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| User | Thread poster: Mariana Rohlig Sa Which laptop to buy? |
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Mariana Rohlig Sa 
Portugal
Local time: 08:47
 Member (Mar 2012)
English to German
+ ...
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Dear fellow translators,
I am aware that this topic has been approached before, but as specs of laptops keep changing and new laptops are constantly introduced to the market, I wanted to ask again: what laptop do you recommend for use by a translator? I take it with me either on trips or when I need a change of air and decide to work in a cafe so it would be good if it wasn't quite as heavy as my current one. But weight is not my prime criteria. Most importantly, I want it to be fast. I have a separate monitor to which I connect it, so it does not necessarily have to have the biggest screen, but again, I would prefer a big screen if possible. I also have a separate hardware with 1 terabyte so if storage space has to give in, it would not be much of a big problem either (although it should allow for the upload/download of software such as Trados). All in all, I want a reliable laptop that runs fast and ideally not to heavy and costing no more than 500€ (sales are coming up after all).
Thanks for any input.
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 00:47
 Member
English to German
+ ...
| | You need to narrow it down. | Dec 19, 2011 |
Pretty much all laptops in this price range are fast and beautiful. Actually, they are all the same.
Are you going to use your laptop a lot outside your office? Then you might consider one of those new machines with a shock-proof hard disk and a spill-proof keyboard.
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 09:47
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
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| | My favourite | Dec 19, 2011 |
I use Toshiba laptops and have always found them satisfactory, although I had to spend some time removing some of the pre-installed software which came bundled with the OS.
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ATIL KAYHAN
Turkey
Local time: 10:47
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
| | Consumer Reports | Dec 19, 2011 |
There is an excellent NGO in the United States by the name of Consumer Reports. www.consumerreports.org Access to their invaluable database requires annual membership with a fee of $26.00 I am a member of Consumer Reports. I will try to copy their ratings of notebooks below but I will probably not succeed because it is a combination of text and image. Also, this is only a part of the information there. The best bet is to be a member by paying $26.00 which is of course up to you.
11-inch models Approximate retail price overall score
info
overall score
Performance
info
Portability
info
Ergonomics
info
Versatility
info
Display
info
Battery life (hr.)
info
Weight (lbs.)
info
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Air 11-inch MC968LL/A see here $1000
76
6.25 2.5
CU Recommended Asus UX21E-DH52 Ultrabook see here $1000
66
4.75 2.5
CU Best Buy HP Pavilion dm1z see here $400
39
6.25 3.4
CU Best Buy Sony VAIO VPCYB33KX/B see here $500
37
5.5 3.1
13-inch models overall score
CU Recommended Samsung NP900X3A-B01UB see here $1100
85
8.25 2.9
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Air 13-inch MC965LL/A see here $1300
84
9 2.9
CU Recommended Asus ZenBook UX31-RSL8 Ultrabook see here $1100
84
7.25 3.1
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch MC700LL/A see here $1100
75
8.5 4.5
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch MD313LL/A see here $1200
75
8 4.5
CU Best Buy Toshiba Portégé Ultrabook Z835-P330 see here $800
73
8.25 2.4
CU Recommended Asus U36JC-B1 see here $850
72
8.5 3.8
CU Recommended Acer Aspire S3-951-6646 Ultrabook see here $900
71
6 3
CU Recommended Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 10252DU see here $700
69
6.25 4.7
CU Recommended Asus U33JC-A1 see here $660
65
8.5 4.6
CU Best Buy Toshiba Satellite L735-S3210 see here $440
64
5.5 4.2
CU Recommended Lenovo IdeaPad U260-08763AU see here $750
61
5.25 3
CU Best Buy HP ENVY 13-1030NR see here $1800
55
4 3.8
CU Best Buy MSI X370-001US see here $580
39
7.75 3.8
14-inch models overall score
CU Recommended Dell 14R-2nd Gen i5 see here $650
72
5.5 5.3
CU Recommended HP Envy 14-2020nr see here $750
71
5.5 5.6
CU Recommended Sony VAIO VPCEG27FM/P see here $700
70
8 4.9
CU Recommended Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E420 see here $620
69
7 4.7
CU Best Buy HP Pavilion dv4t see here $500
69
6.75 4.8
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dv4-4140us see here $650
69
7 4.7
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dm4-2050us see here $580
68
8.25 4.3
CU Recommended Dell Inspiron 14z see here $600
67
9.25 4.5
CU Recommended Sony VAIO VPCEG11FX/L see here $600
66
8 4.9
CU Recommended Dell Inspiron 14R-2nd Gen i3 see here $500
65
5.75 5.2
CU Best Buy HP Pavilion dv4-4030us see here $480
64
5.75 4.8
CU Best Buy Acer Iconia-6120 Touchbook see here $1000
54
3 6
15- to 16-inch models overall score
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch MC721LL/A see here $1600
80
9 5.6
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch MD318LL/A see here $1800
79
8.5 5.6
CU Best Buy Dell 15R-2nd Gen i5 see here $500
75
5.5 5.8
CU Recommended Dell XPS X15Z-7501ELS see here $1200
73
7 5.4
CU Recommended Sony VAIO VPCF234FX/B see here $1350
72
4 6.6
CU Recommended Dell XPS 15z see here $1000
72
7.25 5.5
CU Best Buy Samsung NP300E5A-A01UB see here $500
72
7.25 5
CU Recommended Asus N53SV-B1 see here $870
71
5 6.4
CU Recommended Toshiba Satellite A655-3DV11x see here $1050
70
3.5 5.9
CU Recommended Acer Aspire AS5750-6438 see here $600
69
5.75 5.3
CU Recommended Toshiba Satellite P755-3DV20 see here $1200
69
3.25 5.9
CU Recommended Dell 15R-2nd Gen i3 see here $720
69
6.75 5.8
CU Recommended Toshiba Qosmio F755-S5219 see here $1500
67
3 7.1
CU Recommended Sony VAIO VPCEH25FM/B see here $550
66
5.5 5.2
CU Recommended HP G6-1A69US see here $660
66
5 5.3
CU Recommended Asus U52JC-BBG6 see here $750
64
4.75 5.9
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dv6-6110us see here $600
64
6.25 5.5
CU Best Buy Acer Aspire AS5750Z-4877 see here $400
62
5.5 5.3
CU Best Buy Lenovo IdeaPad Z575 129922U see here $500
61
5.5 5.7
CU Best Buy Gateway NV55S04u see here $500
59
5 5.7
CU Best Buy Toshiba Satellite L755D-S5218 see here $450
59
6.25 5.3
CU Best Buy HP ENVY 15-1050NR see here $1900
59
2 6.3
CU Best Buy HP Pavilion g6-1b60us see here $550
57
5 5.3
CU Best Buy Asus K52F-BBR5 see here $425
57
3.5 5.9
CU Best Buy MSI FX610-034US see here $650
56
3.5 5.6
CU Best Buy Compaq CQ57-310US see here $400
39
5.75 5.3
CU Best Buy Compaq CQ62-410US see here $380
37
3.5 5.5
17- to 18-inch models overall score
CU Recommended HP Envy nv17-2290nr see here $1700
82
3.5 7.7
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch MC725LL/A see here $2260
82
9.5 6.4
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dv7-6199us see here $1200
81
8.5 7.2
CU Recommended HP ENVY 17-2070nr see here $1500
81
3.75 7.5
CU Recommended Apple MacBook Pro 17-inch MD311LL/A see here $2500
80
9.25 6.5
CU Recommended Dell XPS X17L-781ELS see here $1050
79
8 8.1
CU Recommended Dell Inspiron I17RN-3530DBK see here $780
78
4.75 7.2
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dv7-6175us see here $850
76
9 7.1
CU Recommended Dell XPS 17 see here $900
72
5.25 7.4
CU Recommended Toshiba Qosmio X505-Q8104 see here $1780
72
3.5 10.8
CU Best Buy Dell Inspiron 17R-2nd Gen i5 see here $650
71
4.75 7.2
CU Recommended Asus G74SX-BBK7 see here $1200
69
3.75 9.8
CU Best Buy Lenovo Essential G770 10372UU see here $650
68
6.25 6.2
CU Recommended HP Pavilion dv7-6165us see here $780
66
9 7.1
CU Best Buy HP Pavilion G7-1150us see here $610
66
4 6
CU Best Buy Dell Inspiron 17R-2nd Gen i3 see here $550
66
4.75 7.1
CU Best Buy Toshiba C675-S7308 see here $500
65
5.25 5.8
CU Best Buy Acer Aspire AS7739Z-4469 see here $500
58
4.25 5.9
CU Best Buy Toshiba Satellite L775D-S7220
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Emin Arı
Turkey
Local time: 10:47
 Member (2008)
English to Turkish
+ ...
| | bottom line computer for a translator | Dec 19, 2011 |
Well, as a translator you will not need very fast computer unless you are keen on computer games. So, any laptop with an Intel I3 processor is fine. Same as processor, 4 gb of memory is enough for many applications such as Microsoft word, Trados or memoQ. When it comes to screen, my humble advice is that bigger is better. However, going beyond 16.4 inch screen size would not be practical due to weight considerations but you can use an external screen of 22" size will be very, very useful and strictly advised. One of the most important issues in selecting a computer is keyboard. An ergonomic keyboard is a must for a translator who types 3000 words in a day.
What brand should you choose? Well, in the first league there are mainly two brands, Sony Vaio and Apple (IMHO). These two brands are named with their reliability. However, a good choice of HP, Dell or any other well known brands can also be used.
Adding up those above specifications, it will be between 1k and 1.5 k depending on your brand choice.
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Sergei Tumanov
Estonia
Local time: 10:47
English to Russian
+ ...
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and recommendation is
MacBook Pro 15''
[Edited at 2011-12-19 15:40 GMT]
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ATIL KAYHAN
Turkey
Local time: 10:47
Member (2007)
Turkish to English
+ ...
| | Brand Reliability Ratings for Laptops | Dec 19, 2011 |
The smaller the number, the better. So, here Apple is the most reliable, followed by Acer and Toshiba. And it goes on...
Apple
9
Acer
10
Toshiba
10
Lenovo
11
Gateway
11
HP
11
Sony
12
Compaq
12
Dell
12
Source: Consumer Reports
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esperantisto
Belarus
Local time: 10:47
Member (2006)
English to Russian
+ ...
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I do recommend Asus. I own a second one and am fairly satisfied with it. In particular, I like its screen and keyboard.
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Fernando Toledo
Germany
Local time: 09:47
Member (2005)
German to Spanish
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Sergei Tumanov wrote:
and recommendation is
MacBook Pro 15''
[Edited at 2011-12-19 15:40 GMT] |
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my best fellow last 5 years, now waiting for the next generation. Coming March 2012. MacBook pro AIR. Can't work without magic trackpad anymore...
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János Untener
Hungary
Local time: 09:47
Member (2010)
English to Hungarian
+ ...
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Alex Lago
Spain
Local time: 09:47
Member (2009)
English to Spanish
+ ...
| | Apple at less than 500? | Dec 20, 2011 |
Sergei Tumanov wrote:
and recommendation is
MacBook Pro 15''
[Edited at 2011-12-19 15:40 GMT] |
|
The poster said they wanted to pay $500 where do you get a MacBook for $500?
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 09:47
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
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Mariana Rohlig Sa wrote:
1. I wanted to ask again: what laptop do you recommend for use by a translator?
2. Most importantly, I want it to be fast.
3. Costing no more than 500€ |
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Every time this question comes up, I go check out the latest laptops on offer. I spend a few minutes gawking at the laptops in the EUR 2000 range (e.g. Eurocom Racer, Origin Eon, MSI's G range, all of which would make excellent translator laptops), but then it's back to the more affordable ones.
For EUR 500, my suggestion would be to buy the cheapest one you can find, and add RAM and an SSD hard drive. The extra stuff is for extra speed. Oh, and get extra years on the guarantee as well.
Compaq CQ57-301SD
http://www.bcc.nl/product/compaq-cq57-301sd
EUR 325
(make sure "2 GB" is the pre-installed RAM and not the maximum RAM)
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Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 09:47
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
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Alex Lago wrote:
Sergei Tumanov wrote:
...and recommendation is
MacBook Pro 15' |
|
The poster said they wanted to pay $500 where do you get a MacBook for $500? |
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The OP said EUR, not USD, but still... a 15" MacBook Pro will set you back at least three times that:
http://store.apple.com/nl/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro
I do ask myself if Core i7 is really necessary for a translator at this time...
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Paul Harrison
France
Local time: 09:47
French to English
+ ...
| | Notebookcheck | Dec 20, 2011 |
I always use this website to get a good idea of what's available. The link is to the Purchase Consultation screen, but there are loads of reviews to brows too. Take note: they only seem to consider ratings of over 80% to be "good".
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Purchase-Consultation.13212.0.html
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Mariana Rohlig Sa
Portugal
Local time: 08:47
Member (Mar 2012)
English to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | | Any recommendations on Asus? | Dec 21, 2011 |
Dear all,
Thanks for the input so far. I live in Portugal where Asus and HP seem to be big (???). Any recommendations in my price range for those two brands?
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