Hi Bob and Robin, I bought a Dell Latitude E6530 a couple of years ago, mainly for all the reasons Robin just listed. It's not "off the shelf" as hers is, but was customized, ordered via their "business" computers section.
I don't know if this model is still available, but you might try the same process, and tell the human you speak with your requirements (such as full keyboard). I have been extremely happy with this laptop, which has performed in all ways as well as any desktop, but weights under 5 pounds, and has a bettery life (with the extended battery) of 10 to 12 hours. It has a very large amount of ram buffering the conventional drive (called some sort of hybrid, as it has a lot of storage like a conventional hd, but is fast like a SSD). I have more info at home, collected every time someone recommended a laptop; I'll see if I can find it and shoot it to you Bob. Dell also offered a docking station which I bought ... in my opinion much better than the alternative technology called a "port replicator"; the docking station just lets you sit the laptop down into it, and it has its own set of audio and video connectors, usb connectors, power supply (larger, for a faster charge of your battery), and you don't have to fiddle around with connecting and disconnecting everything as you do with port replicators. Docking stations are relatively rare, and again usually only sold to the business crowd. If you can't find anything at Dell which you like, my next recommendation is to go through the business group at Lenovo (formerly the IBM thinkpad line); they have a lot of business oriented equipment. Business oriented pcs also usually come with Windows which is just bare Windows, and no crapware added on (another bonus). Also, buying a customized laptop like this isn't the cheapest, but you do get exactly what you want (in my case, I got a lot of extras like SD card readers, a good DVD RW device, and a relatively small screen (which wasn't important to me and made things lighter). You can also pay for exactly as much processor as you can afford, and usually can specify the more expensive (but faster) Intel version of power saving CPUs rather than the AMD line which are often placed into cheaper laptops to keep costs down. Good luck, Chip Chip Orange Florida Public Service Commission Computer Systems Analyst 850-413-6314 -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Van Lant, Robin via Talk Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 6:19 PM To: Robert Ringwald; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: RE: I want Opinions On New Lap Top I have a newer Toshiba S75 that I got from Costco. I picked it out largely based on the keyboard. I wanted a separate number pad and so many of the keyboards I felt in various stores had all the keys squished together so that I couldn't quickly distinguish the arrow keys and function keys. I know I could have used an external keyboard, but having have this defeats the purpose for me of the laptop. The only annoyance I have with the Toshiba, and I heard this is not unique to this brand is that the Function keys do what there were designed to do straight away, meaning pressing say F3 and F4 changges screen brightness. So, in order to use a function key with Window Eyes or do do things like switch window panes or close a program, you have to hit the FN key and the function key. I really dislike this, but haven't found a setting to completely turn it off and back to how it used to work in prior laptops. My HP laptop at work still functions the way I would expect with function keys. -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Robert Ringwald via Talk Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2015 2:51 PM To: Talk Subject: I want Opinions On New Lap Top I’m going to get a new lap top. Any suggestions? Bob Ringwald Solo, Duo, Trio, Quartet Fulton Street Jazz Band 916/ 806-9551 www.ringwald.com Amateur (ham) Radio K6YBV The reason Mayberry was so peaceful and quiet was because nobody was married. Andy, Aunt Bea, Barney, Floyd, Howard, Goober, Gomer, Sam, Earnest T Bass, Helen, Thelma Lou, Clara, and of course Opie, all single. The only married person was Otis, and he stayed drunk. _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/robin_van_lant%40key.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com This communication may contain privileged and/or confidential information. It is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing or using any of this information. If you received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy. This communication may contain nonpublic personal information about consumers subject to the restrictions of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. You may not directly or indirectly reuse or redisclose such information for any purpose other than to provide the services for which you are receiving the information. 127 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114 If you prefer not to receive future e-mail offers for products or services from Key send an e-mail to mailto:[email protected] with 'No Promotional E-mails' in the SUBJECT line. _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/corange%40psc.state.fl.us. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
