Time for a new laptop

madlyn

I'm in need of a new laptop, I don't need a really high spec one, as all I use it for is shopping, general browsing, banking and storing photos.

My current one has MS office on it, but I really only use word and excel, so if there is an alternative to those? that would be great.

I'm used to the keyboard layout and 15 inch screen on my laptop, but I would consider a device that can be used as a laptop or flipped into a tablet.

My budget is ideally £300.

Any suggestions please?

flaneurs_lobster

Any device that can be flipped to tablet mode (so having a touchscreen) and being 15In and costing £300 will be a Chromebook rather than a Windows machine.

Have you considered a Chromebook?

madlyn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879660#Comment_81879660

I've not, but even though the keyboard and screen size of my current laptop is nice, for what I'd be using it for I'm more than open to something smaller.

Chappers27

Personally I made the move from Windows machine to an iMac about a decade ago and its been spectacular. It just works. So ask around whether others prefer a macbook or a windows. Perhaps you could get a refurbished macbook? You can install Word and Excel on a mac.

Vitor

Typical specs around £300:
• Intel N100 or Ryzen 3 7320U
• 8GB RAM minimum
• 256GB SSD
• 15.6 inch Full HD screen

HP 15.6" Intel N100 Laptop – A 15.6-inch Windows 11 laptop with an Intel N-series processor and 8 GB RAM at about £259.99. A reasonable choice for your use case (browsing, photos, Word/Excel).

HP 15.6" AMD Ryzen 3 Laptop – Another 15.6-inch budget option with an AMD Ryzen 3 CPU around £287.10, which is likely smoother than Celeron/Intel N for everyday tasks.

ASUS Vivobook Go 15 Laptop – 15.6″ laptop priced around £299.00, which has solid reviews for general use.

Frozen_up_north

There are low cost laptops around, there used to be a lot with silver keys that had white lettering… an awful combination and maybe why they were relatively cheap as they would be hard to sell at full price.

If you want Windows (as opposed to Chrome OS), then you are looking at nearer £400 than £300. John Lewis have an Asus Vivobook 14, AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, 2 year warranty, £399.99

https://www.johnlewis.com/

The above is a typical Windows 11 spec laptop.

madlyn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879800#Comment_81879800

I'm open to looking at a Chrome OS.

madlyn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879794#Comment_81879794

Thanks' for your suggestions, I'm happy to move away from the like of word and excel and use an alternative which is free, I'm told google do something similar?

sammyjammy

I've had Chromebook only for at least five years, would never go back to Windows, no worries about virus software etc, I find the spreadsheet etc tools perfectly useable.

Vitor

-I'm open to looking at a Chrome OS.-

Superficially attractive but going end-of-life. Google as going to merge Android and Chrome OS into a new product, code Aluminium OS, which is unlikely to be installable on legacy kit.

madlyn

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81879984#Comment_81879984

Do you not need virus software as it's already installed?

It's good to know there are alternatives to MS office, are these pre-installed or through an app?