Hi, Avro Arrow. I think it is great to get some info from you on the retail point-of-view. I've been selling computers and laptops for almost 20 years and have just a few points I'd like to add to your comments.
About the brand laptops I disagree a little with you in the point that you would be comparing laptops from different companies to have a fair difference, not a compaq against an HP or an eMachines against Acer. Comparing them, anything I had experience with Dell's as an example, being a cheaper line took way more into consideration than a higher end Dell. Indeed, if you buy a business line from any brand or higher end of any brand you aren't only paying for the hardware/software aspect of it but there's technical support and warranties that, for sure you're going to face a huge difference, starting by an USA/Canada based support centers against overseas, hard to understand unprepared tech personnel.
Lately, as brand goes, I have a little problem with the Lenovo brand that USED TO be IBM but IT IS NOT ANYMORE!! The lenovos have left a really bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to speed and system response as much as not recommending them to any of my customers as I don't recommend a lower end Dell as well.
Any time you pay the price for a higher end/business line laptop, it will be easier, quicker, less problematic to deal with any sort of replacement parts and warranties alike.
When it comes to hardware I'd like to point out that there are some differences on processors that can add up some performance gain even for the normal user as you point them out. Comparing Intel processors that have a better L2 cache (6MB or 8MB) to other lower end ones with less cache will give you a better performance no matter what application you use it for. Also, when recommending a laptop, I try to show my customers the slight differences in price versus huge difference in performance. Sometimes, as TD is known for, a mere $50 - $100 price difference can put you in a way worse laptop and that's not fair or wise. At TD I had numerous times when I caught salesmen trying to push products they would benefit from selling instead what would be best for the customer. These salesmen would sale a craptop just to make an extra $5 or $10 a piece and leave the customer with an inferior product. My customers were paying me to protect them against these games and it is wise, if you, as a customer, don't know anything about the subject, to spend some money and protect yourself bringing along a professional you know and trust to pick the best bang for your buck and not the best brand or looks.
As per video cards, to simplify, just tell the customer to ALWAYS prefer a dedicated video card over a shared one and that would take care of the better performance you preach.
I own a toshiba Tecra A10 with nVidia quadro, a DV6880se HP with nVidia 8400M, a HP Elitebook 13", a HP 14" business line and a Netbook Compaq for laptops and 3 intel i7's 1366 920 all running at speeds over 4GHz.
The netbook Compaq runs windows 7 and beats a LAPTOP Lenovo 12 or 13" that I've tried for a customer, the DV6880se is one of the fastest older laptops I've seen running my Photoshop 5.5 and other graphical application flawlessly, the Tecra A10 is a killer as it has all the features plus a 6MB cache on the 9500 processor and the list goes on. ALL OF THEM ARE INTEL CPU'S. I sold AMD for almost 10 years based on the cost/benefit that they would bring to my customers but after the intel 775's and on I cannot say the same, unfortunately. Intel came to a point where, specs apart, provides a more solid and responsive machine, either desktop or laptop.
I really don't preach the lower end laptops as I prefer to look into the specs and compare them before deciding what would be best for my customer and, always, mentioning that there's a one step up model for a few bucks more that would do something extra they may want or need.
Even though every customer is going to do "only" web, email and "some" pictures, I don't recommend to buy a laptop based on price believing the specs will do the same for them as ALL of them ended up asking for more off the machine and got a big surprise and I don't want my name right beside the machine which let my customers down. I even let them pick one, I install, test it, charge for it and they get very disappointed with the results. That can happen even on higher end ones.
I always tell them they need a "balanced" machine. It is like a car, if you put too much engine but no breaks, guess what?
I hope my answer comes to complete any doubts regular customers would find hard to understand with your point of view that I respect and appreciate and shine some light from the guy who is used to be on the store to protect them against sales techniques that can harm the customer and only the customer alone, that you have mentioned here.
Best of luck.
/ncix.com/products/?sku=59810&vpn=LX.RC402.067&manufacture=Acer
, believe me I've been to almost every store in my city, checked under every rock. My budget is around $800-840
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