Two questions: port adoption and model selection
Two questions: port adoption and model selection
Searching for a portable laptop in the $500 to $700 range with a screen around 15.6 inches and 1080p resolution. Battery life isn’t a priority. I plan to play games occasionally, especially older titles, but not heavily. I’m thinking about learning photo or video editing later. Storage should start at 256 GB is acceptable. I’m open to shopping at places like Costco, Sames Club, BJs, Amazon, Walmart, B&H, and maybe even the egg shop. I’d aim for a device that lasts five years or more, unless I sell soon to upgrade. No optical drive needed. So far, Acer seems good, possibly Asus or Lenovo. I live in the U.S..
Looking ahead, in three years I’ll definitely want a laptop with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4. I really need that now. I’ll need an IPS display since I read a lot, plastic is fine as long as it’s durable, and a keyboard that looks well-made. Not cheap.
Options in this price range with the mentioned ports: I found an Acer Aspire 7 on sale, but it doesn’t have Thunderbolt 4. That would push the price over $900. A Ryzen 5 with a 3050 would be a solid mid-range choice.
I’m also hoping to find more models this fall that match these specs. I’m spending a lot of time browsing and comparing prices. Thanks for any advice.
Cheers,
Mac
your limited budget will prevent you from getting that premium port. laptops are the exception where you might want to buy as much as you can afford, even if it feels too much right now.
you can't upgrade later, so what you purchase today is your final choice. a low-end purchase today won’t remain up-to-date in two years. you’ll soon realize you need faster performance or better features.
choose the best option you can afford now and leave the future to itself—three years from now, thunderbolt will likely be more common and cheaper. buying for the future is a risky move, and laptops are unlikely to be a viable solution then.
I hear you. I've read more on USB 3.2 and luckily think I can do some things with that. But may still wait. Usually the screen or the cpu is weak. Or only integrated graphics.
Thank you.