Joined Aug 2007
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Forum Thread
Need help choosing a laptop
March 8, 2023 at
10:20 PM
Best Buy
Hello, I am in need of a new laptop. I have been shopping around since December. I am not tech savy so I could use some guidance. I like a larger screen, backlit keyboard, numeric keypad with lots of storage space because I like to keep all my photos and documents.
I had been looking at an HP at Best Buy. Then I saw a similar one at Costco. The one at Costco had a lot of complaints about screen clarity. I am attaching links to both down below. If someone could take a look, give me some recommendations/suggestions I would be very grateful. I am open to looking at other options as well. I would like to stay under $1,000.Thank you!
best buy:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
costco:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
I had been looking at an HP at Best Buy. Then I saw a similar one at Costco. The one at Costco had a lot of complaints about screen clarity. I am attaching links to both down below. If someone could take a look, give me some recommendations/suggestions I would be very grateful. I am open to looking at other options as well. I would like to stay under $1,000.Thank you!
best buy:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
costco:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
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I had been looking at an HP at Best Buy. Then I saw a similar one at Costco. The one at Costco had a lot of complaints about screen clarity. I am attaching links to both down below. If someone could take a look, give me some recommendations/suggestions I would be very grateful. I am open to looking at other options as well. I would like to stay under $1,000.Thank you!
best buy:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
costco:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-e...Id=6502186
If you do a lot of gaming or photoshoping\graphics work, then you should look to a machine with some sort of decent nvidia graphics (3050 or better) and that will probably run you somewhere in the 1100-1300 dollar range with a better screen than FHD. Otherwise, you can probably get by with an i5 based laptop with built in graphics for considerably less. As to space, you can always add a portable usb drive. Check out the dell outlet as they will often have some decent deals.
Where do you plan on using the laptop? 99% at home? How much do you care about portability and battery life?
You can plug in a monitor and keyboard to almost all laptops and get a much larger screen or just buy a desktop.
You might look at some of the Latitude and Precision models on Dell Outlet for work. Some have numeric keypads. Be sure to check the coupon / saving section as there are often coupons.
If you do a lot of gaming or photoshoping\graphics work, then you should look to a machine with some sort of decent nvidia graphics (3050 or better) and that will probably run you somewhere in the 1100-1300 dollar range with a better screen than FHD. Otherwise, you can probably get by with an i5 based laptop with built in graphics for considerably less. As to space, you can always add a portable usb drive. Check out the dell outlet as they will often have some decent deals.
Where do you plan on using the laptop? 99% at home? How much do you care about portability and battery life?
You can plug in a monitor and keyboard to almost all laptops and get a much larger screen or just buy a desktop.
You might look at some of the Latitude and Precision models on Dell Outlet for work. Some have numeric keypads. Be sure to check the coupon / saving section as there are often coupons.
Again depends on what you really want, but these machines are decent for the money in today's market if you want new with only built in graphics. I don't believe they come with an ethernet port, so if you plan on wiring it up to your home network (as opposed to using wifi), then you need a usb to ethernet adapter (which is cheap). Maybe add in an external hard drive also if need be. No experience with either model, but the specs and price point seem OK imo and Dell outlet machines come with a full warranty from Dell.
Inspiron 16" 7000 (7620) 2-in-1
https://outlet.us.dell.
A couple of hundred less, less processor and weaker screen.
Inspiron 16" 5000 (5620)
https://outlet.us.dell.
A desktop will generally last you longer and provide a bit more bang for your buck. A laptop however can be moved around the house, occasionally taken elsewhere, or simply moved out of the way easily. Just something to consider.
If you're certain you want a laptop, you might be happier with a 14-15" model and an external monitor and keyboard that you can enjoy when you're at your desk.
I would look at 15" & 16" Dell Insprion and Latitude laptops, likely from the outlet store.
Inspiron 16" 7000 (7620) 2-in-1
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnl...K0rrEXo%3d [dell.com]
A couple of hundred less, less processor and weaker screen.
Inspiron 16" 5000 (5620)
https://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnl...UWJA%3d%3d [dell.com]
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A desktop will generally last you longer and provide a bit more bang for your buck. A laptop however can be moved around the house, occasionally taken elsewhere, or simply moved out of the way easily. Just something to consider.
If you're certain you want a laptop, you might be happier with a 14-15" model and an external monitor and keyboard that you can enjoy when you're at your desk.
I would look at 15" & 16" Dell Insprion and Latitude laptops, likely from the outlet store.
Not too long after getting it, he built his desk around it and I'm surprised he didn't screw it to the desk.
For the $$$ spent on it, we could have gotten a nice 27" monitor and a low to middle of the road desktop tower and spent a LOT less money on it.
So determine if you really need portablity and if not, then consider a desktop or mini desktop and a nice large monitor to look at. *You could do this and also get a 10" Kindle tablet that will let you surf the net and check emails, etc... Giving you a Nice office experience and occasional portablity.
$199 SE2723DS QHD https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/d...ccessories
$249 S2722DC QHD USB-C https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/d...ccessories
$299 S2721QS 4K https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/d...ccessories
Dell Outlet
$540 Refurbished (like new) Inspiron 3910 Compact Desktop [dell.com] (link may not work)
Intel Core 12th Generation i5-12400 Processor (6 Core, Up to 4.40GHz, 18MB Cache, 65W)
512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Class 35 Solid State Drive
12GB (1X8GB + 1X4GB) Up to 3200MHz DDR4 UDIMM Non-ECC
Total: computer + monitor = $740+ (there are some models that are also around $100 less)
You can also get a refurbished all in one desktop Inspiron 24 (kind of like an iMac) for ~$500-600