Calling Computer Specialists: Need a new laptop, how does this HP one look? (1 Viewer)

JMC9389

JMC9389

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TLDR: I need a new laptop because my daughter spilled water on my keyboard and the motherboard is beyond repair. Budget is ideally less than $1,000 including all warranties and taxes.

I had an HP 360 Spectre model which I think was a bit of overkill for what I use a laptop for, but it had what I needed. I've been a faithful HP loyalist for the past 15 years as they've never done me wrong. I had a Pavilion one that lasted 6 years as well with no issues before this one that I got 5 years out of.

Most important for me to have: HDMI port, micro SD/SD port, multiple USB ports.

Less important but nice to have is a touch screen and a back-lit keyboard.

I don't do any design work or anything that would require any increased processing power, otherwise just use my laptop for everyday web surfing, Netflix, YouTube, etc.

I think this one ticks most of the boxes except for the back-lit keyboard, what say you guys?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pav...-512gb-ssd-space-blue/6534101.p?skuId=6534101
 
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Josh Kifer said:
He gonna end up with an Alienware if I'm involved. YOU KNOW.....
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I'm not really a gamer anymore. My PS5 is collecting dust as we speak, never mind any PC gaming...
 
I've had good experiences with the Dell's, ASUS and HP are known to be decently reliable.

Is there a preference between 13" or 15" screen?
 
NotRealNameNoSir said:
Would you consider USB based card readers? Opens up a lot of doors and its still fast, especially when in the faster USB ports.
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Sure, but the idea that I need to have an extra cable is a bit finicky.

Edit: I see what you mean. SanDisk had a little USB thingamajig that you put the Micro SD card into that goes right in the USB port, no cable needed. Cool! Yeah, that's doable. Had no idea that existed. Is there something similar for an HDMI port? I need that to run my Tournament Director on the TV when I do tourneys.

doctorchips said:
I've had good experiences with the Dell's, ASUS and HP are known to be decently reliable.

Is there a preference between 13" or 15" screen?
Click to expand...
Smaller the better. 14 is a nice compromise between the two but wouldn't want to go bigger really. 15 or 17 inch displays are overkill just for sitting on the couch and watching what I want while I have Sesame Street or Paw Patrol on the TV for the kids.
 
CraigT78 said:
I can't recommend anything with only 8gb RAM.

Sure I'm a gamer/power user (what I tell my wife)

But my minimum would be 16gb RAM, i7 processor, and 512gn SSD.
Click to expand...
Any reasoning for the i7 processor and increased RAM if I'm only streaming video and surfing internet? What advantages does the beefed up RAM and processing power offer?
 
JMC9389 said:
Any reasoning for the i7 processor and increased RAM if I'm only streaming video and surfing internet? What advantages does the beefed up RAM and processing power offer?
Click to expand...
Multiple tabs or any basic multitasking.

The provided specs will be used mostly by windows.
 
JMC9389 said:
Sure, but the idea that I need to have an extra cable is a bit finicky.

Edit: I see what you mean. SanDisk had a little USB thingamajig that you put the Micro SD card into that goes right in the USB port, no cable needed. Cool! Yeah, that's doable. Had no idea that existed. Is there something similar for an HDMI port? I need that to run my Tournament Director on the TV when I do tourneys.


Smaller the better. 14 is a nice compromise between the two but wouldn't want to go bigger really. 15 or 17 inch displays are overkill just for sitting on the couch and watching what I want while I have Sesame Street or Paw Patrol on the TV for the kids.
Click to expand...
Most laptops come with HDMI these days. If the micro SD requirement could bet met with an adapter, then you have a lot better options.
 
JMC9389 said:
TLDR: I need a new laptop because my daughter spilled water on my keyboard and the motherboard is beyond repair. Budget is ideally less than $1,000 including all warranties and taxes.

I had an HP 360 Spectre model which I think was a bit of overkill for what I use a laptop for, but it had what I needed. I've been a faithful HP loyalist for the past 15 years as they've never done me wrong. I had a Pavilion one that lasted 6 years as well with no issues before this one that I got 5 years out of.

Most important for me to have: HDMI port, micro SD/SD port, multiple USB ports.

Less important but nice to have is a touch screen and a back-lit keyboard.

I don't do any design work or anything that would require any increased processing power, otherwise just use my laptop for everyday web surfing, Netflix, YouTube, etc.

I think this one ticks most of the boxes except for the back-lit keyboard, what say you guys?

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pav...-512gb-ssd-space-blue/6534101.p?skuId=6534101
Click to expand...
These are my personal recommendations for what you're looking for. Plus there is a sale on right now. Lenovos are always excellent mix of performance/work and lesiure/play.

Around $600 - Best overall
1)
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/lapt...nkbook-14-gen-4-(14-inch-intel)/21dhcto1wwus1

Higher end:
1) https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/lapt...nkpad-l14-gen-3-(14-inch-intel)/21c1cto1wwus1
2)
https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/lapt...s/thinkbook-14-gen-4-(14-inch-amd)/21dk0010us

Enjoy :)
- V
 
CraigT78 said:
But don't take my opinion as gospel. I'm the same guy who will order 5 large pizzas for 6 guys.
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This is perfectly sensible.

As @NotRealNameNoSir mentions, a lot of the obstacles regarding a SD reader and HDMI port can be remedied by having USB adapters for each that will cost me only $20, which opens up my options considerably.
 
JMC9389 said:
This is perfectly sensible.

As @NotRealNameNoSir mentions, a lot of the obstacles regarding a SD reader and HDMI port can be remedied by having USB adapters for each that will cost me only $20, which opens up my options considerably.
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My laptop has nothing but UBS C ports. I use an adapter for when I need either HDMI or SD.
 
I also agree with the others that are recommending 16GB min RAM. I find as MS updates their OS and apps, more RAM is needed. And I would say a 1GB HD unless this really won't be used to store anything.
 
brewdawg said:
I also agree with the others that are recommending 16GB min RAM. I find as MS updates their OS and apps, more RAM is needed. And I would say a 1GB HD unless this really won't be used to store anything.
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With cloud everything - I find storage to be a non issue. Unless gaming.
 
I personally avoid HP - every HP laptop I've ever owned ran so hot you couldn't use it as a 'lap' top. None lasted more than 3 years.

I run Dells personally... I like them because the power supplies are often interchangeable between models. Nice being able to transport between office and home without dragging cables every time.

+1 on the Core i7 and 16 GB RAM. In the short term, the performance improvement will be worth it, especially if you like to have many tabs open. Plus, it more or less future-proofs your technology needs - at least for the time being.
 
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I went through something similar recently, and got a Lenovo Yoga 7i (i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD). Hard drive is about 50% used. My previous machines was an Acer i3 from 2012 that I've kept running by upgrading over time. The newer low-to-mid range machines are NOT expandable with respect to RAM and it[s soldered to the board, so get as much as you can afford from the start. This is especially true since the integrated graphics share memory with the main system.

I've had good luck with Acer and Dell. I've had horrible luck with the Asus machines my sons owned. This is my first Lenovo, so time will tell. I have no opinion on HP.

The following is a bit more, but is not a bad deal.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-i...b-ssd-platinum-silver/6539910.p?skuId=6539910

For HP, this one is a big larger physically, but I think it checks all of the boxes.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-env...gb-ssd-natural-silver/6535818.p?skuId=6535818

Best advice I could suggest is to make a short list and check out the machines in person prior to purchase. Some times a machine looks great on paper, but feels flimsy or cheap, or you hate the keyboard (my pet peeve on many machines).
 
JMC9389 said:
Sure, but the idea that I need to have an extra cable is a bit finicky.

Edit: I see what you mean. SanDisk had a little USB thingamajig that you put the Micro SD card into that goes right in the USB port, no cable needed. Cool! Yeah, that's doable. Had no idea that existed. Is there something similar for an HDMI port? I need that to run my Tournament Director on the TV when I do tourneys.


Smaller the better. 14 is a nice compromise between the two but wouldn't want to go bigger really. 15 or 17 inch displays are overkill just for sitting on the couch and watching what I want while I have Sesame Street or Paw Patrol on the TV for the kids.
Click to expand...
So if you can swing 13, the Dell XPS line is known to be pretty decent value, and Dell's support is also good when I've needed them.

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/xps-13-9315-laptop

I had an XPS 15 10 years ago, it was a great laptop. I mostly use Mac Pro's now but having tried Dell, HP, Lenovo, Apple for the windows based machine I really really like the Dell platform.

edit: I see they removed most of the ports... unfortunate. I too hate the dongle.
 
I love my Dell XPS.

My wife had a Yoga for a few years but the battery ballooned up and it never really worked well after I replaced it.

Edit - replaced hers with another Dell XPS.
 

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