Solid laptops for under R20,000 in SA

[PhireSide]

Quality trackpad is high right at the top on my list. Having used windows laptops though-out 2021 it is the one area sorely lacking.

My work Latitude (new-ish, 11th Gen Intel) comes rather close to my MBA, and has been the best Windows trackpad experience I've used, but Apple still has them beat.

The Taptic engine is something that no other manufacturer has managed to beat. If you are mainly a mobile-based user, having good ergonomics is a must.

 

[Bryn]

So not a MBA? Or do you mean speakers that work fine, which most laptops have. Since if actual service, they're far from easy to fix/replace.

Most modern trackpads on non cheapo devices on Windows are fine for the last few years if they use windows' drivers (and Lenovo's drivers are also decent).

I just mean speakers that sound good. Most laptops definitely don't have decent speakers - the vast majority sound godawful to me.

Although I don't think speakers and trackpads are primary considerations for most laptop buyers.

My [anecdotal] experience is different... but why do you think that is? Do you think it could be because they're rubbish? Would they become a priority if they were usable?

Because no one misses something they never had. On Windows I feel like the trackpad is a convenience provided for when you don't have a mouse. Laptops have become crazy expensive, so people are just focusing on the bare essentials.

 

[bwana]

Although I don't think speakers and trackpads are primary considerations for most laptop buyers.

so people are just focusing on the bare essentials.

If you're buying a laptop despite it having a bad trackpad you should probably think about buying a desktop. Using a mouse with a laptop is just counterintuitive. Where would you put it?

 

[backstreetboy]

If you're buying a laptop despite it having a bad trackpad you should probably think about buying a desktop. Using a mouse with a laptop is just counterintuitive. Where would you put it?

There...

 

[bwana]

There...

Too small and on the wrong side obviously.

 

[Matt91]

I got a Acer Nitro 5 from Makro about 4 months ago for 18K

*3050ti
*144hz 1080p display @15.6"
*8gb RAM
*512gb SSD
*i7-11800H

 

[bluepoole]

Not sure why the article says the MBA has up to 14 hours of battery life, everywhere it gets advertised as up to 18 hours, whether it is realistic or not.

Anyway, as with everything battery powered, it depends on what you do with it. In my personal experience, I actually get close to 20 hours when doing light work (browsing the internet, watching video, etc.). This is actual screen on time. It is insane.

When doing 4K video editing on Final Cut Pro, connected to a 40 inch TV as monitor, I can still easily get 9-10 hours.

 

[Sapphiron]

Never had any problems with their Lattitudes.

Yep, the problem is consumer grade designs.

Also, Intel has been to blame for much of it.

Personally, I have stuck with ThinkPad T or latitude 5000 series.