Laptop Deals Master Thread

[mevinyavin]

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 with i5 12th gen, 8GB RAM (upgradeable), 256GB SSD, $350.
Cheaper with various Dell credit card discounts etc.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520gmqch
@jj1000

A Gut Yom Tov, DDF!

[mevinyavin]

The world continues to rotate...

13" Macbooks with M1 in three colors for $750, Costco (yesterday they were saying it was a member's sale but today it appears purchasable regardless):
https://www.costco.com/macbook-air-13.3-inch---apple-m1-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-7-core-gpu---8gb-memory---256gb-ssd-gold.product.100688138.html
https://www.costco.com/macbook-air-13.3-inch---apple-m1-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-7-core-gpu---8gb-memory---256gb-ssd-silver.product.100688289.html
https://www.costco.com/macbook-air-13.3-inch---apple-m1-chip-8-core-cpu%2c-7-core-gpu---8gb-memory---256gb-ssd-space-gray.product.100688258.html

Acer Aspire 3 15 with Ryzen 3 (Mendoccino), 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, for $270 at Woot (New). Note that the RAM is probably not upgradeable but I can't be bothered to check at this price.
https://computers.woot.com/offers/acer-aspire-3-15-6-fhd-slim-laptop?ref=w_cnt_wp_0_1

[thaber]

weighing Lenovo x1 carbon 11th gen vs Surface Pro 9 + keyboard.
Considerations:
1) I tend to buy a very top of the line laptop every 6-8 years (currently using a Lenovo X1 yoga 1st gen that I bought in 2016 for $2091).
2) I don't really have a need for 5G, when warranted I use my phone as a hotspot
3) Increasingly I use my laptop almost only when I travel (fairly frequently). for plane use anything less than a 14" screen is difficult, but I am so used to my 32" screens at home and work that in hotels I tend to connect to the tv with an HDMI cable and use a travel keyboard and mouse.
5) my needs are typical business needs, (Outlook, Excel, etc.) but I want zero lag time.
any opinions are appreciated!

[mevinyavin]

Cheap prices at Dell, surprisingly good (especiialy the cheapest, which are great value - do you have Chase cards?) @jj1000
A few examples:
Inspiron 15 3xxx with i5-12th or Ryzen 5 7530 for $350 (former with 256GB SSD, latter with 512GB SSD, both 8GB upgradeable RAM).
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520gmqch
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3535-laptop/useichbts3535gndc

With a Ryzen 7 5700U, 16GB RAM and TB SSD, $480.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nn3525ghhvs

For $600 you get a 5000 series Inspiron (so metal build), a Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM (not upgradeable this time) and TB SSD.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-16-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-5635-laptop/usichbts5635fyxf

[Sammy82]

weighing Lenovo x1 carbon 11th gen vs Surface Pro 9 + keyboard.
Considerations:
1) I tend to buy a very top of the line laptop every 6-8 years (currently using a Lenovo X1 yoga 1st gen that I bought in 2016 for $2091).
2) I don't really have a need for 5G, when warranted I use my phone as a hotspot
3) Increasingly I use my laptop almost only when I travel (fairly frequently). for plane use anything less than a 14" screen is difficult, but I am so used to my 32" screens at home and work that in hotels I tend to connect to the tv with an HDMI cable and use a travel keyboard and mouse.
5) my needs are typical business needs, (Outlook, Excel, etc.) but I want zero lag time.
any opinions are appreciated!

Looking for more or less the same thing

[thaber]

Looking for more or less the same thing

@Dan are you still using the xps 13? Thoughts on the above? I think we got our yoga x1 about the same time

[mevinyavin]

Inspiron 15 3xxx with i5-12th or Ryzen 5 7530 for $350 (former with 256GB SSD, latter with 512GB SSD, both 8GB upgradeable RAM).
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520gmqch
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3535-laptop/useichbts3535gndc

AMD flavor also at Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-3535-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-amd-radeon-8gb-memory-512gb-ssd-carbon-black/6559387.p?skuId=6559387

[mevinyavin]

@thaber @Sammy82
Before I toss out a few options, correct my summary if I am wrong in any aspect:
-High-end is not a problem provided the money is being spent for a reason
-13-14". Would you consider a 15" 2-in-1 that you would use in tablet mode when in tight spaces, or is the size too much of a compromise?
-Build quality and battery life matter
-You don't do anything particularly demanding on the hardware end

I can toss out a few of my favorite models based on current reviews (and let you decide), or I can price-shop for you. But I won't bother with the latter if you will just ignore me. (Time is at a premium these days.)

[MoYS]

Cheap prices at Dell, surprisingly good (especiialy the cheapest, which are great value - do you have Chase cards?) @jj1000
A few examples:
Inspiron 15 3xxx with i5-12th or Ryzen 5 7530 for $350 (former with 256GB SSD, latter with 512GB SSD, both 8GB upgradeable RAM).
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520gmqch
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3535-laptop/useichbts3535gndc

Is it touchscreen? I found this in the description,

Display
15.6", FHD 1920x1080, 60Hz, WVA, Touch, Anti-Glare, Narrow Border, LED-Backlit

But on bestbuy it says it doesn't have

[Sammy82]

@thaber @Sammy82
Before I toss out a few options, correct my summary if I am wrong in any aspect:
-High-end is not a problem provided the money is being spent for a reason
-13-14". Would you consider a 15" 2-in-1 that you would use in tablet mode when in tight spaces, or is the size too much of a compromise?
-Build quality and battery life matter
-You don't do anything particularly demanding on the hardware end

I can toss out a few of my favorite models based on current reviews (and let you decide), or I can price-shop for you. But I won't bother with the latter if you will just ignore me. (Time is at a premium these days.)

Thank you @mevinyavin  for your response.
Personally, I would like to keep it under 1000 (but have flexibility, if needed). 15" would probably be too big for me. Battery life isn't too important as I'm usually working at a table with power (and have a backup battery pack, when needed). All I use it for is basic stuff like word, excel, and many chrome tabs. Nothing too heavy (I don't think).
TIA

[mevinyavin]

Is it touchscreen? I found this in the description, But on bestbuy it says it doesn't have

If so, get the one without it.
Touch:
-Adds a tiny but real amount to the weight
-Impacts a decent amount on the battery life
-Introduces another fundamental design flaw in the connection between the monitor and the motherboard, which both makes it more difficult to get into and is another way that it is possible to break in a way that repair costs almost the same as the computer

Just saying. 

[mevinyavin]

Thank you @mevinyavin  for your response.
Personally, I would like to keep it under 1000 (but have flexibility, if needed). 15" would probably be too big for me. Battery life isn't too important as I'm usually working at a table with power (and have a backup battery pack, when needed). All I use it for is basic stuff like word, excel, and many chrome tabs. Nothing too heavy (I don't think).
TIA

Offhand recommendation is this. It is a bit heavy (compared to the competition), but I hear it is built well, though plastic.
https://www.newegg.com/classic-black-msi-modern-14-c7m-048us-work-business/p/N82E16834156444?Item=N82E16834156444&SoldByNewegg=1
I'll be looking around at some point but it may not be today. If you are in a hurry, the price and specs are right (modern Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, etc). If you want something nicer and have money burning a hole in your pocket, just wait.

[mevinyavin]

$265 ($250 in store) - HP 14" with Ryzen 3 5300U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, touch. A steal at this price.
https://www.costco.com/hp-14%22-touchscreen-laptop---amd-ryzen-3-5300u---hd-1366-x-768---windows-11-in-s-mode.product.4000176433.html

@Sammy82 This one is an upgrade off the MSI but expect battery life that is not as good (in exchange for a monster 35/45W i7 that you do not need). More important to you is the metal build and it is probably a pound lighter. Touch screen but I consider it a chisaron (see above). $735 shipped ($720 in store). It is evo certified so the battery won't be THAT bad, but the MSI will almost certainly be better.
https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-go-14%e2%80%9d-intel-evo-platform-touchscreen-laptop-%e2%80%93-13th-gen-intel-core-i7-13700h-%e2%80%93-1200p-%e2%80%93-windows-11.product.4000151168.html

[thaber]

Thank you @mevinyavin  for your response.
Personally, I would like to keep it under 1000 (but have flexibility, if needed). 15" would probably be too big for me. Battery life isn't too important as I'm usually working at a table with power (and have a backup battery pack, when needed). All I use it for is basic stuff like word, excel, and many chrome tabs. Nothing too heavy (I don't think).
TIA

+1 but will go higher on price, for speed and minimal lag time. thanks @mevinyavin

[mevinyavin]

+1 but will go higher on price, for speed and minimal lag time. thanks @mevinyavin

Yeah, it was obvious that you would go higher in price than him. My internet is wonky right now, but I'll let you know my thoughts at some future point.
One thing I can tell you for sure: if you do decide to get the X1 Carbon, get a model with a 13th gen U series processor, and a low resolution screen (ie not an OLED).
Read between the lines of this review: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Carbon-G11-review-The-stagnating-expensive-business-flagship.728359.0.html

[thaber]

Yeah, it was obvious that you would go higher in price than him. My internet is wonky right now, but I'll let you know my thoughts at some future point.
One thing I can tell you for sure: if you do decide to get the X1 Carbon, get a model with a 13th gen U series processor, and a low resolution screen (ie not an OLED).
Read between the lines of this review: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Carbon-G11-review-The-stagnating-expensive-business-flagship.728359.0.html

Well that was a downer of a review.
What's your opinion of the surface pro?

[mevinyavin]

Well that was a downer of a review.
What's your opinion of the surface pro?

The review wasn't so bad. Bear in mind that the same guy gets to experience the best and worse of every aspect of a laptop. They have a horrible time being objective. My summary of the review (and what I have seen from other reviewers would be:
1-It is boring (aka it has the same design). Big deal.
2-It is built extremely well.
3-It is underpowered when it has a 15W processor, but only compared to laptops with more powerful processors, which - by the way - are completely unnecessary for speedy performance for office work.
4-It has a low resolution screen. That, my genius reviewer, is the way you get good battery life. The screen is also not very bright - this is a common problem with Lenovo and is the reason I tend to steer buyers elsewhere. However, with the low resolution screen, you should be able to run it on higher brightness and still get decent battery life.
5- Speaking of battery life, the problem here is the fault of Intel, not Lenovo, and they did very well considering. This is also the reason Lenovo chose to equip it with a 15W processor and not the powerful processor the reviewer is unfairly comparing it to.
6-All the above considered, this is a high-quality product that performs exactly as it was designed to (albeit not like the reviewer's expectations), though overpriced (IMHO) considering what you are getting.
By the way, I wrote this without reading the review. I already read enough of them over the last half-year or so. You should know, though, that there are products out there that solve all of the above problems except possibly the build quality (I don't know if there is a way to compare) and the low weight.

Surface: No opinion. I don't do tablets. That doesn't mean it won't work for your purposes but I don't know anything about them.

As I said, I'll IY"H post later on some other alternatives.

[mevinyavin]

@thaber Here's my shortlist.
If I was forced to choose without a budget (otherwise it would be whatever I can find a bargain on between these), I would probably choose the Dragonfly.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Yoga-Pro-7-14-review-The-almost-perfect-ultrabook-with-AMD-Zen-3.708599.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-Dragonfly-G4-laptop-review-Small-updates-over-the-already-excellent-Dragonfly-G3.734627.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ZenBook-14X-2023-laptop-review-OLED-ultrabook-at-its-limit.726779.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Samsung-Galaxy-Book3-Pro-14-review-Light-office-notebook-with-20-hours-of-battery-life.717518.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Latitude-7440-laptop-review-Beating-the-Latitude-9440-in-some-key-areas.732719.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-ZBook-Firefly-14-G10-A-in-review-Strong-office-notebook-that-relies-on-Zen-4.759343.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Framework-Laptop-13-5-Ryzen-7-7840U-review-So-much-better-than-the-Intel-version.756613.0.html
https://uk.pcmag.com/laptops/148785/acer-swift-14-2023

Further comments: the Yoga is the only 2-in-1; it also has a larger 14.5" screen versus the others.
The Latitude is probably the best-built of these.
The Framework opens up the possibility of permanent cheap upgrades (and they have been around long enough to make good on that), but finally has decent battery life. It has a smaller 13.5" screen versus the others. EDIT: You can also carry around different ports in a bag (such as swapping out a USB port for an SD card reader on the fly).
The Zenbook is the only laptop I have seen in the portable market that has both an OLED screen and good battery life. It also has (on paper) the most powerful processor options (scales up to an i9!), but you will not see the battery life if you need to max out the processor.

If money is really no object? You don't use anything out of the mainstream, and you really want portability and battery life? Get a Macbook Pro 14.
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-2023

Let me know if you want me to find you a bargain or have any further questions; otherwise I will consider this matter settled.

[thaber]

@thaber Here's my shortlist.
If I was forced to choose without a budget (otherwise it would be whatever I can find a bargain on between these), I would probably choose the Dragonfly.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-Yoga-Pro-7-14-review-The-almost-perfect-ultrabook-with-AMD-Zen-3.708599.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-Dragonfly-G4-laptop-review-Small-updates-over-the-already-excellent-Dragonfly-G3.734627.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-ZenBook-14X-2023-laptop-review-OLED-ultrabook-at-its-limit.726779.0.html
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Samsung-Galaxy-Book3-Pro-14-review-Light-office-notebook-with-20-hours-of-battery-life.717518.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Dell-Latitude-7440-laptop-review-Beating-the-Latitude-9440-in-some-key-areas.732719.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-ZBook-Firefly-14-G10-A-in-review-Strong-office-notebook-that-relies-on-Zen-4.759343.0.html#toc-0
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Framework-Laptop-13-5-Ryzen-7-7840U-review-So-much-better-than-the-Intel-version.756613.0.html
https://uk.pcmag.com/laptops/148785/acer-swift-14-2023

Further comments: the Yoga is the only 2-in-1; it also has a larger 14.5" screen versus the others.
The Latitude is probably the best-built of these.
The Framework opens up the possibility of permanent cheap upgrades (and they have been around long enough to make good on that), but finally has decent battery life. It has a smaller 13.5" screen versus the others. EDIT: You can also carry around different ports in a bag (such as swapping out a USB port for an SD card reader on the fly).
The Zenbook is the only laptop I have seen in the portable market that has both an OLED screen and good battery life. It also has (on paper) the most powerful processor options (scales up to an i9!), but you will not see the battery life if you need to max out the processor.

If money is really no object? You don't use anything out of the mainstream, and you really want portability and battery life? Get a Macbook Pro 14.
https://www.techradar.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-14-inch-2023

Let me know if you want me to find you a bargain or have any further questions; otherwise I will consider this matter settled.

You are truly the best. Thank you!

[MoYS]

My family currently uses one laptop, and I'm looking to get a second one for myself. This may be obvious, but is there any reason to spend more than a couple hundered on a laptop that I need for microsoft office products and casual browsing? Will a top of the line model last longer or have any real benefit for my needs? I can afford to spend around 1000 but not sure if I would be thrwoing the money away on a processor I wouldnt use.