I hate my laptop...

[Sterillium]

I'm not great at computery things... and I hate my laptop... so I need a new one.

I only want to spend about £500

I would like one that is really fast when browsing the Internet and has a really long battery life. I don't care what it looks like, in fact I'd prefer a scratched and battered one that does the job, over something shiny and fussy.

With only these two criteria, what would fit the bill?

I'm thinking a used one, so I can get something with better specs that's cheaper due to cosmetic wear?

[Mr Pointy]

Yes, second hand will get you more bang for your buck. However, maybe you could post what you don't like about your current one. Screen too small? Takes ages to start? Don't like the trackpad? Too heavy?

If all you are doing is browsing the internet then unless it's ancient any slowness might be due to external factors such as a poor wireless connection. If it's a few years old a simple OS re-install would probably work wonders.

[300bhp/ton]

Sounds like a Chromebook might fit the bill.

[grumbledoak]

Pick a screen size, go to the Dell Outlet and spend your budget?
https://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/22/campaigns/outl...

[megaphone]

If it's only for internet and browsing why not look at a iPad? If you want a laptop then, as above, a Chromebook is an option.

[Sterillium]

Mr Pointy said:

Yes, second hand will get you more bang for your buck. However, maybe you could post what you don't like about your current one. Screen too small? Takes ages to start? Don't like the trackpad? Too heavy?

If all you are doing is browsing the internet then unless it's ancient any slowness might be due to external factors such as a poor wireless connection. If it's a few years old a simple OS re-install would probably work wonders.

Thank you for this - I’ll try to be clearer.

My current laptop is a bit slow and a bit tired... screen is OK but showing signs of use, keyboard also, but most of all, the battery life is now about 10 minutes if not on charge. And this is its third battery, replaced only a few months back!

My broadband is about 40mbps and everything else on it is lightning quick.

My requirements are basically:

Battery life
Internet speed
Nice screen?

( I just thought up the third point... )

[Sterillium]

300bhp/ton said:

Sounds like a Chromebook might fit the bill.

I’m so dumb... what’s this?

[Sterillium]

grumbledoak said:

Pick a screen size, go to the Dell Outlet and spend your budget?
https://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/22/campaigns/outl...

This appeals, thank you!

[Sterillium]

megaphone said:

If it's only for internet and browsing why not look at a iPad? If you want a laptop then, as above, a Chromebook is an option.

I love the idea of an iPad for 90% of the time, but I just can’t cope with typing on one, an I do write a bit.

[JimbobVFR]

Sterillium said:

I love the idea of an iPad for 90% of the time, but I just can’t cope with typing on one, an I do write a bit.

Well get a keyboard for it then.

[Sterillium]

JimbobVFR said:

Sterillium said:

I love the idea of an iPad for 90% of the time, but I just can’t cope with typing on one, an I do write a bit.

Well get a keyboard for it then.

Isn’t it basically a laptop then..? But with two parts I could leave on the train rather than one?

[300bhp/ton]

Sterillium said:

I’m so dumb... what’s this?

Chromebooks don’t run Windows. They run an operating system (OS) called Chrome OS. This is a very lightweight OS and very fast. It is designed for web browsing. A machine running Chrome OS will boot up almost instantly compared to Windows and generally run quicker. They are also pretty cheap new.

The idea is everything is cloud based, so it makes use of Google sheets and docs instead of Microsoft Excel and Word.

They are a proper laptop however with a trackpad and keyboard. Chromebooks can also access the Android (Google Play) store to download additional apps.

Because the OS is lighter, machines can be much lower spec. Prices from £160-500 new:
https://ao.com/l/laptops-chromebook/1-150/250-251/


I would also 2nd the suggestion of an iPad. Sky had some really good deals a month ago. A Mini 4 or regular iPad would do the job. No need for the Pro versions for just web use.

You can get proper keyboards for iPads. They connect via Bluetooth. Either ones built into a case. Or just a regular keyboard.

[Derek Smith]

I'll second the Chromebooks. I've recently had a play on one and reckon that when my Windows laptop gives up the ghost, I'll probably go for one, or its replacement. Chrome's coming out with a full-blooded OS soon, isn't it?

Like you, I use my laptop mainly for writing. I write for a living and Google Docs is fine for general word processing. I complete in Word on my desktop.

Using Chrome solely, and not as a dual boot, on a laptop will rejuvenate it they say. I've got an old laptop and might try it on there to see if I want it on my current laptop.

[Brainpox]

If you don't depend on Office for anything then yes, a Chromebook is a great option. The cheap ones are totally fine for browsing although a slightly more powerful one will likely have greater longevity.

[Sterillium]

Derek Smith said:

Using Chrome solely, and not as a dual boot, on a laptop will rejuvenate it they say...

I don’t understand this bit... (sorry!).

Chromebooks sound interesting. And Microsoft Word can be used on them as an online version?

[ZesPak]

Sterillium said:

I don’t understand this bit... (sorry!).

Chromebooks sound interesting. And Microsoft Word can be used on them as an online version?

You will need an office 365 account irrc.

Or you can use google docs, more limited but free and usually plenty for home use.

Be careful though, it isn't a windows machine,like an ipad, some mundane functions might not be as straightforward.
Of the top of my head:

1. Storage: it has some but everything is mainly cloud based, this means data transfers to usb devices and the like might feel fiddly.
2. Printing: You'll need a printer that allows "cloud" printing as there is no straightforward USB printing

What they are great for:

Everything you do online, from banking to youtube, netflix, online email, webshopping,...

For >500 I don't think you could get a laptop that feels anywhere near as responsive as your average chromebook.

Pro tip: a lot of these devices are built to a price. The main one you're litteraly looking at all day is your screen. Be sure to get an IPS display, and preferably Full HD (1920x1080).

[Sterillium]

This is really useful - thank you.

I'm leaning back towards a laptop - particularly one that's scratched, refurbished etc. so that I can get more for my money. I'd rather have a knackered looking one that's fast and great, as opposed to a beautiful, shiny lump of uselessness.

Am I right in thinking that RAM is the key to quickness?

Is there a type of battery that offers longer life?

I'm leaning towards larger RAM (8GB+ ?) and SSD, and a nice screen... just hunting about for ex-office or refurbed stock now.

[300bhp/ton]

Sterillium said:

This is really useful - thank you.

I'm leaning back towards a laptop - particularly one that's scratched, refurbished etc. so that I can get more for my money. I'd rather have a knackered looking one that's fast and great, as opposed to a beautiful, shiny lump of uselessness.

Am I right in thinking that RAM is the key to quickness?

Is there a type of battery that offers longer life?

I'm leaning towards larger RAM (8GB+ ?) and SSD, and a nice screen... just hunting about for ex-office or refurbed stock now.

SSD will make the biggest difference to boot up times and general loading of apps and such, like anything OS related.

As for batteries, well here you have an issue. The more powerful the machine with the better the screen, the more power it will normally want. So you will need a bigger battery. Bigger batteries mean physically bigger and bulkier machines. Some, like some Lenovo's have a detachable battery pack that you can get in different sizes. But the end up look rather 1990's turn of the century in appearance, size and weight if you aren't careful.


Not that I'm on a mission to promote these, but the Chromebooks require so much less hardware to run, this in turn means they are generally less power hungry, so should give better runtimes for a given battery size. The screen will still suck the same sort of power and the bigger the screen the more power it will need. Although bigger screens are normally on machines with bigger batteries anyhow, so this is somewhat offset.

And again looking at the tablets like the iPads, their power demands are usually lower, which means you can readily charge or extend runtimes by use use of compact battery powered powerpacks.

[grumbledoak]

OP, you need to think about the software you want to use before you pick between iPad, Chromebook, and laptop. All of them will surf the web, but they diverge quite a bit from there on.

[colin_p]

Sterillium said:

I'm not great at computery things... and I hate my laptop... so I need a new one.

I only want to spend about £500

I would like one that is really fast when browsing the Internet and has a really long battery life. I don't care what it looks like, in fact I'd prefer a scratched and battered one that does the job, over something shiny and fussy.

With only these two criteria, what would fit the bill?

I'm thinking a used one, so I can get something with better specs that's cheaper due to cosmetic wear?

This thread reads like poetry and a bit like the Canterbury Tales.

Only a few days ago I posted an almost identical thread. I tried to do my thread in the style of Victor Kiam in a parallel universe where he didn't like the electric razor much at all and didn't buy the company. But instead of electric razors it was laptops. Maybe you have seen the thread?

However, you are much cleverer than me as I bought a new one, a laptop not an electric razor company called Remington, and then hated it. Despite it being all new and shiny and modern with the latest operating system, I hated it straight away and after a few days gave it to my son, who also hates it but not as much as I did. The main gripe was the touchpad which maybe would be ok in the hands of the children who clearly designed both it, the laptop, and the stupid operating system installed on it.

After that and just as you are thinking, I got an old new one very cheaply, which surprisingly was not battered at all. I was expecting it to be a bit bruised and rough round the edges but it is like new, like a very well cared for 'modern' classic car. It has even got 8 ram-bal-ams, whoa Black Betty, a one Terrahawk and an i5. Overall I am very pleased with my new old laptop, it is like a double edged safety razor that makes shaving a pleasure rather than one of those poncy expensive multi bladed things. I don't even want to talk about electric razors, my chin laughs at them.