Current Events > Friend of mine is looking for a new laptop. Any thoughts?

(+) Yeah! (+)

He's in his 60s, his laptop is over 10 years old at this point and is actively dying on him.

He wants something just for emails, facebook, and youtube, no bigger than 15".

should i just show him a chromebook or is there better options out there?

There's five choices.

1) Tablet. Preferably an iPad since android tablets suck. If all he wants is a web browser and email client, he doesn't need a laptop and an iPad will be a better investment.

2) Chromebook. A cheap one. Only suggest this if he only wants facebook and emails and youtube. It will struggle with 720p videos on youtube but if he doesn't care then he's saved some money.

3) Cheapish Windows laptop. Something like a Lenovo Thinkpad (L or T series) or anything off the shelf at your local PC store with an SSD. Will be fine for emails and youtube but not much else.

4) Ultrabook. Thin and light, fast, versatile. Something like a Dell XPS 13 or equivalent. Pushing the budget with this but you get all the versatility of Windows and a very quick and snappy device so long as you don't do anything like play 3D games released in the past few years or video editing.

5) Higher end. Like a Macbook Pro or equivalent high end Windows laptop like a kitted out Dell XPS 15/Razer Blade 15. Not really an option in this case but it's just here for reference.

I always recommend a step above the budget laptops for quality's sake

Kloe_Rinz posted...

There's five choices.

1) Tablet. Preferably an iPad since android tablets suck. If all he wants is a web browser and email client, he doesn't need a laptop and an iPad will be a better investment.

2) Chromebook. A cheap one. Only suggest this if he only wants facebook and emails and youtube. It will struggle with 720p videos on youtube but if he doesn't care then he's saved some money.

3) Cheapish Windows laptop. Something like a Lenovo Thinkpad (L or T series) or anything off the shelf at your local PC store with an SSD. Will be fine for emails and youtube but not much else.

4) Ultrabook. Thin and light, fast, versatile. Something like a Dell XPS 13 or equivalent. Pushing the budget with this but you get all the versatility of Windows and a very quick and snappy device so long as you don't do anything like play 3D games released in the past few years or video editing.

5) Higher end. Like a Macbook Pro or equivalent high end Windows laptop like a kitted out Dell XPS 15/Razer Blade 15. Not really an option in this case but it's just here for reference.

He has a new iPad Pro, but he also wants a laptop.

i'm looking and there's some Acer/Asus 15.6" at Best Buy for 369-400$CAD

EDIT: Acer Aspire 1 with Intel Celeron N4020 or Acer Aspire 3 with AMD A4-9210e? 349.99 vs 399.99

guys pls

If he just wants to look at emails and go on YouTube then it doesnt matter what laptop he gets. He can just go to Best Buy and get whatever they recommend to him

Alienware.

15 inch MacBook Pro. No other option.

It'll get software updates for about 10 years. And even then the design won't be dated and still feel premium.

StarsOfCCTV posted...

15 inch MacBook Pro. No other option.

It'll get software updates for about 10 years. And even then the design won't be dated and still feel premium.

I mean if youre gonna recommend a MacBook, then at least do the Air.

But yeah TC, Id lean more option 2/3 from post 2 if they really want a laptop and the tablet isnt enough. Or as another person said, just go to like Best Buy with them and get what they recommend.