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Looking for a Windows laptop

AppleDApp

AppleDApp

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Jun 21, 2011
2,413
45
I'm looking for a Windows laptop for when I'm out. Not looking for anything special. Just having a hard time finding stores that carry netbooks.

Here are my criteria

Inexpensive <350$
Light 2-3lbs
Dual core minimum
screen size between 10.1 and 14"
HDD/SDD at least 100gb


Any advice is great. Thank you.
 
http://www.pcmag.com might be a better choice

Did you know this is an Apple Mac site?
 
Netbooks are trash. They are underpowered and usually come with a version of Windows that won't let you do anything. They've also been basically replaced in the marketplace by tablets since the people buying them only needed some simple internet access, which is what tablets are good at. I've owned 3 netbooks, and I say: stay away.

Cheap Win laptops exist, but remember you get what you pay for. This is Cyber Monday. Maybe check out tigerdirect.com or newegg.com to try to find a nice deal in your range on a decent Asus or HP. (decent is a relative term in this paragraph)
 
JAT said:
Netbooks are trash. They are underpowered and usually come with a version of Windows that won't let you do anything. They've also been basically replaced in the marketplace by tablets since the people buying them only needed some simple internet access, which is what tablets are good at. I've owned 3 netbooks, and I say: stay away.

Cheap Win laptops exist, but remember you get what you pay for. This is Cyber Monday. Maybe check out tigerdirect.com or newegg.com to try to find a nice deal in your range on a decent Asus or HP. (decent is a relative term in this paragraph)
Click to expand...

Have you used netbooks recently? The newer options seem to have full windows 8 some even come with office for free.

I just need something light & basic for browsing and coding when I am away from home.


Asus seem to be the only one making netbooks The X102BA looks good.

2gb of RAM
320gb of HDD
AMD A4 CPU
10 inch screen
windows 8

1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor
1 x USB 3.0 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
1 x HDMI
1 x SD card reader
for 300$

Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
I saw some cheap >$400 windows laptops on newegg and best buy, so you should check them out. There are some Asus and Lenovo laptops that you'll find in your range. You can also take a look at the chromebook if your usage is really basic.
 
AppleDApp said:
AMD A4 CPU
Click to expand...
Problem area, IMO.

But no, I haven't used one, so that isn't an experienced opinion. If you are going to go for a processor like this, just look at a tablet. Frankly, this one basically is a tablet, that doesn't separate from its keyboard.

I mean, I haven't used one in 1.5 years or something like that. Or that particular cpu.
 
Last edited:
JAT said:
Problem area, IMO.

But no, I haven't used one, so that isn't an experienced opinion. If you are going to go for a processor like this, just look at a tablet. Frankly, this one basically is a tablet, that doesn't separate from its keyboard.

I mean, I haven't used one in 1.5 years or something like that. Or that particular cpu.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice i'll have to try it out in stores
 
AppleDApp said:
Have you used netbooks recently? The newer options seem to have full windows 8 some even come with office for free.

I just need something light & basic for browsing and coding when I am away from home.


Asus seem to be the only one making netbooks The X102BA looks good.

2gb of RAM
320gb of HDD
AMD A4 CPU
10 inch screen
windows 8

1 x VGA port/Mini D-sub 15-pin for external monitor
1 x USB 3.0 port(s)
2 x USB 2.0 port(s)
1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert
1 x HDMI
1 x SD card reader
for 300$

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

You seem more than familiar enough with the state of Windows netbooks to answer your own question.
 
JAT said:
Problem area, IMO.

But no, I haven't used one, so that isn't an experienced opinion. If you are going to go for a processor like this, just look at a tablet. Frankly, this one basically is a tablet, that doesn't separate from its keyboard.

I mean, I haven't used one in 1.5 years or something like that. Or that particular cpu.
Click to expand...

you are right I am installing all the updates and some basic software from ninite. CPU and memory are at 80%+ use all the time
 
AppleDApp said:
I'm looking for a Windows laptop for when I'm out. Not looking for anything special. Just having a hard time finding stores that carry netbooks.

Here are my criteria

Inexpensive <350$
Light 2-3lbs
Dual core minimum
screen size between 10.1 and 14"
HDD/SDD at least 100gb


Any advice is great. Thank you.
Click to expand...

It would probably help if you let us know what you need it for - what apps do you run? What do you do with it at home i.e. will you plug it into a keyboard and a larger screen? Do you have a tablet at home that you use for general web browsing/photos movies, or is this the only computer you'll have? How often are you away from a power source? Is CPU power or battery life more important? Do you need a discrete GPU? (unlikely in a netbook-class computer I'd imagine).

Also, how long are you planning to keep it for? Sure, there's a premium on a Mac, but when you take into account the resale price in 18 months time, it doesn't look so bad (compare that to the resale value of an Asus or Dell etc in 18 months time).

I have a new rMBP, and yet use it to chiefly run Windows, as I do windows development. Some may question the use of Apple hardware to run windows, but Apple's hardware is well built (generally) and they have crazy resale values - so assuming I resell it in 18 months, it's actually cost me less than a corresponding Windows laptop. Plus I like OSX and 11 hours of battery life when not working :)

PS: I'm sure there's a chinese proverb that says something along the lines of "not all macrumors newbies are newbies to macrumors"... :)
 
Dourn said:
what apps do you run?
Click to expand...
Mostly these
  • Internet Explorer
  • Putty
  • Dropbox
  • some light Office
  • Python
  • Eclipse
  • Notepad++
  • TeamViewer
  • Chrome

Dourn said:
What do you do with it at home i.e. will you plug it into a keyboard and a larger screen?/QUOTE]
At home I'll be using my iMac with VMware if I need Windows.

Dourn said:
Do you have a tablet at home that you use for general web browsing/photos movies, or is this the only computer you'll have?
Click to expand...

I will be selling my iPad to fund this laptop. This is really a secondary computer for school/work used mostly for coding and browsing.

Dourn said:
How often are you away from a power source? Is CPU power or battery life more important?
Click to expand...
I would need about 6 hours of battery life that should cover when I am away from power. Ideally I would like all day battery life.
Battery life for me is crucial but I don't want an underpowered CPU either. I'm current trying out the Asus X102BA and with 3 tabs open and running updates the PC is unusable. 2gb of RAM and AMD A4-1200 CPU.

Dourn said:
Do you need a discrete GPU?
Click to expand...
No.

Dourn said:
Also, how long are you planning to keep it for?
Click to expand...
Probably until I finish school 2-3 years or it breaks. Resale value on all computers seem pretty bad now even macs.

Dourn said:
PS: I'm sure there's a chinese proverb that says something along the lines of "not all macrumors newbies are newbies to macrumors"... :)
Click to expand...

There must be I have yet to find it.
Click to expand...
 
I purchased a Asus Q301LA (Best Buy's version of the S301LA) about a month ago. It's above the price you wanted, but for the price it's a really great laptop. It's got a 13" touchscreen, Haswell Core i5 at 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM, and a 500GB HD for $599. The only possible downside is the HD 4400 graphics, which are good enough for internet browsing and light gaming but nothing too intensive.

Just a suggestion for you.
 
three said:
I purchased a Asus Q301LA (Best Buy's version of the S301LA) about a month ago. It's above the price you wanted, but for the price it's a really great laptop. It's got a 13" touchscreen, Haswell Core i5 at 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM, and a 500GB HD for $599. The only possible downside is the HD 4400 graphics, which are good enough for internet browsing and light gaming but nothing too intensive.

Just a suggestion for you.
Click to expand...

Great thanks for the suggestion. Seems like a good option. How is battery life? Best Buy seems to say about 4.5 hours.

At 599$ it is pretty pricey.
 
AppleDApp said:
Great thanks for the suggestion. Seems like a good option. How is battery life? Best Buy seems to say about 4.5 hours.

At 599$ it is pretty pricey.
Click to expand...

Battery life seems to last me about 4.5 to 5 hours. Depending on usage. I wish it was cheaper, I'd recommend this laptop to anyone!
 
If I had to get something very cheap, I would go for a Windows 8 Tablet. I don't know if you can get all the apps you need, but if you find a cheap one with the possibility of a connected keyboard, you're golden son. Golden.
 
luffytubby said:
If I had to get something very cheap, I would go for a Windows 8 Tablet. I don't know if you can get all the apps you need, but if you find a cheap one with the possibility of a connected keyboard, you're golden son. Golden.
Click to expand...

I couldn't find a full windows 8 tablet with a keyboard for less then 500$.

This is out of my budget.
 
Seems like I will have to spend more to get something worth using. If I want an ultrabook my best option is a Macbook air with Windows in Bootcamp. This would go well with my iMac.

Or get something like the Lenovo X240 which configured the same way cost about 1000$ before taxes and warranty.
 
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