Thread: New Laptop Query.

First, I'm assuming that you don't hook the laptop up to an external monitor, hence the need for a 17.3" laptop?
For the tasks you describe, you don't need a Core i7 - a Core i5 would be a better compromise
I'd be looking for a laptop with SSD storage instead of traditional HDD. Even 512Gb is plenty for most people, and it is MUCH faster to boot up and more responsive.

I was a rusted on Dell user, multiple laptops and monitors over many years but no more due to a problem they refused to address. Mrs P. has an ASUS which has to be the lightest laptop I have ever picked up and I am typing this on a Lenovo which can be used as a tablet or laptop. Both machines have been trouble free and boot in seconds. I think most laptops if not all are using SSD storage these days which makes them faster.

The stuff that can be bought today is unreal. The speed is incredible.

Its amazing that we need these V12 1000hp fire breathers to browse the web and do spreadsheets

BUT, on that, ASUS are great. They are very easy to upgrade and fix.


On your existing machine, the keyboards can be replaced. Order a new one, take your time and replace it. Its usually a few screws and a "tape" that attaches to the motherboard internally. Sometimes one needs to pop the casing apart. It might fill you with horror to operate on it, but its not hard - it can be fun.

While in there, take the CPU heatsink and any other heatsinks off, and apply more thermal paste¹ (remove the old dry stuff that will be crusted up).

I must have repaired 100 lappies and restored them to life with this "one simple trick". The other trick is to clean the heatsink/fan. It will be clagged with dust. Blow it all out (carefully!) with compressed air.... or wash it in soapy water after removed (DRY it with a hairdryer before putting it back on).

To confirm that your lappie is indeed cooking itself to death, run SPECCY (free version!) and look at the temperature. It will be stinking hot.


If you post the make/model there is always a parts manual, or even specific YouTube videos showing how to do exactly these things for your specific lappie.


1 - or any other thermal paste. They are all good. Well, anything is better than nothing! Read the reviews on that link to enlighten oneself

Edit - or use these on other components rather than the paste. Paste goes on the CPU always, but all the other doodads don't necessarily need it. These strips are cut into the pickie-nail sized bits needed for fiddly little parts.

The only time you need a high spec machine is if you're doing any of the following:
- Video editing
- Photo editing ie processing RAW photos
- Gaming (no solitaire doesn't count)

Doing the basics you've outlined any current machine will tick the box. In terms of specs i'd be looking at minimum:
- Ram: 4gb
- CPU: any i5/i7 processor
- Storage: Unless you're maxing our your harddrive 500gb should be plenty for the average user. however these are also cheap so go the TB if you wish.
- you don't need dedicated graphics cards
- What you're probably more interested in is screen size, i'd go for minimum 17" unless you use an external monitor than any size will do.

In terms of your current laptop, there are a few things you can do to speed it up:
- Do a factory restore, this will remove any software/malware/viruses/cookies etc that have been added over the years that will slow it down
- As woodpixel outlined open the back out and give it a gentle clean overheating devices will reduce processing power to prevent it overheating
- Regularly shutting down if you don't do so already.
- Clearing harddrive/increasing capacity of its nearly full.

At the end of the day how much effect the above has depends on how old your machine is/current specifications as unfortunately as technology moves on ie the performance standard of computers increases developers will take advantage of this and load more features onto their websites which will chew up more processing power on your machine.

If it is a Dell the keyboard cannot be replaced without including the touch pad as well.

I recently "rebirthed" a couple of ancient Acer laptops for a neighbour - Core i3, 250Gb mechanical HDD, 720p displays (!), running Windows 7. Managed to get them cleaned up and running reasonably well with Windows 10, although the HDDs were still as slow as a wet week (probably old 5400rpm types). Good enough to be donated to the poor and needy of the parrish who had kids at school without laptops. Anything is better than nothing.

No need to "pop the hood" to replace the keyboard. If you're not comfortable with that just buy an external USB keyboard and plug it into a USB port. Unless you actually WANT to get a new laptop that is.

I use my lappie mostly as I can take it where ever I am inside outside in the shed etc.
I used to listen to spotify in the shed until I got a smart phone, even though I covered it with a cloth the fine wood dust still got in.
This poor old girl use to have XP on it, so I think I have got my moneys worth out of it, plus it is so slow even though I emptied the memory and transferred it to my desktop computer.

I run speccy Wed arvo the CPU is 58°. Graphic 57° Storage is 33°
this morning and 8° the CPU is 55°. Graphic 57° Storage is 32°


What is the difference between 801.11ac and 802.11ax.

801.11ac = Wi-Fi 5
802.11ax = Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 5 is older slightly slower equipment.
If given the option on a laptop you should go for one with Wi-Fi 6 (ax).
It has a wider range, covering more of your house and you can run more Wi-Fi devices simultaneously.
Wi-Fi 6 is also potentially faster. The cost of buying a laptop with 6 Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 5 will be small. E.g. a few dollars.
See the differences in this table.

Thanks.

I happen to have bought a laptop last week. $145ish brand new delivered from ebay. It's a basic spec acer chromebook. If you are used to windows it takes a little learning but it's not hard. Blisteringly fast. You need a special cable to attach an external monitor. The keyboard is ok. They were designed for children so the keyboard is splash resistant and the case is heavy duty with bumpers on the corners.

My plan is to give the chrome a go and if I don't like it install openbsd, linux or similar. I find the post windows 7 unusable and of course like chrome it is now spyware so I don't see why anyone pays the windows tax anymore.

2c..

If that is all you use it for, have you considered a Chromebook? You can a decent machine that can do all that you need for less than $1k. For example:

HP 470H5PA 14" FHD Chromebook (128GB) [Intel i3] | JB Hi-Fi

Asus CX1 15.6" Full HD Chromebook (64GB) [Intel Celeron] | JB Hi-Fi

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 13.3 Chromebook Core i5 8GB/256GB" | Officeworks

Save your money for tools

I note the comments on spyware that MS put in Windows, Apple the same along with Google and it has been with us many years. If you use the internet your privacy will always be compromised. Proxies, VPN's, Linux DOS etc etc will minimise it but that is beyond the average person reading this.

Just had a look around on ebay and Grays.

I've an Old ACER (Acer Aspire V3-572-78VK 15.6-Inch) that we bought for the kids on 4/2017. We bought two (daughter drowned hers, I still have sons, its the "lounge room" machine). It was ex-govvie - it was all but new. Not a scratch. Cost $528.

Its no fire-breather, but I use it daily for everything. It absolutely has the power to Not Be Slow on anything. Its not a gaming machine, but I use for all my internetting, spreadsheeting (I trade stonks and have a BIG dynamic sheet) and photo management.

It has been upgraded from 4GB RAM to 16GB (cheap!) and tore out the 500GB spinning rust disk for a fast 256GB SSD (cheap!). These two things made it really jump to life.

It is absolutely by no means slow. I've don't wait for anything.



What I wanted to point out is that one DOESNT need the latest speed-demon with nuclear spaceship technology for Every Day work. It absolutely isn't necessary.

If it should one day irreversibly die, there is NO WAY in hell I'd be buying a new laptop. It is absolute stupidity to do so, warranted seconds are the way to go.

Check allbids, Grays and eBay for ex-govvies. The prices are too good to be ignored.


Gaming, however, is a completely different story. For THAT I have my PC