New laptop purchase $500-ish

[neolithic3]

Hi everyone,

 

My sister is looking for a new laptop - her old one of almost 7 years (!) is finally conking out and she would like a new one. Please note we are in Canada and would like to purchase from a Canadian retailer.

 

Things she wants to use the laptop for:

• Itunes
• Rosetta Stone (it's a language program that runs on DVDs and needs sound) - so it needs to have a DVD/CD tray
• General internet surfing - web pages, Youtube, Skype etc
• spreadsheets and word processing
• very low level gaming

 

Things she does NOT need it for:

• video editing
• graphic intensive gaming
• high end business applications

 

What we are looking for is a reasonably priced laptop that will be last for several years and be relatively fast and able to handle the above applications as her old laptop is dead slow and often freezes up on things like Rosetta Stone. Any advice or suggestions on brands or things to get or avoid would be greatly appreciated.

 

We aren't very familiar with how much a decent laptop should cost so also please let us know if the budget we have is not appropriate for a laptop to handle the needs described above. The budget is in the $500 (CANADIAN) range (but could go up to $700 if needed but would really prefer to stick to $500 or even less if possible) and we have been looking at computers at Bestbuy.ca if you have any suggestions from that store, or NCIX.com

 

Thanks a lot for any help you can provide!

 

[NameOfNoInterest]

Other than Windows 8, this is the best one for your budget http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/gateway-gateway-ne-series-15-6-laptop-silver-intel-core-i5-3337u-500gb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-ne57003h/10270711.aspx?path=3ba61251ea15c217aeba0c5c40d0f0bfen02&SearchPageIndex=1

[neolithic3]

Other than Windows 8, this is the best one for your budget http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/gateway-gateway-ne-series-15-6-laptop-silver-intel-core-i5-3337u-500gb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-ne57003h/10270711.aspx?path=3ba61251ea15c217aeba0c5c40d0f0bfen02&SearchPageIndex=1

Thanks for the reply, but that one doesn't have a disk drive.

[NameOfNoInterest]

Well, this one works good too, it's got a lower price, and Windows 7 http://products.ncix.com/detail/lenovo-essential-g560-15-6in-led-50-58072.htm

[NameOfNoInterest]

Thanks for the reply, but that one doesn't have a disk drive.

Oh sorry.

[neolithic3]

Thanks, NameOf, I will check it out.

[NameOfNoInterest]

Thanks, NameOf, I will check it out.

No problem and just for further information, lots of people won't follow the topic so either quote them with the quote button or type @ and their full user name example @neolithic3

[dizmo]

Where in Canada do you live?

[neolithic3]

Thanks @NameOfNoInterest

[neolithic3]

Where in Canada do you live?

Vancouver

[NameOfNoInterest]

Thanks @NameOfNoInterest

No problem

[dizmo]

I'd go with this one

http://www.openbox.ca/laptops/ultrabooks/acer-aspire-v5-571-6830-intel-core-i5-3337u-1-8ghz-8gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive-15-6-led-win-8-intel-hd-graphics.html

 

They have a bunch of other laptops on their site as well.

You don't have to have an integrated disc drive, you can buy one that runs off the USB port quite cheap. It'll really open up your options.

 

There's also usually a bunch of brand new in the box ones on Craigslist for really decent prices.

[NameOfNoInterest]

I'd go with this one

http://www.openbox.ca/laptops/ultrabooks/acer-aspire-v5-571-6830-intel-core-i5-3337u-1-8ghz-8gb-memory-750gb-hard-drive-15-6-led-win-8-intel-hd-graphics.html

 

They have a bunch of other laptops on their site as well.

You don't have to have an integrated disc drive, you can buy one that runs off the USB port quite cheap. It'll really open up your options.

 

There's also usually a bunch of brand new in the box ones on Craigslist for really decent prices.

Learn something new every day

[neolithic3]

Thanks, @dizmo, I didn't realize that about the portable optical drive option! I'll check into that openbox place. Thanks again guys!

[NameOfNoInterest]

Thanks, @dizmo, I didn't realize that about the portable optical drive option! I'll check into that openbox place. Thanks again guys!

No problem if you ever need anything else make sure to mention me please

[dizmo]

Thanks, @dizmo, I didn't realize that about the portable optical drive option! I'll check into that openbox place. Thanks again guys!

 

No problem. The OpenBox place is actually a great place to buy tv's from as well. Sometimes they have stupid low prices.

The external DVD drives are light too, in case that's a worry. Mine weighs half the weight of my Optimus G. It allows you to buy an Ultrabook, which is a much, much nicer portable option.

[NameOfNoInterest]

No problem. The OpenBox place is actually a great place to buy tv's from as well. Sometimes they have stupid low prices.

The external DVD drives are light too, in case that's a worry. Mine weighs half the weight of my Optimus G. It allows you to buy an Ultrabook, which is a much, much nicer portable option.

Stupid low is my favorite kind of low

[neolithic3]

Opinions on this one? http://www.londondrugs.com/Toshiba-Satellite-L50D-A-005-1.7GHz/2.7GHz-Notebook---Black---PSKMAC-005004/L7744774,default,pd.html?start=16&cgid=computers-computerslaptop-pclaptops&srule=Price%20-%20Low%20to%20High
 

@dizmo and @NameOfNoInterest and anyone else please chime in

[NameOfNoInterest]

Opinions on this one? http://www.londondrugs.com/Toshiba-Satellite-L50D-A-005-1.7GHz/2.7GHz-Notebook---Black---PSKMAC-005004/L7744774,default,pd.html?start=16&cgid=computers-computerslaptop-pclaptops&srule=Price%20-%20Low%20to%20High

 

@dizmo and @NameOfNoInterest and anyone else please chime in

love it other than windows 8

[neolithic3]

love it other than windows 8

ha, yeah it's everywhere though! I think I will get it to look/act like Windows 7, apparently there is an easy way to do that once you download windows 8.1

[NameOfNoInterest]

ha, yeah it's everywhere though! I think I will get it to look/act like Windows 7, apparently there is an easy way to do that once you download windows 8.1

Sounds great. Windows 8 isn't my favorite. I have it on my inspiron. 

[neolithic3]

Sounds great. Windows 8 isn't my favorite. I have it on my inspiron. 

I haven't tried it yet. I will have to soon as it will be coming on the PC I am getting this week. I hate change! First thing I am going to do and is try and turn it into Win 7 again.

[NameOfNoInterest]

I haven't tried it yet. I will have to soon as it will be coming on the PC I am getting this week. I hate change! First thing I am going to do and is try and turn it into Win 7 again.

Good idea. Windows 7 is better all around

[dizmo]

Opinions on this one? http://www.londondrugs.com/Toshiba-Satellite-L50D-A-005-1.7GHz/2.7GHz-Notebook---Black---PSKMAC-005004/L7744774,default,pd.html?start=16&cgid=computers-computerslaptop-pclaptops&srule=Price%20-%20Low%20to%20High

 

@dizmo and @NameOfNoInterest and anyone else please chime in

 

Honestly, I wouldn't.

Low res screen, and AMD is usually pretty shitty in a mobile application. They usually chew threw the battery like a starved dog given raw beef.

[neolithic3]

Honestly, I wouldn't.

Low res screen, and AMD is usually pretty shitty in a mobile application. They usually chew threw the battery like a starved dog given raw beef.

 

This is what her old one was like from 2007

Dell Inspiron 1520

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 (2MB cache/1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB), Genuine Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition       Inspiron 1520 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T5250 (2MB cache/1.5GHz/667Mhz FSB) System Color Midnight Blue Color with Microsatin Finish   Memory 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz, 2 Dimm   Monitor 15.4 inch Wide Screen XGA Display with TrueLife ™   Video Card IntelJ Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 Hard Drive 80G 5400RPM SATA HDD

 

 

As long as it's an upgrade from this I think most anything would suit her. She literally does emails, her language program, and browses online for shoes etc. lol