Best Laptop for WFH / General Browsing for around $1,000

chris172 on 09/01/2024 - 22:46

Hi all,

Tech novice seeking guidance on a replacement computer to support WFH in our study.
Main usage requirements are for Citrix connection into a virtual workspace for work, Office365 and general internet browsing/content watching.

Leaning towards a laptop for portability in the house and when on leave + already have another budget Gaming PC in another dedicated room that can be used for WFH duties. Previous computer was an apple but not wedded to the OS and looking for a bang for buck product to see me through a few years.

To future proof its use a bit and managing Zoom calls + Citrix connection and some web browsing i am assuming i should be looking at 16 GB RAM and 12/13 Gen intel i5/i7 or AMD equivalent?

I would be looking to run 1 ultra widescreen off it, using its screen and a fullsize keyboard and mouse
Doesn't need to be a 2 in 1 configuration.

Googling shows the following as contenders.

  • Acer Aspire 5
  • Lenovo Thinkpad 3

When searching some sales i also found what look to be better equipped alternatives for similar price

Asus VivoBook 15 $999 https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/asus-vivobook-15-6-full-h…

and

Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 Intel (16GB DDR4 / 512 GB SSD) $1,100 https://www.lenovo.com/au/en/p/laptops/thinkpad/thinkpade/thinkpad-e16-(16-inch-intel)/21jn003mau

Both of these seem like a better spec for a $200-300 increase over the others with a lower level of configuration?
is there any other recommendations in the 800-1100 range and or any must haves? i.e. Thunderbolt 4 or certain CPU / Memory processing?

Looking for the Breville Dual Boiler equivalent in laptops - "No frills but good solid unit for the price"

Appreciate the review and guidance

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • sumyungguy on 09/01/2024 - 23:24
    +2

    Citrix Workspace runs on Mac OS. If you want to get a few years down the road and you're an iPhone user, Apple Silicon is the way to go. If you're an Android user, can't stretch to a MacBook Air and prefer Windows anyway, get the fastest processor your budget allows.

  • mskeggs on 10/01/2024 - 07:49
    +5

    Your needs could easily be met with the cheap ex-lease devices sold on here.
    Your request is analogous to “I need a little car to drive 2km to the train station to commute. My budget is $60,000”.
    Your budget is plenty, your needs are simple, and any system at that price will be fine. If it were me, I would buy the next laptop deal that gets over 20 votes on here, as that is reasonable assurance it doesn’t have a major flaw and is fairly priced.

  • chris172 on 10/01/2024 - 09:04

    Thanks the feedback - Obviously happy to spend less if it will be fit for purpose.
    Not a regular user on here so I'll look into the ex-lease devices - didn't see anything recent posted in the computing deals section, so wanted to ask the forum.

    I can put this through salary packaging at work in the next FBT year so my out of pocket should be the net of GST post Tax amount.

    @Sumyungguy - correct, i previously used Citric receiver on a very old iMac that has stopped working and is no longer supported by Apple. on PC i use an internet browser login.

    Re ex-Lease laptops - is there a better company to use. Assuming something like this?
    https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/dell-latitude-5…
    https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/lenovo-thinkpad…

    • mskeggs on 11/01/2024 - 08:59

      Just to avoid confusion, my comment was your needs are modest, so could be met with even a secondhand ex-lease laptop, but for work I would probably buy new so you have a warranty.
      The suggestion was to jump on the next laptop deal that gets some good votes. In the last month there have been four or five deals in the $700-$1000 range that would have been fine for your needs. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/tag/laptop?page=1

      And since you have previously had a Mac, and have a PC for gaming already, a new MacBook Air would provide all you need for likely the next 5 years, even though they are a couple of hundred dollars more than your preferred budget.

  • adamb14 on 10/01/2024 - 09:32

    If it's for work I'd suggest at least making sure it has Thunderbolt Support, so you can plug it into any Dell etc usb-c dock and use it on a screen with keyboard and mouse.

    None of the vivobooks when I last looked did.

    Ex company laptops will or higher end Asus etc.(my zenbook 15" OLED does)

  • raisinberry777 on 10/01/2024 - 12:36

    This is a very good option if Thunderbolt isn't required:

    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/acer-swift…

  • Other on 10/01/2024 - 19:10
    +1

    I'll be jumped on for this because its not a cheap suggestion.
    but I just don't care.
    I got a pos lenovo pc last time for around about $1k or so.
    Then had to get a screen replaced because the shell is not metal. Extra High cost to replace screen because its unique to the model.
    Now all i will get is M$ $urface. It has good build quality unlike the junk released by all the other manufacturers (you have to guess which one is doing good build quality at the current moment in time).
    It has everything you need (all the bells and whistles) . and just works (is it the apple of the PC world?).
    Also M$ make one main model so easy to replace parts unlike all the other manufacturers who have heaps of models.
    Everyone who has one seems always is impressed with it unlike the other brands.
    You can basically run it into the ground. I know a guy who uses Surface 6 (or 7) still.
    I used to care about getting extreme performance vs cost but now I just want something that has good build quality and works.

    • sumyungguy on 10/01/2024 - 19:20

      I agree with your notion about MS Surface vs MacBook, however back in the day when Surface Laptops were standard issue for our road warrior employees they were so unreliable that the tech guys switched to HP which proved to be highly satisfactory. No shortage of negative reviews for the first version: https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/microsoft-surface-…. Maybe later versions are ok?

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