laptop suggestions for budget-midrange please

[gorobei]

my mom needs a replacement for an old conroe e2200 core2 desktop. i could upgrade the hd and ram but a new system wouldnt be much more. the main issue is it lags with all the scripts and images on web browsing even with Adblock.

budget: ~$400
usage: browse, youtube, mail, old windows game 2d

preferences:
primary

• 15" screen (1366x768 is good enough, 1600x900 might be too big)
• cd/dvd drive as she gets discs sent to her from friends/family.
• no need for touch display
• preferably a fast hd 7200rpm or really cheap ssd, doesnt need much more than 160 gb
• decent keyboard as she is mostly hunt and peck and bad keys that dont register would exceed her frustration limit.
• as minimal bloatware as possible.

secondary

• open to intel or amd as long as it has good fast interaction response time. i was thinking i3 or really fast pentium. but if the amd apus are equivalent then all is good as long as it is snappy.
• no need for thin ultrabook, this will be mostly DTR and minimal portability.
• no need for dedicated graphics card.

we have a frys, bestbuy, and usual office supply stores nearby.

 

[pauldun170]

I just picked up a Dell i3543-2000k from staples.
It was $349 in store

15.6 touchscreen
Broadwell i3-5005u
4gb ram
It's got a Seagate hdd in it (need to get a ssd)

 

[RossMAN]

preferences:
primary

• cd/dvd drive as she gets discs sent to her from friends/family.

we have a frys, bestbuy, and usual office supply stores nearby.

Your list seems reasonable but CD/DVD drives are getting harder to find, is that a deal breaker? If she can live without that I think sub $400 is possible.

Maybe call your local Microsoft Store and ask if they have this Dell in stock?

Tech specs

Display
15.6 in HD LED-backlit with TrueLife technology (1366 x 768)
Processor
Intel Pentium N3530 2.16 GHz with Intel Burst technology up to 2.58 GHz
Memory
4GB DDR3 1333 MHz
Hard drive size
500GB 5400 RPM HDD
Operating system
Windows 8.1 with Bing, 64-bit
PC type
Laptop
Optical drive
None
Media drive
4-in-1 card reader (SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro)
Audio
Waves MaxxAudio
Video
Intel HD Graphics with shared graphics memory
Ports
2 USB 2.0 • HDMI • Headphone output/Microphone input combo
Battery
4-cell lithium-ion (up to 6.5 hours)*
Camera
720p webcam
Wireless
802.11b/g/n (Miracast enabled)
Bluetooth
No
Dimensions
15.00 x 10.20 x 1.00 in (381.00 x 259.08 x 25.40 mm)
Weight
4.71 lbs (2.13 kg)
Color
Black
Other
Model number: Inspiron 15 i3531-3225BK • Keyboard travel: 1.6 mm • Touchpad dimensions: 108 x 60 mm • Security lock slot

For more technical specifications, please see manufacturer's website.

 

[RossMAN]

Is this in stock at your local Fry's? If it is, I have an $80 promo code that you're welcome to have.

http://www.frys.com/product/8135425?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

You might even be able to sign up and get your own promo code, they're free and they only e-mail me about 4 times a week.

http://ews.frys.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=homepage?site=adspageheader

Edit: Specs look good although I'm not sure about the CPU:
Processor: Intel Bay Trail-M N2830 Dual-Core

 

[Lorthreth]

Dell Factory Outlet maybe?

There's couple Inspiron 15's 369-409$ that have i3, 1366x768 and DVD.

 

[gorobei]

Your list seems reasonable but CD/DVD drives are getting harder to find, is that a deal breaker? If she can live without that I think sub $400 is possible.

it probably isnt a huge issue but until i can get all her songs ripped to mp3 and find a player with a simple enough interface, she is more comfortable with the discs.

Is this in stock at your local Fry's? If it is, I have an $80 promo code that you're welcome to have.

http://www.frys.com/product/8135425?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

You might even be able to sign up and get your own promo code, they're free and they only e-mail me about 4 times a week.

http://ews.frys.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=homepage?site=adspageheader

i'll probably swing by the store this week to see if they have a display unit. it certainly fits the bill, i just worry about it being chock full of bloatware given the price.

Dell Factory Outlet maybe?

There's couple Inspiron 15's 369-409$ that have i3, 1366x768 and DVD.

i'll look into it, are these refurbs primarily? i know dell has gotten better about bloatware.

 

[pauldun170]

I just picked up a Dell i3543-2000k from staples.
It was $349 in store

15.6 touchscreen
Broadwell i3-5005u
4gb ram
It's got a Seagate hdd in it (need to get a ssd)

i'll look into it, are these refurbs primarily? i know dell has gotten better about bloatware.

Brand New. Bloat was not to bad. Nothing really stood out so far.
They have either the Inspiron 15 i3542 or the 15 i3453.
The i3542 is the older model with the Haswell i3-4xxx. The One I just picked up is the Broadwell i3.

In store, 349 with the web price around 399. Bought this was over the weekend.

With the exception of the SSD, doesn't this meet your requirements?

 

[gorobei]

Brand New. Bloat was not to bad. Nothing really stood out so far.
They have either the Inspiron 15 i3542 or the 15 i3453.
The i3542 is the older model with the Haswell i3-4xxx. The One I just picked up is the Broadwell i3.

In store, 349 with the web price around 399. Bought this was over the weekend.

With the exception of the SSD, doesn't this meet your requirements?

yeah, the haswell one is probably more than enough. i might swap out the hd for ssd and add some ram to future proof it against software creep.

was the sale a local b&m clearout deal or part of the nationwide chain promotions?

 

[pauldun170]

yeah, the haswell one is probably more than enough. i might swap out the hd for ssd and add some ram to future proof it against software creep.

was the sale a local b&m clearout deal or part of the nationwide chain promotions?

I picked it up at Staples.
I originally went there to grab a Lenovo, which they did not have in store.
While looking around I noticed the Dell. The model they had on display was the older one and the price was $349
They gave me the newer model.

Their web site is a bit screwy
They have the Broadwell part number with the spec of the Haswell.
http://www.staples.com/Dell-Inspiron...roduct_1075790

Here is the actual specs
http://www.provantage.com/dell-i3543-000blk~7DELS058.htm

 

[RossMAN]

i'll probably swing by the store this week to see if they have a display unit. it certainly fits the bill, i just worry about it being chock full of bloatware given the price.

Before you do anything else, I would sign up for Fry's promo codes via e-mail, it's free and you unsubscribe later.

This morning I received an e-mail from Fry's offering this Dell laptop for $298 yes that's $100 off their web site price, all I had to do was give them my e-mail address. Or better yet create a temporary gmail/hotmail/yahoo sign up using that, unsubscribe then forgot about it. The only positive about buying from Fry's is you can return the laptop locally if there's a problem or she doesn't like it.

If lack of bloatware/crapware is the most important factor to you (it shouldn't be) I would take a serious look a Microsoft Store's Signature series:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404520,00.asp

You could easily do that yourself but it does take time. Reformat, clean Windows 7/8 install and then finally image the hard drive. In the future if her laptop is cluttered with bloatware you can re-install from the image which takes minutes.

WWRD (What Would RossMAN Do)? I'm glad you're thinking that. If I were in your shoes, I would:

1) Sign up for Fry's e-mails.
2) Buy from either Dell Outlet or Lenovo Outlet both have several laptops for under $400 with Intel i3 and DVD Burners.
3) Reformat, clean Windows install, image.

Hope that helps, let us know if you have any questions.

 

[RossMAN]

Starting this Sunday 2/22 Staples will offer a Dell Inspiron for $299:

Specs appear to be exactly what you're looking for, however it will probably be loaded with bloatware crap.

DVD-R/W drive
4th generation Intel Core i3-4030U 3M cache, 1.9GHz processor
4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1 DIMM) installed memory for quick multitasking
500GB SATA 5400RPM hard drive offers ample space for data storage
15.6-inch HD widescreen display with webcam (1366 x 768)
Windows 8.1 operating system
Delivers outstanding multimedia performance on a vivid 15-inch screen
Built-in wireless-N ensures fast, stable connections to Wi-Fi networks and hotspots
Intel HD graphics offer vibrant visuals, faster photo and video editing, and immersive 3-D gaming
Versatile built-in optical drive can read, rip, and burn data across a variety of disc types
HD webcam and microphone for effortless video calling
1 USB 3.0 port for faster data transfer to USB 3.0-enabled hard drives and peripherals; 2 USB 2.0 ports

 

[gorobei]

Starting this Sunday 2/22 Staples will offer a Dell Inspiron for $299:

Specs appear to be exactly what you're looking for, however it will probably be loaded with bloatware crap.

wow, you sir, wins the internets.
i was going to check if they had the older haswell version for $350, but broadwell for 299 has me gobsmacked.

i'll pick one up this sunday and report back on the bloat deletion process.

 

[RossMAN]

HP laptop for $300 @ BestBuy yes it's only Haswell but it seems like a solid laptop.

Touch screen
Ethernet - not sure if the Dell offers this

 

[gorobei]

looks like the deal is on the haswell version. the in store flyer had the correct model number.

seems it pays to be diligent, i got there 1 hour before opening and sat in my car. when the doors opened there was a tiny crowd so i made my way to the first employee. they went to the back room and only had 2 in stock. the manager came out to the 3 of us around the pc kiosk and said first come first serve and told everyone i was first. apparently he saw me waiting in my car for an hour. woot, no driving to the next closest store for me.

going to sleep for a while, ill unpack and check the bloatware later today.

many thanks to all the people who replied.

 

[RossMAN]

So you bought the Dell @ Staples?

 

[gorobei]

So you bought the Dell @ Staples?

whoops. i buried the lead it seems.
Yes, got the dell @ staples for $300.

seems my luck hit twice. the box labeling has the haswell product #.
did the initial win 8.1 startup registration and was messing around with control panel when i noticed cpu id was ..............


BROADWELL.
i guess they are out of haswell units, have too many haswell labels, or need to get rid of some broadwell inventory.

so far very little bloat: ms office trial, mcafee, and amazon 1 touch shopping are the only thing i can see. even the outer casing is pretty devoid of the stickers most brands love to paste on like a grade schooler.

 

[gorobei]

initial impressions:

• system is nice and responsive, the more or less free cpu upgrade makes this a no remorse situation.
• win 8.1 and metro are the stupidest thing ever.
• display at 12x7 @15" is ok for viewing most stuff but a little cramped vertically. text is a little on the jagged aliased side(havent messed with font smoothing). TN panel is ok at narrow sweet spot, but inverts pretty quickly on vertical axis and darkens/desaturates on horizontal.
• all the ports and accessories most anyone could hope for.
• light weight for a 15"+ desktop replacement.
• decent battery life.
• very quiet and cool over significant periods of time. hd and dvd are the noisiest thing on it.
• very minor bloatware that i identified in prior posts. additionally some dell apps in the win app store that seem harmless.

downsides:

• very flexible abs plastic casing
• glossy display with no special anti finger oil coating = prints everywhere if you use touch
• display section of clamshell lid seems to lack any metal frame for stiffening or support structure along top or bottom. very noticeable flex between the hinges.
• display panel seems to be single row of led backlighting along bottom. noticable backlight bleed on black screen during startup. (i may dig out my calibrator to see if better gamma helps.)
• somewhat sharp edges on the sides, shouldnt be an issue for dtr.
• keyboard is somewhat compacted. since it includes a num keypad the net effect feels like a moderately tight cramped experience. flat tiny chiclet keys has resulted in a few mis reads of keystrokes(might just be my fat fingers). minor flex in kb basebed, nothing that would affect me or be an issue but one of the display units at the store had more pronounced flex. (however certainly way better than the sagging-under-even-light-pressure toshiba budget unit on display).
• one piece click touchpad. between the swipe registration and horrible scrolling it really just makes win8.1 feel that much worse.(not a major issue since my mom will use a mouse)
• touch screen display is actually very nice, but the flimsy nature of the clamshell and the light weight of the unit overall makes it a questionable experience. (mind you i come from using a buisness class fujitsu convertible laptop with active digitizer and touch, so i may be biased)

overall, very nice features for a $300 laptop(i am still amazed at this price). for minimal bloat and level of cpu, i cant complain very much. hopefully win 10 upgrade will make it a less painful user experience.

 

[gorobei]

update:

burned restore media iso for 8.1 (check out arstech guidehttp://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/save-yourself-from-your-oems-bad-decisions-with-a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/)

another knock for the casing, while burning the dvd, i picked up the laptop holding on to the sides and due to flex could hear the spinning drive change pitch due to being off axis. no grinding sound, more like the air buffer needed by most hd/opticals being impinged. definitely a DTR use recommended for disc play.

speakers are kind of weak. while likely cheapest in class component, this kind of clamped top end means you will never have that ear blow out overdrive when some web advert hijacks your audio. also speakers are located on the underside of the base, so if you use it on your lap it could very easily be muffled.

it really is eerily quiet. with the lack of led's on the outside or power button, i'm never quite certain when the it is sleep/hibernate or just the display is shut down.

no ports on the rear of the base, 1x usb3 port (not labeled or color coded) 2x usb2, hdmi full size, eitherport, 3.5mm headphone, sd flash card reader all on left and right sides. either port has some sharp corners.

just need to make a disc image and i can hand it off for the mom test.

any recommendations for win app store free games?

 

[pauldun170]

update:

burned restore media iso for 8.1 (check out arstech guidehttp://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015...ecisions-with-a-clean-install-of-windows-8-1/)

another knock for the casing, while burning the dvd, i picked up the laptop holding on to the sides and due to flex could hear the spinning drive change pitch due to being off axis. no grinding sound, more like the air buffer needed by most hd/opticals being impinged. definitely a DTR use recommended for disc play.

speakers are kind of weak. while likely cheapest in class component, this kind of clamped top end means you will never have that ear blow out overdrive when some web advert hijacks your audio. also speakers are located on the underside of the base, so if you use it on your lap it could very easily be muffled.

it really is eerily quiet. with the lack of led's on the outside or power button, i'm never quite certain when the it is sleep/hibernate or just the display is shut down.

no ports on the rear of the base, 1x usb3 port (not labeled or color coded) 2x usb2, hdmi full size, eitherport, 3.5mm headphone, sd flash card reader all on left and right sides. either port has some sharp corners.

just need to make a disc image and i can hand it off for the mom test.

any recommendations for win app store free games?

Were you able to get the i3543-2000k at $300?

 

[gorobei]

Were you able to get the i3543-2000k at $300?

yes got it for $300, seems dell has some packaging issues.

the standard brown cardboard box has 3 labels. a big one with general features marketing on the narrow side, a smaller one with a bunch of item/product/version/lot numbers and 2 barcodes on the opposite narrow side. and a tiny one with a big bar code on the front with the store location(tracking info).

the tiny front one with the barcodes says i3542 (haswell) while the big side one says i3543 i3-5005u (broadwell).

what is inside was a broadwell for me at least.

so depending on how its labeled and which barcode staples uses it can ring up as a haswell unit.

not sure if they are scanning the wrong label, but i suspect the employees at my store knew there was an issue.

 

[pauldun170]

yes got it for $300, seems dell has some packaging issues.

the standard brown cardboard box has 3 labels. a big one with general features marketing on the narrow side, a smaller one with a bunch of item/product/version/lot numbers and 2 barcodes on the opposite narrow side. and a tiny one with a big bar code on the front with the store location(tracking info).

the tiny front one with the barcodes says i3542 (haswell) while the big side one says i3543 i3-5005u (broadwell).

what is inside was a broadwell for me at least.

so depending on how its labeled and which barcode staples uses it can ring up as a haswell unit.

not sure if they are scanning the wrong label, but i suspect the employees at my store knew there was an issue.

We picked up the same laptop but you were able to get for $50 cheaper. Awesome deal @ $300.

I haven't done too much with it yet since I'm planning on swapping out the seagate for an SSD and doing a clean install.

One thing that I was little disappointed with was that lack if gigabit and the wireless but overall its seems like a good bang for the buck.

 

[gorobei]

We picked up the same laptop but you were able to get for $50 cheaper. Awesome deal @ $300.

I haven't done too much with it yet since I'm planning on swapping out the seagate for an SSD and doing a clean install.

One thing that I was little disappointed with was that lack if gigabit and the wireless but overall its seems like a good bang for the buck.

its one of those corporate clerical errors that benefits the consumer, but i suspect it may not be something you can rely on at every store. i went in expecting that i might only be able to get the haswell version which was $350 the week before thus a $50 savings(versus the broadwell which was supposed to be $400). and indeed after seeing the instore flyer with the correct i3542 and the front box label, i was content with the $50 savings. finding out that it was a broadwell from the control panel was just gravy.

since win10 is a free upgrade, i'm hesitant to do a ssd swap now since it would require opening up a pc to get to the sata cables to clone the old drive over(though i did just make an installation dvd) and because i dont have a ssd handy. if i wait for win10 release, i can try to get a really cheap ssd on sale while waiting.