Buying Notebook in October

goodValue

Microsoft publish minimum specs. Microsoft say the minimum spec for Windows 11 is 4GB / 64GB.

Did you understand what I was saying in my last post - I was asking why so many people believe there is a minimum requirement of 8GM Ram.

As of yet, I have seen no actual evidence for this.

Frozen_up_north

goodValue said:

Microsoft publish minimum specs. Microsoft say the minimum spec for Windows 11 is 4GB / 64GB.

Did you understand what I was saying in my last post - I was asking why so many people believe there is a minimum requirement of 8GM Ram.

As of yet, I have seen no actual evidence for this.

The majority of laptops that run Windows 11 Home (not a Chromebook, or a Windows 11 in S mode), have a minimum 8GB of RAM and a 250GB SSD. Check Dell or HP, £279 gets you a Dell with an i3 processor, 8 GB RAM and 512 GB of NVMe SSD. HP have a similar model but with only 256 GB RAM for the same price. These are their entry level machines, they don't sell anything with less RAM and SSD which use Win 11 Home, RAM and SSD drives are relatively cheap.

Forget wanting evidence, are you looking for the cheapest possible laptop? There is always AliExpress where you can buy Windows 11 laptops for less than £200, but guess what? they typically come with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage at that price. Clearly buyer beware, as it's an expensive business returning one to China.

goodValue

I did a search to find out what Windows in S mode was.

Is it true to say that 4GB Ram is the minimum for Windows in S mode, whilst 8GB Ram is needed for the full Windows OS?

Another point has confused me - when I search with those specs, the 14" display machines have been more expensive than the larger displays. For example, at John Lewis all machines of that size are over £1000.

Is there a premium for the smaller size, or has this just been a coincidence?

QrizB

goodValue said:

Is there a premium for the smaller size, or has this just been a coincidence?

Home users mostly want affordable machines with bigger screens. So 15" or more. Most home users would have a mobile phone or tablet for travel use, and wouldn't bother with a laptop.

Small screens are mostly split into two niche markets:

- Low-spec Chromebooks (which you've looked at previously and dismissed) and basic Windows machines (like the Lifebook Go) aimed at school pupils.

- Ultraportable business machines that sell for £1k or more, but which are available cheaply secondhand (like that Dell I linked to earlier).

goodValue said:

Microsoft publish minimum specs. Microsoft say the minimum spec for Windows 11 is 4GB / 64GB.

Did you understand what I was saying in my last post - I was asking why so many people believe there is a minimum requirement of 8GM Ram.

I understood what you were saying, but I don't know who these "so many people" are, where you got the info from or why you choose believe them rather than Microsoft.

goodValue said:

I did a search to find out what Windows in S mode was.

Is it true to say that 4GB Ram is the minimum for Windows in S mode, whilst 8GB Ram is needed for the full Windows OS?

No.

I don't know what you searched for or what you read, but here are Microsoft's official minimum specs for Windows 11:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications

QrizB

Frozen_up_north said:

I wouldn't rush to buy the slowest/lowest spec laptop, given the Lenovo recommended by Newcad is only £299 and in stock at Argos - which is really good value.

OP specifically wants a small easily-portable device, and is aiming for a 14" or smaller screen.

Newcad's recommendation is a perfectly reasonable choice in most respects but is larger than OP wants. It's therefore ruled out of consideration.

Vitor

IMHO saving a few quid on 4GB and Windows S/Home is the definition of penny wise but Pound foolish

QrizB

Vitor said:

IMHO saving a few quid on 4GB and Windows S/Home is the definition of penny wise but Pound foolish

We would all appreciate your recommendation for a 14" screen, 1.5kg Win 11 notebook for less than, say, £400.

Vitor

A certified refurb HP Elitebook 840 are machines I've been buying for years, a Generation 9 is likely around the £400 mark, you may get a G10 without a camera. 

QrizB

Vitor said:

A certified refurb HP Elitebook 840 are machines I've been buying for years, a Generation 9 is likely around the £400 mark, you may get a G10 without a camera. 

OP has expressed a disinclination to buy used. Perhaps they will have a change of heart. 

Frozen_up_north

John Lewis have an Asus that suits the OPs requirements:
E410 Laptop, Intel Celeron Processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB eMMC, 14" Full HD, Blue, Windows 11 Home, 2 year warranty, £189