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Maraya1969

(22,976 posts)
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:21 PM Apr 2020

I need a new laptop. I don't need fancy anything except maybe to watch TV sometimes

The prices blow my mind. Some are well over $1,000 and others are about $500. I don't understand much about all the bells and whistles.

I want one that is lightweight and thin so I can carry it around if I ever travel again.

Other than that any grand ideas? I'm mostly DU FB Youtube email and googling.

Thanks in advance!

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I need a new laptop. I don't need fancy anything except maybe to watch TV sometimes (Original Post) Maraya1969 Apr 2020 OP
Given those light requirements I'd just look into a Chromebook (nt) mr_lebowski Apr 2020 #1
I looked at those but leftieNanner Apr 2020 #4
Where do you get that idea? Sure they do. Not typically a lot, but they have some ... mr_lebowski Apr 2020 #6
I am glad to know this leftieNanner Apr 2020 #9
I agree with Mr. L DonaldsRump Apr 2020 #7
That also means you are less likely to get viruses Bradshaw3 Apr 2020 #11
I got an HP at Costco last year leftieNanner Apr 2020 #2
S mode CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #14
Any gaming? Do you keep a lot of windows open at once and switch between many tasks? Renew Deal Apr 2020 #3
Check for some factory refurbished units. SeattleVet Apr 2020 #5
I agree with a previous poster...Chromebook...nt wcmagumba Apr 2020 #8
Consider a ChromeBook ... PBC_Democrat Apr 2020 #10
what is your budget? Are you open to refurbished? LuvLoogie Apr 2020 #12
Last Friday I thought I had to buy a new laptop..I have a Toshiba..must be asiliveandbreathe Apr 2020 #13
255% CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #18
May I laugh out loud..255% special?..as I sat next to a fire extinguisher.. asiliveandbreathe Apr 2020 #19
iPad? CloudWatcher Apr 2020 #15
I just got one a couple months ago, I think it was Best Buy captain queeg Apr 2020 #16
I have a refurbished Acer Chromebook. Purrfect. $174. Amazon. WheelWalker Apr 2020 #17
I sure like my iPad for that. MLAA Apr 2020 #20
Walmart (yes walmart!) I had yet another HP die on me and happened into a Walmart... TreasonousBastard Apr 2020 #21
Post removed Post removed Apr 2020 #22
I have a refurbished Dell Latitude Susan Calvin Apr 2020 #23
Another recommendation for the Chromebook. Elwood P Dowd Apr 2020 #24

leftieNanner

(15,673 posts)
4. I looked at those but
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:26 PM
Apr 2020

there is zero storage in them (which is why they are cheap) and you have to store all of your files in the cloud.

 

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)
6. Where do you get that idea? Sure they do. Not typically a lot, but they have some ...
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:29 PM
Apr 2020

Also you can upgrade the drive in many of them. Edit: Sorry, a few of them, not many.

Also you can use a portable drive. There's like 5TB USB drives for $100 these days.

leftieNanner

(15,673 posts)
9. I am glad to know this
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:32 PM
Apr 2020

Next time!

I actually have a Seagate hard drive that I used to transfer my files from my old desk top that died to my new machine. Plus for backup.

DonaldsRump

(7,715 posts)
7. I agree with Mr. L
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:30 PM
Apr 2020

Get a good Chromebook and a separate 1TB+ external hard drive. For what you want to do, don't pay more for this!

I'm typing this on a refurbished touchscreen Dell Chromebook that I got from Amazon a couple of months back for around $120. It's great!

Bradshaw3

(7,962 posts)
11. That also means you are less likely to get viruses
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:35 PM
Apr 2020

I love my Chromebook and I do what you do with a computer.

leftieNanner

(15,673 posts)
2. I got an HP at Costco last year
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:25 PM
Apr 2020

I think it was around $350. It works just fine. But be aware that those machines are set in "S mode" which means you can only download Microsoft products. It will not allow you to use Google Chrome or Firefox. This can be fixed by a repair person. Good luck!

CloudWatcher

(1,922 posts)
14. S mode
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:46 PM
Apr 2020

Wow, I'm not a Windows person at all ... but your response prompted me to read up a little on S mode.

Two minor corrections:

1 - you can install any app that's in the Microsoft app store, not just Microsoft products.
2 - you can take it out of S mode yourself, you don't need a repair person. See How to leave S mode

Microsoft (and the above article) says leaving S mode is a one-way trip, no way to (self) re-enable it once it's been deactivated. And ... of course that's not true. It's just not easy: Install Windows in S mode

Renew Deal

(82,898 posts)
3. Any gaming? Do you keep a lot of windows open at once and switch between many tasks?
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:26 PM
Apr 2020

If not, you can probably live on the lower end. Use Windows Defender for Anti-Virus and avoid the bloat of another program.

SeattleVet

(5,582 posts)
5. Check for some factory refurbished units.
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:27 PM
Apr 2020

Woot (woot.com) usually has a decent selection of HP and Apple refurbished laptops; sometimes has new Chromebooks.

Most anything that's available for sale these days should suit your needs.

LuvLoogie

(7,520 posts)
12. what is your budget? Are you open to refurbished?
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:39 PM
Apr 2020

I would get a laptop running Windows 10 Pro. at least 8GB RAM 256 GB SSD

Forget Home or S versions. Something like this...

https://www.newegg.com/silver-hp-14dq/p/1TS-000D-07878?Item=9SIAA0SAMD3199

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
13. Last Friday I thought I had to buy a new laptop..I have a Toshiba..must be
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:44 PM
Apr 2020

10+ years - btw - they don't make Toshiba any more - so, all of a sudden, I was getting low battery plugged in message, haven't used the battery for years, I removed the battery and unplugged everything..waited..tried again..okay so it dies..I straightened the power cord..was kinda kinked..try again..nope..dead in the water..

Thank goodness I have an Ipad..did some research..looked at new computers..nope - I was not satisfied with my efforts..so I went to PCmag (not an Ad) for help..lots of info.. tried most of what they suggested..nope, dead in the water..now there were lots of suggestions surrounding the power cord..so rather than spend $500-1000 for a new computer, I decided to buy a new power cord..ordered on line..4/20..free shipping, arrive 4/30..and $23.00..I didn't think I could make it to 4/30 but the price was right, for now. My new power cord arrived 4/24..yea..now I plugged the new power cord in and got a 255% battery message..WHAT?? Looked up 255% battery..okay, thinking my computer was going to catch fire I tried one more thing..I unplugged everything..put the old battery back in..plugged in the new power cord..100% battery..phew..

I took my computer for a ride yesterday..here at DU of course, all is still system go, even today..computer back to normal..I am back to normal 100%..she said with fingers crossed..

CloudWatcher

(1,922 posts)
18. 255%
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:59 PM
Apr 2020

Glad to hear your system is back!

You might be amused to know that 255 is a magic number to computer geeks. It's binary "1111 1111" (which is also known as hex FF). I.e. 8 binary bits of one, no zeros.

And ...when software goes to read memory (or hardware status) from devices that are stuck or not responding, what it oftens get is a response of all ones.

So ... most likely your battery wasn't responding with 255% ... it wasn't responding at all and the software that was looking at it didn't notice and reported back the results as if it were a real reading.

Of course ... it could be some other kind of failure (I don't know anything about Toshiba laptop batteries), but ... 255% is special

asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
19. May I laugh out loud..255% special?..as I sat next to a fire extinguisher..
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 10:13 PM
Apr 2020

I have not had a reason to unplug computer..battery has just been, well, there..when it died I removed everything..255% appeared when I plugged in the new power cord .. when I put the battery back everything came together - I did research 255%, was actually surprised so much info - now I know 255% is 'special"..thanks for the info..

CloudWatcher

(1,922 posts)
15. iPad?
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:48 PM
Apr 2020

You might consider getting an iPad instead of a laptop. Less expensive than a laptop, and it has local storage. They've got enough power to do the stuff on your list.

captain queeg

(11,780 posts)
16. I just got one a couple months ago, I think it was Best Buy
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:49 PM
Apr 2020

$300. They don’t come with DVD drives nowadays so I bought a $20 external drive. Pretty basic but more powerful than the last one. It’s a Dell. So far so good but all I’ve used it for is youtube, email, zoom, and now I got Hulu. All work well and it’s got a 15” screen. It does everything I need to do.

WheelWalker

(9,198 posts)
17. I have a refurbished Acer Chromebook. Purrfect. $174. Amazon.
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 09:51 PM
Apr 2020

No viruses. 12 hour battery life. Near instant boot. Never a crash. HDR Webcam. HDMI port. 100 GB Google Drive. Intel processor. 802.11ac wifi. Google Docs compatible with just about everything. Never going back.

Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-532).

MLAA

(18,570 posts)
20. I sure like my iPad for that.
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 10:23 PM
Apr 2020

Email, google, Netflix. Does everything I need and super light weight and easy to use. 🙂

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
21. Walmart (yes walmart!) I had yet another HP die on me and happened into a Walmart...
Sun Apr 26, 2020, 10:23 PM
Apr 2020

and found a very nice Lenovo laptop with a touchscreen for about 200 bucks and change. Works great for Zoom conferences, a few simple games, and the usual WP, surfing and other stuff. Even some photo editing.

Walked in there another time and walked out with a "super tablet" for about $150, detachable keyboard and a very nice case included.

Response to Maraya1969 (Original post)

Susan Calvin

(2,074 posts)
23. I have a refurbished Dell Latitude
Mon Apr 27, 2020, 08:54 AM
Apr 2020

That has served me well for many years. I got it off eBay. You can get them in Linux, which is what I'll get if I ever have to replace my current one. They're former business computers.

Elwood P Dowd

(11,444 posts)
24. Another recommendation for the Chromebook.
Tue Apr 28, 2020, 11:59 AM
Apr 2020

Even though I've been using Apple products for well over 20 years, being retired now on a fixed income led me to search for a laptop budget solution (still keeping the iMac for a desktop). Found an Asus 14" Chromebook on sale for under $200.00. While not as good as the MacBook Air I looked into, it's close enough and costs about $800.00 less! Boots up in a few seconds, updates only take a couple of minutes, Chrome OS is easy to learn.

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