Well my neighbour hasn't got back to me yet re laptops. Knocked on his door last night only to find he's just returned to the US on another business trip so won't be around for a while.

He's a very nice chap and I'm sure he will eventually come back with some recommendations. However in the last week my Hudl2 has given up the ghost. It won't charge and it doesn't seem to be the charger. I've been rather unhappy with it for some time as, due to Tesco stopping all support some time ago, it runs on an old version of Android and can't update some things so other things don't work too well. Security because of this worries me too. So I've decided it's time for a parting of the ways.

So that leaves me with just this large laptop which I'm using to make this post. There are many things it does well but it's nothing like so convenient to sit with it on my lap in the evenings as the Hudl was.

I've had the Hudl for some time and I mess around on Mrs Jock's iPad from time to time but I get very confused when it comes to the different way they work (accessing my NAS etc) now, back on the Win10 laptop and I find I'm actually rather liking it! Mrs J is quite possessive of the iPad anyway.

So I think I've now convinced myself that a small screen windows 10 laptop, maybe one that can be used as a tablet? might be my best choice. I could use that for my evening browsing activities and, loaded with MES and VCDS it could also be a very convenient diagnostic solution.

So. Anyone care to make suggestions? It would need to have at least one USB port for the interface (the vcds is plug in only) and a decent storage memory to store examples of test results. This seems to be a drawback of many I've looked at so far. I think probably an i3 or similar, with about 4GB working memory would be sufficient - but what do I know? One "left field" consideration might be, instead of going for a new machine, a refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad T 420 or 430. My local independent computer repair shop is quite keen on this as a solution. But. Refurbished. I don't know. Feel nervous?

Anyone care to suggest solutions?
Thanks
Jock

Convinced mac user myself, so can't recommend any windows laptops. But - if you have the choice - go for more memory. 4GB I consider a minimum, 8 is far better.

Refurbished: if they give a warranty on it, go ahead. If not, stay away.

Ex-corporate Lenovos can be a bargain - we replace all our kit every 3 years, although we do sometimes make buying mistakes (my last business grade HP laptop with AMD chipset was absolutely awful).

The Lenovo T420 is ancient now, though - seems to date from 2011! - and the T430 is only a year newer.

If you're looking for more modern kit, then I wouldn't drop below an i5 - I've experience of i3 desktops and it wasn't great!

Can't be much more assistance as I'm an Apple man and would usually recommend a MacBook Air - they come as small as 11" and can often be found on the Apple Refurb Store with big discounts.

(Apple refurbs come with full Apple warranty, as per a new device - and I've never had anything that didn't look absolutely brand new from them)

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished

Schumi2001 said:

Ex-corporate Lenovos can be a bargain - we replace all our kit every 3 years, although we do sometimes make buying mistakes (my last business grade HP laptop with AMD chipset was absolutely awful).

The Lenovo T420 is ancient now, though - seems to date from 2011! - and the T430 is only a year newer.

If you're looking for more modern kit, then I wouldn't drop below an i5 - I've experience of i3 desktops and it wasn't great!

Can't be much more assistance as I'm an Apple man and would usually recommend a MacBook Air - they come as small as 11" and can often be found on the Apple Refurb Store with big discounts.

(Apple refurbs come with full Apple warranty, as per a new device - and I've never had anything that didn't look absolutely brand new from them)

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished

Click to expand...

Yup, you are pretty much repeating what my son in law advises. He works on fast jet developement (smart cookie). I would really quite like to go down that road but, in my ignorance, I understand you need a Windows machine to run MES and VCDS?

You can set up a MacBook to 'dual boot' Windows and OSX. Or even get an app which lets you run Windows in a window within OSX.

I just keep an ancient Windows laptop for diagnostics, as it means I don't care about leaving it in the garage, or on the seat of the car when I wander into the house for a cuppa.

Just re-read your post...

You need to distinguish between 'memory' and 'storage'.

My MacBook Air has 4GB of memory - this is where programs run and store data whilst running.

I also have a 256GB SSD (aka 'hard drive') which is where all my data and programs are stored.

You won't find a modern laptop with less than 128GB of hard drive - and most modern machines now have SSD (solid state) drives rather than traditional 'spinning platter' hard drives.

Schumi2001 said:

Just re-read your post...

You need to distinguish between 'memory' and 'storage'.

My MacBook Air has 4GB of memory - this is where programs run and store data whilst running.

I also have a 256GB SSD (aka 'hard drive') which is where all my data and programs are stored.

You won't find a modern laptop with less than 128GB of hard drive - and most modern machines now have SSD (solid state) drives rather than traditional 'spinning platter' hard drives.

Click to expand...

Sorry Schumi, probably just me not expressing myself clearly! I do appreciate the difference between the working memory and the storage memory. But don't take it for granted that I understand anything else. My knowledge is very selected and quite limited.

One of the issues that worries me a lot is that of storage memory. My old Toshiba laptop, which ran Vista, had 2GB of working memory (you call that RAM don't you?) and 250GB storage on a hard drive disc. The problem with it was that 6 years down the road the hard disc was so clogged with updates which had auto installed that there was no room left to do anything else! People talked to me about doing a wipe and new Vista instal but I wouldn't know where to start. You'll understand therefore my reluctance to engage with any of these modern things with "only" 32 or 64 or 128 GB of space. I've read on the internet that people found their 32GB machines could not update as insufficient memory was available! The machine I'm on just now has 2TB and after 6 months all the stuff I've loaded onto it barely registers on the bar graph!

Didn't know about running windows on Macs! So would that let me run the VCDS and MES programs? and, probably a silly question but you can see how limited my knowledge is, will the Mac accept the USB plugs on my interfaces? Think I'll get "wonder boy" on the case - it'll probably take him all of 5 minutes to come up with an answer! and he'd be very happy to see me converted to an apple product!

Your help is very much appreciated. I'm feeling really quite excited about the possiblities. Off to google anything I can find on this now.
Thanks again
Jock

Yes, a Mac has the usual USB ports. The machine I'm using has 2xUSB3 and a Thunderbolt port.

It also has an SD card slot, too.

Just realised it's only a 128GB hard drive, but I have a 200GB SD card in it permanently to store photos / videos / music etc.

I have no idea what your budget is but I’ve had a few Lenovo’s over the years, I also use an iPhone and an iPad and We have an iMac and a Mac book knocking about, however I prefer the windows laptop for a lot of my work.

If you wanted something that could be hand held and used like a tablet then I would check out the Lenovo yoga, can be bought for as little as £300

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...VFed3Ch0YNA3bEAQYBSABEgLeIvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I do a lot of video work so bought a huge 17” Lenovo which I love and it does exactly what I want, if I didn’t need such a big screen I would have bought a Yoga

AndyRKett said:

I have no idea what your budget is but I’ve had a few Lenovo’s over the years, I also use an iPhone and an iPad and We have an iMac and a Mac book knocking about, however I prefer the windows laptop for a lot of my work.

If you wanted something that could be hand held and used like a tablet then I would check out the Lenovo yoga, can be bought for as little as £300

https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/compu...VFed3Ch0YNA3bEAQYBSABEgLeIvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I do a lot of video work so bought a huge 17” Lenovo which I love and it does exactly what I want, if I didn’t need such a big screen I would have bought a Yoga

Click to expand...

Thanks Andy. That Yoga does look like a possibility and right in my comfortable price range. Do you have an opinion on the A6 processor? I've only ever had intel products. I like the idea of being able to use it in tablet form for "sofa surfing" and the 1TB Disc storage fits the bill too.
Thanks again
Jock

We had to pull all our AMD based laptops earlier than planned due to awful performance. They were replaced by Intel i5s.

You can get an intel version for about £450 which is quite a step up in price, I think I would be inclined to go for the intel version.

My advice (if it’s an option) would be to keep an eye out in the electrical department of your local John Lewis who very often have massively discounted laptops.

A lot more expensive option is the windows sureface pro

AndyRKett said:

You can get an intel version for about £450 which is quite a step up in price, I think I would be inclined to go for the intel version.

My advice (if it’s an option) would be to keep an eye out in the electrical department of your local John Lewis who very often have massively discounted laptops.

Click to expand...

J L is my preferred source for all things electrical. Last time I was in when I bought our Humax Freesat reciever (having given up on sky, whom we had been with since they were just a wee cloud!) I noticed a couple of very well priced special offers. So thanks for reminding me. I think I'll stick my head through their door next time I'm passing.

Thanks Shumi. My "big" 15 inch laptop has an i5 and it does all I could want of it. I was feeling just a little nervous about AMD but have never had one and don't know anyone with one.

JL are great for electrical items.

You need to browse their clearance sections, especially in the big stores - as you get some real bargains in there on returned or ex-display products. All come with the full guarantee, too.