Decent laptop recommendations.

[nogoodnamesleft]

If your maximum allows you to buy a machine that is over-specified for your current needs, still get that, as it will give you an element of future proofing if Operating Systems and software start to demand more resources. You also have some wiggle room if you decide to get in to something more taxing in the future.

I would agree. Think of spending more as buying longevity rather than buying more power than you need.

 

[PaulSB]

I might have mentioned it but for spreadsheets there might be a new learning curve. Also Sheets is far less advanced than Excel.
Maybe it has improved but it can be quite frustrating for advanced users.

However, Chromebook has some major advantages. A few negatives but Windows that too, big style.

I've used Excel for 30+ years and need a new laptop. I knew this was coming and decided I should consider a Chromebook. The first thing I did was use Sheets for six months. I found it hugely frustrating that even at my very shallow level Sheets is a very crude product.

If I buy a Chromebook, I'm 50/50 at present, I'll continue you with my annual £80 subscription for Office 365. I can share with five other users, we get 1 Terrabyte of storage, each!! Look at how much 1TB from Google would cost once the 15GB with a free Google account is full. MS is not quite the rip off people say it is.

 

[Drago]

You can get the full office suite as an app for chrome book, so Excel is doable.

 

[albion]

You can get the full office suite as an app for chrome book, so Excel is doable.

Yes, but again,whilst closer to what one might be used too, it will likely will have major advanced user limitations.

 

[fossyant]

I bought a refurb Lenovo Yoga for about £350 18 months ago. 11th gen i7, 16 gb ram and 512gb ssd. Touch screen etc.

Far better built than the HP Envy gaming laptop I had previously that fell to bits. I have a HP at work and it's not as well built as the previous Lenovo, so went for a Lenovo for home.

 

[Sharky]

Despite a career in IT

I can sympathise with you. A whole career in IT, working on mainframes, programming in cobol, basic, Fortran and a few other obscure languages, from 1968.

But I am at a loss with the current technology. I get by, but not at all at ease.

 

[PaulSB]

You can get the full office suite as an app for chrome book, so Excel is doable.

Thanks. Yes, this is how Mrs P is using our 365 subscription. It works very well. I've been impressed with her Chromebook, apart from the keyboard which is pants. That of course can apply to any budget priced laptop.

 

[fossyant]

One of the benefits of a Lenovo - good keyboard.

 

[PaulSB]

One of the benefits of a Lenovo - good keyboard.

That's worth knowing. Thanks.

 

[Drago]

Im not impressed with my Lenovo keyboard so use a separate one.

 

[PaulSB]

Oh!

 

[Drago]

Im just fussy git who likes a keyboard with a nice positive mechanical action.