[Paddy C]

I am in the market for a new laptop and would like one that has a solid state HDD in it. Does anyone have one they could recommend, or are they even widely available yet? I already have an external HDD for backing up and storing all my files on, and the 250GB hard drive on my current laptop usually has around 180GB free as everything is saved externally. The laptop will mostly be used for browsing, gaming, video creating/editing and the usual stuff like word processing etc.

Cheers for any help.

[rjb101]

couldn't tell you if these are any good but here's a selection


http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=laptop+with+solid+state+drive&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&client=firefox-a#q=laptop+with+solid+state+drive&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=7fl&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=byjoT8nLJcqM8gOYsIWVCg&ved=0CJIBEK0E&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e66274ef2f737b56&biw=1150&bih=616


Or there's always a Macbook pro/air

[Brush Master]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

I am in the market for a new laptop and would like one that has a solid state HDD in it. Does anyone have one they could recommend, or are they even widely available yet? I already have an external HDD for backing up and storing all my files on, and the 250GB hard drive on my current laptop usually has around 180GB free as everything is saved externally. The laptop will mostly be used for browsing, gaming, video creating/editing and the usual stuff like word processing etc.

Cheers for any help.

It may be worth checking out the price of a regular laptop plus SSD upgrade. I won't be surprised if laptops with SSD are sold at a premium; it might work out cheaper to buy the part with a traditional HD, unclutter it, then transfer it to SSD.

[Paddy C]

I never thought of that actually. Are all hard drives in laptops the same size/shape then so I won't have a problem in removing a traditional one and installing a solid state one regardless of the brand used etc?

[Brush Master]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

Are all hard drives in laptops the same size/shape then so I won't have a problem in removing a traditional one and installing a solid state one regardless of the brand used etc?

For the first SSD, I bought the drive with the Crucial Transfer Kit. In my case, this worked without a glitch. The software can "downsize" the drive, in the process, so long as all the in-use data fits onto the destination. I replaced a 250GB HDD with a 128GB SSD.

(Note the Crucial transfer tool can not transfer RAID arrays, regardless of their RAID configuration.)

Oh, you were asking about the mechanics and electrical connections: a SSD like the Crucial CT128M4SSD2CCA will work just fine in most cases, but you'll have to check drive and laptop spec to be sure. Windows Device Manager can tell you the precise type and model of the HDD installed. You can also open it and take a look, and/or visit the SSD manufacturer's site for compatibility information. Whatever you do, you should check first, then spend the money.

Oh, and one more thing: if you start out with HDD, use it for as long as it seems fast enough. SSD prices will fall in the meanwhile, and your new laptop will probably be just fine in the beginning. Eventually, you think it slows down. Most of it is illusion, but that's what you think. Now replace the drive, and enjoy the new speed for a day or two. Then you'll find it perfectly normal. (Been there...)

[Esot-eric]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

Are all hard drives in laptops the same size/shape then so I won't have a problem in removing a traditional one and installing a solid state one regardless of the brand used etc?

For the most part new laptops use 9mm thick SATA drives. Some laptops might use 7mm thick drives, and a lot of the new Ultrabooks/Ultrathins/Macbook Airs use non-standard SSDs.

[Loobster]

All the laptops I've seen that come shipped with an SSD have been ridiculously expensive.

Just get a laptop with a regular drive, and switch an SSD into it.

If you get a 17" laptop with two drive bays, you can use the larger spinny drive that comes with it as a secondary drive for data and just get a 128GB SSD for OS and applications.

[Paddy C]

That sounds like a good idea, I must look for laptops that have two drive bays then. Where is the best place to get laptops anyway? I take it it's not Currys or PC World?

[Paddy C]

Can anyone recommend me a laptop that has two spaces for hard drives? I would like to get my replacement laptop before the weekend.

[Gormond]

The MacBook line can all be customised with SSDs, it's worth a look.

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by Gormond

The MacBook line can all be customised with SSDs, it's worth a look.

The Macbook Airs already have SSDs and I think you can upgrade the hard drive in the Pro to an SSD. I don't really want to upgrade mine though in case I do something wrong and break my little friend Nearly bought an 11" Macbook Air yesterday.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher

The Macbook Airs already have SSDs and I think you can upgrade the hard drive in the Pro to an SSD. I don't really want to upgrade mine though in case I do something wrong and break my little friend Nearly bought an 11" Macbook Air yesterday.

Yeah I fancy getting oe for uni, my ageing Vaio is so slow in comparason. I would be put of going for Sony again mind you as its served me well,

[cnbcwatcher]

Originally Posted by Gormond

Yeah I fancy getting oe for uni, my ageing Vaio is so slow in comparason. I would be put of going for Sony again mind you as its served me well,

Macbook Air or Pro? I've been eyeing up the Airs for ages and I nearly bought one. The 11" ones are so cute!

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher

Macbook Air or Pro? I've been eyeing up the Airs for ages and I nearly bought one. The 11" ones are so cute!

The Air, it's plenty fast for me, probably the 13 inch because of the extended battery life.

[Brush Master]

While laptops with two drive bays are widely available, I am not so convinced by the whole idea.

You started out wanting SSD - for speed? for longer battery life? for lower noise levels? for less weight? In my case, I say "all of the above." Which rules out a secondary HDD.

I'd say buy a regular laptop. Preferably one with two drive bays, but you only need the primary drive. Swap the HDD for the SSD. If you're short of space at some distant point in future, buy a second SSD (for the second drive bay), or consider a large SD card. I use a very large SD card for my in-flight movies, where write speed doesn't matter, but size, battery life, weight, etc, does.

[Paddy C]

I will not be getting a MacBook, no matter how much I want them. Far too expensive for what they are. Plus I don't want this to turn into a Mac v PC debate, so let's stop it there.

I would like the SSD for the speed, the extra space and longer battery life is always a plus. MY current laptop with a standard HDD is whisper quiet as it is, and surprisingly light.

I would like to get a laptop with 2 drive bays, but I would like to know which ones have them before I purchase. I have seen a few on the Currys / PC World website and am going to go into the store tomorrow night for a nosey, but I doubt the staff are trained up enough to know which ones have 2 drive bays are they? Ate there any sites online that could tell me that, or is it known which manufacturers definitely ship their laptops with space for two HDDs?

[Brush Master]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

I would like to get a laptop with 2 drive bays, but I would like to know which ones have them before I purchase. I have seen a few on the Currys / PC World website and am going to go into the store tomorrow night for a nosey, but I doubt the staff are trained up enough to know which ones have 2 drive bays are they? Ate there any sites online that could tell me that, or is it known which manufacturers definitely ship their laptops with space for two HDDs?

Why waste time with semi-skilled apes in one of these shops?

You've got the Internet. Find the ten most popular models in your price range on Amazon or Dabs. Then review their detailed specs (get details from the manufacturer's site if necessary), and cross off all that don't meet your requirements. The rest is just personal preference and brand reputation (which is subjective, too).

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by Brush Master

Why waste time with semi-skilled apes in one of these shops?

You've got the Internet. Find the ten most popular models in your price range on Amazon or Dabs. Then review their detailed specs (get details from the manufacturer's site if necessary), and cross off all that don't meet your requirements. The rest is just personal preference and brand reputation (which is subjective, too).

This!

Why can't you like comments on here, it's annoying.

[Paddy C]

I have finally found one I like, but checking online it turns out it only have room inside for 1 HDD. Shame, I'll have to keep looking.

[Paddy C]

Perhaps a mod could change the title of the thread to "Recommend A Laptop With 2 Drive Bays" ?

[Paddy C]

Scratch the above post. I'm not looking at any laptop and if it doesn't have an SSD I'm going to buy one to put in it. I have found 2 laptops that seem to be good and they both have i7 processors in them, anyone got any opinions on them?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lenovo...53734-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-a...93768-pdt.html

[alanwarwic]

Go to dell outlet and you will find the Inspiron 14z under £400. It has twin drives and does what you first asked.
It is low wattage so should be quite reliable.

BTW buying one with a standard drive like your last post is also a very good idea.
WD have their 5mm hybrid drives arriving soon, and many laptops with only an SSD will not even accept a standard hard drive. Soldered in SSD drives are another problem.

[whoever,hey]

I've just bought one of these SSDs
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT25...8177535&sr=8-2
or
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crucial-CT25...177535&sr=8-10

Depending on the size you need it to fit.

£150 for 256GB is a bargain!

[Paddy C]

Popped into Currys for a gander earlier and seen the Asus N56VM it looked lovely, has everything I was looking for and more (the one in Currys has the 1980x1080 screen and looked fantastic, everyone else just seems to have the 1366x768 version) and was for the cheapest price I can find anywhere (now having searched online), but they didn't have any in stock, neither did any other store in NI or even some of the stores in Britain. They said it seems to be end of line stock and they won't be getting any more, and they couldn't sell me the one in store, not that I'd want it as it has been scraped and partly broken by the little tramps who went in and 'played' with it. Typical.