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Feb 20 2019 07:05am
Looking to spend under $400? if possible cheapest is best

Dual Core i5 or higher processor (2Ghz or higher)

4GB RAM

250GB Storage

Needs to have windows 7 or later, but i prefer windows 7 still.... i guess as long as whatever windows i get can mimic windows 7? i really hate the new issues with newer OS and weird popups, or data collection sketchyness

I would need microsoft word as well, but lets not factor that into budget....

Prefer just a 15.6 in screen?

Thanks!
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Joined: May 27 2013
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Feb 20 2019 08:30am
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-laptop-2/8xqjkk3dd91b?activetab=pivot%3aoverviewtab

List price is $1000 but if you join the Insider program and take a bunch of free tests you can lower it to under $250
Provided you are a student with a valid student email address.

:)

Also, just my opinion, but don't skimp on a laptop because you think, "Oh I'll only use it for internet and typing documents." You won't! No one ever uses everything they buy for it's intended purpose and only that. Spend a little more for a quality product and it will last you a long time. Put in the effort in maintaining it as well. Do your updates, keep your drives clean and organized, Etc.

If you MUST spend > $400 the only viable machines I've seen lately are these:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-vivobook-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-transparent-silver/6319981.p?skuId=6319981

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-4gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-ash-silver-keyboard-frame-natural-silver/6306371.p?skuId=6306371

https://www.amazon.com/HP-15-6-Touchscreen-i5-7200U-Bluetooth/dp/B077GN5H7D/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=laptop&qid=1550672806&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A7817224011%2Cp_n_feature_four_browse-bin%3A2289793011%2Cp_36%3A30000-50000&rnid=386442011&s=electronics&sr=1-4

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Business-Notebook-Dual-Core-Bluetooth/dp/B07MXN2M6F/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=laptop&qid=1550672876&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin%3A7817224011%2Cp_n_feature_four_browse-bin%3A2289793011%2Cp_36%3A30000-50000%2Cp_89%3AAsus%7CLenovo%7CSamsung&rnid=2528832011&s=electronics&sr=1-14

Be EXTREMELY careful ordering a laptop off Amazon that is not fulfilled directly by Amazon or the manufacturer, as there have been many reports of listed specs not matching the ordered machines.


Last note, Office 365 is free to students and it includes: Word, Powerpoint, Excel, One Note, Info, Skype, and in some cases Visio Online
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Feb 20 2019 10:21pm
Quote (Cactuar_NOM @ Feb 20 2019 02:30pm)
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-laptop-2/8xqjkk3dd91b?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

List price is $1000 but if you join the Insider program and take a bunch of free tests you can lower it to under $250
Provided you are a student with a valid student email address.

:)

Also, just my opinion, but don't skimp on a laptop because you think, "Oh I'll only use it for internet and typing documents." You won't! No one ever uses everything they buy for it's intended purpose and only that. Spend a little more for a quality product and it will last you a long time. Put in the effort in maintaining it as well. Do your updates, keep your drives clean and organized, Etc.

If you MUST spend > $400 the only viable machines I've seen lately are these:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-vivobook-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-transparent-silver/6319981.p?skuId=6319981

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-laptop-intel-core-i3-4gb-memory-128gb-solid-state-drive-ash-silver-keyboard-frame-natural-silver/6306371.p?skuId=6306371

https://www.amazon.com/HP-15-6-Touchscreen-i5-7200U-Bluetooth/dp/B077GN5H7D/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=laptop&qid=1550672806&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin:7817224011,p_n_feature_four_browse-bin:2289793011,p_36:30000-50000&rnid=386442011&s=electronics&sr=1-4

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Business-Notebook-Dual-Core-Bluetooth/dp/B07MXN2M6F/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=laptop&qid=1550672876&refinements=p_n_feature_five_browse-bin:7817224011,p_n_feature_four_browse-bin:2289793011,p_36:30000-50000,p_89:Asus%7CLenovo%7CSamsung&rnid=2528832011&s=electronics&sr=1-14

Be EXTREMELY careful ordering a laptop off Amazon that is not fulfilled directly by Amazon or the manufacturer, as there have been many reports of listed specs not matching the ordered machines.


Last note, Office 365 is free to students and it includes: Word, Powerpoint, Excel, One Note, Info, Skype, and in some cases Visio Online


That's not the only reason to worry about Amazon. A lot of these are bulk items being resold that may or may not have a warranty with them. As it stands now, complaining to Amazon typically results in you getting help from Amazon but I do foresee this changing as Amazon's growth slows. Product for product, I think Best Buy is hard to beat. Costco is good too but they tend to be a bit more pricey than the $400 range. Check Best Buy's deal of the day if you are not in a rush. They usually throw a good laptop in there every week.
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Posts: 552
Joined: May 27 2013
Gold: 110.00
Feb 21 2019 07:04am
This is a growing issue with a lot of direct to consumer distribution and has been a growing concern since the early 2000's.

One of my earliest IT jobs was working for Advance Auto in a distribution center. I have learned so much about WMS/LMS (Warehouse Management Systems/Labor Management Systems) that it sickens me sometimes thinking about it. I have only visited an Amazon distribution center for an interview once but I can see the same types of problems I saw back then only multiplied times 10X as consumer demand has risen and Quality control has dropped.
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