still laptop shopping

[mrodgers 1]

Hey all, figured there's some folks that know more about computers here than I do.

 

I'm still laptop shopping.  Pulling the trigger soon.  Have a few questions on feature comparison.

 

Wondering which you would chose and why when comparing features.

 

First item is HP business laptop with i5 processor running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.  I really don't want anything to do with Windows 8.  Heck, I'm brand new to Windows 7 at work a week ago (XP both at work and home prior.)  This is $600 order online only.

 

Second item is Leveno consumer i7 processor running Windows 8.1.(32 or 64 bit unknown.)  $550 available in store or online.

 

All other specs/features are same or similar, 8 GB, regular 5200 rpm drive (size doesn't matter), DVD writable, 15.6 inch screen (no touch on the Win8.1 machine.) Intel HD4400, etc.

 

I do a lot of photography and image work with older versions of Photoshop/Lightroom/Paint.net.  I want to play SC4 as probably the most I'll get into gaming.  Maybe a little Sims3/4 but each of those run on my current ancient pokey AMD Sempron 1GB laptop.

 

Wondering if you would chose the faster i7 processor with Win8.1 for $50 less over the i5 Win 7 Pro machine with all else being equal.  As I said, I have played around in the store with Win8 and really don't like it at all.  I want functionality rather than fluff (I despise most current program versions like Office 2010 I am forced to use at work because I want menues and such rather than pretty little icons and pictures to try to figure out what to do.)  But, if an i7 is dramatically better than an i5 for a cheaper price even, perhaps you folks can convince me the trade-off of undesireable 8.1 would  be worth it over Win7.

 

One thing I see is the HP Windows 7 machine is labeled as a business laptop (G350 model or something like that.)  I am guessing there would be much less bloatware loaded on it.

 

Can anyone convince me one way or another?

[Dazzyls 576]

If you want to play big games like GTA5 or Watch Dogs, make sure the laptop has a good graphics card and enough working mermory. I don't think SC4 uses that much working memory, so 4 GB will be more than enough for such old games. I'm not very into photoshopping, so I don't know what you'll need for that.

Also, I have one tip: DON'T BUY A SONY VAIO. I'm currently typing on one and it has one of the worst internet connectors (don't know how you call those things) I've ever used. My last laptop was also a SONY vaio. It was broken in about 3 years.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Unless you really need portability, reconsider.  A desktop will be much cheaper and you can get a lot bigger machine for your bucks.

[mrodgers 1]

Unless you really need portability, reconsider.  A desktop will be much cheaper and you can get a lot bigger machine for your bucks.

Yes, really need portability.  Not so much portability, but compact.  I can not set up a desktop on the kitchen table every time I want to use the computer and take it all down every evening when we eat dinner.  That's 2 things that we seem to be of the minority in the US.  We don't live in a McMansion and we eat dinner together at the table.  Literally no space anywhere for a computer desk and desktop computer.  I'm moving out of the cold damp spider filled storage basement with a computer purchase.  We buy one about ever 10 years.

 

Portability to use on the couch or in the bedroom.  It's all we have, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen, and living room.  Portability to take out in the garage when I'm working on the car or working on some other project.  Portability to take out and sit on the deck while the kids are swimming.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It's is all a matter of what space you have.  I manage a computer desk in my 500 sq. ft. senior's pad.