2 in 1 laptop advice

MeTheMan

Hello,

My partners laptop has had its day. She mentioned getting a tablet with keyboard to replace it in the January sales. I've been looking at 2 in 1 laptops as a Christmas present but I'm just not sure about what to get.

It will be used for usual Internet stuff, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. As well as video play (10" screen) and streaming. A hdmi for TV and USB for printing would be needed also. Small bit of document work as well.

From my limit knowledge none of the above requires much processing power. I would like to spend no more then 400 euro.
Any recommendations on a good device for the price? Would I be better just go with a laptop or tablet rather then a 2in1?

Thanks.

Alanstrainor

Is the tablet bit really necessary? In my mind, having a foldable laptop is a halfway house that doesn't do either well. As a tablet they are typically awkward and heavy, and as a laptop they end up being expensive and lacking in spec compared to their non-tablet rivals.

All that being said, this looks to have a decent spec and seems reasonable value for the money:

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-yoga-530-14arr-14-amd-ryzen-3-2-in-1-128-gb-ssd-10180747-pdt.html

Main drawback is the lack of RAM, but it's workable.

advertsfox

Might I suggest a Chromebook as well if that is all your primary needs - will be fast & easy to use and handle exactly what you want.

Acer do a lovely fold-able one similar to @Alanstrainor one but with ChromeOS for €399.

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-spin-11-11-6-intel-celeron-2-in-1-chromebook-32-gb-emmc-silver-10184914-pdt.html

Alanstrainor

advertsfox wrote: »

Might I suggest a Chromebook as well if that is all your primary needs - will be fast & easy to use and handle exactly what you want.

Acer do a lovely fold-able one similar to @Alanstrainor one but with ChromeOS for €399.

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-spin-11-11-6-intel-celeron-2-in-1-chromebook-32-gb-emmc-silver-10184914-pdt.html

I do think a chromebook could be possible for the OP's partner, that one offers poor value for money. Terrible processor, slow and low storage, and all for an 80eur saving. It would have to be 299 before that even started to make any sense, and even then I wouldn't be so sure.

I am always a bit wary of offering a chromebook as an idea in this scenario, they are good if you know their use and limitations. Someone not knowing these may find themselves stuck trying to install software that is not supported.

advertsfox

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I am always a bit wary of offering a chromebook as an idea in this scenario, they are good if you know their use and limitations. Someone not knowing these may find themselves stuck trying to install software that is not supported.

That's true, far too often I see people online asking "wheres Word" after buying one of these

A Chromebook would be ideal but as you said, the request for certain applications might come up and it's a new learning experience (albeit an easier one since it's Chrome basically). They are 2x the OS it used to be with the Play Store added. This one is the same price as the other suggestion but with a MediaTek M8173C - one that fairs well against the equivilant Core i3.

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-chromebook-r-13-cb5-312t-2-in-1-64-gb-emmc-silver-10153641-pdt.html

ednwireland

i have 2 dell inspiron 2 in 1 ones find them great the 15 inch one is a bit big and heavy as the glass touch screen adds weight but its a work computer and i only take it home at the weekend (bought ina black friday sale 2 years ago). dual core i5 have SQL databases and a load of software.
i bought my own 13 inch one on the dell outlet earlier this yearand i find the tablet handy when sitting in front of the telly browsing
and having the keyboard is handy when writing up committee minutes etc. dual core I3 fine for videos , internet, microsoft office etc

make sure it has an SSD !

MeTheMan

Thanks for the replies.

I'm wondering that too alanstrainor. They seem to be a little less powered and cost a little more.

Chrome os is out I think. Looks really easy to get the hang of to me but I think she'd Windows. I'm leaning towards Windows as well for, like mentioned, word, excel etc. And printing.

The dell looks like a nice device. Bit out of the price range thought. Is an ssd really necessary? I thought it was more for gaming, editing, as well as quick start up. Worth the extra cost with the loss of storage?

I'm going to try get a bit more info from her. Every time I bring it up she says "let's get Christmas's sorted first". My thinking is. I'd be best try convince her get an android with one of those Bluetooth fabric type keyboards, wipe the laptop with a fresh install and use that for the word, printer etc. 90%of the time it will be Internet streaming, instagram, Facebook.

Thanks again for the replies.

Alanstrainor

MeTheMan wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I'm wondering that too alanstrainor. They seem to be a little less powered and cost a little more.

Chrome os is out I think. Looks really easy to get the hang of to me but I think she'd Windows. I'm leaning towards Windows as well for, like mentioned, word, excel etc. And printing.

The dell looks like a nice device. Bit out of the price range thought. Is an ssd really necessary? I thought it was more for gaming, editing, as well as quick start up. Worth the extra cost with the loss of storage?

I'm going to try get a bit more info from her. Every time I bring it up she says "let's get Christmas's sorted first". My thinking is. I'd be best try convince her get an android with one of those Bluetooth fabric type keyboards, wipe the laptop with a fresh install and use that for the word, printer etc. 90%of the time it will be Internet streaming, instagram, Facebook.

Thanks again for the replies.

An SSD is a necessity on this type of machine. Tablets tend to have hard lives in general being that they're carried around liable to knocks etc which spinning hard disks don't like too much. An SSD should be a requirement for all laptops these days, but a 2 in 1 even more so. 128GB of storage isn't too bad tbh, given her usage it should be enough.

As for using her current machine, I say it's worth a shot. Definitely give it a go and see how she fairs.

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Is the tablet bit really necessary? In my mind, having a foldable laptop is a halfway house that doesn't do either well. As a tablet they are typically awkward and heavy, and as a laptop they end up being expensive and lacking in spec compared to their non-tablet rivals.

All that being said, this looks to have a decent spec and seems reasonable value for the money:

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-yoga-530-14arr-14-amd-ryzen-3-2-in-1-128-gb-ssd-10180747-pdt.html

Main drawback is the lack of RAM, but it's workable.

seems as good as you'll get for the price imo.

ram is upgradable too down the line also if you want with a ddr4 sodimm

https://eu.crucial.com/eur/en/compatible-upgrade-for//yoga-530-14arr

would agree that using these as a tablet is not really feasible unless it's something really light like a surface go.

the screen hinge can be useful for watching media when you turn it around and have the screen near to you without the keyboard in the way.

the surface go is a nice option if you want something that can act like a real tablet but the 128gb version (64gb version too crippled) with a keyboard is not going to be anywhere near 400 euro

there is one for sale (2nd hand) here on ebay - probably will go for over £500 tho

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft-Surface-Go-128GB-Wi-Fi-10in-Silver-Signature-keyboard/264070921691?epid=23021494523&hash=item3d7bda7ddb:g:7j0AAOSw5UFcBQ8F:rk:2:pf:0

ednwireland

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/outlet/SystemsStockRoomDetails?~ck=mn&lob=Inspiron%20Laptops&seg=DFH&cyid=7&type=S&brand=Laptops%20%26%20Tablets&pid=2&filter=TOUCHSCREEN&PageNumber=1&SortBy=L&sign=dJxPoEPYCUXQVjtHMEAqwdOc9HhxP0rGsAYNGyjVkO+r0lnm9MJqwJW1kBNTnznFzXZq212q9kDNG1E2THbvbKSQCifAByviOhjX2+G+SMKhCV6v+jOGNgDtEdz1jAWn8dbFKHgvGxeteztmiyFJDyzYy/jSh3tKkjVTuBVv6EPAnjbFikHfw4PAYR92nQ8KqGqEN1EkrOskS4fJPX2kniOh+SrHyToY4ybcxOKLVXu40LRxL3p92etYZnkLCLAU
Unfortunately only I 5 available on. Outlet I got my i3 for a really good price on there

ednwireland

ednwireland wrote: »

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/outlet/SystemsStockRoomDetails?~ck=mn&lob=Inspiron%20Laptops&seg=DFH&cyid=7&type=S&brand=Laptops%20%26%20Tablets&pid=2&filter=TOUCHSCREEN&PageNumber=1&SortBy=L&sign=dJxPoEPYCUXQVjtHMEAqwdOc9HhxP0rGsAYNGyjVkO+r0lnm9MJqwJW1kBNTnznFzXZq212q9kDNG1E2THbvbKSQCifAByviOhjX2+G+SMKhCV6v+jOGNgDtEdz1jAWn8dbFKHgvGxeteztmiyFJDyzYy/jSh3tKkjVTuBVv6EPAnjbFikHfw4PAYR92nQ8KqGqEN1EkrOskS4fJPX2kniOh+SrHyToY4ybcxOKLVXu40LRxL3p92etYZnkLCLAU
Unfortunately only I 5 available on. Outlet I got my i3 for a really good price on there

those i5's are no better than the 2200u in the lenovo as they are older 2-core chips.

ednwireland

glasso wrote: »

ednwireland wrote: »

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/outlet/SystemsStockRoomDetails?~ck=mn&lob=Inspiron%20Laptops&seg=DFH&cyid=7&type=S&brand=Laptops%20%26%20Tablets&pid=2&filter=TOUCHSCREEN&PageNumber=1&SortBy=L&sign=dJxPoEPYCUXQVjtHMEAqwdOc9HhxP0rGsAYNGyjVkO+r0lnm9MJqwJW1kBNTnznFzXZq212q9kDNG1E2THbvbKSQCifAByviOhjX2+G+SMKhCV6v+jOGNgDtEdz1jAWn8dbFKHgvGxeteztmiyFJDyzYy/jSh3tKkjVTuBVv6EPAnjbFikHfw4PAYR92nQ8KqGqEN1EkrOskS4fJPX2kniOh+SrHyToY4ybcxOKLVXu40LRxL3p92etYZnkLCLAU
Unfortunately only I 5 available on. Outlet I got my i3 for a really good price on there

those i5's are no better than the 2200u in the lenovo as they are older 2-core chips.

Sorry hadn't noticed that. The dell outlet however can change day to day.

ednwireland

ednwireland wrote: »

Sorry hadn't noticed that. The dell outlet however can change day to day.

that's true - can get some good deals there sometimes for sure although the prices don't seem as good as they used to be.

the odd time there is an outlet global discount of 10% - not very often tho.