Are there any laptops that won’t break in 5 seconds at around the $300 mark?
My dad (65, is absolutely tragic with technology) is going away and wants a laptop he can just use to put a bet on the TAB and check his emails, any recommendations?
I saw a Kogan laptop for quite cheap- has anyone had experience with them?
Agreed, easier to use than Windows/macOS and harder for them to do something wrong. Great if you only need a web browser.
Refurb. 8th gen Intel CPU and above.
X1 carbon as an example.
Copy and paste of an old comment:
If you go the refurb route, 8th gen plus.
I've bought various refurb systems for family - t480s, carbon X1, yoga 380 and a Dell 7390. The Dell was cheapest at $219. I prefer the Lenovo systems personally.
Copy and paste of an old comment of mine regarding condition:
I've bought 4 refurbs laptops now - from Australian Computer Traders and Max Trading Group. I've also bought 2 USFF systems from Metrocom.
Checking battery health, they've all exceeded what was listed, however, this may just have been luck of the draw.
Can he get those things done on an iPad? Ideal hardware for travel.
Screen may be a bit small (especially if OP's budget is $400) and OP's dad is probably more used to a physical keyboard/desktop environment anyway
Physical keyboard can be accessorised
True but then we're looking at over $400, no? If it was all within budget than yes an iPad would be a solid option considering how snappy and portable they are. My grandma in her 80s uses one everyday.
@CrispyChrispy: Will likely depend on whether he's Android or iOS. I can only advise on Apple: refurb/like-new iPad Mini 5 $379 runs iPadOS 17. The seniors I know used to come back from their cruises saying they need to get an iPad because they were the only ones not travelling with one.
Secondhand corporate-level laptop. Deals on them all the time on this forum.
100% not some new POS for sub $400.
I saw a Kogan laptop for quite cheap- has anyone had experience with them?
Haven't even seen it and would bet that is a baaad idea.
Does it have to be a laptop? A standalone tiny PC + monitor / keyboard is going to be less breakable and have a bigger screen.
Cheap consumer laptops are e-waste out of the box.
Get a refurbished ex-corporate laptop. Get 8th gen intel or newer (big performance jump with 8th), make sure it has expandable ram & upgrade it to 16gb minimum.
100% this is the way to go, a nice older lenovo thinkpad. I am using one currently for work and it just does not die.
Good advice for most of us, but not for an elderly person. 8th gen CPU and 16GB are total overkill for occasional checking of emails.
Unless they leave 10 thousand tabs & every single bit of software they ever open running in the background.
I find having the extra overhead means less tech support calls from granddad in the end. Plus if it gets pressed into service doing anything unexpected it wont drive you up the wall being slow/short on ram.
Good advice for most of us, but not for an elderly person. 8th gen CPU and 16GB are total overkill for occasional checking of emails.
Whats your alternative ? Spend a similar amount on a new cheaply built flimsy notebook with a Celeron CPU , 4GB of RAM and a slow eMMC drive??,Which BTW is not only slower but also break sooner than a used ex-business laptop, whats the point ?
Losing Windows 10 support in a year or so and being vulnerable to anything and everything on a pre 8th gen device is definitely not worth it. 8th gen is minimum for W11 support.
If you want the best bang for the buck then get a refurb Windows ex-business laptop, here is a good example. F.Y.I: Dell precision is Dell’s top of the line business grade offering, they are built like tanks, and sells for over $2k new. The only drawback of getting a refurb is you may not get the best battery, however that particular seller promises 80% original capacity, so it may not be too bad. In the worst case you can always use it plugged in. There are many other ex-business laptops out there on eBay and the like. I've bought or acquired a number of refurbished/used Dell latitude/precision and Lenovo Thinkpad notebooks for for friends and family over the years, they usually last for many years.
Probably a chromebook?