Looking to purchase a basic windows laptop for home use. Uses include email, personal tax prep, internet, email, spreadsheets.

Any recommendations? Budget around $300

Thoughts on this HP laptop at Best Buy?


https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sku/6587436.p?skuId=6587436&sb_share_source=PDP

I've bought a bunch of these Inspiron 15s for work, and they've been great for the price. The last batch i bough, Dell had them on sale for $249. They do not show up on Dell's website now though... Hopefully just waiting for a restock. I know the ram is easily upgradable on this laptop too, you can get an another 8gb stick for ~$15 and double your RAM to 16gb

That HP looks ok, but i think you can do better. Also, HPs, in my experience, tend to have a ton of bloatware pre-installed.

This ASUS Vivobook looks decent. Better CPU than the previously mentioned laptops. Pretty sure this one has 1 empty RAM slot to upgrade your memory too. A 256gb ssd isn't ideal, but it's workable.. Something with 512gb would give you a little more breathing room.

Thanks for the info. Is it difficult to add RAM? Upon further research I believe I need a minimum of 16gb

Found this one on Amazon

https://a.co/d/b72MnNE

Or this on Newegg

https://www.newegg.com/p/1TS-00NJ-00001

Guys, newegg. Always newegg.

You can get a $300 laptop all day with 16gb and a real processor there. No reason to have to crack the whole thing open and add RAM.

Can you find me one?

BmtAg96 said:

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Can you find me one?

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Ok, so here's your basic search :

https://www.newegg.com/tools/laptop-finder?PriceRange=0+394&N=600136700%20600165638


A couple things :

1. Referbished on NewEgg generally means new, and I've had tons of customers get these and have had exactly 0 issues/lemons. I'm in the IT industry as a business owner since 1995. We're talking a few hundred or so laptops from newegg.

DO NOT BE SCARED OF REFURB on this price level - because it's the perfect time to get refurb because this price range is basically a disposable laptop. It's not you're 'forever and ever' person.

2. Budget - I'm shooting around the $300 range. Just know if you even went to $100 more, it would vastly change your options. Not encouraging it per-se, just saying there are many levels of 'sweet spots'.

3. Required - Make sure you have 16gb or more memory. It's 2025. Secondly, never get a "celeron" processor. It's like being on a school bus. Sure, the engine can easily do 100mph, but they have a 'govenor' (aka restrictor) that limits it to 65. Celerons are normal processors, but neutered. Just say no, unless this is for some TV-displaying PC for your office wall or restaurant menu system that isn't user-used but doing basic stuff.


My Recommendation :

Quote:

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https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16834818048?Item=N82E16834818048

HP EliteBook 840 G7 Laptop Intel Core i5-10310U 1.70 GHz 16 GB RAM 256 GB SSD 14.0" FHD Windows 11 Pro

Why? Good processor, an Intel i5, 10th gen, which is only a few gens off current top-level. HP is a great, solid brand. You could say this laptop has a great engine, and good body.

POSSIBLE negatives : Screen is 14" (not the biggest, and only has a 256GB HD, which will give you about 150-200 gigs of free space.

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Thank you! Is there a similar model with a larger screen?

BmtAg96 said:

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Thank you! Is there a similar model with a larger screen?

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For the same price, I would have given you that...

If you want to go larger screen, look at that search list... you'll either have to go more off-brand Chinese OR you can up your budget a few dollars.

At $300, you're asking a lot. BUT, with laptops, even adding $50-100 more to budget really changes what you can get.

BmtAg96 said:

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Thanks for the info. Is it difficult to add RAM? Upon further research I believe I need a minimum of 16gb

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It's pretty simple on the Inspiron.




Keep an eye on Slickdeals. The i5 version of the Inspiron 15 was just on sale a few days ago for $269.

BmtAg96 said:

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Thank you! Is there a similar model with a larger screen?

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If you want to go REAL big

ASUS Vivobook 17" - $299