sufficient processor

I needed some opinions, although no one knows what will be expected in future, i wanted a laptop to last me 3 years and i was wondering what processor paired a SSD would allow me to run office programs like word suite and quickbooks, reason i ask is because the laptop i am looking at has soldered parts, my old laptop was socketed so it was easy upgrade instead of buying new laptop, i am primarily looking at the sandy and ivy bridge notebook process i5 3320m and i5 2520m, would these be sufficient for the next 3 years? or should i get something with an i7.

 

What laptop are you looking at to begin with?

The CPUs that you mention should be able to fullfil your stated needs for the next couple of years without breaking a sweat.

 

macbook pro 13" has the i5 2535m (soldered from my research)

lenovo x220/30 12.5" i5 2520m/i5 3320m (soldered for sure)

asus ux31a 13" i5 3317u (weakest i believe and soldered)

i was looking for portable and reliable laptop with a bearable screen under 700

i am upgrading from a now dead T60p which had IPS screen, so i am looking for something of similar qualities but smaller to last me, the t60p last 4 years and still ran things pretty smooth but i just think things will get more demanding

 

I'm not familiar with the Asus in question but you can hardly go wrong with Mac or X220/230.

Do bear in mind that i7 on X220 tends to run on the warm side - I've owned it - and unless you need USB 3.0 desparately sticking with i5 in this particular series would be my suggestion.

Happy shopping.

 

okay thank you for the information, i checked up on some benchmarks of the i7 in the x220, it doesn't seem to be that much of an "upgrade," also 2.0 vs 3.0 doesn't really bother me that much, is the build quality any different from the x220 vs x230? i had the t430 for a few weeks, but keyboard wasn't the best or screen, so i am leaning more toward x220 if build quality is better.

 

You're talking to the wrong guy here.

I positively hate the new keyboard layout so of course I'm going to suggest the X220. Realistically speaking, I don't see X230 being a big step ahead in any which way.

As for the build quality...I always felt that both T420 and T430 were poorly built when compared to T410, but that the X220/230 were solid enough in that respect.

Obviously, YMMV.

 

Quality, cheap, powerful, pick 2 out of 3, because you cannot get all 3. 700 dollars, minus any new laptop, you can't have good screen quality. Used laptops, as mentioned the X220 is probably your best bet, normal X220 with IPS go for like 500-600 or less. I would stray far far away from ASUS if you want a reliable laptop, and the UX series have a REALLY thin connector that easily breaks off, and ASUS are known to have loose DC input jacks very quickly.

I had an X220 tablet with a 2520M, on full load it runs very hot, average is good being Sandy Bridge.

 

I'd rule out the Mac just because it's heavy for a 13" notebook, though you do get an optical and OS X if that floats your boat. While in theory the FHD IPS on the Asus should be good, text will be very small. Bumping up the DPI is an option, but not always a perfect solution. I would give that due consideration before spending your money. You might want poke around the Asus forum to see what their owners are saying about the UX.

That leaves the X220 or X230. One nice benefit for the X230 is you get USB 3.0, which is only on the i7 equipped X220s. If you don't like the new keyboard, then I think the X220 is the way to go. Ivy Bridge isn't a huge upgrade in the performance department. One other nice feature of the X220 is the mSATA SSD + hard drive. Plus, I'd say it's the most durable and upgradeable.

 

Also not all X230's come with Ivy Bridge, alot of base X230's shipped with Sandy Bridge i3's and i5's.

 

After re-reading this thread, I believe that it comes to the choice of OS at this point...

If you need OSX...it's a Mac.

W7 preference...start looking for an IPS-equipped X220.

My $0.02 only...

 

I suggest that you look to something that has been around and well known to be high quality. Switching from a T60 with an IPS screen is not easy but there are plenty of decent options. Both are more than fast enough when compared to a T60 but personally if the build quality sucks and it is easily damaged in normal use then I usually don't buy. As a collector go for machines that are either metal body or plastic body with metal chases.

Have you considered a cheaper option with a much better keyboard like the T410/420? Still using a T500 that is modded.

 

I believe that OP would have a difficult time adjusting to LCDs found in T410/420, especially the latter which is a known atrocity...

 

if the screen is anything like the screen on the T430, i am trying to stay away, i went ahead and tried some other non-ips matte screens at a local store, it was difficult adjusting back to normal TN panel, i looked at some upgrades for the T430 as far as screen, only yielded modding it with an X1 carbon display, which isn't awful but it's still not as close to what I was using,

so far the mbp it is the most expensive, 650 for a 2011 with sandy bridge, batteries are rather expensive and it will need a replacement, only pro is it comes with OSx and win 7, but i have successfully put OSx on lenovo laptops before

x220 comes without IPS but for $325, off a business lease, IPS screen will cost me $90 dollars max

x230 comes without ips as well for $560, i don't need the IVY bridge graphics boost or usb 3.0

plus the x220 keyboard is far better, i think i will go with the X220 and save the extra money and purchase a larger capacity SSD

 

Simply put: You'll want an Intel® Core™ i7 processor, for sure. Don't mistake this statement for, "get the best processor possible!" because that's not what I mean.

 

In a small shell - such as one found on X220/230 series ThinkPads - that might not be such a desirable option. It *will* run hot.

 

I7 on x series is still dual core iirc? So it don't make much difference unless you crunch number all day long.

 

Yes.

It does make a difference when it comes to heat. Most certainly.

 

I don't see how i7 would make any difference for office type of work, my friend still uses her 2007 mac book pro with core 2 duo for programs like premier/illustrator and photoshop, i can hear her fans from a mile away but it still gets the job done, as far as I am concerned that is way more intensive than office programs, and it's way over due, 6 years old already.

 

Yes but the only the i7 gets you the USB 3.0 on X220 models.

The T420/T410/T410s screens were all pretty substandard screens. Even the 1440x900/1600x900 option is not that great, and can't compare to the IPS screens found on the X220/X230/t

That and OP stated he would like a portable laptop, a T410/T420 definitely are not portable compared to 13.3" and smaller notebooks. That and the T410s/T400s used 1.8" SATA drives which you can't find much of these days compared to 2.5", and the s models aren't even that much thinner/lighter (they are at the cost of battery WHr).

 

Yikes as I only assumed they had used standard 2.5, I avoid buying anything that uses 1.8 when I buy laptops in bulk.

 

If you want an Apple I'd vote in favor of the 13" Air, which starts around $900 in the Apple Outlet, or for a few hundred more, you could get the 13" MBPr.