Looking for laptop suggestions

Vitor

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82164679#Comment_82164679

Everything! Loading apps. browsing, opening photos…

SammyBoyd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82164468#Comment_82164468

You haven't said why you veered away from your original idea of a Surface.

It's nice to be first to open the box of a new device, but things generally go downhill from there, if buying new on a relatively small budget.

You just found out first hand that low end devices with 4GB of RAM can fail to cut the mustard. A higher level refurbished device at the same price point, will have a better build quality and likely support upgradability.

The reason why my more than ten year old laptop is still running smoothly, apart from a failing battery. It's not made predominantly of plastic and servicing is easy.

BlueonBlue

SammyBoyd which laptop exactly are you using/upgrading/servicing etc

Is it a second hand refurb from one of those outfits selling used ex buisness laptops or did you just buy it used or brand new 10 years ago ?

I like your idea but as Im not technical I bought a new 16in i5 8ram 256gb new for £274 delivered when a deal came along after a long time looking ….sure enough a more expensive better 15.6 Oled £360 deal came along shortly afterwards but I still think I did ok as my screen is 300nits not great but not rock bottom either at £274 delivered.

SammyBoyd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82165327#Comment_82165327

I'm not recommending anyone to buy a laptop as old as mine, unless their budget is under £50 😊

My advice is simply to get the best you can within budget. Yours sounds fine. But the OP will likely struggle to find something of similar specification at this time.

BlueonBlue

Prices seem very high at present so people are looking at cheaper junk …..I did make my own luck buying when I did as I watched on here and elsewhrere for a very long time.

Alot of so called hukd posted deals are not deals at all or on here….and thats not just laptops .

Still a bit gutted I missed that 15.6 Oled deal at £360 way back then

I was using a very old second generation i7 with windows 10 on it and looked around for ages for a option as the i7 was really old …. (I got it used for the price of a battery and a few drinks)

The issue with the ex business refurbs were they are mostly smaller 13 or 14inch and the 15.6 refurbs were much more costly ….so buying a brand new windows11, 16in Vivobook ,was better for the non technical like myself around £300 at the time when a good deal came along.

Also with the refurb sellers you need to be prepared to return the laptop…. if your not happy.

Which can/will happen ….some sellers would then turn nasty banning you …posts were made about this from multiple people from one popular refurb seller called new…..soandso… just saying be prepared to return it if not happy is the best action .

Frozen_up_north

Forgot to mention to avoid those "bargain" laptop deals with backlit silver keys, there were a lot of Asus Vivobook laptops on sale at one time with those terrible keys, the lettering is almost impossible to see in most lighting conditions. Thankfully, few seem to be on sale now.