Please Recommend Me a Laptop - Black Friday Sales!

activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 11:06
Last edited 23/11/2023 - 11:25 by 1 other user

Hi OzBargain, I need to buy a new laptop. I'm not very computer literate.

Can I please ask for your help to recommend me a suitable laptop?

Trying to take advantage of Black Friday Sales

Below is my use case:

  • needs to be a 2 in 1 form factor WITH A good pen as I intend to take notes, mark up PDFs and read eBooks on it. Either detachable keyboard or 180 degree flip so that I can hold it as a book/notepad to take notes
  • at least 14"+ screen size so I can take advantage of screen real estate and full size keyboard for fast note taking
  • portability is important but imo all laptops are mostly portable, so not too critical
  • decent battery life would be helpful although I have a 100w baseus USB C power bank which I'm happy to use to keep it juiced up at all times
  • Ports: Needs at least 1 USB C for charging, 1 HDMI for external monitor and 1 USB A for mouse/keyboard combo
  • I plan to use it at cafe's during meetings so bright nice screen can't hurt but not essential
  • no intended use for video or photo editing
  • expecting to use it for many chrome tabs, YouTube, and small Excel worksheets

Surface variants are too expensive. Cheaper alternatives preferred.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 23/11/2023 - 11:22

    Your use case corresponds with an iPad, but you'd have to live with a smaller display

    • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 11:28

      Thankyou. Hoping for a laptop first solution. I never really feel at ease using iPad to make purchases, book things etc until I have a full laptop desktop view chrome website etc

      • sumyungguy on 23/11/2023 - 11:39

        Are you Android or iPhone? If an iPhone user, I suggest visiting an Apple Store. MacOS, iPadOS and iOS pretty much do the same things.

        • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 11:46
          +4

          Android.dont wish to be in apple ecosystem. Thankyou!

          • CurlCurl on 23/11/2023 - 12:12

            @activ8newbs:

            Android.dont wish to be in apple ecosystem. Thankyou!

            How pathetic that someone gave you a neg for not wanting to be in the apple ecosystem.

            Have a plus from me.

            • qaz182 on 23/11/2023 - 12:47

              @CurlCurl: How dare he insult our digital fruit overlords!

              😊

  • newjerseydamo on 23/11/2023 - 11:35

    I've personally used several Lenovo Yoga and HP x360 2 in 1s for reading and as a laptop whilst travelling overseas and couldn't fault them.

  • Look Up on 23/11/2023 - 11:48
    +1

    … needs to be a 2 in 1 form factor WITH A good pen
    … no intended use for video or photo editing
    … Cheaper alternatives preferred.

    Best current deal for $998 at Hardly Normal

    Stack with the 6% off GCX gift card deal to get a final lower price

    Need to buy the Lenovo Digital Pen seperately

  • scotty on 23/11/2023 - 12:04
    +1

    More expensive but slightly better built than Lenovo IdeaPad Flex would be Lenovo ThinkBook 14s Yoga. Might want to wait for better cashback offer from CR/SB if you are buying online.

    • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 13:26

      Thanks Scotty. This might be the winner. I'll wait and keep an eye out in case it gets cheaper/cash rewards increases.

      Does this come with a pen? It says integrated pen? Not sure what this means…!

      • scotty on 23/11/2023 - 13:31

        integrated pen

        The pen slots into the body of the laptop on the right hand side (similar to ThinkPad L13 Yoga) so you don't lose the pen when not in use. The process also charges up the pen.

        Very thin pen though — probably not comfortable to write an essay on.

        • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 13:38

          Thanks does it come with a pen though? Can't tell from the listing?

  • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 13:25

    Thankyou guys. Tossing up between the options provided by ChatGpt and Scotty.

    What do you guys think between the two? Is the additional $259 premium worth it for the upgrade?

    • scotty on 23/11/2023 - 13:37

      More like $370 upgrade because only MacBook Air buyers can live with 8GB RAM… At the end it's just quality vs price. If I buy for work I'll go with ThinkBook, however my wife has an old IdeaPad Flex and it's okay too.

      • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 13:38

        Good point. Thankyou for sharing. Education pricing has the 16gb ram/512gb variant for 1322 btw! And i7 variant for 1511.

  • activ8newbs on 23/11/2023 - 23:13

    Ended up pulling trigger on this
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/815134#

  • hothot on 24/11/2023 - 13:53
    +1

    Thanks OP for posting this, I am also looking for something similar.

    https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/yoga/yoga-2-in-1-series/yoga-7-gen-8-(14-inch-amd)/len101y0031
    How is this one with AMD 7735U listed at: $1279?
    Will upgrade it to 1TB + 3yrs warrant costing + $26 battery replacement : Total $1464

    Is $26 3yrs battery replacement worth it?

    Most likely I will go for Lenovo Yoga, waiting for some good cashback. Hopefully better deal on Cyber Monday.

  • Lava nest on 06/12/2023 - 22:39

    Also looking for a laptop for the same sort of use case.
    @activ8newbs what did you end up buying? That link doesn't work anymore.

    I am tossing up between
    https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/thinkbook/thinkbook-yoga/thinkbook-14s-yoga-gen-3-(14-inch-intel)/21jg001uau

    Or

    https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/yoga/yoga-2-in-1-series/yoga-7-gen-8-(14-inch-amd)/82ymcto1wwau2

    • activ8newbs on 07/12/2023 - 14:09
      +1

      Bought this
      Lenovo 14" Yoga 7i Core i7/16GB/512GB Laptop 82YL001MAU $1368 Delivered @ Bing Lee eBay

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