amkc
New Member
I am getting to the point where I am considering getting a new laptop, though I will still look into getting a replacement battery for my current one and see if it is fixable. If it is fixable I will do that but I will probably also get a new laptop within the next year, because then I could use the fixed one as a backup.
The current laptop has a battery issue at the very least, because the battery is always 0% and the laptop shuts off immediately if it is unplugged. It has also recently booted up with some "crash error" beeping etc and had totally wrong day/time (year 2099!), or else being off by a few hours and a day. This laptop also has had a broken right hinge which jumps its track which led to a cracked open body of the laptop (chassis?) in that area that I find concerning... though it hasn't seemed to cause problems. I have to pinch that area down and move carefully to close the laptop. I have opened it up twice to clean to be sure dust doesn't build up.
My current laptop is a Lenovo Flex 3 15
I got it in 2015... I didn't really research much for that decision because I needed to get a laptop quickly for upcoming work and classes. Just walked into a local store and got it. Not unhappy with it, or Lenovo, but I do feel like I didn't pick the model that ended up being right for me. It seems geared toward doing a whole tablet/fold over thing and I couldn't care less about that.
I think this is its battery: https://www.replacement-laptop-battery.com/lenovo-flex-3-15-battery-100254.html
I would like some advice on replacing batteries if possible.
Rest of current laptop info:
OS: Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon 4.0.10
Linux Kernel: 4.15.0-189-generic
Processor: Intel© Core™ i5-6200U CPU @ 2.30GHz × 2
Memory: 3.7 GiB (Free 23%)
Hard drives: 122.5 GB
Graphics card: Intel Corporation Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520]
If any of this looks wrong or I am missing something please say so.
Background on the OS: a few years ago I had the storage completely full and it told me so, said it wouldn't have enough room to update the OS (then Windows 10) and I ignored that, assuming I would fix it "any day now". A total crash that appeared to completely delete/break the Windows OS happened before I got around to it. Using a friend's laptop I made a bootable Linux Mint flashdrive and that's how I recovered what was on the laptop and added the new OS. This was pretty new to me so I am not sure if I did a great job at it. I don't know yet how to get optimized settings or whatever else you need to worry about putting Linux on a laptop not exactly made with that in mind. Despite not really knowing what I am doing, I have enjoyed using the Linux OS -- it takes up less space, it works just fine, it's free (or, pay what you want, I did donate some), and I like the philosophy behind it. I also always liked how Windows 7 and earlier was set up and really don't like the more "app" like design of later versions so the way plain old Linux Mint looks is a bonus to me, not just acceptable.
So while I am flexible, I would in general prefer to keep using a Linux OS, something Linux Mint or like Linux Mint in how it looks/works. If I were to get a different OS it would be whatever Windows is right now I guess unless there is some way to get an older version that works.
Currently my main uses for a laptop are:
- word processing, statistics/R, presentations
- for a side job as a medical scribe, a lot of rapid typing
- webcam + audio for online meetings
- store and manage photos, import from phone, camera
- use internet... typical use is email, research, uploading photos, online meeting
- download video from meetings, upload to youtube - so far I am not responsible for editing but I might want to start
- connecting to software for my microscope, which is triocular and has a camera attachment... or rather TRYING to do that because I haven't gotten the software to work yet on my laptop and have had to borrow a friend's to make sure it wasn't a problem with the software/disc itself. Would really love to be able to have live video and camera visuals from my microscope for teaching
- very rarely trying to get my few old games to work, failing, using an older laptop (c. 2011) with Win7 for some laggy couple hours before it crashes (built in timer!)
- I travel with it to remote/rural/forested locations... think rustic cabins in the woods... field stations... and have to try to get some work done
For travel purposes, I would like to emphasize that I don't care how heavy or bulky it is or what it looks like. What I DO care about is that it won't crack up, get jostled a lot internally, or otherwise break due to being carried around. If anything I trust the idea that a bulkier machine is less likely to break. That has been my experience with instruments in the lab and with computer tech as well. The chunky awkward 70s/80s thing with the manual flip switches is still kicking despite surviving the equivalent of war (undergraduates), the sleek lightweight fancy touch buttons is making us very happy we have a service contract. But it can do things nobody even knew existed in the 70s/80s, so ok, I suppose there are trades involved in the design.
No need for a touchscreen. Display being nice is good but I don't really need whatever artists or dedicated gamers need. Colors being represented accurately matters to me more because sometimes I am reviewing images and trying to identify species from photos. Not sure how much that varies in screens.
I also like having more ports for different things, maybe even things I don't realize I might want yet. I am constantly being asked to connect to some weird projector and present in 5 min, oh, use those cords in the bucket over there - one of them has to work. Obviously it would be great if these ports actually functioned well rather than breaking. I might invest in some little covers for them so they don't get gunky.
It would be very gratifying to get a CD slot back but maybe that is too much to ask. I can borrow one of those connect via port CD reader things as well and might buy one someday.
Looking into what "longest lasting" laptops are, I found these things called "rugged laptops". I am wondering exactly how rugged is rugged, and if it is more focused on not getting water or sand into it or actually lasting a really long time with good performance with every day use. The two aren't the same, though I am impressed by how they look like I could drop them off a cliff. Probably can't but still.
I really just want my laptop to last over a decade and maybe longer if I can repair it or eventually learn how to upgrade components with more confidence. I am also interested in learning to be more careful to not harm my laptop through not updating, or not having system settings right, or whatever else is impactful there. Any advice in that area is welcome. I will also be reading through these forums for more.
Thank you very much to anyone who can help me consider these questions, I really appreciate it. Just typing it all out helped some as well.
The current laptop has a battery issue at the very least, because the battery is always 0% and the laptop shuts off immediately if it is unplugged. It has also recently booted up with some "crash error" beeping etc and had totally wrong day/time (year 2099!), or else being off by a few hours and a day. This laptop also has had a broken right hinge which jumps its track which led to a cracked open body of the laptop (chassis?) in that area that I find concerning... though it hasn't seemed to cause problems. I have to pinch that area down and move carefully to close the laptop. I have opened it up twice to clean to be sure dust doesn't build up.
My current laptop is a Lenovo Flex 3 15
I got it in 2015... I didn't really research much for that decision because I needed to get a laptop quickly for upcoming work and classes. Just walked into a local store and got it. Not unhappy with it, or Lenovo, but I do feel like I didn't pick the model that ended up being right for me. It seems geared toward doing a whole tablet/fold over thing and I couldn't care less about that.
I think this is its battery: https://www.replacement-laptop-battery.com/lenovo-flex-3-15-battery-100254.html
I would like some advice on replacing batteries if possible.
Rest of current laptop info:
OS: Linux Mint 19.1 Cinnamon 4.0.10
Linux Kernel: 4.15.0-189-generic
Processor: Intel© Core™ i5-6200U CPU @ 2.30GHz × 2
Memory: 3.7 GiB (Free 23%)
Hard drives: 122.5 GB
Graphics card: Intel Corporation Skylake GT2 [HD Graphics 520]
If any of this looks wrong or I am missing something please say so.
Background on the OS: a few years ago I had the storage completely full and it told me so, said it wouldn't have enough room to update the OS (then Windows 10) and I ignored that, assuming I would fix it "any day now". A total crash that appeared to completely delete/break the Windows OS happened before I got around to it. Using a friend's laptop I made a bootable Linux Mint flashdrive and that's how I recovered what was on the laptop and added the new OS. This was pretty new to me so I am not sure if I did a great job at it. I don't know yet how to get optimized settings or whatever else you need to worry about putting Linux on a laptop not exactly made with that in mind. Despite not really knowing what I am doing, I have enjoyed using the Linux OS -- it takes up less space, it works just fine, it's free (or, pay what you want, I did donate some), and I like the philosophy behind it. I also always liked how Windows 7 and earlier was set up and really don't like the more "app" like design of later versions so the way plain old Linux Mint looks is a bonus to me, not just acceptable.
So while I am flexible, I would in general prefer to keep using a Linux OS, something Linux Mint or like Linux Mint in how it looks/works. If I were to get a different OS it would be whatever Windows is right now I guess unless there is some way to get an older version that works.
Currently my main uses for a laptop are:
- word processing, statistics/R, presentations
- for a side job as a medical scribe, a lot of rapid typing
- webcam + audio for online meetings
- store and manage photos, import from phone, camera
- use internet... typical use is email, research, uploading photos, online meeting
- download video from meetings, upload to youtube - so far I am not responsible for editing but I might want to start
- connecting to software for my microscope, which is triocular and has a camera attachment... or rather TRYING to do that because I haven't gotten the software to work yet on my laptop and have had to borrow a friend's to make sure it wasn't a problem with the software/disc itself. Would really love to be able to have live video and camera visuals from my microscope for teaching
- very rarely trying to get my few old games to work, failing, using an older laptop (c. 2011) with Win7 for some laggy couple hours before it crashes (built in timer!)
- I travel with it to remote/rural/forested locations... think rustic cabins in the woods... field stations... and have to try to get some work done
For travel purposes, I would like to emphasize that I don't care how heavy or bulky it is or what it looks like. What I DO care about is that it won't crack up, get jostled a lot internally, or otherwise break due to being carried around. If anything I trust the idea that a bulkier machine is less likely to break. That has been my experience with instruments in the lab and with computer tech as well. The chunky awkward 70s/80s thing with the manual flip switches is still kicking despite surviving the equivalent of war (undergraduates), the sleek lightweight fancy touch buttons is making us very happy we have a service contract. But it can do things nobody even knew existed in the 70s/80s, so ok, I suppose there are trades involved in the design.
No need for a touchscreen. Display being nice is good but I don't really need whatever artists or dedicated gamers need. Colors being represented accurately matters to me more because sometimes I am reviewing images and trying to identify species from photos. Not sure how much that varies in screens.
I also like having more ports for different things, maybe even things I don't realize I might want yet. I am constantly being asked to connect to some weird projector and present in 5 min, oh, use those cords in the bucket over there - one of them has to work. Obviously it would be great if these ports actually functioned well rather than breaking. I might invest in some little covers for them so they don't get gunky.
It would be very gratifying to get a CD slot back but maybe that is too much to ask. I can borrow one of those connect via port CD reader things as well and might buy one someday.
Looking into what "longest lasting" laptops are, I found these things called "rugged laptops". I am wondering exactly how rugged is rugged, and if it is more focused on not getting water or sand into it or actually lasting a really long time with good performance with every day use. The two aren't the same, though I am impressed by how they look like I could drop them off a cliff. Probably can't but still.
I really just want my laptop to last over a decade and maybe longer if I can repair it or eventually learn how to upgrade components with more confidence. I am also interested in learning to be more careful to not harm my laptop through not updating, or not having system settings right, or whatever else is impactful there. Any advice in that area is welcome. I will also be reading through these forums for more.
Thank you very much to anyone who can help me consider these questions, I really appreciate it. Just typing it all out helped some as well.
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