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kdm0505

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 5, 2014
64
14
Hi All, I am looking for advice on buying a laptop for business. What does everyone recommend for a sub $500 laptop? It's most likely has to be a PC.

FYI, I currently have a Thinkpad Edge and the screen is broken.
 
You could...

Hi All, I am looking for advice on buying a laptop for business. What does everyone recommend for a sub $500 laptop? It's most likely has to be a PC.

FYI, I currently have a Thinkpad Edge and the screen is broken.

Probably get the screen replaced for less than $500 and keep the good business laptop....
 
A ThinkPad T420 or T430 should be perfect.

Stay away from the Thinkpads. At least the new ones (past 3 years or so). I got a well equipped T430 about 2 years ago and it's nearly unusuable. I regret selling my 2009 MBP. The bloatware, the security issues, the slowness of their "integrated software," battery basically failing after less than 2 years, and to boot the "durable" outside is literally falling apart. I've had two or three pieces fall off the thing.

Granted I use this for my business and grad school so it's always on the go. But the MBP held up like new over 3.5 years after I bought it and was worth every cent. I'll eat crow to say, stay away from Lenovo brand laptops.
 
A second hand classic Macbook Pro should be fine. Perhaps a 2011 13" one. Intel HD 3000 is not that bad. It doesn't have a USB 3.0 port, but if you use it in a desk, you can later buy a dock which will give you plenty of USB 3.0 ports.

Split the hard disk via Bootcamp if you need running Windows.
 
Granted I use this for my business and grad school so it's always on the go. But the MBP held up like new over 3.5 years after I bought it and was worth every cent. I'll eat crow to say, stay away from Lenovo brand laptops.

This is sad news. I see lots of laptops (because I teach part time) and the Lenovo consumer models are no better (namely "junk") than any other brand. I'm discouraged that their main-line T business laptop has gone the same route. Maybe the X line is fine?

No wonder many people buy Apple laptops and just install Windows on them!
 
Just offering an opinion, but I think you are going to be hard pressed to find a "business class" machine in that price range.

You may wish to consider getting a cheap laptop and a good backup drive and backup often.

When the cheap laptop breaks, recycle it and buy a new one.

I know it sounds bad. But I don't think you'll receive any value in buying a $500 laptop PC versus buying a $300 laptop PC.

Another option may be to look a refurbished Dell Lattitude. You can often find online sellers selling these in the $300 range.

I've been researching various laptop options for several family members recently and I've come to the conclusion that PC (Windows) based laptops are throw away devices.

I am the type of person that likes to buy quality items that last. But when it comes to Windows base PC's, I just can't see the point in doing so.
 
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