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My little Lenovo ThinkPad (I think it's between 10-13") is six years old. My ex put Windows 10 on it right before we broke up. I hate Windows 10. My current laptop isn't good for much other than watching movies if your face is right up against the screen. The space bar doesn't work as well as it should so when you type italllookslikethis. I need something bigger and with more storage space for school. What should I be looking for in terms of RAM and all that jazz? Is it possible to NOT have Windows 10 and still have Windows Office capabilities? I'd like to have something with a bigger screen than I've got now, but not something that weighs several pounds and is going to be a pain to carry around.

Thanks for any suggestions.

What is your budget?

Thinkpad X1 Carbon

poptart123 wrote:What is your budget?

$1000 but I'll go up to $1200 if it's absolutely necessary.

1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

3 and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and 1 has an i7 with a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of memory, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 1 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

Also, I use the ASUS UX501, which is a little pricier but I absolutely love it.

poptart123 wrote:1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

1, 3, and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of RAM, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 2 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

1TB of Ram??!? lol Hard Drive Space I imagine?

poptart123 wrote:1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

1, 3, and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of RAM, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 2 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

Thank you! I suppose I had better spend the summer getting used to Windows 10

In addition to the above, I'd spring for a SSD. That's probably the most useful law school-related feature a computer can have.

btruj777 wrote:1TB of Ram??!? lol Hard Drive Space I imagine?

lol thanks for catching

poptart123 wrote:

btruj777 wrote:1TB of Ram??!? lol Hard Drive Space I imagine?

lol thanks for catching

Great recommendations for OP btw! Very helpful post Pop

poptart123 wrote:1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

3 and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and 1 has an i7 with a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of memory, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 1 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

Thoughts on the 900 series? The hinge seems more secure. I'm not the most careful creature with my technological devices.

KME89 wrote:

poptart123 wrote:1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

3 and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and 1 has an i7 with a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of memory, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 1 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

Thoughts on the 900 series? The hinge seems more secure. I'm not the most careful creature with my technological devices.

I think they look good. http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/yo ... 8YG9000786

Seems like it could be a good fit for you. I didn't include it because the screen is smaller, thought not by that much (13.9"). It seems like a decent price too with decent specs. 16 GB memory, i7, SSD, and you have the option of the two different resolutions listed above. Obviously the higher resolution will cost you a bit more, though. $1,049.99 isn't unreasonable either. The nice thing about this model is it weighs about 3 pounds, so it is the lightest of the 5. Price is comparable to #3 and they are substantially similar. I say, if you like both, pick between the two with deciding factors being weight vs. screen size. Cost difference is negligible at $50.

poptart123 wrote:

KME89 wrote:

poptart123 wrote:1. IdeaPad 510 15" (4.63lb) - 80SV00XJUS ($729.99)
2. IdeaPad 700 15” (5.1 lbs) - 80RU00CYUS ($829.00)
3. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50017US ($999.00)
4. Yoga 710 15" (4.19 lbs) - 80V50018US ($1,149.00)

I picked these four because they are Lenovos within your budget and with a bigger screen than your current computer.

3 and 4 all have an i7 processor and have solid state drives, whereas 2 has an i6 and 1 has an i7 with a regular hard drive. Unfortunately, all come with Windows 10. I think it will be hard to find a new PC without it.

1, 2, and 3, all have the same resolution: (1920x1080). It's a pretty standard resolution. 4 has a resolution of (3840x2160) which will give you a slightly higher picture quality if you are into doing more than just work on it; games, movies, whatever.

1 and 2 have 12 GB of memory and 3 and 4 have 16 GB. 1 has 1 TB of memory, 2 and 3 have 256, and 4 has 512 GB.

3 and 4 will also have the longest lasting batteries.

I personally like SSDs a lot more than hard drives. From boot-up to browsing the internet takes generally around 30 seconds. The laptop also doesn't get nearly as hot and SSDs don't have moving parts like a hard drive so the laptop is generally thinner and more portable. SSDs will cost you a little bit more and you sacrifice memory for them. If you don't have a ton of music, movies, or games on your computer than 256 GB of memory is actually a decent amount for Word and browsing. If you do the other things a lot you can always go with the 512 GB model or buy an external hard drive or some flash drives. A 64 GB flash drive is usually around $10.00 and holds a lot of information.

I personally think option #3 would be a good fit. It is 15 inches, weights 4 pounds, has a decent amount of memory (which you can supplement), the i7, and a good amount of ram plus a good battery. It's the middle ground between 4 (better batter, storage capacity and screen resolution), and 1 & 2 which would also suit you I think. 1 weighs a bit more due to the hard drive, and it will probably be a little thicker and start a little slower too. If possible I would go to a store and see if you can play with each computer. The feel is also important. The wrong keyboard on a laptop or touchpad that isn't particularly sensitive can be really annoying. Hope this helps!

Thoughts on the 900 series? The hinge seems more secure. I'm not the most careful creature with my technological devices.

I think they look good. http://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/yo ... 8YG9000786

Seems like it could be a good fit for you. I didn't include it because the screen is smaller, thought not by that much (13.9"). It seems like a decent price too with decent specs. 16 GB memory, i7, SSD, and you have the option of the two different resolutions listed above. Obviously the higher resolution will cost you a bit more, though. $1,049.99 isn't unreasonable either. The nice thing about this model is it weighs about 3 pounds, so it is the lightest of the 5. Price is comparable to #3 and they are substantially similar. I say, if you like both, pick between the two with deciding factors being weight vs. screen size. Cost difference is negligible at $50.

Can't thank you enough for your expertise and advice! Looks like I need to make a trip to BestBuy.

There's nothing wrong with windows 10. I hardly notice the difference after making the switch from 7 to 10. What don't you like about 10?

Nebby wrote:There's nothing wrong with windows 10. I hardly notice the difference after making the switch from 7 to 10. What don't you like about 10?

The tiles. Things aren't where they used to be. How hard is it to find a calculator on a computer!

http://www.classicshell.net/

If you really hate windows 10, classic shell restores some of the features from win7 that were removed in win10. It also brings back the traditional start menu as opposed to the stupid tiles/apps that windows 10 forces down your throat.

KME89 wrote:

Nebby wrote:There's nothing wrong with windows 10. I hardly notice the difference after making the switch from 7 to 10. What don't you like about 10?

The tiles. Things aren't where they used to be. How hard is it to find a calculator on a computer!

You can also set it up so that the desktop looks mostly like the old format. It's really not that different than 7.

cavalier1138 wrote:

KME89 wrote:

Nebby wrote:There's nothing wrong with windows 10. I hardly notice the difference after making the switch from 7 to 10. What don't you like about 10?

The tiles. Things aren't where they used to be. How hard is it to find a calculator on a computer!

You can also set it up so that the desktop looks mostly like the old format. It's really not that different than 7.

I thought 10 came standard in desktop mode? I thought it was only in Windows 8 where you had tiles and had to specifically set it to desktop mode. My windows 10 is in desktop mode and it is basically windows 7 with added features like notifications.

Nebby wrote:

cavalier1138 wrote:

KME89 wrote:

Nebby wrote:There's nothing wrong with windows 10. I hardly notice the difference after making the switch from 7 to 10. What don't you like about 10?

The tiles. Things aren't where they used to be. How hard is it to find a calculator on a computer!

You can also set it up so that the desktop looks mostly like the old format. It's really not that different than 7.

I thought 10 came standard in desktop mode? I thought it was only in Windows 8 where you had tiles and had to specifically set it to desktop mode. My windows 10 is in desktop mode and it is basically windows 7 with added features like notifications.

I honestly forget which setting is the default. I know that Windows 10 has the tablet-style layout as well as the old format, and I can't remember which one requires changing things around.

FWIW, I've always been a pretty die hard Lenovo fan, but my 17" W Series tank that was great for engineering undergrad is now over 6 years old and for it's replacement I'm strongly leaning toward the AsusPro B9440. 14" screen at 2.31 pounds, $999 for the base model. Downsides are that it only has two ports that are both USB-C (not Thunderbolt 3) along with a dongle that adds standard USB and HDMI and no webcam. I'm not worried about those downsides because who needs ports when you have the cloud and who needs a webcam when every phone has one? But I can understand how those would be major downsides for some people.

Boiler2020 wrote:FWIW, I've always been a pretty die hard Lenovo fan, but my 17" W Series tank that was great for engineering undergrad is now over 6 years old and for it's replacement I'm strongly leaning toward the AsusPro B9440. 14" screen at 2.31 pounds, $999 for the base model. Downsides are that it only has two ports that are both USB-C (not Thunderbolt 3) along with a dongle that adds standard USB and HDMI and no webcam. I'm not worried about those downsides because who needs ports when you have the cloud and who needs a webcam when every phone has one? But I can understand how those would be major downsides for some people.

I'd recommend going and playing with a surface pro. At least give it a shot before being sold on anything else. They are amazing machines. The note taking capability with the smart stylus would make it really awesome for math/science UG, but still would be relevant in any major/degree imo.

TWiiX wrote:

Boiler2020 wrote:FWIW, I've always been a pretty die hard Lenovo fan, but my 17" W Series tank that was great for engineering undergrad is now over 6 years old and for it's replacement I'm strongly leaning toward the AsusPro B9440. 14" screen at 2.31 pounds, $999 for the base model. Downsides are that it only has two ports that are both USB-C (not Thunderbolt 3) along with a dongle that adds standard USB and HDMI and no webcam. I'm not worried about those downsides because who needs ports when you have the cloud and who needs a webcam when every phone has one? But I can understand how those would be major downsides for some people.

I'd recommend going and playing with a surface pro. At least give it a shot before being sold on anything else. They are amazing machines. The note taking capability with the smart stylus would make it really awesome for math/science UG, but still would be relevant in any major/degree imo.

I agree Surface Pro probably would've been cool in UG for all the equations and stuff (if only it had existed when I was in UG), but that keyboard looks way too flimsy to hold up to all the typing of law school. Also I'm not sold on the screen size. I'm already wary about downgrading from 17" to 14", I don't think I could go any smaller.

KME89 wrote:My little Lenovo ThinkPad (I think it's between 10-13") is six years old. My ex put Windows 10 on it right before we broke up. I hate Windows 10. My current laptop isn't good for much other than watching movies if your face is right up against the screen. The space bar doesn't work as well as it should so when you type italllookslikethis. I need something bigger and with more storage space for school. What should I be looking for in terms of RAM and all that jazz? Is it possible to NOT have Windows 10 and still have Windows Office capabilities? I'd like to have something with a bigger screen than I've got now, but not something that weighs several pounds and is going to be a pain to carry around.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I have the Lenovo Yoga and I love it! This is the one I have: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga ... Id=5579125

I recommend 16GB of memory. I originally bought the 8GB one and returned it and the extra $$$ for 16GB was very worth it! Everything goes very quickly, I like the ability to use it as a tablet & laptop, and I love the touch screen too!

it's allgood wrote:

KME89 wrote:My little Lenovo ThinkPad (I think it's between 10-13") is six years old. My ex put Windows 10 on it right before we broke up. I hate Windows 10. My current laptop isn't good for much other than watching movies if your face is right up against the screen. The space bar doesn't work as well as it should so when you type italllookslikethis. I need something bigger and with more storage space for school. What should I be looking for in terms of RAM and all that jazz? Is it possible to NOT have Windows 10 and still have Windows Office capabilities? I'd like to have something with a bigger screen than I've got now, but not something that weighs several pounds and is going to be a pain to carry around.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I have the Lenovo Yoga and I love it! This is the one I have: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga ... Id=5579125

I recommend 16GB of memory. I originally bought the 8GB one and returned it and the extra $$$ for 16GB was very worth it! Everything goes very quickly, I like the ability to use it as a tablet & laptop, and I love the touch screen too!

Mine just came in last night! I got a great deal on it and am so excited! Thanks all for the help and suggestions.