I need a new laptop. I don't need fancy anything except maybe to watch TV sometimes

[Maraya1969]

The prices blow my mind. Some are well over $1,000 and others are about $500. I don't understand much about all the bells and whistles.

I want one that is lightweight and thin so I can carry it around if I ever travel again.

Other than that any grand ideas? I'm mostly DU FB Youtube email and googling.

Thanks in advance!

[mr_lebowski]

1. Given those light requirements I'd just look into a Chromebook (nt)

[leftieNanner]

4. I looked at those but

there is zero storage in them (which is why they are cheap) and you have to store all of your files in the cloud.

[mr_lebowski]

6. Where do you get that idea? Sure they do. Not typically a lot, but they have some ...

Also you can upgrade the drive in many of them. Edit: Sorry, a few of them, not many.

Also you can use a portable drive. There's like 5TB USB drives for $100 these days.

[leftieNanner]

9. I am glad to know this

Next time!

I actually have a Seagate hard drive that I used to transfer my files from my old desk top that died to my new machine. Plus for backup.

[DonaldsRump]

7. I agree with Mr. L

Get a good Chromebook and a separate 1TB+ external hard drive. For what you want to do, don't pay more for this!

I'm typing this on a refurbished touchscreen Dell Chromebook that I got from Amazon a couple of months back for around $120. It's great!

[Bradshaw3]

11. That also means you are less likely to get viruses

I love my Chromebook and I do what you do with a computer.

[leftieNanner]

2. I got an HP at Costco last year

I think it was around $350. It works just fine. But be aware that those machines are set in "S mode" which means you can only download Microsoft products. It will not allow you to use Google Chrome or Firefox. This can be fixed by a repair person. Good luck!

[CloudWatcher]

14. S mode

Wow, I'm not a Windows person at all ... but your response prompted me to read up a little on S mode.

Two minor corrections:

1 - you can install any app that's in the Microsoft app store, not just Microsoft products.
2 - you can take it out of S mode yourself, you don't need a repair person. See How to leave S mode

Microsoft (and the above article) says leaving S mode is a one-way trip, no way to (self) re-enable it once it's been deactivated. And ... of course that's not true. It's just not easy: Install Windows in S mode

[Renew Deal]

3. Any gaming? Do you keep a lot of windows open at once and switch between many tasks?

If not, you can probably live on the lower end. Use Windows Defender for Anti-Virus and avoid the bloat of another program.

[SeattleVet]

5. Check for some factory refurbished units.

Woot (woot.com) usually has a decent selection of HP and Apple refurbished laptops; sometimes has new Chromebooks.

Most anything that's available for sale these days should suit your needs.

[wcmagumba]

8. I agree with a previous poster...Chromebook...nt

[PBC_Democrat]

10. Consider a ChromeBook ...

If the vast majority of what you do is web-based, a ChromeBook is a great choice.

Pros:
Less expensive
No Windows updates to deal with
No virus threat
Lighter
MUCH better battery life

Cons:
Need WiFi to most things done
No CD-ROM drive
Generally smaller screens

Links to a few
https://www.amazon.com/Acer-11-6-N3060-32GB-Chrome/dp/B0791YBJGZ/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1TB8HHXA56ZPN&dchild=1&keywords=chromebook&qid=1587954644&s=pc&sprefix=chrome%2Caps%2C177&sr=1-4

https://www.amazon.com/HP-Chromebook-WLED-Backlit-Touchscreen-i3-8130U/dp/B082DXW156/ref=sr_1_19?crid=1TB8HHXA56ZPN&dchild=1&keywords=chromebook&qid=1587954754&s=pc&sprefix=chrome%2Caps%2C177&sr=1-19

[LuvLoogie]

12. what is your budget? Are you open to refurbished?

I would get a laptop running Windows 10 Pro. at least 8GB RAM 256 GB SSD

Forget Home or S versions. Something like this...

https://www.newegg.com/silver-hp-14dq/p/1TS-000D-07878?Item=9SIAA0SAMD3199

[asiliveandbreathe]

13. Last Friday I thought I had to buy a new laptop..I have a Toshiba..must be

10+ years - btw - they don't make Toshiba any more - so, all of a sudden, I was getting low battery plugged in message, haven't used the battery for years, I removed the battery and unplugged everything..waited..tried again..okay so it dies..I straightened the power cord..was kinda kinked..try again..nope..dead in the water..

Thank goodness I have an Ipad..did some research..looked at new computers..nope - I was not satisfied with my efforts..so I went to PCmag (not an Ad) for help..lots of info.. tried most of what they suggested..nope, dead in the water..now there were lots of suggestions surrounding the power cord..so rather than spend $500-1000 for a new computer, I decided to buy a new power cord..ordered on line..4/20..free shipping, arrive 4/30..and $23.00..I didn't think I could make it to 4/30 but the price was right, for now. My new power cord arrived 4/24..yea..now I plugged the new power cord in and got a 255% battery message..WHAT?? Looked up 255% battery..okay, thinking my computer was going to catch fire I tried one more thing..I unplugged everything..put the old battery back in..plugged in the new power cord..100% battery..phew..

I took my computer for a ride yesterday..here at DU of course, all is still system go, even today..computer back to normal..I am back to normal 100%..she said with fingers crossed..

[CloudWatcher]

18. 255%

Glad to hear your system is back!

You might be amused to know that 255 is a magic number to computer geeks. It's binary "1111 1111" (which is also known as hex FF). I.e. 8 binary bits of one, no zeros.

And ...when software goes to read memory (or hardware status) from devices that are stuck or not responding, what it oftens get is a response of all ones.

So ... most likely your battery wasn't responding with 255% ... it wasn't responding at all and the software that was looking at it didn't notice and reported back the results as if it were a real reading.

Of course ... it could be some other kind of failure (I don't know anything about Toshiba laptop batteries), but ... 255% is special

[asiliveandbreathe]

19. May I laugh out loud..255% special?..as I sat next to a fire extinguisher..

I have not had a reason to unplug computer..battery has just been, well, there..when it died I removed everything..255% appeared when I plugged in the new power cord .. when I put the battery back everything came together - I did research 255%, was actually surprised so much info - now I know 255% is 'special"..thanks for the info..

[CloudWatcher]

15. iPad?

You might consider getting an iPad instead of a laptop. Less expensive than a laptop, and it has local storage. They've got enough power to do the stuff on your list.

[captain queeg]

16. I just got one a couple months ago, I think it was Best Buy

$300. They don’t come with DVD drives nowadays so I bought a $20 external drive. Pretty basic but more powerful than the last one. It’s a Dell. So far so good but all I’ve used it for is youtube, email, zoom, and now I got Hulu. All work well and it’s got a 15” screen. It does everything I need to do.

[WheelWalker]

17. I have a refurbished Acer Chromebook. Purrfect. $174. Amazon.

No viruses. 12 hour battery life. Near instant boot. Never a crash. HDR Webcam. HDMI port. 100 GB Google Drive. Intel processor. 802.11ac wifi. Google Docs compatible with just about everything. Never going back.

Acer Chromebook 15 (CB3-532).

[MLAA]

20. I sure like my iPad for that.

Email, google, Netflix. Does everything I need and super light weight and easy to use. 🙂

[TreasonousBastard]

21. Walmart (yes walmart!) I had yet another HP die on me and happened into a Walmart...

and found a very nice Lenovo laptop with a touchscreen for about 200 bucks and change. Works great for Zoom conferences, a few simple games, and the usual WP, surfing and other stuff. Even some photo editing.

Walked in there another time and walked out with a "super tablet" for about $150, detachable keyboard and a very nice case included.

[Susan Calvin]

23. I have a refurbished Dell Latitude

That has served me well for many years. I got it off eBay. You can get them in Linux, which is what I'll get if I ever have to replace my current one. They're former business computers.

[Elwood P Dowd]

24. Another recommendation for the Chromebook.

Even though I've been using Apple products for well over 20 years, being retired now on a fixed income led me to search for a laptop budget solution (still keeping the iMac for a desktop). Found an Asus 14" Chromebook on sale for under $200.00. While not as good as the MacBook Air I looked into, it's close enough and costs about $800.00 less! Boots up in a few seconds, updates only take a couple of minutes, Chrome OS is easy to learn.