Hello everyone, my father needs a simple computer which he plans to use for online courses and the like.
He will not be using anything more intensive than chrome and our budget is under $250. This computer should last him at least 4 years. We are located in Kingsville 3012 and I don't mind driving for a good deal.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/306640040301
JSAVE15 or JSAVE17
to save 15% / 17%
$280 delivered with the 17% off… (only 2 left)
Thanks for the rec and codes
Batteries are usually OK with refurbs… Should be > 80%.
My last one was still at 100% (I don't think it had ever been used)
If you even need a new laptop (or camera) battery… Keep this link handy…
https://www.betterbatt.com.au/s/laptop-battery/
I usually get my refurbs from Australian Computer Tranders https://www.ebay.com.au/str/australiancomputertraders
But they don't seem to have any stock near your budget and the codes don't apply to them for this deal.
Factor in a new battery for that B-grade unit.
under $250. This computer should last him a long time.
😲
Yeah, define what a long time means to you OP?
One of my kids got a refurbished lap top for $250 that lasted him 6 or 7 years about ten years ago. But it developed all sorts of battery charging issues (just stopped holding any decent charge) and he nursed it along those last few years.
And must have required some kind of software maintenance or upkeep in that time?
I'm thinking "long time", "under $250" and "decent" might need quite a lot of luck tbh.
Why didn't you just get a new battery?
Short answer is he didn't ask, so I suppose he didn't want one.
Long answer:
It was a $250 refurbished laptop that I bought off some old bloke on eBay. God only knows what that equated to in the harsh realities of daylight. It was only intended to get him through one undergrad subject in grade 12.
Kid was in uni (well grade 12 when I initially bought it) and had an $8000 scholarship at uni specifically for new equipment of this nature.
He only cashed that in on completion of his masters (EEnng) as it was due to expire.
I'm guessing that he didn't want a new battery, or a new computer.
Even without scholarship, had he have needed it, he could have afforded it, or I would have bought him what he needed if he had asked me.
Apparently, he was happy with what he had.
I covered the first bachelors and whatever they needed to access that for all my kids. (Unless scholarships or alternative funding was available). Their education was my job, I didn't think they should aquire debt if they wanted one.
Ah fair enough i suppose wishing for a long time is a little silly. Ill update that now. I'd like the laptop to last at least 4 years. Tbh I'm not very knowledgeable about laptops but that should be reasonable no?
Where'd he get the laptop from?
Might not be silly, but possibly ambitious or optimistic lol.
Intel 8th gen (Windows 11), 16gb RAM, grade A, $269
https://www.australiancomputertraders.com.au/hp-elitebook-83…
More than capable of running web apps. I’ve done Minecraft, basic video editing on same specs
Seconded. This is the best you will get for that price. Reasonable compromises all around. I am confident zero new laptops exist under $500 worth considering…
Buy a Thinkpad T480, built like a tank and its easy to replace RAM, battery and SSD if need be.
He will not be using anything more intensive than chrome
This is going to play out one of two ways.
He spends $250 on a cheap laptop, loses interest quickly, and regrets spending even that much.
Or he spends $250, finds it really interesting, and regrets spending only $250 and getting crap, and wishes he'd spent a bit more on something decent.
So here's my suggestion. Get a really really cheap used chromebook. And in a couple of months when he's decided whether its interesting and he really does want to do online courses, or not, either throw it away, or throw it away and spend a bit more on something decent.
Get a really really cheap used chromebook.
Good way to ensure they lose interest quickly…
The one I posted above is pretty decent specs for what they need.
will be a good test of his Patience…..
"Refurb" ThinkPad off eBay is the correct answer to this question 99% ot the time. T480/t490 with 8th gen should be possible.
OP, you can try to check Facebook Marketplace for example, besides computer shops in eBay, etc.
Maybe check Thinkpad laptop for example for that price. Meet in person and check the laptop functionality (keyboard working good, screen, charging good, etc.)
Last year I bought Thinkpad Yoga gen 3 from a bank manager that offered it through the marketplace. I came to her home and got it for $100 ;-) I have more than enough money to buy a new Thinkpad, but still ok for now.
Most average people only use computer for browsing, MS Office, watch video and listen to music, etc. Mostly light use. I don't even use Photoshop or any other heavy softwares. I can install Linux, troubleshooting Windows, root android phone in the past, etc. So my computer knowledge is more than average people.
For your father use case, a laptop with like 8 GB RAM or more is still good enough, harddisk should be SSD not HDD so running faster. Windows 10 is still good if not Windows 11. Laptop within the last several years is still good enough for the use case, but maybe need to change the battery. If only for home use, no need to change the battery.
recommend paying a lot more than that, unless you hate your father and don't want him to succeed in these courses
Why do you say that?
A computer should be easy to use, it should feel like it runs fast enough, shouldn't feel like you have brain damage when using it. If the courses are for work or future work then $250 is a tiny expense compared to the payoff of later work once he has built up those tickets.
quality oxymoron