Here are some suggestions for a modest laptop.
Here are some suggestions for a modest laptop.
I’m seeking suggestions for reliable brands.
For a basic laptop with low demand, I prefer not to go for Windows S or Chromebooks. I’d rather avoid them entirely.
My wife isn’t a power user at all—she doesn’t need much tech. As her IT support, I’m hoping for something that requires minimal upkeep, mostly depending on Microsoft products. She uses email and does some basic internet searches; Ancestry is one of the more demanding ones, so not ideal.
In an ideal scenario, she’d want at least half a THD, preferably full THD. She has decent Wi-Fi skills, and the old Dell model still works, though it’s not great. Speed isn’t critical—just better than Windows 98. An optical drive would be a game-changer for her, especially since she enjoys watching DVDs during trips. That would make a huge difference. Unfortunately, I doubt such devices are common anymore.
I’d appreciate a low-maintenance option, even if much of it depends on Microsoft’s decisions.
My budget is tight, around 5 to 600, and I’d like to keep it that way.
She needs a notebook with about 8 years of use left.
She prefers a laptop over a desktop for this purpose.
Battery life is important—more is better, but not a priority.
I’m not sure if she’ll play games on her laptop; if yes, please list the recommended titles and their preferred settings (Low, Medium or High). XP seems unlikely to work.
8. Storage capacity? At least half a TB, ideally full 1 TB.
9. If you have specific retailers in mind, share their links. Amazon is likely my go-to, but I’m open to suggestions.
10. How long do you plan to keep the laptop? Five years or more—definitely a long time ago.
11. What optical drive type would suit her best? DVD ROM/Writer, Bluray ROM/Writer, etc.
She can read DVDs, which is great for movies.
12. Please share your preferred brands and those you dislike, along with reasons.
I don’t like Dell because of poor past experiences, nor HP since they let people leave when moving to China.
Here are some options from Best Buy; I focused on Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, LG, and Microsoft. For the ODD, consider an external optical drive if your wife wants to play a DVD or movie.
These older models fall within a certain price range and include an external DVD reader option.
Thanks everyone for the input, I've heard positive things about Lenovo. What's the current opinion on Acar and Asus? I know an external DVD drive is available, but I'd prefer not to use it if possible, though I'm not hopeful. A Mac isn't an option for me right now—besides wanting something new, my experience with them is likely short, and I'm the tech support for my wife, so helping her would be very challenging.