Laptop Recommendation (~500 or Less), Portable, Durable, Touchscreen Preferred

[Neil4Speed]

Hello All,

I am a part of my professions professional organization, and we hold courses in Calgary. The provider of the courses no longer supplies a computer with the materials (Which makes sense), so we were looking for a computer that we could use for the purpose of playing powerpoints, and maybe some basic browsing should we need it for a sign-up event. I need it to be reasonably durable as its going to be transported a fair bit (not toughbook durable... but still), and reletively compact (~3lbs, and 12-14" screen)

I was initially thinking about getting a refurbished X1 Carbon 3rd gen from one of the off-lease sellers, but was looking for some feedback or thoughts from others if you had any thoughts. Another consideration was a Dell Latitude 12 E7250 for about $255 from a reseller.


Thanks in advance!!

[Mitsu3000gt]

It's tough to recommend the ultra-cheap laptops because if all it has to do is run power-point and an internet browser, literally anything will work and you have dozens of options. Your options are basically:

1) Ultra low-end new with 1-2yr old hardware
2) Used, and old, because everyone on Kijiji thinks their 5 year old laptops are worth 90% of what they paid (there is a guy asking $500 for a 2006 laptop LOL)
3) 4-6+ year old Refurb of a decent laptop

Lenovo has 20% off Thinkpads right now and through the Lenovo EPP log-in you can actually get a somewhat decent machine (Thinkpad E485 AMD 14") for $542.10. It at least has a high quality build, 9hr battery, full warranty, modern AMD Ryzen CPU and Vega GPU instead of the Intel Celeron garbage you usually find in this price range.

In the below $500 range you're generally looking at stuff like this: https://www.visions.ca/catalogue/cat...sku=81H5001JUS

Touch screens are going to be hard to come by unless you are OK with really old hardware.

The way I see it, the $500 range is one of the toughest because for $700 or so you can get a dramatically better machine, but I realize that is over budget. Shopping just below the point of diminishing return is the most frustrating IMHO.

An X1 Carbon 3rd gen should also do the job but I personally would just not want to roll the dice on a 7 year old Laptop unless it was so cheap it was basically disposable, and in good physical condition.

DELLs refurbs are OK too but again you're usually looking at ~2012 machines with basic specification. That might not bother you though given that pretty much anything will run power point and an internet browser.

Here is some off lease stuff for $200 that doesn't look too horrible: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-laptops/calg...oNvMU155mNvuW0

If you are't going to stretch the budget, you might as well go for the very bottom haha.

[Neil4Speed]

I was secretly hoping you would respond! Thank you so much for your help. I realize that at that budget its hard to get anything decent. The elitebooks are tempting but 2011 is too old I think. I may go that EPP approach through Lenovo.

[Mitsu3000gt]

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I was secretly hoping you would respond! Thank you so much for your help. I realize that at that budget its hard to get anything decent. The elitebooks are tempting but 2011 is too old I think. I may go that EPP approach through Lenovo.

You're welcome. Yeah it's kind of an odd segment to be shopping - there are almost too many options.

I don't know if you have the lenovo EPP log in or not but go here:

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/ibmeppf...filiate:bv0as6

Password is: FNDEPP

It looks like most of the promos are already priced in, but sometimes you can get lucky with a promo code stacking.

[D'z Nutz]

If all you need is powerpoint, browsing, and touchscreen, I'd also consider looking at a Chromebook.

For example, this checks off almost all your boxes other than screen size, but it's also $100 under your budget.
https://www.amazon.ca/Asus-Chromeboo.../dp/B06Y31BH12

[Sentry]

City of Calgary regularly has good deals on used laptops.

https://surplus.calgary.ca/docs/Computer-Price-List.pdf

EDIT: The Toshiba Z930s would be good. Also used toughbooks are dirt cheap but not big performers. You go down to the surplus building and pick yourself, so you can verify it's in good physical condition.

[AndyL]

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Here is some off lease stuff for $200 that doesn't look too horrible: https://www.kijiji.ca/v-laptops/calg...oNvMU155mNvuW0

Woot my laptop choice was mitsu3000gt approved!

These mobile workstations aren't bad units. I need a ram upgrade, fusion360 gets a bit crashy if I try to fillet too much at once or render a model in screen.

[Xtrema]

Not in your budget but decent performer for the price. New and light.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/p/hu...ot:overviewtab

Bauer Systems carries a lot of Lenovo refurbish stuff as well, but shipping could get expensive from the east.
http://www.bauersystems.com/price-list.html

[jwslam]

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Bauer Systems carries a lot of Lenovo refurbish stuff as well, but shipping could get expensive from the east.
http://www.bauersystems.com/price-list.html

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...akv4ee2u0/edit