Recommend Me a Laptop for General Use (up to $1750)

Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 12:20
Last edited 16/04/2024 - 12:34 by 1 other user

I need a new laptop for personal home use. I've no idea what to buy and would LOVE some recommendations if anyone has time. There are so many laptops out there…I'm feeling clueless as to what to buy!

I'll be using it for lots of web surfing, watching videos, emails and Microsoft word. No gaming.

My biggest priorities are screen size (minimum 14" screen; speed; capacity to have lots of tabs open at once (I'm notorious for it!); and long battery life. I'd also prefer a light weight laptop the at doesn't run too hot or loud if used on my lap on the couch. My budget is somewhat flexible - I'm thinking up to $1750 (does that sound about right?).

Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to share their tech knowledge / experience!

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • boomramada on 16/04/2024 - 12:29
    +1

    Whats your thought on this ?

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/841383

    • T1OOO on 16/04/2024 - 12:58

      massive over kill but yes future proof you for 20 years!

      If you want some from 800-900 you can find decent ones, i mean 8 cores at 5.1ghz like come on.

  • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 12:32

    Thanks Boomramada. I literally just posted a comment asking if that laptop would suit my needs! Do you think it's a goer and decent price?

    • boomramada on 16/04/2024 - 12:38

      I'll be using it for lots of web surfing, watching videos, emails and Microsoft word. No gaming.

      YES and more

      long battery life

      No, but you can charge it with USB C

      light weight laptop

      Yes, (1.46 kg) which means less battery life.

      hot or loud if used on my lap on the couch

      Even if we call it a laptop, usually it should be on a desk, when you are using it for longer hours.

      My budget is somewhat flexible - I'm thinking up to $1750

      Well, it is cheaper than $1750, can send me the difference ;)

      • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 12:41

        Ha ha!
        Thanks.
        How many hours of web surfing do you think I'd get on this laptop unplugged? I don't need a super light laptop. I just don't want "a brick" or something that feels really heavy on my lap (I'm small!)

  • Gdsamp on 16/04/2024 - 12:32

    Macbook Air 15in

    M2 refurbs available for $1720
    https://www.apple.com/au-hed/shop/refurbished/mac/macbook-ai…

  • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 12:39

    I'm hesitant to buy a Macbook Air…I have an iphone and am pretty clueless with it. I figure having my laptop talk to my phone could be a bit of a disaster! I've also had trouble with "the Cloud" before. And from my (very lay!) understanding, the specs of a Macbook Air don't seem to be better than Windows laptops that are the same price or cheaper? If you think I'm wrong though, I'd be happy to be persuaded otherwise! I really feel out of my depth in shopping for laptops!

    • boomramada on 16/04/2024 - 12:41

      Im not sure about apple products, but this was a good deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/837159

    • Gdsamp on 16/04/2024 - 13:20

      TBH i think it is perfect for your use case
      the apple silicon processors (m2 in this case) and OS are well optimised. battery life is better than anything you will get out of a similarly priced windows machine (16hr+ for your sort of use case). The airs don't have fans so the laptop is silent, the trade off being it might get warm but not unbearably so.

      Once you get over the learning curve I suspect you'll find the integration with your other apple products is pretty seamless - e.g. using your airpods across devices.

      • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 14:15

        Thank you! This is really useful.

    • AustriaBargain on 16/04/2024 - 13:43

      Just do it. You can write and read text messages on your Mac with your keyboard, it's seamless. You can airdrop files to yourself, copy and paste between your iPhone and Mac, it's like magic.

      • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 14:16

        You're making me very tempted to try. Thank you!

    • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 14:22

      Is 8GB enough? Would a Windows laptop with 16+gb be noticeably faster or able to handle having lots of tabs open?

      • AustriaBargain on 16/04/2024 - 15:26

        For OP use 8GB is enough, but always worth getting 16 if you can find a deal for not much more money. If OP is like me and likes to leave apps and like a hundred browser windows open months at a time then more is better. If you restart your Mac every now and then and close out stuff you aren't using, then 8GB can be enough for sure. I'd been doing paid design work for years on my 8GB M1, but I finally caved and bought a 32GB M2 Max. I really like to leave heavy apps running with projects open for weeks or even months.

  • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 16:00

    Thanks so much AustriaBargain. Really helpful. I'm definitely a one "hundred browser window" kind of woman!

  • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 16:36

    If I were to buy a Macbook Air, would a 2024 M3 with 8gb ram be faster / more powerful than a 2023 M2 with 16gb????

    • sumyungguy on 16/04/2024 - 17:19

      For your use case, 8GB is totally fine and go M3 (20% faster than M2) if you rate the additional spend.

      • Kategs on 16/04/2024 - 18:42

        I REALLY appreciate your advice on this! Thanks so much Sumyungguy!

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