Laptop sufficiency questions

[maniacalpha1-1]

I'm in the market for a good laptop, and had some questions.

I'm looking at one with an AMD E1-1200 processor for $279.99:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-...&skuId=6733472

And then one with a Pentium B950:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...&skuId=6892279

And then one with an i5-3210:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+1...&skuId=6892385

Now, those are just examples...not my entire list of consideration. I don't really care if the thing can play games or not, if it can some weaker games, so much the better. I just want to perhaps browse the internet, watch movies, maybe use skype, etc etc. I might eventually use some applications like Office but nothing too intense.

So:
1. Will even a weaker processor be ok for these functions?
2. How difficult is it to replace the HDD with an SSD? Not physically, I'm sure I can get it physically installed, I mean, I once read a review of a laptop where someone mentioned doing this and had to call Microsoft for assistance getting it reactivated, for example.
3. Whether these have bluetooth built in, or whether I would have to get a transmitter that plugs in, are there any bluetooth headsets that would provide a remote answer button that works with skype?

 

[mfenn]

1. OK yes, ideal no. I would get at least the Pentium if you're used to a fast desktop.

2. If you reinstall with retail media (likely since OEM-provided Windows discs are rare), then yes you will likely have to do the phone activation with MS.

3. My old Plantronics Voyager 510 supports it, so I would imagine that any of their headsets with a side button would work.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Core i3 2XXX series good enough? And are the more ubiquitous brands all OK? Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo, etc.

 

[mfenn]

Yeah, the Core i3 is fine. In the sub-$500 market the screens, keyboards, and touchpads will all be crap, so it doesn't really matter which of the usual suspects you buy from.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

So I looked at laptops today and of course, they're all Windows 8.

After a couple of minutes I figured out you could choose to view internet explorer on the desktop, which looks like you expect from win 7...but that's all I figured out so far. Is it possible to generally configure win 8 to work like 7? Such as make it automatically open your browser "on the desktop"?

And I was working with an e-300 processor, it seemed to do what I needed fast enough. I mean, stuff opened slow because it's an hdd not ssd, I assume.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

FWIW: I just got an i3 w/ 17" Toshiba from Best Buy for $400. If you ship to store, you get a $25 gift card. See my thread in General Hardware for more about this.

 

[mfenn]

Is it possible to generally configure win 8 to work like 7? Such as make it automatically open your browser "on the desktop"?

In general, no. You will have to interact with the Metro start screen to some extent because there is no start menu or search without going through it.

For your specific question, yes you can make the desktop version of IE (or any other browser) the default.

And I was working with an e-300 processor, it seemed to do what I needed fast enough. I mean, stuff opened slow because it's an hdd not ssd, I assume.

Opening one or two windows if IE in the store isn't really representative. You can get the E-300 if you want, but you'll regret it.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

Did you say the Pentium would be OK? To be specific, there's one with the Pentium B980. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...reen/6780139.p?id=1218807628376&skuId=6780139 Smaller screen, but it's bigger than a tablet, so didn't really lose anything.

As for setting up windows, 99% of what I would do is going to be in the browser, so I think as long as I can make the desktop version default, I'm good with that.

 

[mfenn]

Did you say the Pentium would be OK? To be specific, there's one with the Pentium B980. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+1...&skuId=6780139 Smaller screen, but it's bigger than a tablet, so didn't really lose anything.

As for setting up windows, 99% of what I would do is going to be in the browser, so I think as long as I can make the desktop version default, I'm good with that.

Yes, that ASUS looks pretty good (as long as you are down with the color!).