Recommendations for a general use laptop?
Recommendations for a general use laptop?
I'm attempting to assist my mother in purchasing a laptop. She primarily uses it for word processing, browsing the internet, and watching videos. I’m interested in getting a touchscreen model, possibly one with a bendable screen behind the keyboard. Ideally, she’d prefer something that looks appealing as well, even though this won’t affect its performance. This would be a nice gift for her.
1. What is your budget?
Under $1000
2. What size notebook are you considering?
16"
3. What resolution do you want?
Not sure, but nothing too high-end is needed.
4. Do you need a portable or desktop laptop?
It will be her only "computer" and it won’t be moved around much.
5. How much battery life do you require?
No specific preference.
6. Would you like to play games with your laptop? If yes, please list the games you’d like with the settings you prefer (Low, Medium or High).
No
7. What other functions would she like to use her laptop for? (Photo/Video editing, etc.)
Internet browsing, videos
8. How much storage space do you need?
At least 512 GB SSD
9. If you have any preferred online stores, please share their links.
Amazon, big box store, preferably
10. How long do you intend to keep the laptop?
5+ years
11. What type of optical drive would you prefer? DVD ROM/Writer, Bluray ROM/Writer, etc.
None
12. Please mention any brands you like or dislike and why.
HP has a good reputation for products I’ve bought, but I’m not very brand-focused.
13. In which country do you reside?
US
14. Any further details you’d like to provide?
I’m still searching for a laptop that offers good value, reliability, and lasts at least five years, ideally around ten.
I would consider purchasing at a place where she can actually test it out to understand the keyboard and assess the screen. Costco or Best Buy might be suitable options. However, I’m uncertain about her preferences.
I wouldn’t rely too much on specific recommendations because they’re often based on personal experiences and can be misleading. It’s also important to consider that CPU performance isn’t always indicative of overall laptop quality.
Internet use and video watching require minimal CPU power, but checking benchmarks for different CPUs would help ensure you’re not getting a weak processor. The Intel i3, i5, or i7 categories don’t provide much clarity.
Lenovo is frequently mentioned, but I haven’t used their products personally.
Avoid these options: Windows Pro, which might be mandatory; spinning hard drives; and RAM beyond 16 GB unless you’re willing to pay a premium for it.
For around $1000, you could get decent performance. It’s hard to judge the long-term benefits of spending less, though. A $300 difference might add up in terms of durability and stability.
I think the Lenovo laptop for $400 is perfect for your mother's requirements:
Lenovo Laptop IdeaPad 1 15ALC7
CPU: Ryzen 5 5500U
GPU: Radeon RX Vega 7 IGP
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200
SSD: 512GB
Display: 15.6" 1080p
OS: Windows 11 Home
It's a solid choice for $400 and it should handle everything she needs. I'm confident in this because my own device only has a Ryzen 5 3500U, which is sufficient for most tasks. I find it hard to imagine her needs going beyond what this offers, especially since I use it for file transfers, compression, and media playback. The only change I made was boosting the RAM to 16GB due to multiple Firefox tabs. I'm sure 8GB would be enough for her, and $400 is a fair deal for a craptop.
I hope this is helpful!
😉
👍
Touchscreen model priced between $500 and $550 is available from ASUS. It’s the Vivobook 15.6” Touch PC Laptop with Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, running Windows 11 Home. Available for purchase on Walmart.com.
Another option in the $550 range is the HP ENVY x360 Convertible 15.6” FDH Touch Laptop. It features an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage, compatible with Windows 11. This model can be found on Walmart.com.
For a more powerful choice, the Ludicrous i5-12500H + RTX4060 gaming laptop is listed at $750. It includes an Intel i5-12500H processor, RTX 4060 graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 512GB SSD, and runs on Windows 11. This model is also available through Walmart.com.
I recently purchased this refurb for my mother.
https://www.newegg.com/silver-acer-a315-...CA1K0E9370
It fits your budget nicely but is a bit short on screen size. It arrived fast and is free of scratches. The only missing part is the plastic peel sheet.