Recommendation for Two Different Laptops?

[Cymera]

Hello Anandtech!

I was hoping you guys could advise me on what laptops should I get for two different needs. I am buying in Canada.

First Laptop

1) Uses: basic browsing, streaming video, and office work
2) Desired features: low weight (ideally below 4lbs), low price, Windows OS
3) This is for a family member who does not put their machines through a lot, but would like them to last as long as possible, so if you know of brands which hold out better over time, that would be great.
4) Budget: Ideally between $500-800CDN, will look at laptops around $1000 as well.

A few years ago I picked up an Asus ux31 ultrabook for ~$600CDN, but I haven't found a deal like that since. The closest thing I can find with reasonable weight and performance is closer to ~$1000CDN these days...

Second Laptop

1) Uses: office work + gaming. I'm flexible with what kind of gaming. While I would like to play R2TW and SC2, I can also settle for Heroes of the Storm and Marvel Heroes.
2) Desired features: low weight (as much as possible, I'm coming from a 2.7lbs ultrabook and I take it everywhere for work and travel), as reasonable a price as possible.
3) My last concern is heat dissipation. If I invest in a laptop that can game, I would like it to last as long as possible.
4) Budget: Not sure. I don't want to burn money but I don't want to waste $2000 on something that won't work and won't last - I would sooner pay more if necessary.

If there is any more information I can provide, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for any help anyone can offer!

 

[cfenton]

Anything under about $800CAD after taxes is going to have major compromises (low res screen, huge, poor battery life, mechanical drive, etc.) I bought a computer for a family member very who has needs similar to your first case, except they didn't need low weight. I ended up buying a cheap Dell with a basic i3 (Haswell I think) a low res screen and a mechanical drive for $399+tax. The next step up only got me a 1080p screen and a bigger mechanical drive and that was about 599+tax. There just wasn't much of a middle ground. It was either super basic, or an ultrabook. Everything in between was a horrible value.

Basically, buy whatever you can get for cheap, and be ready to buy another one in three years. At the low end I don't think brand particularly matters, since they are all going to be using the cheapest parts they can find. Or, maybe buy a cheap ultrabook like the UX305, but that will run you around $1000.