Sub $500 laptop?

[brucebanner]

Couldn't find the recent thread discussing this in my quick search.

Could really use a new home laptop. Usage is pretty basic web surfing, trip planning, email etc.

Saw this at staples, anything else out there in the price range that's better or will age better?

[Swank]

Walmart.ca has lots under $500, worth a look.

[Manhattan]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/p/de...s/8s3v20b8bqjj

Faster response & boot times with SSD plus touch screen.

[revelations]

No - avoid the ACER machines unless they are being used intermittently.

I have a 'daily driver' laptop that floats around the house doing exactly that, web and emails - its a 10 year old IBM thinkpad (T series, tougher) with a new extended battery and Intel SSD.

Total cost was about 350$. (150$ laptop, 100 intel SSD + 100$ extended life battery).

[dj_rice]

Decent used laptops might have better specs. ASUS is good I think

[Mitsu3000gt]

This is a pretty good deal for basic use - screen sucks though, but I don't imagine you would care based on the usage:

https://www.costco.ca/hp-15-ef0008ca...100533463.html

$500 is basically the point for laptops where if you spend tiny bit more you can get an excellent machine vs a very average machine.

Avoid the 6+ year old refurbs, used machines, etc. that aren't even that cheap.

[brucebanner]

I'm sure the laptop I posted would suit our needs fine, but I haven't looked or really stayed up on computer technology at all, so I'm really out of the know currently.

[ExtraSlow]

Once you start looking at specs, it's easy to end up spending $1500 like I did.

Only thing I wouldn't compromise on is SSD. No reason to have spinning disks in a laptop, ever.

[revelations]

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Avoid the 6+ year old refurbs, used machines, etc. that aren't even that cheap.

Absolutely nothing wrong with refurbs that were decent rigs back in the day - but definitely replace the drive with something reputable like Intel SSD. I've setup many clients with cheap refurbs like this (about 500$) and they are floored at the performance from an everyday perspective.

Its like SSD + W10 breathes new life into these older i3/i5 systems. The T series thinkpads from Lenovo are also best in terms of case durability.

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...ished/12853465

(add another 4GB of ram to this and it will function great as a daily driver)

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Only thing I wouldn't compromise on is SSD. No reason to have spinning disks in a laptop, ever.

This - here is why:

- better battery life (10-20%)
- better shock resistance
- better performance
- average use laptops dont typically need 1TB of storage (most users do fine on a 256GB laptop)

[ShermanEF9]

i use one of these at work and it has been solid.

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX78971

i might buy one for myself.

[revelations]

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i use one of these at work and it has been solid.

https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX78971

i might buy one for myself.

Those T series are the shit. That specific example (even though sold out) is a good score.

[Mitsu3000gt]

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Absolutely nothing wrong with refurbs that were decent rigs back in the day - but definitely replace the drive with something reputable like Intel SSD. I've setup many clients with cheap refurbs like this (about 500$) and they are floored at the performance from an everyday perspective.

Its like SSD + W10 breathes new life into these older i3/i5 systems. The T series thinkpads from Lenovo are also best in terms of case durability.

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...ished/12853465

(add another 4GB of ram to this and it will function great as a daily driver)




This - here is why:

- better battery life (10-20%)
- better shock resistance
- better performance
- average use laptops dont typically need 1TB of storage (most users do fine on a 256GB laptop)

I don't think I explained myself well, but what I meant was avoid the old laptops that aren't cheap. Like most of Kijiji and the Dell refurbs - you are saving max $100-200 to get 6+ year old tech, an old battery that has probably been abused, and IMO that is a horrible deal. If you can get an old Laptop for free or like $50 (all it's worth), then I completely agree with you that adding a SSD can make it much more palatable for basic use. What I don't agree with is paying $300-400 for an ancient laptop when you can buy a vastly superior one for $500-600.

[brucebanner]

I at least know enough that getting a SSD is a must, I'd like a 15" screen but it's not a deal breaker.

I'll be doing some more shopping now since I'm going back on shift tomorrow. Would like to order something over the next week though.
@ExtraSlow I don't want to get into that budget for this laptop. Ideally $500~ haha

Appreciate all the info so far, thanks everyone.

[ExtraSlow]

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@ExtraSlow I don't want to get into that budget for this laptop. Ideally $500~ haha

There's lots of good options. I just kept talking myself into incremental upgrades, and then not being happy. But I will say I love my Thinkpad X1 Carbon. #noragrets

[Xtrema]

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Couldn't find the recent thread discussing this in my quick search.

Could really use a new home laptop. Usage is pretty basic web surfing, trip planning, email etc.

Saw this at staples, anything else out there in the price range that's better or will age better?

https://www.lenovo.com/ca/en/laptops.../p/88IPS101207

Lenovo has roughly the same price for this class. Acer has 1TB HDD while Lenovo is package with 128GB SSD.

I know this thread is about $500 and under laptops but Ryzen 4000 is taking a chunk off prices of mid range laptops. Not sure if that will trickle down to cheaper laptops.

[Neil4Speed]

If you are looking to go for the cheap refurb approach, try out Bauer Systems out east. I bought a Dell 7 series for about $300. A really solidly made, great performing laptop for office type use. If you are going higher than that price, I would step up and go for one of the Lenovo Ryzens you are finding for sale: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/lenov...ver-2347815/8/

[brucebanner]

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...n-box/13835525

Thoughts?

[Xtrema]

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https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...n-box/13835525

Thoughts?

Why do you want to pay $600 for an open box when it was being cleared earlier for $370.

https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product...ws-10/13499150

Also a weaker proc version for $450.

https://www.staples.ca/products/2940...indows-10-home

[brucebanner]

I've been looking at so many laptops the last week or so I can't keep them straight.

Just need to pull the trigger on something.

[Xtrema]

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I've been looking at so many laptops the last week or so I can't keep them straight.

Just need to pull the trigger on something.

Between the Acer for $390 vs the Asus for $450 @ Staples. I'll do the Asus.

It got better proc and SSD.

But none of these are power houses.