Upgrade
A while back when the Scientist was doing yet another component replacement/upgrade I said that next time it happened I was going to switch to a laptop. My desktop computer has been problematic for a few weeks. Sometimes it wouldn’t boot properly and then there has been an ongoing problem with trying to update apps and even to do any downloads. So I casually started looking at laptops without much serious consideration. I almost bought a laptop at a local retailer but the only model left was the floor model and the salesperson refused any sort of price reduction for what was essentially a used machine. I really wasn’t keen on having a demo model anyway. Who knows what sort of damage might have been done to it.
I started looking more seriously and ended up at the Dell website. They had a number of models on sale and I wavered between various types. I was really keen on the 2 in 1 machines but wasn’t sure if that was a good direction when I was replacing a desktop. I finally set my sights on what is essentially a low-end laptop. It isn’t cheap but it has plenty of RAM and an I7 processor which should last quite a long time. I ordered it last Thursday and it arrived yesterday. Not bad service considering the ETA was originally the 20th. So far the machine is quite lovely. It has a 256 SSD and a 1 TB HD so it should be good for a while now.
One of the most noticeable things about it is how quiet it is. Admittedly I haven’t used any power hungry programs yet but it has hardly made a sound since I got it, aside from audio sounds. The trackpad is nice and smooth and far easier than others I’ve used. I particularly like that it has a numeric pad on it, which is one of the things I would miss with a laptop.
I’m still setting things up so I am still getting to know it. While waiting for this to arrive I’ve been using an old Samsung PC tablet. I think I’ve had it for four or five years now and I’m amazed at how good it still is for what it is. It’s an i5 processor and it also has an SSD which makes start up really quick. I seriously thinking about using for iTunes so I don’t have to have all the extra programs on my laptop. One thing that neither has is an optical drive so I am waiting for the local shop to get more in stock so I have something to use on the rare occasion when I need it.
