Lenovo Thinkpad

Jim's daughter is going to be studying STEM in college. What laptop should he buy? Leo says that in general, it won't make a difference. But she may want to call the college and talk to the STEM department and ask to see if they are focused on one platform over another. Especially if they are using specific software in class. But generally, it shouldn't matter. A MacBook Air is a good option though. On the Windows side, Leo says that the Lenovo Thinkpad is a great option.

Rosie does voiceover and she needs a new computer to record lines and auditions. She uses the Focusrite Scarlet as a digital interface. Leo says that any computer will work with the Scarlet. Audio is relatively low in demand, compared to video editing, gaming or multi-track recording. Leo's preference is Mac over Windows. The nice thing is that it comes with all you need, including Garage Band. If you want to go up to the next level, Logic Pro is only about $150. And Audacity will work on the Mac as well as Windows.

Cara is a writer and wants to know what's a good backup alternative. Google Docs? Leo says that Google Docs is a good option, but what if her account gets canceled by Google? He recommends planning for the worst and having multiple backups off-site. Also don't' forget that a print out is a form of backup. Cara also wants to know what's a good computer for editing her manuscripts. She needs a fast skimming alternative. Leo says that Cara's current Chromebook is causing the lagging skims. Any modern computer will be fast enough. If it's' on a hard drive, it'll be fast.

Donna wants to know if getting a computer at Costco is a good deal. Leo says that Costco usually carries last year's models, so she can get a pretty good deal, and they have a liberal return policy. For a new laptop, Leo likes the Lenovo Thinkpad. For desktops, Leo recommends Dell, especially for video editing.  Great for business too.

Frank's wife is getting into real estate and bought a Lenovo IdeaPad. Leo says that's a good mobile platform for what she does. It's a consumer oriented computer though, and as such, it won't be as robust as the ThinkPad, but it's a good tool for the price. So for professional work, a ThinkPad is really a better move.

Sam wants to get a laptop. How are the Lenovo's? Leo says that he doesn't care for the consumer grade line, but the ThinkPad business line is second to none. Dell makes a good laptop in the Inspiron line. 17" is a big large for a laptop, and the battery life will be terrible. I t may be better to get a 13 or 15" and then get a 27" monitor to plug it into when you are your desk. Leo also recommends buying the Gold level support. Costco offers support too that is pretty good.

Should he go Mac instead? Leo says that's a personal decision. But Apple's laptops are top notch.

Steve is retired and loves to run Linux and his computers. How can he get a backlit keyboard on his next laptop? Leo recommends a Lenovo ThinkPad. They have backlit keys, they are very robust, easily upgradeable and modifiable, and Linux works great on them out of the box. But if he runs Linux virtually then 16GB for RAM may not be enough. So he should get as much RAM as he can. Processor-wise, AMDs are fine.

Tina is going back to school and needs to get a Windows based computer for class. Leo says that Windows 10 is a lot better than Tina's last Windows 95 computer. Recommendations include Dell, Hewlett Packard, and the Lenovo ThinkPad (Leo's favorite). The ThinkPad would be Leo's first choice because they are built to last and the keyboards are very durable. She should get 16gb RAM.

Janice is losing her job at age 60, and wants to get trained to make herself more marketable in finding a new job. She's looking at doing computer work from home. Leo says that most customer service reps work out of their home, so it's an emerging new field. What laptop should she buy? She has $1,000. Leo recommends a business grade laptop. It'll be far better built and she'll be able to use it for training and work. She should look at the Lenovo Thinkpad T480.

Randy is looking to get a laptop. Is Cyber Monday a good time to buy? Leo says that there will likely be some great deals. Leo prefers business grade laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad. They're very robust. There are great support plans available too, including a one day turn around fix or replace option. Dell's Precision line is also worth taking a look at.