Help with new laptop for wife

[webertime]

My wife is going back to school for her masters.  We currently have a bunch of phones, tablets and one small laptop (not very powerful).  I figure someone here knows enough to help push us in the right direction.  She's taking on line courses, the computer will be solely for that for the next 1.5 years.  If this were Bass fishing I'd say Daiwa or Shimano, sadly they aren't options here.

 

She is looking at spending around (preferably less than) $600.

Like Ultrabooks, but that isn't a nessecity.  If not a 2 in1, it doesn't need to have a touch screen.

Pentium I-5 processor

8gb

12-14" screen

 

She's looked at:

Lenovo Yoga 710

Asus Zenbook

 

Any help would be awesome!!!  Thanks guys!

 

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

I use a Lenovo E560 at work and I like it a lot better than my HP. It has an intel processor instead of pentium though.

[DogBone_384]

A Mac. They work, plain & simple...

 

My 9 YO Macbook Pro works as well today as it did when new.

 

Also, if her degree is work related, be sure to write off the cost as an education expense.

[Scott F]

14 minutes ago, DogBone_384 said:

A Mac. They work, plain & simple...

 

My 9 YO Macbook Pro works as well today as it did when new.

 

Also, if her degree is work related, be sure to write off the cost as an education expense.

I've been a Mac fan almost as long as they have existed. The only problem the OP might have is getting one for his budget of only $600. I think the cheapest one starts at $1,000.

[webertime]

4 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I've been a Mac fan almost as long as they have existed. The only problem the OP might have is getting one for his budget of only $600. I think the cheapest one starts at $1,000.

Refurbed MacBook Air can be had for ~$600.  but they don't seem to measure up featurewise to Asus/Acer/HP/Dell/etc...

[DogBone_384]

My daughter's 13" MBP Retina is refurbished. It came with the new warranty.  I believe I paid around $800 for it if my memory serves me right. She's had no issues with it.

 

Best of luck with your search.

[Darren.]

Another Mac guy here; however, if you don't want refurbs or

used models, consider a Chromebook. You can come in way

under your $600 budget with $$ left over for fishing gear!!

 

[JustJames]

Lenovo is okay but stay away from Asus. I don't recommended Mac at all, first of all it way over price and you don't need mac to do online class, in another word, you will be using only 20% worth of the price you play for Mac. I know it look cool to carry Mac around but that not worth a thousand you spent. I myself really want Mac since it will help a lot of my project, graphic and video editing but can't afford Mac myself.

i use HP elite book 14" Pentium i5, light weight very poartable, battery life is acceptable no touch screen but with backlit keyboard.

For online courses and some homework, you can get away with basic laptop nothing fancy, Pentium i3 or i5 should be enough, on board GPU should be just fine but try to find one with touch screen and backlit keyboard and 14 or 15". This should help when she needs to read and type at night.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

Just a note based on what I've read - you may want to Google "Lenovo bloatware" or "Lenovo crapware" before buying. Real problems a couple of years ago. Supposedly, they have cleaned up their act ...  I'd suggest doing the same for any PC you are considering.  Most reasonably priced PCs will meet your needs; I'd be more concerned with privacy issues. Hope this helps.

 

One other thought ... you might consider buying a large monitor to connect to your laptop for longer viewing sessions. Inexpensive option to ease viewing issues. I've used as large as 37-inch monitors for graphic work with no problems.

[BassNJake]

1 hour ago, GrumpyOlPhartte said:

 

One other thought ... you might consider buying a large monitor to connect to your laptop for longer viewing sessions. Inexpensive option to ease viewing issues. I've used as large as 37-inch monitors for graphic work with no problems.

 

Another option would be to use an hdmi cable to connect the laptop to the TV.

Most newer computers and TV's have this option.

[slonezp]

23 hours ago, webertime said:

Refurbed MacBook Air can be had for ~$600.  but they don't seem to measure up featurewise to Asus/Acer/HP/Dell/etc...

Not even refurbished. I sold my step daughters 8 year old Macbook for $600 and all we did was have the Apple store wipe it out and restore it back to original.  Bought a new "out of the box" Mac from best buy for $200 off list. She uses it for art and design. Personally, I like Microsoft and for school, your wife will more than likely need Office 360. As far as brands, I have always used HP, I don't need anything fancy. Should be able to pick up a decent HP for $600 

[Crankin4Bass]

GrumpyOlPhartte is right about bloatware. All cheaper consumer laptops are full of useless software and programs that track your activities so they can sell data, etc. This is part of what makes them cheaper. The PC companies are basically selling ad space on your computer to the bloatware companies.

 

The Microsoft Store sells laptops that just have a clean windows install. They are labeled "Signature Edition PC." Here's one in your price range:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/d/acer-spin-5-sp513-51-56yw-signature-edition-2-in-1-pc/8mddxzwzh2f6/79wp

 

Most universities also have student discounts, so you might want to look there too.

 

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

What @BassNJake said! I avoided mentioning TVs because trying to use a 720p (typically 32" size) TV will not make you a happy camper; however any 1080P will be just fine.

[Bankbeater]

You might try going to a computer store and having one built.  Usually they try and match the build to what the computer will be used for.

[Senko lover]

My family has had crappy Lenovos and HP's (meaning cheap basic versions) all my life and I'm so fed up with them. I'm getting a laptop this weekend for online college classes and my money is going to Apple. Probably going to end up with the Macbook Air. 

[deaknh03]

If you want something that's going to last, get a mac. If you want something that will last a couple years, then get thrown out, get a windows based machine. Fact.

[CTBassin860]

We bought our Acer Chromebook for like 150 bucks. It does what it needs to do. No CD/DVD-ROM though.

[flyfisher]

I bought a MacBook air in early 2013 for my online degree (masters in education program) and it is the same computer I am typing on right now.  it has been a flawless computer and I have zero complaints.  

 

At my wife's work they use HP and she is on her 3rd one during that same time span.  

I just wish the Macbook Airs were as cheap when i bought mine as they are now.  They have come down in price considerably.  

they also have some decent financing for 0% for like 2 years or something which is like getting free money to me.

[Darren.]

25 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

I bought a MacBook air in early 2013 for my online degree (masters in education program) and it is the same computer I am typing on right now.  it has been a flawless computer and I have zero complaints.  

 

At my wife's work they use HP and she is on her 3rd one during that same time span.  

I just wish the Macbook Airs were as cheap when i bought mine as they are now.  They have come down in price considerably.  

they also have some decent financing for 0% for like 2 years or something which is like getting free money to me.

 

Yeah. Macs are definitely not as "out there" financially as they used

to be. Today you can get an *equivalent* PC in the same price-range

as a MacBook, which, IMO, makes the Mac a more compelling option

given macOS's Unix roots which is inherently safer than others.

[curtis9]

I bought a refurbished dell off business lease a few years back.  Pretty good deal vs. a new computer, and they have a lot of choices available.