Laptop search help

[tinpanalley]

I don't know how to look for this laptop my dad needs because he's interested in thinness which isn't a spec I know how to narrow down. I thought people here more familiar with what's out there across the board might have a good idea of what to recommend. To me looking based on physical appearance is like saying, "I need a blue shirt". Ok, but you could come back with some awful fabric that fits the colour bill but is a terrible garment.

Here's some more useful info than just thinness. I think we need the following as a base of importance...

- 16 GB RAM
- Strong battery life, (more than 8 hours possible unplugged?)
- any processor that won't lag when running Excel, Word, possibly Power Point and MS Project, all at once.
- must be able to handle my dad's incorrigible need to keep his email open all day, syncing live, with maybe a handful of emails open.
- must also be able to handle my dad's inability to have about 10 Firefox tabs open and forget they're there for hours
- Budget doesn't matter if the device is right for the task, but I think it'd be best to stick to 1000-1500 US$. He didn't care much that the Surface Pro setup I looked up was about 1600 but I didn't like that he can't add RAM later if he needs it.

He's retired and now doing lots of freelance projects/project management so the real important thing is the thinness because he tends to travel heavy already. When he owns heavy things, he breaks them. To be honest, when he owns anything electronic, the chance of being damaged is high. This is not something we can address or try to improve upon. That "way" is set. But it ain't my money so I'm just needing to recommend something that fits the bill. I just know that when he gets the right thing (phone, TV, etc,) it tends to last him because he cares for it well.

Can anyone help, please? I'm finding specs that fit but not in the right suit, if you will.

Thanks!

 

[lakedude]

The first thing I thought of was a Macbook. They are thin, light, have good battery life, can have 16GB RAM, great screens, and are just generally good quality devices. They can run Windows if need be.

Negatives include high cost, the complication of installing Windows if you need it, and 16 GB might be the limit on RAM.

The cost starts in the middle of your price range and goes up from there.

 

[lakedude]

Maybe a Lenovo X1 Carbon?

Great display, light weight, good battery life, and Windows based.

Looks like 16 GB RAM max again...

 

[lakedude]

I'm perhaps not the best to speak on this matter. The preferences you list are vastly different from my own.

It sounds like you want some kind of "ultrabook" which is going be high quality, thin and light with good battery life.

 

[tinpanalley]

The first thing I thought of was a Macbook. They are thin, light, have good battery life, can have 16GB RAM, great screens, and are just generally good quality devices. They can run Windows if need be.
...
Maybe a Lenovo X1 Carbon? Great display, light weight, good battery life, and Windows based.
Looks like 16 GB RAM max again...

Yeah, it's gotta be Windows based. I'll check out the Lenovo. Thank you.

 

[twelfth]

Might be an unpopular opinion here... but look into the HP Envy series.

https://store.hp.com/us/en/mdp/laptops/envy-13-344514--1#!&tab=features

Metal body, 16GB Ram is an option, FHD or 4K screen is an option. Core i7 CPU as default, advertises 11 to 14 hours depending on use case.

My Envy 2015 model has held up remarkably well despite having been my partner's primary portable device for a while... and butterfingers is an understatement when it comes to it. 8GB Ram 256GB SSD, 3200x1800 13.3" screen, backlit keyboard, 8ish hour battery (newer models do better)... and it's still available for about $799.

 

[tinpanalley]

Might be an unpopular opinion here... but look into the HP Envy series.

THanks, I will.

 

[Commodus]

I'd also look into Dell's newest XPS 13. Your dad might have to spring for a high-end configuration to get the 16GB of RAM, but it should fit the bill. Just encourage him to get a good, protective laptop bag and/or laptop sleeve, whichever machine he gets!