Looking for cheap laptop, but which one?

Phil1969

Hi Guys,

I have no idea about laptops, and there is so much to choose from that I am totally lost on what to buy. My thought was to buy a new Dell Inspiron as I have had my current one for years and it has been great but it is slowly coming to the end of it's life span.

My Dell Inspiron is a 4050 model which may give some of you an idea of how long I have had it. But it has been a mostly very reliable laptop which is why I have been hesitant to buy a new one. However, many things are going on it now.

Anyway, I need a pretty simple laptop (I think). I mostly use my laptop for emails, excel/word and movies. I need a laptop that has windows, excel and is a one that can handle the movies. I also need one with anti-virus and all the other things I need to go with it for my needs, again I am pretty clueless so really need some advice

A friend told me I should just buy a chrome book which he said will be sufficient for my needs. The Acer Chrome book was recommended on another thread which looks good to me and the price is in my budget (which is low). However, I have since found that Dell do a chrome book so I am wondering which is the best to buy? I think I remember my friend telling me to stay away from Acer

This is the Acer chromebook recommended on the other thread which looks perfect to me and one I like the look of or should I stick with either a Dell Inspiron or possibly a Dell chromebook?

https://www.laptopsdirect.ie/refurbished-acer-chromebook-cb3-431-silver-14-inch-fhd-celeron-quad-cor-a1-nx.gc2ek.007/version.asp

Thanks to glasso for posting about the Acer chromebook, much appreciated, thought I better do a new thread rather than high jack the other guys.

Cheers

Alanstrainor

There are some things you need to understand before moving forward with this.

A Chromebook is not running Windows. It runs an entirely different operating system which is called Chrome OS. It doesn't run Microsoft Office. You can however use Google Docs, which has excel type functionality. It very much depends on the type of work you do in Excel. I would recommend that you try using this version on your current computer before moving forward with the Chromebook idea.

https://www.google.com/docs/about/

The advantage to Chrome OS is that it is very secure, and very easy to use. With most of the applications that you could ever want. It's primarily a web device, for browsing and using docs like the above. No anti virus needed. It will handle movies, but it does not have a DVD player, so you'll have to let us know what you mean when you say 'movies'.

Phil1969

Alanstrainor wrote: »

There are some things you need to understand before moving forward with this.

A Chromebook is not running Windows. It runs an entirely different operating system which is called Chrome OS. It doesn't run Microsoft Office. You can however use Google Docs, which has excel type functionality. It very much depends on the type of work you do in Excel. I would recommend that you try using this version on your current computer before moving forward with the Chromebook idea.

https://www.google.com/docs/about/

The advantage to Chrome OS is that it is very secure, and very easy to use. With most of the applications that you could ever want. It's primarily a web device, for browsing and using docs like the above. No anti virus needed. It will handle movies, but it does not have a DVD player, so you'll have to let us know what you mean when you say 'movies'.

Thanks Alan for the info.

Sounds good, although I would miss excel I could live without it and use Google docs instead. I like the idea of no need for an anti-virus, and this would make up for not having excel for sure as anti virus is hassle to me. In regards to movies then mostly netflix. I do not use the dvd player on laptop so not need for that. I also often save things to a USB so would need a USB port which I presume the chrome book has too?

So, if I was to get a chrome book, would the one I posted be a good one to get? I have a tight budget at the moment so was looking to get away with around 200-250 euros.

Thanks for the help.

Phil1969

Phil1969 wrote: »

Thanks Alan for the info.

Sounds good, although I would miss excel I could live without it and use Google docs instead. I like the idea of no need for an anti-virus, and this would make up for not having excel for sure as anti virus is hassle to me. In regards to movies then mostly netflix. I do not use the dvd player on laptop so not need for that. I also often save things to a USB so would need a USB port which I presume the chrome book has too?

So, if I was to get a chrome book, would the one I posted be a good one to get? I have a tight budget at the moment so was looking to get away with around 200-250 euros.

Thanks for the help.

the one you saw on the other thread is a good one

https://www.laptopsdirect.ie/refurbished-acer-chromebook-cb3-431-silver-14-inch-fhd-celeron-quad-cor-a1-nx.gc2ek.007/version.asp

4gb ram, 1080p full hd screen, all aluminium.

Phil1969

DunnoKidz wrote: »

As a Chromebook user, may I say it is not primarily for net use, it is ONLY for net use - try to "sync for offline use" to simply access your docs offline and it never works. There is NO effective use offline. Google Sheets is not commensurate with Excel - it's extremely limited and not compatible to convert Excel docs. I miss Excel no end. Google Docs is much worse - you can't even change margins in letters (basic missing things like that drives me mad.) Having no document storage capacity on your drive makes organizing files futile. Google docs isn't ideal in any way.

There are also a few irritating issues with the Chromebook keyboard - the Shift Lock key is missing as is the Delete key, and your fingers automatically find the substituted keys in their place - so when you hit the former delete key, it takes you completely out of your document, closes your window and shuts down (ugh!)... and as futile as a shift lock key seems, it's frustrating typing without it (as is the missing delete key, having the backspace key only doesn't cut it).

If you're hoping Chromebooks are good for movies, (shakes head) then Nooooooo (seriously not). The audio is barely loud enough on it's highest setting and quite tinnie sounding. The screen quality is grainy and poor; adjusting the screen up and down to get the right light is a constant battle. The capacity of my "highly rated, affordable Samsung model" for streaming vids is very very slow - even youtube vids disrupt repeatedly - I find myself cleaning cookies and cache several times per day, hoping to reserve little bits of storage as the vids delay, or as the slow connections occur (often).

For basic net surfing, I am fortunate to have it. But a working computer, it's so not!

Thanks for the info. Are chrome books good for downloading movies? I am looking more into downloading movies rather than streaming them.

Dravokivich

It's got network connectivity. Your network is the question not the device.

Alanstrainor

Phil1969 wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Are chrome books good for downloading movies? I am looking more into downloading movies rather than streaming them.

Chromebooks have very limited hard disk/SSD storage space. Downloading movies is possible, but it's not terribly practical. The amount of storage in these devices varies. But it is generally low at 32GB or so.

Phil1969

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Chromebooks have very limited hard disk/SSD storage space. Downloading movies is possible, but it's not terribly practical. The amount of storage in these devices varies. But it is generally low at 32GB or so.

Thanks, that might be a decision maker, altho I geneally delete them once I watch them so would have few saved at the same time. Cheers

Phil1969

Phil1969 wrote: »

Thanks, that might be a decision maker, altho I geneally delete them once I watch them so would have few saved at the same time. Cheers

most chromebooks have an sd card reader built in although strangely that acer doesn't so you'd have to use a usb key in that case.
a small one like this for just under 20 euro for 64gb would do the job and not take up much space (i.e. wouldn't stick out much to knock off things) so you could leave it in there. but would take up one of the usb slots (2 in total) obviously.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ultra-Fit-Flash-Drive/dp/B01BGTG3JA/ref=sr_1_8?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1522767995&sr=1-8&keywords=64gb+flash+drive&dpID=41%252BgH5NPs5L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
if it had a reader you could use a card in the chomebook.
you could buy a 64gb card for 20 euro or so and leave your movies/other media files there.
at 1gb per movie you could roughly store 60 movies.
or a 128gb card for 40 euros for more...
chrome os is much smaller than windows (20gb for a win64 version of windows 10) so it only takes up about 5gb (before installing anything else). so even a 32gb chromebook is relatively usable especially for mainly streaming and office docs but no harm in having some extra usb storage.

Phil1969

glasso wrote: »

most chromebooks have an sd card reader built in although strangely that acer doesn't so you'd have to use a usb key in that case.
a small one like this for just under 20 euro for 64gb would do the job and not take up much space (i.e. wouldn't stick out much to knock off things) so you could leave it in there. but would take up one of the usb slots (2 in total) obviously.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-Ultra-Fit-Flash-Drive/dp/B01BGTG3JA/ref=sr_1_8?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1522767995&sr=1-8&keywords=64gb+flash+drive&dpID=41%252BgH5NPs5L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
if it had a reader you could use a card in the chomebook.
you could buy a 64gb card for 20 euro or so and leave your movies/other media files there.
at 1gb per movie you could roughly store 60 movies.
or a 128gb card for 40 euros for more...
chrome os is much smaller than windows (20gb for a win64 version of windows 10) so it only takes up about 5gb (before installing anything else). so even a 32gb chromebook is relatively usable especially for mainly streaming and office docs but no harm in having some extra usb storage.

Cheers glasso. That is great to know. Thanks

jahalpin

You would probably be better off getting a full Windows 10 laptop rather than a Chromebook

The HP Stream 14 is a full 14in Windows laptop with 4gb Ram and an Intel Celeron CPU

There is only 32GB of internal storage, however this can be increased cheaply as it accepts SD cards

The laptop also comes with a 1year Office 365 subscription

It is currently available in PC World for 239.99, this may also be available at this price in Argos, however it is available in Argos they are giving gift vouchers with purchases over 100euro so this would pay for part of an SD card for the laptop

jahalpin

jahalpin wrote: »

You would probably be better off getting a full Windows 10 laptop rather than a Chromebook

The HP Stream 14 is a full 14in Windows laptop with 4gb Ram and an Intel Celeron CPU

There is only 32GB of internal storage, however this can be increased cheaply as it accepts SD cards

The laptop also comes with a 1year Office 365 subscription

It is currently available in PC World for 239.99, this may also be available at this price in Argos, however it is available in Argos they are giving gift vouchers with purchases over 100euro so this would pay for part of an SD card for the laptop

with windows you need a min 64gb internal storage really. there have been lots of stories of windows updates not being able to run on 32gb netbooks like these due to lack of space as you need the internal space for windows.
in addition, that is plastic, has a 720p screen and full windows 10 will run a lot slower on that cpu than chrome os will.
that cpu in the hp stream has a pasmark of less than 1000. I would not recommend less than 2500 for smooth windows operation.
I'm fairly sure that the hp stream would be very frustrating to use in terms of boot speed and general operation.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+N3060+%40+1.60GHz&id=2762
the n3160 in the acer chromebook scores near double the n3060 score with its 4 cores vs 2 on the n3060
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+N3160+%40+1.60GHz&id=2812

Phil1969

glasso wrote: »

with windows you need a min 64gb internal storage really. there have been lots of stories of windows updates not being able to run on 32gb netbooks like these due to lack of space as you need the internal space for windows.
in addition, that is plastic, has a 720p screen and full windows 10 will run a lot slower on that cpu than chrome os will.
that cpu in the hp stream has a pasmark of less than 1000. I would not recommend less than 2500 for smooth windows operation.
I'm fairly sure that the hp stream would be very frustrating to use in terms of boot speed and general operation.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+N3060+%40+1.60GHz&id=2762
the n3160 in the acer chromebook scores near double the n3060 score with its 4 cores vs 2 on the n3060
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Celeron+N3160+%40+1.60GHz&id=2812

Thanks guys.

Trimm Trabb

Did you find something Phil?

I’m in a Similar situation to you - I just browse internet and use word for work and can stretch to 350/400.

If anyone could point me to the specs I should hope for or a bargain they have heard of it would be much appreciated.

Phil1969

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

Did you find something Phil?

I’m in a Similar situation to you - I just browse internet and use word for work and can stretch to 350/400.

If anyone could point me to the specs I should hope for or a bargain they have heard of it would be much appreciated.

Not yet but probably going for the chrome book mentioned above or another Dell inspirion. I will probably hang on as long as possible until this one packs in which will be soon I think. But now I have narrowed it down to 2.

alanbau1

The Best Cheap Laptops of 2018
Acer Swift 1
Asus Chromebook Flip (C302CA-DHM4)
Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-575-33BM)
Lenovo ThinkPad 13 (2017)
Asus Chromebook Flip C213SA
Lenovo Flex 11 Chromebook
Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3179)

Trimm Trabb

Looking to buy a laptop for less than €400.

Came across this Acer Aspire 3 A315-31 which has a 23% reduction bringing in to €294 whereas it’s closer to €400 elsewhere..

Would it be decent or could I do better for €400?


http://https://pricespy.ie/computers-accessories/computers/laptops/acer-aspire-3-a315-31-nx.gr5ek.008--p4653398

Alanstrainor

Trimm Trabb wrote: »

Looking to buy a laptop for less than €400.

Came across this Acer Aspire 3 A315-31 which has a 23% reduction bringing in to €294 whereas it’s closer to €400 elsewhere..

Would it be decent or could I do better for €400?


http://https://pricespy.ie/computers-accessories/computers/laptops/acer-aspire-3-a315-31-nx.gr5ek.008--p4653398

Not a bad machine. The processor isn't great, there are Intel Core i3 models which would be worth it if the price difference isn't too bad.

MarkR

Was looking at this.

https://www.laptopsdirect.ie/refurbished-lenovo-t430-14.1-intel-core-i5-4gb-128gb-ssd-dvd-rw-windows-10-t1-t430i54gb128gbw10p/version.asp

Opinions?

I was also looking at one of the 12" ones.
https://www.laptopsdirect.ie/refurbished-lenovo-x230-12.5-intel-core-i5-3320m-4gb-128gb-ssd-windows-10-t1-x230/version.asp

Wasn't sure would the small screen be much of a limitation.

Trimm Trabb

Amazon prime day has some decent discounts -looking for something 400-600 euro range..

Would this be a decent buy?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073QSWZH6/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_bT5kzf_c_x_8_w?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-11&pf_rd_r=DJ46G0HSTBQ0RF6ZCG2V&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=7b9178b4-24fc-55ab-932c-1f0da20599a9&pf_rd_i=429886031

Its just for general home usuage but would appreciate some feedback before I pull the trigger..

TinCool

I'd be more inclined to go for something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077Y6VP62/ref=psdc_429886031_t1_B073QSWZH6

It's the same price as the Dell you linked to but has the 8th Gen i5 as opposed to the Dell which has the 7th Gen. 8th Gen will be significantly faster as it's got 4 logical cores compared to the 2 on the 7th.

MarkY91

Hi guys. Struggling to find anything for about €400 that I fancy.

Gonna use it for travel,college assignments, general web browsing and maybe looking at go pro videos and using random video editing apps.

Hoping to have 14" of below screen.


Not up to scratch with the technical lingo anymore with laptops so buying without advice would be basically randomly pricing something off Amazon.