Looking for an affordable school laptop?
Looking for an affordable school laptop?
Hello,
I am trying to help my brother find a laptop for his schooling.. I do not know much of laptops but his budget is $600 or less
I have found a couple ones that have intrigued me
Asus Vivobook Ryzen 5 5500u
https://kelaptop.com/en/asus-vivobook-fl...20ua-ws51t
HP Pavilion x360 intel i5 1135G7
https://www.hp.com/us-en/laptops/product...2100399979
HP 17 Ryzen 5 5500u
https://www.hp.com/us-en/laptops/product...2100400880
ALSO I see this Dell which has similar specs to the Asus BUT cost over $100 more.. Is the higher price because of the Dell name? I am mostly curious about this one
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-i...ol...Id=6458907
Based on my experience, the Inspiron line from Dell has delivered solid performance for work laptops. I currently own an 8th gen i5 model and a slightly smaller 13-inch version with a Ryzen 5. Both perform adequately, but I always prioritize having reliable power access.
For the larger i5 model, I require a numeric pad that fits comfortably during travel. I should verify the available connectors and ensure it meets all my needs. It would also be helpful to explore options regarding expandable memory and storage space, as many compact laptops have limited internal components that are difficult to replace or upgrade.
In my previous purchase, the i5 Inspiron had only 8GB of RAM and a standard HDD. It features an M.2 (SATA) port and an open RAM slot with a removable back for easy maintenance. I invested around $400 at MicroCenter, upgraded the RAM and added a Samsung SSD, which cost just over $100 more. The final price was well under $700.
I also find HP laptops to be solid choices for professional use. The main challenge I’ve encountered has been understanding the OS installation process, particularly the handshake required for a clean setup. Over the years, I’ve had issues with two models, but one still functions properly despite its age. Notably, HP often has only a single RAM slot on lower-end models; the operating system displays two slots, but opening it reveals no connection.
Based on my observations, the laptop's CPU and integrated graphics (or dedicated GPU if available) aren't crucial for web browsing or general tasks. The key factor I noticed is the amount of RAM. I own a Surface Pro 6 with 8 gigabytes of RAM, but it struggles to handle large files when many applications are running simultaneously—like Discord, Edge, etc.—and crashes occur. For better performance, I recommend getting one with at least 16 GB of memory.
Sadly, 16GB of memory may not fit within the budget of any laptop under $600. The most suitable options are two physical SODIMM slots that can be upgraded or at least 8GB soldered into a single slot. Still, my secondary work laptop remains limited to 4GB of RAM, which is mainly for compatibility and rarely used.