Laptop recommendations?
1So I find that I’m in need of a new laptop. This is mostly because the ancient laptops I have (which were gifted to me by a friend who was updating hers) keep telling me that their current version of Windows will no longer be supported and they can’t update to a newer, supported version. But I have no idea what I actually need in terms of specs.
Mostly I need a computer for basic web related stuff (streaming video, social media, shopping, Google based office type applications, filing taxes, etc.). Long(ish) battery life and portability are pluses but I’ve been dealing with giant, heavy, ancient machines so pretty much anything will be an upgrade.
Looking for Windows based primarily because of cost. A keyboard with a number pad would be very nice but not 100% required.
Any recommendations? Or, equally as important, things to avoid?
- 2 comments, 9 replies
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Probably need to have some idea of your price range. If you are at all interested in trying out a Macbook, the low end one from Walmart is actually still a pretty good machine for $600:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Apple-MacBook-Air-13-3-inch-Laptop-Space-Gray-M1-Chip-8GB-RAM-256GB-storage/609040889
@dave f*** that unless you’re used to using a mac. And my personal opinion they suck. But that’s just my opinion
@Cerridwyn @dave
Not a Mac fanboy either, but, gotta say I’m hating Windows 11.
@chienfou one thing I have noticed since I retired is that how I use a computer has changed significantly. So Windows 11 doesn’t bother me as much as it does some other people because I really don’t use it as much as I used to. Also Android browsers have gotten so good that they work almost just as well as the ones on Windows. Firefox is not the same as Firefox. But Opera works pretty damn close to Opera
@dave In spaaaaaace gray.
@dave I had a MacBook ages ago and it worked well, particularly since I had other Apple products (replaced a Mac mini, used iTunes for music and podcasts, had an iPad and iPod…I’ve never gotten into iPhones). While I still have an iPad, I have an Android phone and would rather keep the laptop price lower. Budget is hopefully under $500. Ideally less if I can get something reasonable.
@Cerridwyn
I resent how difficult it is to navigate to the things you want on your own as well as the push towards storing everything in the cloud. Having to use the windows search function to find your documents and programs is a PITA. Having a pop-up window activated by the lower left corner of the screen where the start button used to be is also aggravating. Sometimes it’s damn near impossible to make that slide out disappear. All the things seem to be designed for social media / internet functionality rather than being productive.
@Cerridwyn @chienfou I will end up on Windows 11 on my work machine eventually. But I don’t use my personal machine for work and vice-versa. So I will have to get used to it at some point.
@chienfou Do this, and thank me later.
https://explorerpatcher.net/
ASUS are very reliable and come in a very different price breaks. I personally would not buy anything from HP anymore but you could probably get one cheap. And sadly number pads seem to not be around much anymore but I think you can still get external ones that you can either use with the USB port or Bluetooth. If it’s something you really need.
@Cerridwyn @gt0163c
I’ve also had pretty good luck with ASUS as well as Lenovo. Max out your RAM and CPU specs in your price range then check out all the usual suspects (Sam’s, Costco, Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, Amazon, Walmart etc)