Need computer laptop suggestions

Irene

Irene

New Member
Hi everyone and hello from Arizona!
I'm need to get a new laptop (PC) and there are so many to choose from.
Just thought I'd jump on here and get some recommendations. Thank you!
 

couple years ago my Dell latitude died on me. I opted for a Thinkpad and the system itself I like. Problem from my perspective is the Microsoft OS loaded on it, MS 10 which gives me fits. When I am using the system an app called Copilot is very intrusive and I haven't found a way to permanently delete it. If I were buying again today I would buy one of the MAC machines out there, along with its solid performance it would interface with my iPhone and iPad that I use daily. Just my thoughts. I would spend the extra dollars for the benefits I perceive.
 

There are some SF members very informed on the ins and outs of different machines that could help you match up the right choice based on what you will use it for. I would ask a lot of questions and get informed advice, especially if your decision is not totally price driven.
 
Personal opinions ahead - your mileage may vary.
Lots of words, read at your own risk! :)

Assumption: you are talking about a Windows machine.

If you only need general purpose computing; email, web browsing, occasional document and spreadsheet, collecting photos off your phone/camera, watching streaming videos etc., then most any mainstream brand that you will find at Best Buy, Costco, Target etc. will be fine. The most important thing (my opinion) is specs.

CPU
In spite of the tempting prices, I would not get anything that has a CPU named Celeron, Pentium, Atom, N100, N200, etc. I would get a CPU named Intel Core or AMD Ryzen. Either one of those is fine, don't worry about which one is better. Intel Core i3 is the lowest end of that line, AMD Ryzen 3 is the lowest on that side. Personally, for reasonable longevity, I wouldn't get any lower than a Core i5 or Ryzen 5.

Memory
The base for most Windows systems these days is 8GB. This would be fine for general purpose computing. If the budget allows, I would jump it up to 12GB, again, mostly for longevity. However, if you do a lot of photo processing then 12GB might be the minimum.

DIsk
Again, don't let the siren call of bargain prices tempt you into only 256GB of disk (SSD) space. Get a minimum of 512GB. Depending on your needs, you might need more. If you're a photo hound, or you are scanning your life's worth of photos, you may need more. My photo library is about 24,000 pictures and videos and takes about 90GB of disk space.

Screen size:
This is the most subjective call. If you can visit a store and look at several different sizes, that's the easiest way to decide what you like. Given that we are "Senior" Forums, a 13" screen might be too small. 15" or 17" might be better, but you have to take into account whether you will travel with it, or sit with it on your lap, or it will spend most of its time sitting on a desk.

So, if it were me, I'd settle on the specs, Core i5 or Ryzen 5 with 8GB or 12GB of memory, a 512MB SSD; and then watch the sale papers until you find a price that suits your budget.

Right now. 2024-08-24, Best Buy has an HP - 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - 512GB SSD for $349. That's a pretty good deal.
 
If money isn't an immediate issue buy one in the "rugged" class. Panasonic Toughbook is #1. Dell has a couple. So much of what is manufactured today is junk.
 
I have a PC, but I post to this forum from an old Apple iPad. Perfect for this. Don‘t use it for email or printing, but I suppose I could. I often watch TV as I post.
 
esii said:
What are going to use the laptop for?

Without knowing this no advice will prove to a correct one.
Click to expand...
I agree.

I have an old HP laptop that I use once a year at income tax time.

I use my iPhone for shopping, bill paying, surfing the net, email, YouTube, etc…

I would like to find an easy way to print a few documents from my iPhone and eliminate the dusty old laptop.

Take the time to find out what you need and then look for the solution which may or
may not be a new laptop.
 
I’m to in the market for a new laptop , went and looked at way to many….. in a huge shop thats got everything from beds to computers … just ended up with a headache and no laptop .

I like personally like office works , it’s a smaller store and only has office/ school/ home supplies with a few home security systems like we’ve got.

I got my Google home max system from OW and I believe they are “workers” in OW opposed to commission sales workers in the huge home shop I looked at recently

https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/c/technology/laptops/all-laptops
We Will be traveling down to the city in a week or so time so I’ll look again then , DH is fairly clued up with what i should be looking at , I don't like the wide screen that seems to be popular ….look I prefer a more square look screen that’s about 14 inches
 
I still have an old Dell Latitude which has a metal case. It works, but is chronically slow. Based on the ruggedness of the Dell, I bought a Dell Inspiron which is fast, but is literally falling apart and really wants replaced. No more Dell for me. Not sure what I will get - laptops are just falling into the realms of 'consumables' you get one, use it, and when it stops working properly, you get rid of it and buy a new one.

I don't have a 'smart' phone, and use Linux instead of Windows.
 
officerripley said:
I really like my Acer laptop.
Click to expand...
I had an Acer laptop which was really nice but, I wouldn't buy another Acer Chromebook. To be fair, the Chromebooks are cheap so, I guess it's inevitable that they will not last as long as, say, a more expensive model.
 
moviequeen1 said:
Hi Irene, welcome to Senior Forums I've a HP 14 inch Chrome laptop that I bought at Best Buy 2 yrs ago,the price was right I'm very happy with it Sue
Click to expand...
I was looking at those and liked them. Thanks for the recommendation!
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Irene, I have only one word of advice-Apple. Get an Apple anything, and it will be million times better than the best Microsoft trash.
I might be a tad biased.
Click to expand...
I have an Apple MAC, bought it years ago but hate it. Everything seems much more difficult than using a PC. Maybe I just have to get into it. I am looking mainly at PCs because I will have to move every from my old Lenovo to a new PC (and I don't think that's easy to do on a MAC). Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.
 
Dr. Jekyll said:
Personal opinions ahead - your mileage may vary.
Lots of words, read at your own risk! :)

Assumption: you are talking about a Windows machine.

If you only need general purpose computing; email, web browsing, occasional document and spreadsheet, collecting photos off your phone/camera, watching streaming videos etc., then most any mainstream brand that you will find at Best Buy, Costco, Target etc. will be fine. The most important thing (my opinion) is specs.

CPU
In spite of the tempting prices, I would not get anything that has a CPU named Celeron, Pentium, Atom, N100, N200, etc. I would get a CPU named Intel Core or AMD Ryzen. Either one of those is fine, don't worry about which one is better. Intel Core i3 is the lowest end of that line, AMD Ryzen 3 is the lowest on that side. Personally, for reasonable longevity, I wouldn't get any lower than a Core i5 or Ryzen 5.

Memory
The base for most Windows systems these days is 8GB. This would be fine for general purpose computing. If the budget allows, I would jump it up to 12GB, again, mostly for longevity. However, if you do a lot of photo processing then 12GB might be the minimum.

DIsk
Again, don't let the siren call of bargain prices tempt you into only 256GB of disk (SSD) space. Get a minimum of 512GB. Depending on your needs, you might need more. If you're a photo hound, or you are scanning your life's worth of photos, you may need more. My photo library is about 24,000 pictures and videos and takes about 90GB of disk space.

Screen size:
This is the most subjective call. If you can visit a store and look at several different sizes, that's the easiest way to decide what you like. Given that we are "Senior" Forums, a 13" screen might be too small. 15" or 17" might be better, but you have to take into account whether you will travel with it, or sit with it on your lap, or it will spend most of its time sitting on a desk.

So, if it were me, I'd settle on the specs, Core i5 or Ryzen 5 with 8GB or 12GB of memory, a 512MB SSD; and then watch the sale papers until you find a price that suits your budget.

Right now. 2024-08-24, Best Buy has an HP - 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - 512GB SSD for $349. That's a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...
Thank you for all this info! I didn't expect this and really appreciate it. This will be a great help to me.
 
In the spirit of full disclosure - I too am a Mac user and encourage people there as well. However, it is a bit steeper entry cost and it is different from Windows. (Though in my mind it's much easier than Windows and I never have to worry about "managing" the machine.) I'm pretty well steeped in the Apple cult. However, my career involved using a PC and I'm the IT support staff for the family - so I know my way around Windows too.
 
We currently have an Asus laptop that is rarely used (i.e., only when we travel). The touchpad mouse has quit working. I've had to have the hard drive/ssd replaced. Suffice it to say I haven't been impressed. :rolleyes:

During my working life I used a Compaq laptop because I traveled a lot on business, but once back in my office it always got connected to a full sized monitor, keyboard, and mouse via a docking station. I've never cared for laptops in general.

I'm a "computer user", not just a web surfer, and I agree with @Manatee - give me a full sized desktop any day. :)
 
AnneTeak said:
I have the Lenovo Ideapad. Cost about $400. Love it. Easy to use. Plug and play.
Click to expand...
Thanks. That's what I've been using for about 6 years (ThinkPad). It's okay, just getting old I think. Does some weird things sometimes. I am considering the "yoga".
 

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