Want to buy $800+ laptop that cant even game!?! Rant

[suitercrew]

Ok this is just a question/rant I had to get out cause I find it so oddly infuriating. So friend gets $800+ laptop. Laptop is 14inch 1080p display, 256gb ssd, 8gb ddr4, i7-8565u w/ intel uhd 620 graphics. Could someone please explain to me why the h*ll someone would spend 800$ on this when they could get a much better all around performing computer for less? A year ago I got my first gaming laptop a dell inspiron 15 7000 with an i5-7300hq and gtx1050 walked out best buys door for 550$. Sure the new i7-8565u processor is pretty amazing especially given its max 25w tdp but come the fudge on, I cant even think of a single commonly used task that the i7 would make a significant difference in, but there's a 100 tasks that having a powerful graphics card even a 1050m would dramatically help performance in. I just dont understand why people buy super expensive computers that only do 50% of the tasks a computer is supposed to do, even if their not gamers gpu's are utilized in lots of daily user tasks. Sure the laptops nice and thin and uses little power, but it still only lasts 2 hours. Dell couldn't even add Thunderbolt support for the usb c port on it, which would have been nice for possible egpu options.

Anyway I'm done. If anyone has a different opinion or feels I'm overlooking something please en look enlighten me because I just dont get it.

 

[kanewolf]

There is much more to life, and laptops than gaming. I wouldn't buy a laptop because of the gaming capability. But I would pay extra for the SSD, as your friend did.

 

[USAFRet]

I cant even think of a single commonly used task that the i7 would make a significant difference in

CAD
Photo editing
large spreadsheets
Database manipulation

And of course his SSD crushes any spinning platter system.

 

[aras773]

Just so you know MacBooks exist

 

[Solandri]

Usually the non-gaming laptops can be made thinner and lighter, due to the lower cooling requirement. For some people, thinner and lighter is more valuable than being capable of gaming.

Also, FYI, laptop prices are incredibly low today. A decade ago, a cheap laptop was still about $500, but a good one cost about $1500. Two decades ago, a cheap laptop was about $1500, a good one near $3000. My first laptop (25 years ago) cost me $2400 (on sale!), was nearly 2" thick, and had a 9.5" monochrome screen.
http://oldcomputers.net/ibm-thinkpad.html

And three decades ago, a cheap laptop was a glorified pocket calculator. While a "real" laptop weighed 14 pounds and cost over $5000.
http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2223/Compaq-Portable-slt-286-1903/

Count yourself lucky that you're able to complain about a $550 vs $800 laptop. And pray that your kids will look at the laptops you're using today and laugh as hard as you do when you look at the above links.

Edit: And since someone mentioned Macs, I think I still have my sister's old Powerbook in a box in the basement somewhere.
http://oldcomputers.net/apple-powerbook.html

 

[jjherg3344]

gaming laptops tend to be more heavy and heft is a consideration many make when purchasing a new laptop.

 

[GreyCatz]

Here's what I don't get:

A) Are you ranting on behalf of someone else? If not:, then:

B) Is your friend as 'oddly infuriated' as you are? If not, then:

C) Why do you even bother?