New laptop seach
New laptop seach
I’m planning to shop soon, likely within a month, for a fresh laptop or ultrabook. My current Lenovo Ideapad 730S hasn’t stopped acting strangely—even after swapping the battery—I still face a random shutdown problem. I’m looking for something lighter. I’ve been thinking about tablets like the Microsoft Surface, but haven’t had the chance to test them at stores like Best Buy or Micro Center.
What’s your budget?
I’d prefer to stay under $900 and am open to buying a refurbished unit.
What notebook size are you considering?
12 to 14 inches.
What resolution do you need?
It doesn’t really matter.
Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
Portable, with the option to connect to an external monitor.
How much battery life is important?
It’s hard to judge since my old laptop still runs solidly even with plenty of charge—about 12 hours would be ideal.
Would you like to play games on your laptop? If yes, please list the titles and the settings you’d prefer (Low, Medium or High).
No, I’m mainly focused on productivity.
What other tasks do you want to handle with your laptop?
A lot of web browsing plus some moderate use of software like Gimp, Inkscape, Sketchup.
How much storage do you require?
256GB or 512GB is fine.
Which online stores are you thinking of using?
Dell, Dell Outlet, Lenovo, Lenovo Outlet, Newegg and MicroCenter.
How long do you want to keep your laptop?
More than 5 years.
What type of optical drive do you need?
Not required—DVD ROM/Writer or Bluray ROM/Writer would work.
Please share any preferred brands and those you dislike, along with reasons.
I’ve owned two Lenovos personally; one nearing the end of its life (~7 years), the other with battery issues after about 18 months. I’ve tried fixes but am ready to move on. I also have a Lenovo Thinkpad X1 in my office, which has performed well for three years. I appreciate the brand but don’t feel locked into it. I’d also consider Dell, HP, ASUS or Microsoft.
Where are you from?
USA.
Any extra details you’d like to add?
I’m seeking something lightweight, durable, and under 3lbs. I travel for work and run a business with my wife, so I need a laptop that fits easily in my bag. Weight, price, quality are top priorities. Connectivity is essential—either built-in port or an adapter. I’ve tried two HDMI adapters for the 730S but they didn’t work (it only has USB-C ports). I’m willing to wait until after the holiday season if anyone has suggestions.
Thanks ahead of time.
First I’d visit a big online store, perhaps Newegg.
They offer solid screening and filtering options when buying. Better than Amazon.
Enter your rough budget and main needs (hard drive capacity, screen size, possibly a few more details).
Check what they recommend.
Compile a short list then explore the manufacturer’s site for specifics on those models.
Look for any features that might make them unsuitable.
Under similar conditions, opt for the corporate or business section instead of the consumer section.
I’m not certain every maker has both lines, so decide if you’d like to dive into the case or let others handle maintenance.
When you’re down to three or four options, search Google for official reviews or real user feedback.
There are quite a few options available on techbargain.com. I’ll check Newegg soon (it offers excellent laptop search).
Here’s something worth noting:
A deal at $980 includes a 13.3" touchscreen, i7-1165G7 chip, 52Wh battery, 16GB dual channel memory, and a 512 GB SSD for the same price.
Another listing shows a higher-end processor, which might shorten battery life but could improve performance when connected to power.
A third option is a $750 setup with the same processor and a basic Nvidia GPU, though other features are lacking.
Additionally, a HP Envy at Walmart is available for $550.
Here are some options you might like:
- $880 1TB SSD, low-end Nvidia GPU, 10th gen: [link]
- $920 Lenovo, nearly identical to the Dell XPS model
- $950 AMD Lenovo: [link]
- $950 Gigabyte, top choice for the 11th gen i7-G with 14" Thunderbolt 4
- Additional listings available on Newegg