Best laptop for work under $500?

[Lathan]

My lap top is getting pretty old. Like 5 or 6 years old. Also I need one to take with me on the go.

Can anyone suggest a good laptop just for work/running a business. I want to stay under $500. Thinking about getting some kind of notebook.

Saw a couple nice ones on amazon but just looking for some other opinions.

Thanks

 

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[Charnell]

What kinds of thing are you going to be using the laptop for?

If you're using it everyday and traveling I'd advice against getting a cheap one, especially one with a plastic case. I tried that a few years ago to learn Python and the first bump turned it into a brick. I'd also stay away from HP laptops unless you want it to melt any surface it touches.

 

[Solrac]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385602,00.asp

PC mag never lets me down. Check this list out.

 

[hellolin]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385602,00.asp

PC mag never lets me down. Check this list out.

Horrible advice form that page, I hope the OP doesn't go and buy any of them, especially the Chromebooks.

If the OP is strictly looking for a laptop for work, and wants it cheap, I'd suggest buy a factory refurbished unit on ebay. I work as an IT support guy in a company as my day job, and the best option for work is a laptop that company uses that has capabilities to expand, such as a docking station that OP can use to hook up to 2 monitors at a time. This way he will be able to do work much effectively.

My suggestion would be to go on ebay and search Lenovo T420s or T430. Those comes with docking capabilities and a refurbed one will cost you around $350, rest of the money you can use to buy the docking station and monitors. Remember, the maximum years you can use your laptop nowadays is around 2.5 years, so it is pretty pointless to buy them brand new. Matter of fact, since the life span of any consumer electronics is so short right now, most of my personal electronics are used/refurb units, and they work just fine for at least 2 years. After that I just repeat my cycle and upgrade to something better but cheaper because they are refurb. This way you get the up to date stuff but does not pay the $$ for instant glorification like the masses do.

 

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[Damage Inc.]

I burn through laptops about once a year since I'm on it almost constantly. I've had laptops in the $1-2k price range and the $300-500 range. The expensive ones haven't worked any better or lasted any longer for me personally, so I just go for whatever Acer model is around $400-500 when I'm ready to buy. In my opinion the quality is good, there's no stupid gimmicks and gadgets, and it handles what I need it for. For reference I don't do much fancy stuff, mostly a lot of ebay, a lot of excel, some word, and stream videos and surfing. Right now I have an Acer E1-532 on Windows 7.

 

[Vigilante]

The best laptop is not a laptop. Buy a Toshiba or Samsung Chromebook. Loving mine, more than my Macbooks which cost several hundred more each.

@MJ DeMarco did you ever pick up a Chromebook?

 

[Lathan]

I was looking at this one but mainly just because it looks really cool in blue.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O5VX2OG/?tag=tff-amazonparser-20

I'm not familiar with chrome books though.
Also I was looking at the hp stream since it kept popping up no matter what I searched.

Thanks for all of the suggestions so far

 

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[DaRK9]

Chromebook + Dual Boot Linux = Best laptop I've ever had.

 

[Shades]

I got a Windows tablet with a keyboard case for on the go. I like having full Windows over something like Chrome OS.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

The best laptop is not a laptop. Buy a Toshiba or Samsung Chromebook. Loving mine, more than my Macbooks which cost several hundred more each.

@MJ DeMarco did you ever pick up a Chromebook?

Yup, I use it exclusively for writing. Paid less than $200 bucks, beats paying $1,500 for a Mac that I only need to write with and do research.

As for the OP, your answer depends on what you want to do with it.

 

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[Veloce Grey]

I use whatever I can find that is running Windows 7, can do basic surfing/editing/writing and is light to carry.

10-15 years ago I used to research every single component of any potential purchase, reading up on the fancy terms and technology involved and every side of whatever brand debates were going on back then between fans of different companies. Somewhere along the way a lightbulb went off and I realised the time I was spending was worth more than the thing I was buying.

Now with any purchase I pare the requirements down to the basics and just buy.

I'm sure the Dell something I'm typing on is probably a piece of crap compared to some other laptop, but it does the job. Laptop/notebook prices seem to have been hammered down so much in recent years that should this one explode I could probably do fine with a $500 one.

 

[GuestUser113]

Chromebook + Dual Boot Linux = Best laptop I've ever had.

Crouton + ubuntu or debian?

 

[Gsuz]

I have a Lenovo for the heavier things like running reports on millions of clicks, the Windows software, mainly accounting and Office related and it's really nice. Well built, decent looking and support is amazing as well.

I've heard good things about the Toshiba Chromebook 2, too. Should be able to get it for 200-300. IPS panel at full HD on a screen size like that is pretty cool.

 

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[biophase]

I get a new Toshiba laptop every 2 years for about $350. I use it to do email, spreadsheets and some light website coding. It's a little choppy on streaming HD video, but a new $350 laptop will probably run faster than a 4 year old $1000 laptop.

 

[Daniel A]

Vigilante beat me to it!

I was going to recommend the Acer Chromebook 15. It recently launched and is the best Chromebook (imo) currently available aside from the Chromebook Pixel (which is about $1000+ though). But if you prefer smaller/lighter laptops, then the heavier/bigger Acer 15 has one downside when compared to the other available Chromebooks. Also, the Chrome OS will be a limitation for programs you might want to run.

Not too long back I was doing a lot of research on this topic because I planned on getting a new computer. I decided to just factory reset my current laptop and reset my Chrome browser for now. But when Cyber Monday comes along, I'll be taking advantage of some sweet deals!

I'm beginning to dislike laptops more and more though. So I'll most likely build my own desktop in the "Great" tier using the amazing information provided on this website: http://www.logicalincrements.com/

Of course, you won't be able to take a desktop with you on the go, but I wanted to share that resource in case you decide to opt for a desktop instead of a laptop.

TL;DR ... Acer Chromebook 15 if you're willing to go the Chromebook route.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Bought a used Lenovo Thinkpad for 200€ about 3 years ago.
Will never buy anything else for business purposes.

 

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[GuestUser140]

I wouldn't want anything else than a 13" Macbook Air.

All day battery life, never ever slows down, great keyboard, big trackpad, stunning screen. Powers up in no time. Solid aluminium housing. I never heard it make a sound. Can handle 40 internet tabs + Photoshop + office software with no signs of slowing down.

The real cost is what you pay minus what you can get for it later. I sell it after a year for $100 less than what I paid for it. So I pay $8 a month to own an amazing computer. Buy refurbished with warranty. People who buy "disposable" $500 laptops that last three years spend more per year than I do owning the very best.

 

[Lathan]

Chrome books seem kind of limited

 

[Phones]

Just ordered a 2015 Dell XPS 13 (which kind of defeats the <500 purpuse).

I am against <1000€ laptops, but since I will be on the go for the next year, I need a solid, transportable laptop to work with. (Plus, the UHD resolution on a 13.3" screen beats any big a$$ screen).

I also have a toshiba chromebook 13". Its great for casual writting and browsing. But for hardwork stuff (messing with FB ads, FTP's, editing code, editing pictures, etc), I still need my regular old Windows

 

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[mosdef]

a have a macbook air, with external screen, a chromebook. The chromebook is perfect for writing and browsing the web. But if i need to use any sorts of program i would recommend using mac or windows.

Edit: Also have a 6 years old pc with windows 10 installed on it. Windows 10 is amazing. Love it.

 

[Lathan]

Yea I need to be able to run different programs. Not just browse and write. Also have to have ability to stream video well.

 

[Gsuz]

Just ordered a 2015 Dell XPS 13 (which kind of defeats the <500 purpuse).

I am against <1000€ laptops, but since I will be on the go for the next year, I need a solid, transportable laptop to work with. (Plus, the UHD resolution on a 13.3" screen beats any big a$$ screen).

I also have a toshiba chromebook 13". Its great for casual writting and browsing. But for hardwork stuff (messing with FB ads, FTP's, editing code, editing pictures, etc), I still need my regular old Windows

The bezel on that XPS 13, damn! Great purchase.

 

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[Shades]

Vigilante beat me to it!

I was going to recommend the Acer Chromebook 15. It recently launched and is the best Chromebook (imo) currently available aside from the Chromebook Pixel (which is about $1000+ though). But if you prefer smaller/lighter laptops, then the heavier/bigger Acer 15 has one downside when compared to the other available Chromebooks. Also, the Chrome OS will be a limitation for programs you might want to run.

Not too long back I was doing a lot of research on this topic because I planned on getting a new computer. I decided to just factory reset my current laptop and reset my Chrome browser for now. But when Cyber Monday comes along, I'll be taking advantage of some sweet deals!

I'm beginning to dislike laptops more and more though. So I'll most likely build my own desktop in the "Great" tier using the amazing information provided on this website: http://www.logicalincrements.com/

Of course, you won't be able to take a desktop with you on the go, but I wanted to share that resource in case you decide to opt for a desktop instead of a laptop.

TL;DR ... Acer Chromebook 15 if you're willing to go the Chromebook route.

Dont build going by that site. No 600+ build should be using a i3. Do you need a GPU for gaming?

 

[Disciple]

Yea I need to be able to run different programs. Not just browse and write. Also have to have ability to stream video well.

Chromebooks are great for writers. You can just pick your poison of Google Drive or OneDrive, and you're pretty much done. Otherwise it's like what MJ said. If you have a need that can't be done through a browser, don't get a Chromebook. If you have certain software requirements, you're going to want an OS that makes it easiest to install and run.

That said, I've been thinking of grabbing a Surface when funds allow. I already have the mouse and keyboard, so I won't have to bother with the magnetic one.

 

[Phones]

The bezel on that XPS 13, damn! Great purchase.

Yeah it's beautiful, and you get a 13.3" screen in the same size of what would be a regular 11.5" laptop. The price tho... but hey, VAT deductible and goes as business expense ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

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[DaRK9]

Crouton + ubuntu or debian?

Crouton + Ubuntu. It's actually a lot quicker than I thought it would be. All the GUI effects are off, but I always turn them off anyway.

 

[Gsuz]

Yeah it's beautiful, and you get a 13.3" screen in the same size of what would be a regular 11.5" laptop. The price tho... but hey, VAT deductible and goes as business expense ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

How's the battery life? Feeling the urge to buy this.

 

[Vigilante]

On a related note, I wonder why Google hasn't come out with a Chrome tablet. I know that you can add google features to any android tablet and fake it, but the Chromebook concept is so solid that I wonder what the delay is in taking Apple head on.

 

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[Phones]

How's the battery life? Feeling the urge to buy this.

I haven't received it yet, but:

"For the Core i5 QHD+ touchscreen model, Dell reports battery life between 8 hours and 11 hours, though these tests were conducted with the screen brightness set to a fairly dim setting. In my real-world tests, I got anywhere between 5 and 10 hours, with the shorter time occurring when streaming video across a wi-fi connection the entire time, and with the screen brightness at 70%. I achieved the 10 hour battery life repeatedly opening and reading documents on a wi-fi connection, and had the brightness dialed down to 60%. These are still pretty solid numbers for a laptop with these specs" . - See more at: http://technabob.com/blog/2015/03/02/review-dell-xps-13-uhd-2015-model/#sthash.D7oSnM7S.dpuf

 

[ddzc]

I've used tons of laptops in my days and hands down for performance and comfort are the Lenovos. I absolutely love them and wouldn't buy anything else for business or personal. I've used the T, R and L series notebooks, all solid machines. That's my recommendation.