cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/39088745

Lenovo or ASUS? Trying to figure out which laptop to go with.

Which company has a better reputation (in quality, privacy…), or are they both bad?

EDIT: I have come to the conclusion that both Lenovo and ASUS are extremely terrible, anyone who sees this post should go straight to framework laptop

  • Lyubo@lemmy.mlEnglish
    81·
    26 days ago

    I think Lenovo has the worst with their spyware and adware built into their BIOS. Video from Louis Rossmann I have very bad experience with Lenovo’s business laptops hardware and software but Asus laptops aren’t very different either. Asus’ quality control seems to be garbage and their customer service even more garbage. Choose your enemy.

    Or go with Framework if possible. ⚙️✨

    • naitro@lemmy.world
      5·
      26 days ago

      AFAIK the ad/spyware wasn’t BIOS level, it was “only” bundled with the preinstalled windows. Also, while it doesn’t exonerate lenovo, the spyware doesn’t exist anymore.

    • Holeheadou92984@lemmy.worldOP
      5·
      26 days ago

      @Lyubo@lemmy.ml

      I think Lenovo has the worst with their spyware and adware built into their BIOS. Video from Louis Rossmann I have very bad experience with Lenovo’s business laptops hardware and software but Asus laptops aren’t very different either. Asus’ quality control seems to be garbage and their customer service even more garbage. Choose your enemy.

      Or go with Framework if possible. ⚙️✨

      Don’t know if this is true, but I have decided to go with framework

      • Twongo [she/her]@lemmy.ml
        2·
        26 days ago

        and i doubt you made an uninformed decision :)

        my advice would’ve been a 10yr old thinkpad with coreboot - which won’t work for everyone

    • Lfrith@lemmy.ca
      4·
      26 days ago

      I like used thinkpad. Was sold after I picked up a t480s for real cheap and impressed by the keyboard on it. Then put Linux on it. So route I’ll take going forward is ThinkPads for cheap once warranty ends and businesses start offloading them.

  • Mangoholic@lemmy.ml
    82·
    26 days ago

    Get a nice Xiaomi laptop, install your favorite Linux distro on them. You will have an amazing build quality, oled screen and hardware for an unbeatable price. The closet thing would be a MacBook pro at 4x the price.

    • WbrJr@lemmy.ml
      1·
      25 days ago

      Which would you recommendend? I could just find the xiaomi book 14, which has a 12the gen i5. Not too impressive, depending on waht you want to do

      • Mangoholic@lemmy.ml
        1·
        23 days ago

        True, i haven’t looked at the recent lineup. They seemed to have dropped some of the pro models. I have the mi notebook pro 2 2023. It had dedicated graphics. If you need graphics power they might be the wrong choice.

  • monovergent@lemmy.ml
    5·
    26 days ago

    Lenovo’s ThinkPad line has a sterling reputation. Among the best in terms of quality, service, repairability, and Linux support.

    As for the largely consumer-grade options of ASUS and Lenovo’s consumer-grade IdeaPads, they’re rather similar in reputation and quality. Not exceptional, but they’re both perfectly fine options as long as you avoid the budget laptop segment (plastic chassis, broken hinges, etc.)

    Any difference in privacy would come down to the pre-installed software, which is irrelevant if you plan on using Linux. If you will be using Windows, it’s always better to install your own fresh copy to purge any potential spyware and bloatware installed by the manufacturer. The activation key for whichever edition of Windows it comes with is embedded in the BIOS, so it’ll activate automatically after a fresh reinstall.

    • Holeheadou92984@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      26 days ago

      @Lyubo@lemmy.ml

      I think Lenovo has the worst with their spyware and adware built into their BIOS. Video from Louis Rossmann I have very bad experience with Lenovo’s business laptops hardware and software but Asus laptops aren’t very different either. Asus’ quality control seems to be garbage and their customer service even more garbage. Choose your enemy.

      Or go with Framework if possible. ⚙️✨

      Don’t know if this is true, but I have decided to go with framework

      • monovergent@lemmy.ml
        3·
        26 days ago

        Interesting, had no idea until now that there’s such a thing as first-party malware loaded with the BIOS. Admittedly I’m caught in an ivory tower with my Corebooted ThinkPad. Although I haven’t purchased one yet, I’d say you made the right choice going with Framework.

    • Lyubo@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2·
      22 days ago

      Quality and repairable decreased after Lenovo bought ThinkPad from IBM around 2005 and especially after T480 model (T4xx series). In my opinion the newer modes are using the lagacy of the old ThinkPads without being anything like the old ThinkPads except maybe for good Linux support but I’m not sure for the newest models.

  • FoundFootFootage78@lemmy.mlEnglish
    2·
    26 days ago

    I use a Lenovo Thinkpad T495s, and everything works fine … except for the fact they put the “fn” key where “ctrl” should be. I’m also not at all a fan of the USB-C charging port.

    • Holeheadou92984@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      26 days ago

      @Lyubo@lemmy.ml

      I think Lenovo has the worst with their spyware and adware built into their BIOS. Video from Louis Rossmann I have very bad experience with Lenovo’s business laptops hardware and software but Asus laptops aren’t very different either. Asus’ quality control seems to be garbage and their customer service even more garbage. Choose your enemy.

      Or go with Framework if possible. ⚙️✨

      Don’t know if this is true, but I have decided to go with framework

  • CrypticCoffee@lemmy.ml
    1·
    25 days ago

    I have bought both Lenovo and Asus multiple times. I always felt I got more for my money with ASUS. Never used customer support though. In UK, we have a 1 year electronics warranty with retailer so can take straight back if any problems.

    • Holeheadou92984@lemmy.worldOP
      21·
      25 days ago

      Thanks, but I have come to the conclusion that both Lenovo and ASUS are extremely terrible, anyone who sees this post should go straight to framework laptop

      🥲

  • madcaesar@lemmy.world
    1·
    24 days ago

    Never be loyal to companies. Ever.

    That said, I’ve usually had good experience with Asus motherboards and the routers have served me well as well. Being able to throw merlin on them was very important to me.

  • carzian@lemmy.ml
    23·
    26 days ago

    Framework if you have the money. Otherwise Dell.

    Every single lenovo product that isn’t a thinkpad is a nightmare to repair. Their keyboards are plastic rivited in place, so you have to swap out the entire top half of the chassis to replace the keyboard. I’ve had unending issues with their ideapad line motherboards. That laptop went through two replacement motherboards and was out of commission for months. The build quality of their all-in-one is terrible and you have to do a complete disassembly to add ram. I say this as someone who had to do small business IT. I have fixed 4 separate models from them and each one had terrible build quality. Also, dont forget about the superfish scandal.

    Asus is fine. I and several friends have had many of their laptops. Though one of my friends had the motherboard on his TUF line completely died out of no where.

    Dell’s build quality and repairablitity remains solid. Easy to source replacement parts. Good Linux support. I’ve had the fewest problems with their hardware

    Also checkout framework if you have the money. Good stuff from them. Really how laptops should be. Each part has it’s own qr code so you can immediately identify it and get a replacement if needed. It’s amazing.