Author Topic: Looking for a laptop  (Read 1376 times)

Offline Shem Tov

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Looking for a laptop
« on: November 18, 2021, 02:06:17 PM »
Hello, I am looking for the cheapest decent laptop that I can find that will be used for one thing only, the desktop version of Microsoft Word.  Screen size can be 10"-15". Specs are not important as long as it can run regular desktop version of Word. Any suggestions?  TY to all.

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2021, 02:55:08 PM »
Hello, I am looking for the cheapest decent laptop that I can find that will be used for one thing only, the desktop version of Microsoft Word.  Screen size can be 10"-15". Specs are not important as long as it can run regular desktop version of Word. Any suggestions?  TY to all.
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=11287.0

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2023, 08:52:49 AM »
@mevinyavin

Is this a decent option for the 229 price?
Gateway Notebook 15.6" FHD Laptop, AMD Ryzen 5 3450U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home, Blue, GWTN156-4BL https://www.walmart.com/ip/208793102

How about this for 150?
Gateway 15.6" Ultra Slim Notebook with Carrying Case & Wireless Mouse, FHD, Intel® Core™ i3-1115G4, Dual Core, 4GB Memory, 128GB SSD, Windows 11 S https://www.walmart.com/ip/996759914
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Offline cozmohoot

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2023, 03:38:35 PM »
Don't get windows 10 or 11 with only 4gb of Ram...

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2023, 03:48:27 PM »
Don't get windows 10 or 11 with only 4gb of Ram...
false
my laptop has 4 gb ram, i upgraded to windows 10 and swapped the hdd with an ssd and its a breeze, IMHO windows 10 is better optimized for low end devices then windows 7,
the hdd was the bottleneck now its the cpu but works fine
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Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2023, 02:09:37 PM »
@mevinyavin

Is this a decent option for the 229 price?
Gateway Notebook 15.6" FHD Laptop, AMD Ryzen 5 3450U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Windows 10 Home, Blue, GWTN156-4BL https://www.walmart.com/ip/208793102

How about this for 150?
Gateway 15.6" Ultra Slim Notebook with Carrying Case & Wireless Mouse, FHD, Intel® Core™ i3-1115G4, Dual Core, 4GB Memory, 128GB SSD, Windows 11 S https://www.walmart.com/ip/996759914
Don't have time to look around tonight (Motzei Shabbos), but I can look in the morning.
Without the market as a background: The problems with Gateway laptops (as far as I can see) is they seem to be sloppier in manufacturing/QC. As such, only consider it if you are ready to potchkie with the warranty and go back and forth to Walmart a few times. Lower your expectations and you won't be dissapointed. Second is I have yet to see one with more than below-average battery life. That said, I never had personal experience with them.
The first option is horribly overpriced and you can do much better. (3000 series Ryzen just caught up to the equivalent Intel generation (10xx) in performance. In efficiency, they were still behind, hence bad battery life.) The second price is fair, especially because of what you are (potentially) up against with the brand. The only question is if anything without those problems is close in price - it sometimes is.
Don't let anyone talk you out of 4GB of RAM for basic office programs. If anything, basic internet might need more. Besides, just add more if you find you need it (if you don't burn your bridges with a computer that has soldered RAM).
You'll hear from me in the morning IY"H.
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Offline Moshe Green

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2023, 03:17:18 PM »
false
my laptop has 4 gb ram, i upgraded to windows 10 and swapped the hdd with an ssd and its a breeze, IMHO windows 10 is better optimized for low end devices then windows 7,
the hdd was the bottleneck now its the cpu but works fine
you may be ok with 4gb or ram but most people use a computer for more than word-processing and checking email. And even if you do only use it for those things, the computer will slow down after a while and for the extra $25-$35 it would have been worth it to be faster.

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2023, 06:34:36 PM »
you may be ok with 4gb or ram but most people use a computer for more than word-processing and checking email. And even if you do only use it for those things, the computer will slow down after a while and for the extra $25-$35 it would have been worth it to be faster.
sorry i misunderstood his original post, i do agree that 4gb ram is very little, i thought you were saying not to upgrade to windows 10 and i disagreed on that, of course you should try to get at least eight gb ram, many phones have 4 gb

he wrote don't Get
he meant don't buy
i understood
don't upgrade
« Last Edit: January 14, 2023, 06:40:26 PM by yesitsme »
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Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Looking for a laptop
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2023, 05:10:57 AM »
You'll hear from me in the morning IY"H.
1- The dirt-cheap: $150 for 14" Ideapad with a slow processor (N4020), 4GB RAM and 64GB emmc. Only get if every penny counts. You can't upgrade any of this, and if the emmc drive dies you are out one computer.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-ideapad-1i-14-0-hd-laptop-celeron-n4020-4gb-memory-64gb-emmc-cloud-grey/6511947.p?skuId=6511947

2- The alternate dirt-cheap: $163 for an Inspiron 3510 (15.6") from Dell Outlet (cosmetic damage but full warranty). Same slow processor. 4GB of RAM (upgradeable) and 128GB conventional SSD (upgradeable). Use coupon 668215Ins. Note outlet stuff go out of stock easily.
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=22&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdaNgbdBz0L4Wfff%2f8gpxaNwQLqFUk2M53b6IX6SYTczDgcrv2zjKQIOsoSovespDkhUDZeF10uz11ngaqMI6MFfRgdCMiCDfHy%2f5fA0jlawbsh1UtOmF%2b2BI0EGTUsJu3Lvwz%2blG%2bsjTrGI02srRoeJMNZbE7YNz0loGVJ5dawfbb5ncY86Z0sE%3d

3 - The almost desperate: $230 for Ideapad 3 14. Upgrades processor to 11th gen i3, SSD like #2. You can save a few bucks for a Gateway, but not worth it IMHO (see last post from me).
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo-Ideapad-3i-14-FHD-Laptop-Intel-Core-i3-1115G4-4GB-128GB-SSD-Windows-11-in-S-Mode-Platinum-Grey-81X700FGUS/125496557?fulfillmentIntent=Shipping

4- Luxury. 8GB of RAM starts at $270, but for $308 you get this: Vostro 3400 14" with 11th gen i5, 512GB SSD. Cosmetic damage, at Dell Outlet. Use coupon 667248Vos.
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%2fPR7UdQhrPh3NujZKJ4jkoEp7uE39rnaItbx1cspRzbdsAP6EwKskyoq9dcQYETSVbZttNwDZOv59SA%2fwDQkmVB8bGO3rrby4rjeIkysEPAs8Rblg%2bPeSCaHqNikoxewPrZuPnNKXpvWwcTC4Puq3xqgNqpYh9odW60m4f5y2tSxzoumSfxg6dU%2bXqRg%3d

5- If you want it without the cosmetic damage, $369 (11th gen i5, 256GB SSD but weird camo case color) or $380 (Ryzen 5 but puny SSD of 128GB - you can pay more to upgrade).
https://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-14-Intel-Core-i5-1135G7-8GB-RAM-256GB-SSD-Digi-Camo-Windows-10-14-dq2088wm/715310371?fulfillmentIntent=Shipping
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-laptop-14-fq200-4x5b7av-1

Okay, DDF, don't make me do this again for a little while.  :D
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!