New staff laptops

[Sonic007]

Im getting some new staff laptops and looking at spending no more than around £500.

 

I've narrowed it down to two...

 

 

Lenovo V330-15IKB 39.6 cm (15.6") LCD Notebook - Intel Core i5 (8th Gen) i5-8250U Quad-core (4 Core) 1.60 GHz - 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM - 500 GB HDD - Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (English) - 1920 x 1080 - Twisted nematic (TN) - Intel UHD Graphics 620 DDR4 SDRAM - Bluetooth - English (UK), English (UK) Keyboard - Ethernet - Network (RJ-45) - HDMI - 2 x USB 3.0 Ports - USB Type-C

 

 

 

OR...

 

 

 

DELL Vostro 3568 Intel Core i5-7200U (3M Cache, up to 3.10 GHz) 8GB (1x8GB) 2400MHz DDR4 256GB SSD 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) AntiGlare Intel HD 620 Cam and Mic DVD RW Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 + Bluetooth, Keyboard 4 Cell 45W Power Cord Windows 10 Professional (64bit) EN McAfee 30 days trial Microsoft Office Trial Black 1 Year Collect and Return

 

 

Which would you go for....

 

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[hardtailstar]

I'd go for the Dell as parts/drivers are probably easier to find.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Personally, neither. Which isn't very helpful I know.

 

But. Here's my reasoning...

 

Both the Vostro and V-Series lenovo laptops are budget lines. You're looking at buying something for teachers to throw around that has a lovely brittle plastic chassis.

Internal specs sound good but I wouldn't trust either chassis to last the distance.

 

If you're looking at Lenovo, look for T-series thinkpads. You'll probably get a new 6th or 7th gen one for a similar price and it'll be WAY more than the teachers need. Again, for the Dells you want to be looking at the Latitude E5xxx series.

 

These are both built to last and you'll save yourself work in the long run. In addition to that you'll get far better warranties, 3 Years onsite in most cases. That 1 year Collect and Return warranty isn't nearly as good as the minimum 2 years Advance Replace warranty that I offer on my refurb laptops!

[DalekSec]

Agreed with @ICTDirect_Dave . Look at the dell latitudes. Had vostros in past and they can be a PITA, not easy to reapir, not easy to get cab files for drivers. Latitudes nice and easy on both!

 

Also you NEED a SSD/Other Flash storage as a boot drive, it's 2018 if you have a HDD teachers will just constantly complain of slowness.

[Cat_Jam148]

We've been running both the Lenovo and Dell Vostro lines for about three years (Dozen or so from each) here replacing older laptops as needed - never had an issue with any of them. Both tend to be rock solid when it comes to build quality (from my perspective) and the staff are happy with the increased performance. We've got a couple of those particular Dells and so far so good! As the others have said, definitely upgrade to an SSD.

[gmonks]

Have had both Dell Vostro and Latitude Exxxx series. Latitude wins hands down, as I have found them to be more robust, better parts wise and lasting longer.

[AlanD]

I'd be looking carefully at USB-C. And I would be looking to have on desk adaptors with a charger (for HDMI - or VGA, network and USB to smartboard or what ever, and sound). So the ONLY thing a member of staff has to plug in is one USB-C lead. Make sure the USBC-C connector on the laptop supports video (because not all do this).

[maark]

don't whether vostros have improved but had really bad experience with them a few years ago - basically all developed different faults and were written off within about 2- 3 years after they were out of warranty.

Would go for latitudes or we have had HP 440s 450s which are pretty good (not 250s which are cheap and plasticky)

[DavR]

+1 for Dell Latitude lines, we got a batch of the Latitude 3380s over the summer, and they're solid as anything. Core i5, 8GB RAM, SSD, 5yr warranty and around the £500 mark. Vostro is a small business / home product, and spec'd and built accordingly.

 

Although I will admit that we have been burnt in the past with the Latitude range.... the E5520 and E5530s we've had so many build issues with, broken plastic and broken hinges mainly, but that's historical.

[atcoates]

When I've spoken to Dell they've always said Vostro range is for home use etc and latitude is their business range. The latitude also get a longer driver life cycle etc. In the last few years we've been buying teachers reconditioned laptops. Edited November 8, 2018 by atcoates

[HTCPCP]

Both are budget laptops, where normal build quality is cut to fit the budget - cheaper plastics, less rigidity, cheaper hinges, cheaper trackpad and keyboard. Tech Radar has reviewed the Lenovo (linked to 2nd page and see what they say about battery and build quality).

As for the Dell, I avoid budget Dells now, after a horrendous experience with a full set of Inspiron Laptops, and the few Vostro's I bought because I needed some laptops quick. dodgy track pads, hinges that break off the screen (mounted at the bottom of the screen, and not the whole of the screen unit, as better designed devices do), and the small pin charging port, held in place by ridges in the chassis rather than anything substantial. Replacement plans for both the inspirons and Vostros were put in place before I left, and my former colleague who replaced me, sent me a gleeful snap a few months ago, of the remnants of one of the more troublesome ones which was ritually sacrificed upon termination of service.

[Fazza]

We've just got a load of the Dell Vostro 3568's and they boot up and load Windows very fast compared to our Acer laptops that we were buying.

 

We purchased a couple of different models and one batch came with SSDs that were for student use and one batch came with old-fashioned HDDs for staff use so I took them apart and swapped the HDDs over and noticed that like people have said, the build quality is not that good as on two of them I had a screw left over as when un-screwing it to get the laptop apart, the bit it screws in to on the case fell off! I can understand if it snapped when screwing it in place as it could have been over-tightened, but never see anything snap off due to un-screwing a screw before!

[gbtb]

We have been purchasing the HP ProBooks for the last few years, generally the build quality is fine and we have had only a handful of issues with them. The most recent ones we purchased were the HP ProBook 450 G5. The added bonus is the trade in promotions you can get £200 back on each device.

[supportman]

Virtually all those laptops mentioned are at least £750 with the SSD option.

 

I just dont get anyone spending that much on a "budget" laptop these days...

[markwilfan]

I've started to buy refurb lenovo t450 or x250 with docking stations. My tech and I have swapped our workstations and laptops for x250 with dock.

[PrimaryNetMan]

Although I will admit that we have been burnt in the past with the Latitude range.... the E5520 and E5530s we've had so many build issues with, broken plastic and broken hinges mainly, but that's historical.

 

You're not wrong, worst Latitudes I have ever used, E5540s not much better either and nowhere near as bomb proof as the old D Series, E6xxx however were like tanks.

[ICTDirect_Dave]

You're not wrong, worst Latitudes I have ever used, E5540s not much better either and nowhere near as bomb proof as the old D Series, E6xxx however were like tanks.

 

The E5440's seem pretty good, I've sold about 1800 of tose in the last 12 months. I'm not sure about the E5540's though. You're right about the E6xxx however, cracking machines!

[DavR]

You're not wrong, worst Latitudes I have ever used, E5540s not much better either and nowhere near as bomb proof as the old D Series, E6xxx however were like tanks.

 

Trying to take the positives from my last few years' experience, I try to take the positives.... I've got stripping and rebuilding a Latitude E5530 down to about 30 minutes now, and my laptop repair game in general is vastly improved!

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Trying to take the positives from my last few years' experience, I try to take the positives.... I've got stripping and rebuilding a Latitude E5530 down to about 30 minutes now, and my laptop repair game in general is vastly improved!

 

I'll give you that... The Latitudes are so easy to take apart and rebuild!

[mullet_man]

Although I've had issues with Dell's in the past E5520/30 hinge issues but other than that they are robust and now one E5550s and E5570s and they seem decent and after a few issues with docks ironed have last quite well these last few years under the pressure of daily use by teachers [emoji23]