I need a Laptop Computer

[Helpful_Cub]

I bought a new laptop about a month ago. I ended up with an HP 17" laptop from Staples. Its not a super powerful PC but it does everything I want and the battery life has been exceptional for me. I can't get over the novelty of having a large monitor and a light laptop. $492.74 after taxes. I really wanted a Dell, but I just couldn't find anything that was cheap. I also paid a little more to end up with a flash drive and a backup hard drive. Quick loading is worth it to me.

https://www.staples.com/hp-17-by3063st-17-3-notebook-intel-i3-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-1tb-hard-drive-windows-10-silver/product_24439845?cid=EM:ordconfrm::sku&data-cta-category=[PRODUCT]&akamai-feo=off

[Bushwack44]

I asked this forum a similar question a couple months back. I ended up getting a new ThinkBook for $1,000 at B&H Photo (no regrets - great laptop).

If you must be within your budget, I'd buy a used HP Envy (or similar) for $200 on eBay and install a new 512GB SSD for $70 (or less). That SSD will make a 7-10 years old laptop very fast.

Case in point: My ThinkBook boots in just a few seconds. The HP Envy it replaced (w/ Win 10 Pro) took about 90 seconds to boot with its 5400 RPM drive. I replaced this OEM drive with a 512GB SSD and it booted in about 18 seconds.

[Misterclick]

Dell or Lenovo. HP is a freaking headache waiting to happen.

[BakoJ]

Microsoft Surface laptop - not tablet. Just realized, you have a lower budget. Stretch your budget and the Surface laptop at $750 is a hell of a deal.

[Misterclick]

Well he said laptop. I use the latest surface for work and really like it. A LOT!

[Uncivil Engineer]

Well he said laptop. I use the latest surface for work and really like it. A LOT!

I use my surface pro while traveling. It's great. Yes it has a tablet form factor but it comes with a cover type keyboard. It has a kick stand so as long as you have a table or flat work area typing isn't a problem. Battery life is excellent. It has standard USB ports which was good on vacation when my wife bought a USB stick of photos.

There down side of the surface tablet is like I said it really needs a flat surface to do real typing. The only other problem is price. They aren't cheap and MS really screws you over on accessories, but they aren't really required.

[Dragunov]

I use my surface pro while traveling. It's great. Yes it has a tablet form factor but it comes with a cover type keyboard. It has a kick stand so as long as you have a table or flat work area typing isn't a problem. Battery life is excellent. It has standard USB ports which was good on vacation when my wife bought a USB stick of photos.

There down side of the surface tablet is like I said it really needs a flat surface to do real typing. The only other problem is price. They aren't cheap and MS really screws you over on accessories, but they aren't really required.

No disrespect meant to you, but they're "great" until they have a component failure, or need another repair. Same with MacBook.

[rkt88edmo]

Don't know why people are dumping on chromebooks. If you aren't going to be plugged in all the time chromebooks are great for battery life and simple use. I prefer the smaller 11" ones, they are handier and the screen sucks down a lot of power, so keeping it small helps with battery life.

Plan ahead and preload your maps and media and go, no internet required. If you really read a lot of books you should probably get an e-paper reader. Laptops are highly inefficient when it comes to battery life for reading text.

Social media while camping = phone.

Acer recertified online store often has decent deals. Otherwise, also check offerup for Dell G3 and G5, they can be had at good prices if they are a year or two old.

I currently run an Acer R11 from the recert website, and a Dell G5 (GTX 1050, i5-7300, 8Gigs RAM, ssd) that I picked up for $400.

[WoodTurner]

+1 for used Lenovo.
You can find great deals out there in thinkpads that are a couple years old and barely used.

If Linux is an option for you OP, many Chromebooks can run Linux. Then you get the cheap and efficient laptop with a full functioning OS. Will have lower specs than going with a used laptop, but if new is your thing, would be a good option.

[Mute]

No disrespect meant to you, but they're "great" until they have a component failure, or need another repair. Same with MacBook.

100% correct. I had a Surface Pro 3 and it worked great. I liked the form factor and lightweight and overall operation. But you can't open the damn thing up to service it. You can try, but chances are high you'd break the screen. And many of the parts are soldered on. I had one go belly up. Just like that. One moment it's fine. Next moment, DOA. I did get about 3 years out of it, but going DOA. Never again.

[Dragunov]

100% correct. I had a Surface Pro 3 and it worked great. I liked the form factor and lightweight and overall operation. But you can't open the damn thing up to service it. You can try, but chances are high you'd break the screen. And many of the parts are soldered on. I had one go belly up. Just like that. One moment it's fine. Next moment, DOA. I did get about 3 years out of it, but going DOA. Never again.

This is exactly why I use an older Lenovo. My "DD" is a W540. Decent video, more powerful than most new computers, is far more upgradeable, AND more reliable. It's five, or six years old. I ALSO have an 11 year old, T400. It runs better today, than it did, new.

With the processor in it, my W540, has about the same apparent "speed" as a Ryzen powered, T495 running typical tasks, and will run more intense projects, without overheating, or throttling, faster, and more reliably. Even with all the upgrades, HUNDREDS of dollars less, and it can STILL take further upgrades. In it's current configuration, it'll blow the doors off of a top of the line, T480, and STILL has better graphics. There is NO substitute for raw power.

Don't underestimate the 4thGen, Haswell, Quad Cores. They're STILL among the most very powerful processors available. Best generation of processors ever released by Intel.

The 4thGen, i7-4940mx, in a W540/W541, is more powerful than any mobile 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8thGen, and most 9thGen, and even, in some ways, many 10thGen processors, and all but the VERY latest Ryzen processors. They're more reliable, far more upgradeable, and far easier to fix, than ANY new computer.

My setup specs:

Lenovo, W540 Graphic Arts Workstation.

Win7Pro.
i7-4910mq.
32gb/ram.
Quadro, K2100m graphics. Not the most powerful, but more than adequate for running 3D Desktop, AutoCaD, and Photoshop suite, and any game *I* want to play.
3k display.
Thunderbolt I.
PCIe.
2x1tb Samsung 860 EVO SSD's
480gb MyDigital, SuperBoot 2, 2242 M.2 drive.
SD Card reader.
Pretty decent 9 cell battery. I get about seven hours out of it running "Hi-Performance".
Great, backlit keyboard.

With the upgrades, cost me a total of $553, and that was nearly two years ago. They're no cheaper now, as they seem to be holding current value, and for good reason. To get a better rounded, computer over all, it's going to cost you $3500+. Even at that, less upgradeability, and questionable reliability.

The only computer company that hasn't gone to hell, is high end, MSI. Even Dells, don't seem to be as tough as they used to be, and are certainly less upgradeable now.

The downsides of a specced W540:

Some people don't like the "ClunkPad". Personally, I'm fine with it, and you can put in a T450 trackpad, for around $20, and it's about ten minutes work, while drinking coffee. The W541, is exactly the same computer, but with the three-button trackpad, instead of the "ClunkPad". I have both. I prefer the "ClunkPad", myself.

You MUST use the best Thermal compound for re-pasting the CPU/dGPU. Do that, and your GTG. I recommend, Grizzly Kryonaut.

It does get a little warm on the left side of the palm rest, as the dGPU is right under it, but it IS very manageable.

They have a little heft to them. Deal with it.

[Dragunov]

Don't know why people are dumping on chromebooks. If you aren't going to be plugged in all the time chromebooks are great for battery life and simple use. I prefer the smaller 11" ones, they are handier and the screen sucks down a lot of power, so keeping it small helps with battery life.

Plan ahead and preload your maps and media and go, no internet required. If you really read a lot of books you should probably get an e-paper reader. Laptops are highly inefficient when it comes to battery life for reading text.

Social media while camping = phone.

Acer recertified online store often has decent deals. Otherwise, also check offerup for Dell G3 and G5, they can be had at good prices if they are a year or two old.

I currently run an Acer R11 from the recert website, and a Dell G5 (GTX 1050, i5-7300, 8Gigs RAM, ssd) that I picked up for $400.

They're delicate, and easy to break, too limited, in what they can do. Not any better than a "Smart phone", just a bigger screen. Even most of the "best" ones, are "throw away" technology.

That's why.

The ONLY ChromeBook I find worth fixing if it breaks, are, once again, the Lenovo, x131e, and it's like. Difficult to break, fairly easy to turn into a REAL computer, with only a keyboard swap, and SSD, and ram upgrade for hardware. Regardless of manufacturer, most are pricey junk.

[SmallShark]

Lenovo for windows based

if you dont have to use windows, buy a 2015 Macbook Pro, the last gen with USB ports

[Dragunov]

Lenovo for windows based

if you dont have to use windows, buy a 2015 Macbook Pro, the last gen with USB ports

It's the same as with a SurfaceBook. Okay, until you have a component failure, then Apple will make you drop your shorts, and bend over, for a repair.... Avoid!

MacBooks, are my most frequently requested repair by at LEAST, 3-1 over all other laptop models. I don't repair MacBooks, and have no intentions in doing so.

If you're really considering a MacBook, Check out Louis Rossmann's YouTube channel BEFORE you buy one. He HATES them, but makes a business out of repairing them.

If you don't want to use Windows, a ThinkPad, running a Linux Distro, would be good. I have a ThinkPad running Linux Mint. Outstanding!

[Cunha]

T580 for 15.4 inch and T480 for 14 inch

USB C which you want
User serviceable battery and an integrated battery. Combined have legitimate 16hr battery life +