Laptop recommendations please

[Teamfixed]

For my work I am going to start running online courses using powerpoint presentations for up to about 12 people, this will include video and chat via webcam and mic. Currently my old laptop has win7 and my version of PP is not correctly activated/expired so a no no to use publicly. It seems that a new version of office 365 does not like win7 and my understanding is that win10 requires directX? which I do not have.

So looks like I may need a new LT. My question is how much spec would I need to run the above smoothly. I cant afford for it not to run well as I will be presenting to unknown public a very important course.
£180 gets a basic LT with Celeron N4020 1.1Ghz and 4GB RAM. But I don't know if this would cope?
Any info gratefully received.

 

[vickster]

What’s your max budget?
Is portability important?
Personally, I’d want a minimum of i3 or better i5 and a decent SSD. Perhaps look at a warrantied refurb? EBay has 10% off refurbs until tomorrow with code TENFORU for example this for £256

Eg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40308865...X3ivNs2TC6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

You’ll need to add office (around £50 Iirc)

 

[Teamfixed]

Hi
Max budget 400. Not bothered about portability.
Many thanks, will look at those.
Wanting at least a 15.6 screen as well

 

[Alex321]

While it is certainly important that it runs W10 (or a modern Mac), the quality of your internet connection is even more important.

Personally, I don't rate ASUS much, but that is very much personal opinion. I'd rather go for a Dell or HP. Acer aren't bad either IME.

This Dell looks good value https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265700331750?hash=item3ddcf950e6:g:jPwAAOSwUShih0p~&_trkparms=%26rpp_cid%3D61e81f38f797f8049666b47d

Or this Acer, with a 512GB SSD (but a smaller screen than you'd like) https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295000195601?epid=24047067950&hash=item44af61c211:g:atwAAOSw0ndijL2S&_trkparms=%26rpp_cid%3D61e81f38f797f8049666b47d

 

[Alex321]

BTW, I wouldn't go for one with less than 256Gb SSD unless it also has a Hard Disk.

 

[wiggydiggy]

My old desktop was i3, 4gb RAM no SSD. That slowed to a crawl so I upgraded RAM to 16gb and it still wasn't good.

New laptop is i5 and 16gb with 256gb SSD, never had issues with it but the model I have (Dell Latitude 5310) is above the OPs budget.

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/nav.../smlld/256gb/rmld/16gb/pt/laptops?sortOrder=1

They all have that spec, I've used them twice before and found them ok. They have an Ebay store also if you prefer.

If I was going to pick one: https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ref...ch-windows-t1-t460i516gb256gbw10p/version.asp

I really like Lenovo Thinkpads and was annoyed when my work changed to Dell. The 14" screen on that wouldnt bother me as I use docked with monitors 99% of the time.

 

[Teamfixed]

I do have the option of running a second monitor so maybe a decent option to go for a slightly smaller screen

 

[Teamfixed]

Im looking at this one. 8 as opposed 16Gb RAM though

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30457630...MIrYHb2dG5-QIVR_BRCh34-AXfEAQYASABEgIKy_D_BwE

 

[jowwy]

we use HPs with AMD Ryzen 3s.......had it 3yrs now and not skipped a bit. Teams, Zoom etc etc you can present to 100 people, the laptop wont know whos in the room, as really your just sharing a presentation.

 

[cookiemonster]

Have a look at Samsung. I use one for schoolwork. Battery life is excellent, good screen size and can handle Zoom with no issues.

 

[vickster]

While it is certainly important that it runs W10 (or a modern Mac), the quality of your internet connection is even more important.

Indeed, can you use an ethernet cable or reliant on Wifi?

 

[Teamfixed]

going to be on wifi. Looking to upgrade to fibre

 

[vickster]

going to be on wifi. Looking to upgrade to fibre

Potentially expect some drops when presenting…

 

[wiggydiggy]

going to be on wifi. Looking to upgrade to fibre

Don't forget wi-fi is just your internal home network speed - my wi-fi tells me it runs at at 65Mbps which is usually 3 x the speed of my actual broadband connection speed. A compromise is I use a wi-fi extender near my office area so I get the strongest wi-fi signal I can.

 

[presta]

I have an HP3501 i5 with 8GB RAM (incl 32GB Optane??) & 512GB SSD, but I wouldn't describe it as always smooth to run. I'm never quite sure what's being slow half the time, but even local tasks like loading and saving Excel & Word files or opening a File Explorer window can take what seems ages, so I don't think it's all about slow broadband or WiFi.

(I don't really know what Optane is or does, but it seems to spend long periods exercising the fan and soaking up large quantities of CPU power.)