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Microsoft Surface Laptop i5/128GB/4GB $879.20 Delivered @ Microsoft eBay

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Microsoft Surface Laptop i5/128GB/4GB $879.20 Delivered @ Microsoft eBay
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eug on 19/08/2018 - 10:33 ebay.com.au (6740 clicks)
Last edited 19/08/2018 - 12:23 by 1 other user
PSURFACE20

Great price for a very well-built laptop. It's basically this deal again.

Yes, you can get higher-spec'ed laptops for less. But they won't have the same quality touchscreen - the Surface Laptop's 2256x1504 screen is beautiful. Build quality is excellent, and the warranty should still be two years. Warranty service with Microsoft is excellent too.

This will suit anyone who needs a laptop for simple tasks, e.g. MS Office, browsing the web, watching Netflix/YouTube etc. Yes, 4GB of RAM is sufficient for that.

If you're a power user who opens 23 Chrome tabs and 10 Office docs at the same time, you'll want to get a higher-spec laptop.

Original PSURFACE20 deal

Computing 13.5inch Computer Laptop Microsoft

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closed Comments

  • mg_k on 19/08/2018 - 10:38
    +75

    Say no to 4gb ram regardless of price.

    • lplau on 19/08/2018 - 10:49
      +1

      Yes and No. My mother wouldn't need 8gb to do her web browsing, watching youtube or checking her emails…..
      However since i am a power user, i would never buy 4gb for myself.

      • mg_k on 19/08/2018 - 10:54
        +48

        Your mother needs a chromebook for $400 less and not this.

      • AlexF on 19/08/2018 - 14:10
        +2

        .. web browsing, watching youtube or checking her emails…..

        Cheap Android tablet will do all that. With money saved, buy new model following year, and so on.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/08/2018 - 10:59
      +11

      Macbook Air mid 2013 with 4gb RAM here. Numerous chrome tabs open and used to record 24 track music recordings with multiple plugins. I would prefer 16gb RAM, but just letting you know your life wouldn't be over with 4gb.

      • kiriakoz on 19/08/2018 - 11:05
        +2

        I've got an early 2014 4 gb RAM Macbook Air and it's (just) doing the job.

      • Zondor on 19/08/2018 - 12:22
        +1

        I'd like to see this actually proven to be blunt.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/08/2018 - 21:07

          If you're in Adelaide, I'm happy to show you. I'm not an apple fanboy but I must admit the Air just works very well. Meanwhile, my son runs about 50 tracks on his 4gb Air. Both of us use Reaper. Give it a go doubting Thomas.

      • get-innocuous on 19/08/2018 - 12:31
        +3

        You bought your laptop 5 years ago, which is really the minimum life you'd aim for in a laptop. In 2023 will 4GB still be enough?

        • spaceflight on 19/08/2018 - 13:22
          -5

          Yes it will.

          It has been enough for the last 10 plus years so 10 years ago you could have made the same argument and been wrong as today 4gb is still adequate.

          As HDDs have gotten faster the need for even more RAM for an average user could possibly have decreased as the swap file on a SSD is much faster than one on a spindle dive.

          And as HDDs continue to get faster we may not need RAM in 5 to 10 years.

        • Zondor on 19/08/2018 - 15:08

          @spaceflight: Swap/Page files are still not good even on SSD's.

        • get-innocuous on 19/08/2018 - 18:09
          +1

          @spaceflight: Trust me, as someone who runs out of RAM daily on a 4GB laptop with SSD swap file - it is terrible and I cannot recommend someone buys a laptop today with so little RAM.

        • spaceflight on 19/08/2018 - 19:11

          @get-innocuous:

          I never said that having a SSD means that there are no benifits of extra ram.

      • Ryballs on 19/08/2018 - 12:32
        +7

        MacOS uses less RAM than Windows though..

      • pitufon on 19/08/2018 - 13:21
        +1

        The Great Discarder is your friend.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/08/2018 - 12:01

      Yes, 4GB ram is the lowest for an ultrabook.

    • golferpat on 19/08/2018 - 13:46
      +3

      Picked up a base model Surface Pro 3 for $250 a while back. Still would probably say yes even now.

      • Jenus on 19/08/2018 - 16:30

        With an i3 processor or Atom? I'd bite into a deal like that anyday, if you don't mind sharing.

  • kiriakoz on 19/08/2018 - 10:54
    +1

    I was seriously looking at something decently priced but needs to be 8gb ram.

    I agree with mg_k re: 4 gb ram no good, but I guess it'll work for some people.

    • FXx on 19/08/2018 - 12:15

      Well you're shooting too high, the 8gb version of this is double the price. If memory is such an issue, you'll be giving up somewhere else. Crap build quality for one, speakers another.

      • kiriakoz on 19/08/2018 - 14:32

        maybe not if I go for a desktop.

        I've got a good pair of bluetooth speakers and a 1080p monitor (bought before 4K was the rage).

    • speedyjonzalas on 20/08/2018 - 15:34

      I would certainly say 4gb isn't enough for most users.

      I got one recently and it runs really well.

      But I am purely using it to look pretty in front of clients and am strict to only run chrome and nothing else on it.

      In saying that though, I have had it running netflix, multiple chrome tabs and 3d paint (with pen) and there was no sign of slow down so I'm very impressed with it so far.

  • Click_It on 19/08/2018 - 11:04

    How much RAM can we jam in this thing? I couldn't use less than 16GB these days.

    • b2dz on 19/08/2018 - 11:33
      +2

      You can't alter the memory configurations in surface devices.

    • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 11:49

      Video/photo editing?

  • spackbace on 19/08/2018 - 11:08

    Funny to think the Note 9 has more storage and ram

    • rdhupar on 19/08/2018 - 11:14
      +15

      It's also double the price :)

      • bbtlovebbt on 19/08/2018 - 11:17
        +7

        Also the screen is much smaller.

    • ozdesi on 19/08/2018 - 11:31
      +2

      Funny to think users can live with 16GB total storage on smartphones but they expect atleast 16GB RAM in their 2-in-1 tablet laptop device

      • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 11:40
        -5

        Maybe iFruit users who are happy with a battery smaller than standard smartphone batteries from 5 years ago but people with more than one brain cell are not spoken for by you.

        • ozdesi on 19/08/2018 - 11:49

          careful there are too many chat bots with more than one brain cell these days

      • Agret on 19/08/2018 - 13:01

        16gb storage is really not enough on mobile devices where the OS can reserve 8gb. You struggle to install apps without constantly being told you are out of memory. Cannot recommend.

      • Click_It on 19/08/2018 - 16:12

        I get by with 8GB on my current laptop but it's a slow old celeron so its about right for what it is. 16GB would be a minimum for any decent laptop for me personally. Then again, I haven't had 16GB total storage in a smartphone for several years either :)

    • FXx on 19/08/2018 - 11:32
      +2

      Funny how you can’t fathom price into comparing 2 consumer items..

  • lansalot on 19/08/2018 - 11:17
    +6

    Great value for the price. My wife has the 8gb variant and the build quality is amazing. Takes about 5 seconds to change it to Windows 10 Pro from S version. 4GB is still enough for most people, not sure why everyone insists on 8GB or more.

    • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 11:47

      Lol, no. Spending almost $900 on a "deal" with 4gb ram. May as well run IE 6 so you don't have multiple tabs running, remove every application out of start-up, not even think about 3rd party security software and never modify any files beyond text documents. If you do all that you might be okay for 18 months max… or you could spend $900 on a machine that makes this device feel like a Fiat Panda running on three cylinders

      • eug on 19/08/2018 - 12:09
        +5

        It sounds like you've never used a 4GB laptop of this generation before.

        • Zondor on 19/08/2018 - 12:20
          +3

          Honestly 4gb isn't enough though, every application has become more memory hungry over the years. Even for basic use people will still have youtube, facebook, possibly spotify and a few other tabs open. This WILL eat more than 4GB.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 12:21

          @Zondor: it is. I use MBA to do my dev on, no issues here. I have Spotify, over 50 chrome tabs, IDE etc etc.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:22

          You're right, my current gen machine is 16gb RAM, was originally 8gb but I upped it 😁

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 12:25

          @Joey Jo Jo: So you are basing your ranting on what?

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:29
          +2

          @FabMan: 4gb ram in a new laptop at this point in time is not a smart investment

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 12:31
          -1

          @Joey Jo Jo: People rant about movies or video games they've never watched or played, and most people think they are idiots. So to make sure you aren't one of those, let me rephrase, what experience do you have using a 4GB PC to continue ranting so much about it?

        • bloom on 19/08/2018 - 12:37
          +1

          Everyone knows 8gb would make it twice as fast!

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:50
          +2

          @FabMan: I already advised I have a current gen machine that came with 8gb and I upped it to 16gb because 8gb wasn't cutting it. Do you want me to run that by you again for a third time? 😉

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:51
          +1

          @bloom: maybe not twice as fast but sure as hell would remove a massive bottleneck

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 13:01
          -2

          @Joey Jo Jo: So you haven't used a 4GB system, so you are just another person not knowing what you are talking about. The world is full of those idiots, try utilising some evidence to support your arguement.

          What was the issue with the 8GB machine you were using? If it's got anything to do with high end activities such as AAA games with Ultra settings, you clearly aren't thinking. This has an Intel HD 620, so high end gaming isn't go to happen with 8GB or even 16GB RAM. So what activities were maxing out your 8GB of RAM?

          Let me provide you with some evidence since you don't know what it looks like:
          4GB gaming vs 16GB gaming
          4GB vs 8Gb vs 16GB
          4GB vs 8GB

          Edit to fix incorrect links

        • Agret on 19/08/2018 - 13:02
          +2

          The generation only affects the speed of the RAM not the available memory, not sure what you mean when you refer to that. The more modern the operating system the more ram will be used by it. 4gb is okay for windows 7 but on win10 you will want 8gb+

          Modern operating systems take a lot of RAM and modern browsers use more RAM than old browsers. Modern websites use tons of RAM compared to old ones with a the JavaScript libraries they load in and high res graphics becoming the norm.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 13:13

          @FabMan: ah you caught me out, I haven't used 4gb ram only 8gb and even that wasnt enough 🤣🤣

          To use an analogy a 3 cylinder Daihatsu hatch can drive you from Sydney to Melbourne, that's not for me but I understand everybody is different.

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 13:16
          -2

          @Joey Jo Jo: I'll ask again, so what used up your 8GB of RAM?

          If you don't know what you are talking about, why do you keep talking? I have proof that 4GB allows you to game, not on this Surface Pro because it uses an Intel HD 620.

          I like your vehicle comparison, it proves to me what kind of person you are. I hope you use a PC with an overclocked 8700k, 32GB of RAM with SLI 1080Ti's with otherwise your gaming PC is shit. That's sarcasm at your childish snobbery. I play on a 8700k, Vega 56, 16GB of RAM, it plays games well but I don't look down on those on a budget.

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 13:29

          @Agret: Have you tried it? I have and it works surprisingly well. If you want a better experience you have to pay for it, but the experience isn't terrible.

          Windows adjusts for the amount of RAM you have, I have an old laptop that still works, Core 2 Duo T7500, 4GB RAM, a 8600m and Windows 10. It still runs well, I slapped in a SSD and it boots very quickly and operates all basic functions, you can still play the old games that I did when it came with Vista. I upgraded my laptop because I needed a lighter machine and faster to do 3D modeling.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 13:32
          -1

          @FabMan: standard 2018 home user stuff. I'll admit the 16gb never really gets used beyond a little over half but shit I feel a huge difference. 4gb, wow I just can't even

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 13:40
          -3

          @Joey Jo Jo: Funny, my wife's PC I gave as a hand me down has Core i5 750, 8GB of RAM, a 7950 3GB and a SSD can play Witcher 3 and Shadow of Mordor on High to Very High settings, its also used nicely for writing documents and photo editing. I was also writing code and 3D modeling nicely this Christmas with Windows 10 installed.

          Its strange you experienced that as my old 2007 laptop with 4GB RAM, Core 2 Duo with a SSD still can be used to do basic actions such as email, use Office and surf the web.

          I'll guess I'll think of you as a 'special' case.

          You do know that Windows 10 adjusts the amount of RAM it uses based on how much is available.

        • maybe a bot on 19/08/2018 - 13:44
          +1

          I own a SP4 i5/4GB/128GB - It's admittedly not that bad as a power user, for daily tasks such as web browsing, content consumption, minor content creation, etc it's a perfectly fine machine and the keyboard is actually way nicer than I expected (slightly reminiscent of the ThinkPad keyboards of olde).

          But using Lightroom/Photoshop/OpticsPro (photo editing) it CHUGS. With a small Lightroom collection (~30GB) it will hit RAM cap and start paging to disk (which admittedly isn't all that bad, it's NVMe after all). It's definitely doable, but I prefer editing on my desktop with a comfy m+k and more screen real estate anyway.

          I'd be fine recommending this to a non-power user.

        • thatguyfromthatplace on 19/08/2018 - 14:22
          +3

          It sounds like you've never used one with 8gb.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 14:37

          @FabMan: You do know that Windows 10 can only adjust how much RAM it uses to a point. I've mentioned before that a person can drive a 3 cylinder daihatsu hatch from Sydney to Melbourne but although this is possible I personally would not consider this an option.

        • Zondor on 19/08/2018 - 15:09

          @OnlinePred: OSX and Windows are two very different beasts.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 15:13

          @Zondor: i know, I bootcamp windows 10…..

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 15:17

          @Joey Jo Jo: Yes and you still don't know what you are talking about. But carry on laughing and looking down at other people, but please don't give your poor advice anymore and try using evidence to support your claims.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 15:26
          -1

          @FabMan: mate buying a laptop with 4gb RAM in 2018 is like holding your wedding reception at Maccas. Most people would refuse to do it, some would shake their heads and regret it while a very few would be oblivious and swear by it.

        • FabMan on 19/08/2018 - 15:54

          @Joey Jo Jo: Your analogies are shit and are condescending, you don't understand evidence, you laugh at others people comments.

          Since the 70s people used computers to do impressive things that dealt only KB's of RAM. I wrote personslly wrote code on an Amstrad CPC 464's in the 80s which used 64KB of RAM. Idustrial Light and Magic did the 3D special effect on The Abyss released in 1989, using 80s computer tech. Pixar created Toy Story on early 90's computers. People have been creating large computer generated billboards for decades but you can't run 2018 Windows Home stuff on a modern computer with 8GB of RAM.

          There are videos and articles on the web showing people playing modern video games and creating 3D models on systems with 4GB of RAM. Yet you say it isn't possible and you laugh at people who say they can.

          I'm a fool for communicating with you, whenever someone doesn't provide evidence and doesn't accept other peoples evidence I should know they are not capable of understanding other peoples points or having an intelligent debate.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 16:29

          @Joey Jo Jo: when I bought my 4gb laptop in 2012, people like you said the same thing. Yet here we are. Still relevant, and project like you still saying the same thing

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 17:37

          Didn't mean to get under your skin mate, just chill. 4gb of ram is passable now but won't be in the short distant future. People supporting your arguments are saying their computers from 6 or so plus years ago with 4gb ram are fine. That's great but buying a machine in 2018 with 4gb of ram will not cut the mustard in 2022 or even 2020. This machine in question doesn't even have designated graphics, so the machine runs on more like 3gb to 3.5gb ram. By all means buy this computer if you're into upgrading your laptop every 12 months. Most up voted comments are those saying 4gb in a new laptop isn't good enough. I'll refrain from using an analogy and will just give it to you straight; you're in the minority with your opinion on this one.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 17:38

          @OnlinePred: lol yeah 6 years ago you bought a computer with 4gb of ram… SIX YEARS AGO 🤣🤣

        • octagonalman on 19/08/2018 - 19:35
          +1

          Going with the roadtrip analogy, imagine you've collected a few more passengers as time goes by and they all have their own music tastes and have brought their own CDs. However, there's not enough space in the passenger cabin for all those CDs and everyone is wanting their own turn in having their music played. Now you have to stop the vehicle, unload CDs into the boot, retrieve other CDs from the boot and then resume your journey/listening to music. When you run out of RAM, swapping to disk/SSD is that much slower!

      • FXx on 19/08/2018 - 12:16
        +2

        Please name the $900 device.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:31
          -4

          Have you never shopped before?
          What's your address I'll come pick you up and show you around a few stores. Do you need me to help you get dressed and tie your shoe laces for you as well? let me know I'll come earlier to allow for time.

        • FXx on 19/08/2018 - 21:10
          +2

          @Joey Jo Jo:

          'I don't know' would have sufficed. Sorry for making you look like an idiot.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 20/08/2018 - 10:08
          -1

          @Ripped: lol mate you're the boofhead unable to google items for sale

        • FXx on 20/08/2018 - 12:44

          @Joey Jo Jo:

          I won't apologise this time, you've made yourself look an even bigger idiot.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 21/08/2018 - 13:22

          @Ripped: so you couldn't work out how to shop online then?

      • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 12:20
        -1

        I Dev on a 2012 MBA with 4 GB ram. So unless you do video/photo editing. Perhaps you don't know what you are talking about?

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:25

          Perhaps you pull old pizza boxes out of dumpsters to get by on cardboard cheese and stale ground beef 🤣

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 12:28

          @Joey Jo Jo: perhaps you have more money that sense or knowledge?

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 12:33
          +3

          @OnlinePred: when it comes to computers spending a little more now saves you a lot more in the future. A 4gb ram laptop will not be kicking on too far into the future before the user is forced to buy a new device.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 12:36

          @Joey Jo Jo: Why won't it last? Windows 10 is better on ram than any other recent windows before it. I don't think I would be forced to buy a new device. Only time I would but a new one is if it broke- even then I would try and fix it anyway. I'm not a wasteful person, I don't just throw items out and buy new ones for poor excuses.

          Either way my MBA has lasted just over 6 years of Dev awesomely.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 13:00
          +2

          @OnlinePred: it's just you know, kind of standard that you run applications on top of Windows 10.

          I'm not wasteful either which is why I wouldn't buy a laptop with 4gb of ram in August 2018

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 14:39

          @Joey Jo Jo: I'll just go get the 16gb model for the same price then. Thanks mate!

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 14:57

          @OnlinePred: pay more for better value and future proof your device for way longer.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 16:33

          @Joey Jo Jo: or pay less for what some might need?

        • firefly2k3 on 19/08/2018 - 17:20

          @Joey Jo Jo:
          That's like buying a Q7 instead of a Q3 to future proof your investment thinking you're going to have a family with 4 kids in next 3-5 years.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 18:33

          @OnlinePred: pay less and require a new computer sooner ultimately costing you more

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 18:34

          @Joey Jo Jo: 7 years and still going. Pay less and save money it seems.

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 18:35

          @firefly2k3: it's like buying a q7 when it's just you and you have no family.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 18:40

          Throwing down a few extra hundred dollars to get twice the life out of a personal computer is not really comparable to spending an extra $40,000 dollars on a car that will have the same life span as the lesser model.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 18:42

          @OnlinePred: imagine the extended life you'd have got out of it having paid a bit more for a higher specs

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 19:45

          @Joey Jo Jo: it's still working great and will continue to work great for years I suspect. I saved over $300 in 2012. Smart choice by me! If I followed your succeeded l advice I works have wasted my money!!!

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 20:58

          @OnlinePred: no, if you followed my advice your computer would last even longer 😁

        • johnno07 on 19/08/2018 - 21:04
          +1

          @Joey Jo Jo: While I tend to agree that 4GB of RAM is not enough, you might have more people on your side if you weren't so damn irritating in almost every single one of your comments.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 21:58

          @johnno07: lol I can't help being right 😁

        • onlinepred on 19/08/2018 - 22:02

          @Joey Jo Jo: ram will be a thing of the past before then.

        • Joey Jo Jo on 19/08/2018 - 22:33

          @OnlinePred: lol, sure okay

      • limafoxtrot on 19/08/2018 - 13:56
        +5

        That's certainly not my experience. From a previous post on this subject…(slightly modified in light of more recent experience):

        I haven't used anything with less than 8GB for a while, but recently acquired and been experimenting with a couple of refurbs with 4GB (a yogabook yb1 and Samsung tab s pro - I was looking for mobile machines that could easily charge via a power bank, as I'm travelling between and located at several different offices). Essentially couldn't say no to the prices, despite the low specs, and they ticked the charge-via-external-battery box for me.

        With the yogabook I initially was very hesitant to use anything other than store apps due to the memory (and processor) limitations -> e.g. Mail instead of outlook; mobile Windows instead of desktop Word. Didn't push it, and it worked fine. Mobile Word is a pain as can't open more than one doc simultaneously though.

        Then I got and now I'm mostly using the TabSpro. With the faster processor (still only core M though), I felt a bit more confident -> today ended up with Edge open with about 5-10 tabs, Desktop Word 2016 with two docs, Outlook 2016 (mail and calendar windows), Win10 Mail, Xodo pdf reader with 5 docs open, and hooked up via USB 3.0 to a displaylink dock driving two external displays -> it was all working well. (I was hesitant about the displaylink dock, as previous experience with a 8gb i5 Surface Pro 3 lead to overheating and throttling - but no problems with the TabSPro).

        Would I run my Steam games on this? Of course not - that's what I do with my (old but surpisingly durable second gen i7 + GTX1050) desktop at home. But for a work platform, it does everything I need it to, no problem.

        I did nervously check task manager a few times on the TabSPro to see what memory usage was, and it was hovering at around 3.7gb at times - but I didn't ever notice any stutters or slow downs - so very much c/w EUG's note on how Windows uses/allocates RAM.

        So yes, for a typical office user, who is mostly using Office and web-based applications, 4gb is actually completely workable.

  • [Deactivated] on 19/08/2018 - 11:24
    +4

    Not bad for 2008 specs

  • congo on 19/08/2018 - 11:26

    Don't do it. 4GB won't be enough.

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