Need a New Laptop and Could Use Your Help (Budget $1400)

Matt2024 on 24/06/2021 - 15:25
Last edited 24/06/2021 - 19:44 by 1 other user

Hi guys,

Am going to start studying externally shortly, so I need a new laptop, and was hoping to make use of the EOFY sales to bag a bargain.

It will mostly be used at home for assignments (MS Office), browsing, basic games, but still need decent battery life and not too heavy as my next course will most likely be classroom based.

Upper limit of $1300-$1400, but would ideally prefer to spend less, but want something that is still quite snappy and won't be looking tired in a year.

Would appreciate any help you can give to help smooth my selection process.

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • itsfuze on 24/06/2021 - 15:34
    +2

    I'd highly recommend an M1 Macbook Air. Best battery life in the price range and great performance. Might want to check that the games you want to want to play will run on it first, however.

    • BewareOfThe Dog on 24/06/2021 - 15:36

      Also, make sure the specs will be more than adequate, as the Ram and SSD drive are soldered onto the same board as the processor. If you need to upgrade one part in the near future, you need to upgrade the lot. Not Cheap, but makes for a very powerful unit.

    • Mokr on 24/06/2021 - 15:45
      +5

      home for assignments (MS Office), browsing, basic games, but still need decent battery life -

      Why waste that money on a M1 mac, a simple laptop from levno could achieve all of that at half the price

      • kerfuffle on 24/06/2021 - 15:51

        BuT tHe AeStHeTiCs

        (I can't talk haha I have a Surface Laptop 3)

        • Mokr on 24/06/2021 - 15:56
          +2

          to be fair if you go super cheap, laptops really suck for everyday use, plastic hinges, might break, cant handle travel,

      • itsfuze on 24/06/2021 - 16:19
        +3

        It is a decent amount of money, but as someone who had a few laptops under 1k in the past, I wouldn't go back. You definitely don't need a MacBook, but the build quality and ease of use is worth it to me.

  • Pelicannn on 24/06/2021 - 15:37

    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/yoga-slim-…

    Or as above M1 Macbook Air

  • buckleupbill on 24/06/2021 - 15:46

    Since you mentioned games, you might wanna consider the surface laptop 4.

    Here's a review from Dave2D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKN9nvXTGHE

  • nubzy on 24/06/2021 - 16:37
    +1

    M1 MBA. Nothing else comes close. Base model for <$1349 will give you a great experience and last many years.

  • scrimshaw on 24/06/2021 - 17:29

    AMD powered Lenovo Thinkpad with Ryzen 5 4000 series should have enough horsepower in both CPU and GPU deparment to handle some basic games

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/lenovo-thinkpad-e14-gen…

    You already missed the good deals, but there's quite a few options still in the Lenovo education store.

    You'll want to make sure you get dual channel RAM (16GB) since single channel memory greatly cripples AMD APU's.

  • Matt2024 on 27/06/2021 - 12:59
    Merged from Looking at Lenovo ThinkPad, but not sure if I need separate graphics card or if better deal is possible.

    Processor : 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7 (4C / 8T, 2.4 / 4.2GHz, 8MB)
    Operating System : Windows 10 Home 64
    Operating System Language : Windows 10 Home 64 English
    Memory : 16GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200
    First Solid State Drive : 256GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe NVMe
    Display : 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) WVA 300nits Anti-glare, 10-point Multi-touch
    Color : Black
    Graphic Card : Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
    Camera : 720p with ThinkShutter
    Fingerprint Reader : Touch Style
    Keyboard : Backlit, English
    Wireless : Intel AX201 11ax, 2x2 + BT5.1
    TPM Setting : Enabled Discrete TPM2.0
    Absolute BIOS Selection : BIOS Absolute Enabled
    Battery : Integrated 45Wh
    Power Cord : 65W USB-C
    Display Panel : 15.6" FHD (1920x1080) IPS Anti-glare 300nits 60Hz Touch Narrow 45%NTSC, HD Camera with Shutter, Aluminum, Black

    Best price through student portal $1002

    I know better EOFY discount on offer through ebay (20% up to $300) but cant find anything similar for this price.

    Wondering what others think regarding whether need for separate graphics card / do these run hot etc / any way to get a better price ?

    NVIDIA® GeForce® MX450 GDDR5 2GB optional +$69

    Thanks.

    • studentl0an on 27/06/2021 - 13:11
      +1

      $69 is very reasonable to add an MX450, you won't find a better price.

      You would know if you needed it, which means you don't. However it will be worth it just for the resale value alone though and the chance you might use it in the future.

    • Matt2024 on 27/06/2021 - 13:12

      thx I really am more comfortable playing with them than speccing them up.

      Not bothering adding Office software to the build as I know I can get Office 365 Family for $97.

      • studentl0an on 27/06/2021 - 13:14

        You're more comfortable playing with a laptop than speccing them up?

        I don't understand?

    • Matt2024 on 27/06/2021 - 13:16

      As in am more comfortable using computers, than speccing up new builds.

      Some of the technical guys here are very switched on, and can easily tell you if a system is mismatched and where your dollars are best spent

      • KSMLJ on 27/06/2021 - 15:05

        This is a laptop not a desktop.

        A laptop cannot be 'mismatched'.

    • raisinberry777 on 27/06/2021 - 18:23

      Impossible to say whether it's worth it or not without knowing the use case.

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