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So, I'm going on a road trip up to MD on the 9th. My wife always drives because she gets carsick if she doesn't. That works out to something like thirty hours on the road, there and back. I'd like to spend some of that time writing, so I'm looking for a cheap laptop that can run LibreOffice and not much else. I want a good battery, a screen and keyboard big enough to use, and ... well, I don't want it to break. That's about it. I've concluded that I don't want a Chromebook, if only because the net dependency would be a PITA. I don't even particularly want internet, it's a distraction. I figure fourteen or fifteen inches is about the minimum I'd find tolerable. How much should I look to get set back, and do you folks have any advice?
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Afaik here you can get a new one having a 15er screen for ca. 200-300 Euroducats (so a tad more in USD, unless prices for this stuff in the US are completely different).
You don't need a wonder in performance and disc capacity for mostly text stuff. Bigger screen, better battery may still drive the cost for you.
I guess you could get a used one cheaper, but I'd see that it's at least "rebuild" by some offical trader (as opposed to some shady private guy), esp. with a new battery...
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New battery is a must. Old batteries never hold their charge as well. Something about the laws of thermodynamics..........“It is no use trying to 'see through' first principles. If you see through everything, then everything is transparent. But a wholly transparent world is an invisible world. To 'see through' all things is the same as not to see.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of ManComment
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I've discovered that most "certified refurbished" laptops come with a bunch of five star reviews along the lines of "works great no regrets kthanxbye" and a bunch of one star reviews along the lines of "did not boot up, required extensive tinkering even to get it to turn on, God this sucks." Very few reviews in the middle. I think I will not be getting a Certified Refurbished laptop.
EDIT: Is there any reason to prefer an SSD? I don't need improved speed, but are they e.g. less prone to break if you drop them?
Second EDIT: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16834854419
Is there something horribly wrong with that which I can't see? 14" isn't huge, but seems tolerable. Only two reviews isn't a lot to go on, though, and refurbished ... ehhhh.Last edited by Elok; April 30, 2018, 12:59.Comment
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SSDs are more robust as there's no mechanical parts, but a standard HD should be fine if you don't do any significant harm to the device (throwing it against the wall or somesuch
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right now it seems to be the Acer Swift 1 for $319. $30 more gets you the step up in the Acer line up.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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IBM 5100! It only weighs 52 pounds! And it's got a blazingly fast 1.9mhz cpu, and 16kb ram and a 204kb tape drive!
I am not delusional! Now if you'll excuse me, i'm gonna go dance with the purple wombat who's playing show-tunes in my coffee cup!
Rules are like Egg's. They're fun when thrown out the window!
Difference is irrelevant when dosage is higher than recommended!Comment
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Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-575-33BM) Which was listed on that PC Mag review and which is the model above the Acer Swift was listed for $350.00 but Wal-Mart is selling it for $329.95. It has a larger hard drive, larger screen, and most importantly a larger battery than the Swift and it only costs $10 more as it is currently on sale.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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What? I just went to Walmart today, found the Swift, and decided I'd go home and see if I could express-order the next model up since I couldn't find it there and it's on Amazon. Maybe I should go tomorrow and specifically ask if they have it. Or is it walmart.com exclusive or something?Comment
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Go to Walmart and buy an Acer Aspire E15. It is your best choice for $329.95. If the local store doesn't have it then just buy it online.Last edited by Dinner; May 8, 2018, 14:33.Try http://wordforge.net/index.php for discussion and debate.Comment
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The one that's $329 is a slightly different computer. Actually better RAM, but--crucially--a battery that only lasts half as long as PC mag's choice. They have that one too, manufacturer refurbished. Think I'll order it for pickup.Comment
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Okay, I've picked it up, and it's sitting here charging. We'll see how I get along with Windows 10, how Windows 10 gets along with LibreOffice, etc.
EDIT: Gah! Got startled by Cortana greeting me in the most obsequious manner possible, as soon as setup started. First step after loading my files is curbstomping Cortana by any and all means. If I want someone kissing my ass, I'll post truisms on FB and wait for likes to pour in, TYVM.Last edited by Elok; May 8, 2018, 11:11.Comment
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The only thing I'll say about Windows 10 is that, unless you opted for the Professional (or Enterprise, or whatever) version, it can be very hard to control updates. So, like, make sure you don't leave documents open and unsaved overnight and that kind of thing.Click here if you're having trouble sleeping.
"We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones." - François de La RochefoucauldComment
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