So I’m in need of a laptop and idk what to look for, all I no I want 17” screen with backlit keyboard with windows 7 and can be upgraded with more memory ect…
Any suggestions on brand and model ect……
Thanks for the post but I think I’m allowed to post anything I like since its in the off topic chatter if it follows the rules 
Correct me if I’m wrong
You are right…… 
You’re fine.
I’ve had good luck with my Dell and Acer laptops, but it might be just that— luck. I generally hear good things about the build quality of Lenovo laptops, especially the ones that are styled like the old IBM Thinkpads. I’m not too sure about the lighted keyboard though.
I’ve heard really good things about this one:
https://www.system76.com/laptops/model/bonx6
It does have a lighted keyboard. Very, very good build quality, they say. But it only comes with Linux pre-installed. It will run Windows just fine, but you’d have to buy it and install it separately. At least installing your own Windows will result in a nice, clean, snappy system with no bloatware, unlike the dreadfully bloated Windows installations that come with almost all the big name pre-installed Windows machines.
Hi,
What are you going to use the laptop for? That would generally determine the specs for what you’d want to look for, i.e., if you are using it only for email and web browsing at home, then a 17” display would be good, but you don’t necessarily need a super high-powered laptop.
Then again, if you are planning to take it with you on trips, then you need to consider weight and size, i.e., you wouldn’t (or I wouldn’t anyway) want to be lugging a 17” laptop that weighs 7 pounds around.
Dell, HP/Compaq, and Toshiba are good brands. My preference is Toshiba (the laptop I’m on now is a Toshiba with an Intel i3 processor, with a 750 GB drive and 16GB of memory - not the most powerful, but not bad, and I do extensive software development on it when I’m working from home).
So, let us know about your usage pattern…
Jim
I will not be traveling with it, I will be doing web surfing, down the road will be running a web site and installing various things like photo shop,and some design software for my flashlights, pics and vids and so on
You might want to check what sort of GPU your graphics software recommends. Some graphics programs work really well with certain GPU drivers and brands and terribly with others.
I have not got the software yet I’m waiting to get the laptop first then purchase all the things I want
Ahh. Ok, so a 17” would probably be ok (I know - that’s what you said already). When you say “running a web site” do you mean you’re going to be hosting the website on this laptop? Or just adminning a web site from the laptop?
Memory
Since you’re going to be running photoshop and design software, those work better with more memory, so if it was me, I’d look for a laptop that could support 16GB of DDR3 maximum, but buy a model that has some minimum amount of memory, and then go out and buy 2 x 8GB sticks on my own. Memory from the laptop manufacturer is always going to cost you more.
So whatever laptops you’re considering, check their specs for “Maximum memory” or “Maximum RAM”, and you want that to be 16GB, with two slots.
Newegg usually has reasonable prices for memory:
I wouldn’t go for the cheapest memory kit. The PNY or G.Skill are ok, and that’s probably the lowest priced ones I’d buy.
Hard drive
Probably want at least 500GB. Most laptops come with 5400 RPM drives. I think that I rarely see a laptop at a brick-and-mortar store that has anything except 5400 RPM drives, but if you order on the web, some companies like Toshiba, HP and Dell will allow you to customize. But, like the memory, they’ll charge you more than you’d pay if you bought the drive your own. What you can do is get the laptop with, say, a 500GB 5400 RPM drive, and then go out and buy a 500+GB 7200 RPM drive yourself. Then, swap the new drive and use the original drive in a small USB enclosure, to get an extra 500 GB drive. That’s what I’d do, anyway :).
Another option is that some of the HP 16” and 17” laptops have 2 drive bays, so you can get the laptop with a 5400 RPM drive, then buy a 7200 RPM drive and use that for your C: drive and the original drive for your data.
Newegg is also a good bet for hard drive prices.
CPU/Processor
You’ll have 2 choices here: AMD or Intel. AMD processor-based laptop will always be cheaper, and I think you generally get more bang-for-buck. But, if you want Intel, then i3 or i5 processors are the sweet spot nowadays. My laptop here has an i3 processor and it’s fine for me, but you may want to look for a laptop with an i5 processor, since you’re looking to do photoshop and design software. The Intel i7 is the high-end, and it’d be quite expensive, so unless you really needed that, I’d avoid it. I think that when I looked, none of the AMD laptops supported 16GB memory max, and that was the main reason I got a Toshiba with an i3 processor.
Other
Look for as many USB ports, including at least 1 USB 3.0 port.
Wireless: Get 802.11n
Ethernet: Gigabit is ideal, but 10/100MB is ok.
DVD or BluRay? BluRay players are reasonable, but I think you’ll still pay a premium for a laptop with a BluRay burner.
So… Lots of options!!
I hope that this helps :)!
Jim
When you say running a website do you mean hosting it yourself? I'm personally going to advise against trying to do that from a laptop, you really need (at minimum) a computer you can leave always on dedicated to that.
How much you are willing to spend really is a huge limiting factor as well as the availability of the system near you.
I like the ASUS systems, generally very well made. I just purchased a UX32VD-R3001V, but it's mainly for travel and quite opposite to what you are looking for.
If you are not travelling with it, it really is wisest if you build your own desktop, then get a nice 30 inch screen 
It'll save you at least a $300 premium which includes notebook designers having to stuff everything into a small package.
Plus you have the ability to upgrade EVERYTHING in a desktop. Provided it's compatible.
With some laptops, namely most ultrabooks, even RAM is soldered on.
Desktops are also more ergonomic. The keyboard, which is also part of a warm/hot surface, is right below the screen. So either you're hunched over looking down at the screen, or your shoulders are thrown forward for your hands to reach too high. Fine for short periods of use, no bueno for extended periods, eg. photoshopping.
I like Lenovo laptops if you need Windows. I also love my MacBook Air but I'm not actually suggesting you get a Mac unless you're really looking for one specifically.
Why do you think you want a laptop instead of desktop? Do you want to use it on the couch while you're watching TV? This is a big use case for me.
Also, how's your eyesight? A bigger screen is great if you're getting to where you need reading glasses. I have a desktop with two 24" monitors.