-system form-factor, but Apple's usually way ahead of the game
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timppu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=947op8yKJRY
Yes, that's interesting, ty for posting that!

Right. . . thermal barriers: tbh, the only laptop I've ever owned that had absolutely fantastic thermal regulation. . . don't laugh. . . was a Gateway M350WYN; you could see the big-ass, serious copper heat-sinks from the vent in the back. . . two big-ass fans at the base. Also, and this was not particular to this model, the power supply was external mid-way down the cord, and. . . had its own sink and fan. I actually played games on this thing in a truck-camper, and it was around 90 deg. F, and over 90% humidity. . . in dynamic mode. This thing also had outstanding peripheral options. . . just a stellar machine. Cons: you could hear this thing running a mile away (dynamic), and all that copper made it relatively heavy. But hey, it was a laptop with dual exhaust, and I loved it. I still use it for some legacy titles and emulation.

A lot of thermal issues could be resolved if they just kept the power-supply external: it was practical, and it wasn't all that clunky at all. Secondly, these goofy, fashionable form-factors; everyone wants an anorexic laptop on which to play Skyrim. . . or whatever.

And so, heat isssues result in chip throttling, and consequently performance. But, like I said, these days, I'd still go with the MacPro, if I were going to buy a laptop at all, the alternatives just seem dismal. Hell, you can do more on a tablet or iPad than some of these notebooks/laptops. . . ridiculous. We used ours (2012 Mac, boot-camped) for mostly practical reasons, when we traveled alot. . . played movies well, ran Sacred, D2, NWN, TQ without issues, but those weren't particularly demanding programmes. . . except Sacred 2 with that Invidia physx bloat. The last "gaming" laptop I had was a Toshiba, constantly over-heated just playing Sacred 2. Except for the old Gateway, I'm done with laptops; they just can't handle some of the more demanding software that desktops can. Again, manufacturing practical, performance-based form-factors could easily change that. . . that's my opinion anyway.
Post edited November 07, 2019 by lolinc
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clarry: Don't want old & slow intel crap full of security issues.
Awww, heck, just get one these, and be done with it.
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DreamedArtist: I use the T series of there laptops as they can take a beating and they have better built motherboards with better parts on them. I had 2 E series laptops die on me over 7 years of working on them, says a lot right there.

The keyboard on the T series has to be the best I used on any laptop next to the Microsoft surface pro book. the E series keyboard is nothing to the T series. big difference. If you do get one please save the extra money and go T
Do you know something about quality of HP ProBooks? I've found some alternative and it's HP ProBook 445R G6:
- not so easy but still easy-ish access to the parts inside
- Ryzen CPU
- dual channel upgradable RAM (but RAM is capped at 16GB, E495 has it capped at 32GB)
- space for the second SSD (but no internal drive cover included - that part needs to be bought separately)
- LAN connector
- Windows 10 Pro

...and last but not least: HP ProBook 445R G6 costs more (+10-15%) than Lenovo ThinkPad E495.

Question is: will ProBook 445R G6 be better choice than ThinkPad E495 in terms of build quality and servicing?
Post edited November 16, 2019 by Lexor
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Crosmando: From what I've read, the quality of Thinkpad models went down the toilet when the Chinese bought out the company.
Have you read something bad about quality of HP ProBooks?
My experience with HP has been the worst out of the brands I've tried. In 20 years of using laptops, HP is the only one to produce problems after daily use when in warranty, and completely failing short after the warranty has expired (up to a month max). My brother, relatives and friends all have similar experiences. I'd stay away if I were you.
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DreamedArtist: I use the T series of there laptops as they can take a beating and they have better built motherboards with better parts on them. I had 2 E series laptops die on me over 7 years of working on them, says a lot right there.

The keyboard on the T series has to be the best I used on any laptop next to the Microsoft surface pro book. the E series keyboard is nothing to the T series. big difference. If you do get one please save the extra money and go T
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Lexor: Do you know something about quality of HP ProBooks? I've found some alternative and it's HP ProBook 445R G6:
- not so easy but still easy-ish access to the parts inside
- Ryzen CPU
- dual channel upgradable RAM (but RAM is capped at 16GB, E495 has it capped at 32GB)
- space for the second SSD (but no internal drive cover included - that part needs to be bought separately)
- LAN connector
- Windows 10 Pro

...and last but not least: HP ProBook 445R G6 costs more (+10-15%) than Lenovo ThinkPad E495.

Question is: will ProBook 445R G6 be better choice than ThinkPad E495 in terms of build quality and servicing?
I never Tried HP ProBooks. not sure how they are. I tend to stay away from HP altogether.
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TheDudeLebowski: My experience with HP has been the worst out of the brands I've tried. In 20 years of using laptops, HP is the only one to produce problems after daily use when in warranty, and completely failing short after the warranty has expired (up to a month max). My brother, relatives and friends all have similar experiences. I'd stay away if I were you.
Well.. really? I've heard the same stories about Lenovo... :( Could Lenovo be still worse?
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DreamedArtist: I never Tried HP ProBooks. not sure how they are. I tend to stay away from HP altogether.
Thank you for your reply.
Post edited November 16, 2019 by Lexor
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Lexor: Well.. really? I've heard the same stories about Lenovo... :( Could Lenovo be still worse?
I don't know. Bought my first Lenovo Legion 2 and a half years ago. Seems to be working fine even after heavy daily use. So my experience is only limited to this single investment.
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TheDudeLebowski: I don't know. Bought my first Lenovo Legion 2 and a half years ago. Seems to be working fine even after heavy daily use. So my experience is only limited to this single investment.
And about HP - what kind of HP series have you used or tested? Any ProBooks?
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Lexor: And about HP - what kind of HP series have you used or tested? Any ProBooks?
The only one I can recall is the last one, a Pavilion that broke down completely a few weeks after the warranty expired. No ProBooks, as far as I can remember.

Don't be fooled by their prices. My Pavilion cost as much as a high-end ProBook (looking at prices now), and as much as as my Lenovo Legion. I definitely "didn't get what I paid for".

Nevertheless, I wouldn't trust HP. They break down during warranty, as well. I'm under the impression that some brands' business model is to force users to pay extra for their brand parts.
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Lexor: I'm looking for 14" laptop. Lenovo ThinkPad E495 has everything I want:
- easy access to the parts inside
- Ryzen CPU
- dual channel upgradable RAM
- space for the second SSD
- LAN connector
- Windows 10 Pro

... but I've read a lot about:
- not good build quality
- problems with the keyboard
- problems with servicing (laptops return scratched, some part are even more broken)

... is that all true?

EDIT: I've found some alternative, it's HP ProBook 445R G6:
- not so easy but still easy-ish access to the parts inside
- Ryzen CPU
- dual channel upgradable RAM (but RAM is capped at 16GB, E495 has it capped at 32GB)
- space for the second SSD (but no internal drive cover included - that part needs to be bought separately)
- LAN connector
- Windows 10 Pro

...and last but not least: HP ProBook 445R G6 costs more (+10-15%) than Lenovo ThinkPad E495.

Question is: will ProBook 445R G6 be better choice than ThinkPad E495 in terms of build quality and servicing?
Well, I just got a check to help make up for my last Lenovo.
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mw.834515: afaik the current mobile version of Ryzen 3000 are NOT 7nm (Zen2) architecture rather than 12nm.
Maybe you have another reason to go for a mobile Ryzen, thought I mention it because Zen2 got so hyped, that everyone wants a Ryzen now.
My main reason to buy laptop with mobile Ryzen is its internal GPU - it's much better than Intel's one and I need it (not really for gaming but to display effects of my work in Unity). Yes, I could buy some Intel + Nvidia chip laptop, but this is much more costly option.