Laptop Deals Master Thread

[mevinyavin]

Thank you. I loved my first edition fully loaded yoga x1 and had it for many years. Never used the tablet functionality though.
I think, based on this that the new surface laptop might be a good fit, weight and speed wise particularly

Yoga X1 is a good computer. I just happen to think that the Galaxy is better (battery life, primarily). I have nothing against the Surface Laptop (except it seems expensive for what you get) - in this segment of the market, it is a choice between excellent and stupendous.

[mevinyavin]

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-vivobook-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-1215u-with-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-quiet-blue/6568805.p?skuId=6568805

Asus Vivobook X1404ZA, i3-1215U, 8GB partially upgradeable RAM (soldered RAM and one RAM slot) and 128GB SSD, $230 at Best Buy.

[maylei]

Apple - Geek Squad Certified Refurbished MacBook Pro - 13"
Display - Intel Core i5 - 8 GB Memory - 128GB Flash Storage - Space Gray
Model: TI-GSRF MPXQ2LL/A | SKU: 6530197

$299.00


https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/6530197.p?skuId=6530197

[aishel]

@aishel
All options: 16GB RAM
$460 is your budget option, an Ideapad 5 16 with 13th gen i5, 512GB SSD and 4.17lbs, B&H. (Upthread somewhere) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1772712-REG/lenovo_82xf0065us_16_ideapad_slim_5i.html/specs
$600:
A 14" option is the Swift Go 14 Evo with a 13th gen i7, 512GB SSD, weighs 2.76 and excellent battery life. (Select AMAZON as the seller.) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTQWR77M/?tag=cl03f-20&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
16", there is an LG Ultra PC with a Ryzen 7 7730U (Zen 3), 512GB SSD, weighs 3.52lbs. https://www.microcenter.com/product/670279/lg-ultrapc-16u70r-kaas7u1-thin-and-lightweight-16-laptop-computer-charcoal-gray

The above are fine for light work, and should get decent battery life (excellent in the case of the Swift), but may not be fast in five years. Below are orders of magnitude more powerful. These following have a TB of storage, if that matters.

Best 14" in your budget is the more modern Swift Go with Core Ultra 7 for $715 shipped from Costco or $700 pickup: https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-go-14%e2%80%9d-touchscreen-laptop-intel-evo-edition-powered-by-intel-core-ultra-7-processor-155h---lcd-1920-x-1200---windows-11.product.4000237600.html
Best 16" is a LG Gram 16 Evo with 13th gen i7 (higher wattage and core count than above 13th gens) that weighs 2.78lbs.  $765 shipped from Costco and $750 picked up. https://www.costco.com/lg-gram-16%22-intel-evo-platform-touchscreen-laptop---13th-gen-intel-core-i7-1360p---2560-x-1600---windows-11.product.4000213360.html

Other than the above, which I recommend without reservation:
This ASUS 15.6" Vivobook has oodles of power and will probably still be fast in ten years if it isn't broken. Still only 3.75 lbs. But don't expect battery life out of it. It has a 45W i9 and mid-range dedicated graphics. Get this if your daughter might decide to go into the graphics world. Don't get this is battery life matters. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1807565-REG/asus_k5504vn_ds96_15_6_vivobook_s_15.html/specs

Since I was last looking into this and then my daughter decided she didn't need a laptop, she has started a summer semester of college and quickly realized that her chromebook indeed was not sufficient for her. I was able to narrow down some more requirements from her and was wondering if you think these options are still good or if I should head in a different direction. And again, I really appreciate your knowledge and willingness to help so many people.

She wants a bigger screen 15.6" or higher and a keyboard with a numpad.  Touchscreen would be nice unless you think it's just a bad idea in general. Her studies will be a focus on computer science, so more networking, coding, and programming than things that are heavily graphics oriented. Outside of online community college classes, she'll be going to a local Jewish college that does not have a large campus, so I don't think weight will matter as much. Thank you.

[mevinyavin]

Since I was last looking into this and then my daughter decided she didn't need a laptop, she has started a summer semester of college and quickly realized that her chromebook indeed was not sufficient for her. I was able to narrow down some more requirements from her and was wondering if you think these options are still good or if I should head in a different direction. And again, I really appreciate your knowledge and willingness to help so many people.

She wants a bigger screen 15.6" or higher and a keyboard with a numpad.  Touchscreen would be nice unless you think it's just a bad idea in general. Her studies will be a focus on computer science, so more networking, coding, and programming than things that are heavily graphics oriented. Outside of online community college classes, she'll be going to a local Jewish college that does not have a large campus, so I don't think weight will matter as much. Thank you.

Ideapad 5 is still a good budget option. For school it is definitely enough. Consider the more powerful Vivobook if she ends up working on the computer after school, depending on which area of computer science she will work in. Or you can defer the decision (and get more for your money, lechora) after school, as the Ideapad is definitely sufficient for school itself.
This without looking around at the market and seeing if there is anything better out there. I cannot recommend the Gram for you at this time.

[Chuchum Ainer]

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-spectre-2-in-1-16-3k-touch-screen-laptop-intel-evo-platform-core-i7-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-pen-included-nightfall-black/6532338.p
$850
A drop out of aishel's budget, and prob too large and heavy.
Good deal in general.

[mevinyavin]

@aishel - this is a great $800 alternative ($815 shipped). You take a hit in performance vs the i9-13900H but the tradeoff is great battery life and portability. Is touch.
https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-go-16%e2%80%9d-touchscreen-laptop-%e2%80%93-intel-core-ultra-9-185h-processor-%e2%80%93-1200p-%e2%80%93-windows-11.product.4000266174.html

[Shmiel s]

Dell Inspiron 15 For $296.99 after 10% coupon.

12th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1235U (12MB Cache, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 cores).

512GB SSD
8GB RAM

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520grzzs

[aishel]

@aishel - this is a great $800 alternative ($815 shipped). You take a hit in performance vs the i9-13900H but the tradeoff is great battery life and portability. Is touch.
https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-go-16%e2%80%9d-touchscreen-laptop-%e2%80%93-intel-core-ultra-9-185h-processor-%e2%80%93-1200p-%e2%80%93-windows-11.product.4000266174.html

I ended up buying this one, and it arrived today! She's very happy with it, though it's only been a short time.

Ideapad 5 16 with 13th gen i5, 512GB SSD and 4.17lbs, B&H.

Looks like I'll need to buy Microsoft Office for her separately though. I think I saw a good deal at Costco. I'll deal with that after YT.

Thank you so much again for all your help and insight.

[shmooz]

Looks like I'll need to buy Microsoft Office for her separately though. I think I saw a good deal at Costco. I'll deal with that after YT.

Thank you so much again for all your help and insight.

Groupon sells office from previous years

[aishel]

Groupon sells office from previous years

I never knew this. It's five times cheaper! Is there a catch?

[mevinyavin]

I never knew this. It's five times cheaper! Is there a catch?

Not really. You should never pay more than $25 for an office perpetual license. Old is fine.
Who needs the latest versions: those who constantly work with large files. Like me for word documents (400,000 words showing changes by five people), or someone in data science working with huge excel files, and the like.

[mevinyavin]

Legion 5 Slim 16: Ryzen 5 7640HS (55W Zen 4), RTX 4060, $800
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-legion-slim-5-16-gaming-laptop-wuxga-ryzen-5-7640hs-with-16gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-8gb-512gb-ssd-storm-grey/6534469.p?skuId=6534469

[mevinyavin]

Inspiron 14 Plus with CU7 155H, 16GB RAM, TB SSD, for $800 at Dell before Dell-related discounts.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-14-plus/spd/inspiron-14-7440-laptop/useichbts7440gznv

My review notes say:
3.49lbs
17+ hours battery life
1xThunderbolt (C), 2xUSB A, HDMI, audio, mSD
Screen up to 418nits, 100% srgb

[mevinyavin]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Aspire-3-15-6-Full-HD-Display-AMD-Ryzen-7-5700U-Octa-Core-Mobile-Processor-Radeon-Graphics-16GB-DDR4-512GB-PCIe-Gen4-SSD-Windows-11-Home/5262667268?

$359

Still in stock. Excellent budget option. Or pay $100 more for the Ideapad 5i, gaining metal build and slightly taller screen at B&H.

[mevinyavin]

Ideapad 5i 16 was a great price at $460. Now it is $400.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1772712-REG/lenovo_82xf0065us_16_ideapad_slim_5i.html

Zenbook 14 with CU7H for $750 at BB.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbook-14-oled-14-wuxga-touch-laptop-intel-core-ultra-7-intel-evo-edition-16gb-memory-1tb-ssd-jasper-gray/6568761.p?skuId=6568761
My review notes: 14 28x18 OLED tch 120Hz 550nit 100%DCIP3 155H 16/TB 1.28kg 13:36 vid 2xTB4 1xA HDMI 3.5mm WF6E thermally limited performance (this last isn't nogea to 95% of users, it just explains the 13.5h video playback battery life)

[YehoshuaSova]

What touchscreen laptop would you recommend?

[shopfdder]

HP Pavilion Laptop 15t-eg300, 15.6", $399.99

Windows 11 Home
Intel® Core™ i5-1335U (up to 4.6 GHz, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads) + Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
8 GB DDR4-3200 SDRAM (2 X 4 GB)
256 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD

https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-laptop-15t-eg300-156-78g50av-1

[baron]

Dell 12th gen i3 8/256gb for $259 before 10% off and dell credits

[Luvtotravel]

my daughter is taking a course and instructor asked for following specs. whats my best option?
An i7 or i9 CPU
At least 16GB of RAM & 256GB of storage
A 64-bit operating system
A dedicated (internal) graphics card (ex. NVIDIA) – not integrated!