Suggestions for new laptop?

katglasgow

I am leaving my FT job to go back to university in August and do a years teacher training.  Sadly I will need to give up my trusty work laptop (HP Elitebook) and buy something to see me through my studies and years to come of teacher planning at home.  I have a budget of £400-500 absolute max but really don't know what sort of spec I should be prioritising other than 8GB ram?  I use the usual MS office packages, you tube, online banking and shopping, MS teams and zoom and web based apps such as canva.  I store all my files on my MS onedrive space and don't do any gaming!    I currently have a 14" screen and am happy with this as it makes my laptop easy to carry.  Does anyone have any recommendations please?  I really don't know where to start! I don't know anything about processor types and screen/camera quality.  Also unsure whether to go for new or a refurbrished (buy if buying refurbished I would only want to go to a well known company with a year guarantee).  Thanks so much.  Karyn

katglasgow

I'm looking at this laptop in John Lewis. It's right at the top of my budget but they. Offer at 100 gift card which softens the blow.
https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-14s-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-processor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-14-inch-full-hd-silver/p5099840#ratings-and-reviews

neilmcl

Look on ebay/Facebook for another, "trusty" HP EliteBook refurb.

Just as an example - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/833569877587970/

tempus_fugit

katglasgow said:

I'm looking at this laptop in John Lewis. It's right at the top of my budget but they. Offer at 100 gift card which softens the blow.
https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-14s-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-processor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-14-inch-full-hd-silver/p5099840#ratings-and-reviews

That looks a good option to me. It’s in your budget range and you get a 2-year guarantee. 

HereToday

katglasgow said:

I'm looking at this laptop in John Lewis. It's right at the top of my budget but they. Offer at 100 gift card which softens the blow.
https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-14s-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-processor-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-14-inch-full-hd-silver/p5099840#ratings-and-reviews

Check your PMs.

HereToday

The Dell Inspiron 14 5402 and Dell Inspiron 14 5405 are better. Wide viewing angle screens, backlit keyboards, 2 x 2 WiFi etc
Dell Inspiron 14 5415 with the latest Ryzen 5.
Scratch & Dent 5402, for example, coming in at £405 with the new customer discount: https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh&sign=PXhcOSHtr1T4IOw/PR7Udb9BTXLlAn/TzZ2+rrEsw7zS1B9QqG/VrJtHQJl9wjUbZXaY0rh+CXKMFJRswvNq3R5pA6n8QPHyeA510DoB0gWxA0U/T4V6hOl+BrRUqHKs8JQ2xlLn0g4Dz1uxgxZq+zSuhgwfzfbbma8Q338wL1QJ4igJJZHQkYSCEChvcQYMnMFq1pnxFRKM51mtJk+ZsizkNF8QgLOVILrv8D/vdtU+8053mFlTuN03w37jUS76
https://www.dell.com/learn/uk/en/ukdfh1/campaigns/first-time-customer-dell-outlet-uk
Lots left in the budget for a warranty extension.

elsien

I’m after similar, so watching with interest. 

HereToday

If you are moving from a relatively high quality laptop; then look for a 300-nit display and up.
Ryzen 5000 series laptops are now available so there should be a few discounts on older models to be found.

HereToday

Example, though with a smaller 13.3" screen, this Inspiron 13 5301: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-Inspiron-14-5301-11th-gen-i5-4-2ghz-8GB-512GB-SSD-13-3-1920x1080-Win-10-/303984913124 at £442 will be closer, if not better, than to what you may have become accustomed, when utilising a business standard device.

• Intel Core 11th Generation i5-1135G7 Processor (Quad Core, Up to 4.20GHz, 8MB Cache)
• Windows 10 Home
• 8GB Memory
• 512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Class 35 Solid State Drive
• 13.3 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Wide View Angle Anti-Glare 300-nits 95% sRGB Non-Touch Narrow Border Display
• Webcam with Microphone
• Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• Platinum Silver - LCD Back Cover (Non-Touch Screen)
• Aluminium Cover
• Intel Wireless 9560 + Bluetooth 5.0
• 3-Cell, 40 WHr Battery (Express Charge Capable)
• UK/Irish Qwerty Backlit Silver Keyboard

elsien

I’m happy with less than business standard as I’ve got my higher spec works Lenovo but also my personal incredibly old toshiba which I’m looking to replace so currently working at both ends of the spectrum. 

Sooler

Take a trip to John Lewis for in store advice.  Found them to give sound reccomendations and point out plus and minus attributes and no pushy sales.