Trouble finding a decent laptop.

[Saberen]

I've been looking for a laptop in the $900-$1250(canadian) and i came across the lenovo y50. The hardware for the price is amazing but the screen is said to be very bad. I can't find any other laptop. Can anyone recommend one?

 

[Darkbreeze]

What is you main intended usage? Gaming or other tasks? Most important to least important.

 

[Saberen]

What is you main intended usage? Gaming or other tasks? Most important to least important.

Gaming and school work. I found this laptop http://www.ncix.com/detail/msi-ge60-apache-pro-i7-dd-96309-1139.htm for a good price for my location do you think it's any good?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Yes, that's a pretty good unit, but probably overpriced. This might be a better option as it comes with the same GTX 860M graphics adapter and i7 CPU but has 16GB of RAM instead of 8GB, a 1TB hard drive with 8GB SSD cache. The MSI model has a 1TB standard hard drive. It has wireless N and AC, rather than just wireless N. In my opinion the Lenovo unit has a higher quality and definitely has better customer support, in the event you need it, than MSI, which can be rather "meh" when it comes to product support. Plus, the initial investment is cheaper, no hoping you get the mail in rebate amount back, which is usually in the form of a gift card you have to end up spending back at their site anyhow.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317542


Either unit is very capable however so whichever way you go, you're going to have a very good product.

 

[Saberen]

Yes, that's a pretty good unit, but probably overpriced. This might be a better option as it comes with the same GTX 860M graphics adapter and i7 CPU but has 16GB of RAM instead of 8GB, a 1TB hard drive with 8GB SSD cache. The MSI model has a 1TB standard hard drive. It has wireless N and AC, rather than just wireless N. In my opinion the Lenovo unit has a higher quality and definitely has better customer support, in the event you need it, than MSI, which can be rather "meh" when it comes to product support. Plus, the initial investment is cheaper, no hoping you get the mail in rebate amount back, which is usually in the form of a gift card you have to end up spending back at their site anyhow.

http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834317542


Either unit is very capable however so whichever way you go, you're going to have a very good product.

I was looking at the lenovo y50 a lot. But it all came down to the screen quality which most say is terrible. i need a good screen for my photography classes.

 

[Darkbreeze]

For photography the MSI unit would be a better choice since it comes with an IPS panel rather than a TN panel like the non-Pro versions and like the Lenovo, but again, the package is a bit weaker and if you're running any high end applications you might want the 16GB of RAM and the SSD cache would greatly speed up things in Adobe or other graphic rendering.

 

[Saberen]

For photography the MSI unit would be a better choice since it comes with an IPS panel rather than a TN panel like the non-Pro versions and like the Lenovo, but again, the package is a bit weaker and if you're running any high end applications you might want the 16GB of RAM and the SSD cache would greatly speed up things in Adobe or other graphic rendering.

What about this laptop? can the eyes on the back be turned off?

 

[Darkbreeze]

What unit and what do you mean by "eyes"? Heh. You lost me there.

 

[Saberen]

What unit and what do you mean by "eyes"? Heh. You lost me there.

I'm sorry for not properly linking you it. I thought i did.
http://www.ncix.com/detail/msi-ge40-dragon-eyes-i7-97-97566-1386.htm

 

[Darkbreeze]

The memory is better, at 16GB, which isn't entirely necessary, just nice to have for those graphics applications, but the GPU is a lower tiered unit than the other one, having a GTX 850m instead of an 860m, so performance will be less than with the other unit. It also has an almost 2" smaller screen, so photography and graphic applications are going to be somewhat more difficult to work with due to the smaller screen size. It also apparently has a TN panel rather than an IPS like the other one. I'd recommend the first unit you looked at. If need be, you can probably add more memory to it later, but you probably won't need to.

 

[Saberen]

The memory is better, at 16GB, which isn't entirely necessary, just nice to have for those graphics applications, but the GPU is a lower tiered unit than the other one, having a GTX 850m instead of an 860m, so performance will be less than with the other unit. It also has an almost 2" smaller screen, so photography and graphic applications are going to be somewhat more difficult to work with due to the smaller screen size. It also apparently has a TN panel rather than an IPS like the other one. I'd recommend the first unit you looked at. If need be, you can probably add more memory to it later, but you probably won't need to.

Alright, thanks for all the help.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Anytime. And if you have more questions, or find another unit you're interested in, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be glad to offer my opinion, such as it is, on anything you're looking into.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'm not sure what the import duties, if any, are like on items purchased outside Canada, but you might also be able to find this model, which I think is a higher quality unit, has an IPS panel display and basically the same specs as that MSI unit, for a little less, or order it from Amazon. I think it even has free Prime shipping. The Canadian Amazon site has it about 600 dollars more expensive, which I know is typical of CAD pricing, but if you order it through US Amazon, it might still be less expensive with fees added. Just an option.

http://www.amazon.com/N550JK-DS71T-16-Inch-Touchscreen-i7-4700HQ-Windows/dp/B00IAA5BSS

 

[Saberen]

I'm not sure what the import duties, if any, are like on items purchased outside Canada, but you might also be able to find this model, which I think is a higher quality unit, has an IPS panel display and basically the same specs as that MSI unit, for a little less, or order it from Amazon. I think it even has free Prime shipping. The Canadian Amazon site has it about 600 dollars more expensive, which I know is typical of CAD pricing, but if you order it through US Amazon, it might still be less expensive with fees added. Just an option.

http://www.amazon.com/N550JK-DS71T-16-Inch-Touchscreen-i7-4700HQ-Windows/dp/B00IAA5BSS

Our dollar isn't looking too good right now so i can't really buy from american sites sadly.