Laptop recommendations please

[sky13]

If you just want a basic laptop for storage/documents then you probably won't need a very high specced laptop. I've seen very basic Lenovo laptops go for much less than 500 pounds. Just be aware that they may have lower specs (older/slower processors, less ram, less internal storage, use of a HDD in lieu of a SSD).

Full disclosure RE below replies - I recently switched to a Mac after being a lifelong Windows user. In doing so I've spent the last couple of months reading up about Macs and all before taking the plunge and buying one...

Originally Posted by DisneyD

I’m in exactly the same situation!

I was thinking of the MacBook - Curry’s are doing £200 cash back if you trade in an old laptop so makes it £599. I’m using one of the kids old laptops to exchange.

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If you're thinking of the 12" Macbook - just be aware that it's been out for about a year now, and rumours are swirling of a refresh. As with most things Apple, it's usually better to get an item right after a refresh (either for updated specs, or in the hope that last year's model may then become discounted).

Originally Posted by Leggibone

IMO A MacBook is sumwhat over powered and over priced as an email/document device (they also have tiny hard disks so you’d likely need a use hard drive too)

Have a look on eBay for a refurbished Lenovo (a t430 or higher) they are ex business laptops, you can pick up a decent one for less then £250, work extremely well for internet, documents and light gaming type applications. (Some of them also have proper sized hard drives still if that’s a priority)
I’m not saying MacBooks are bad here (they are very nice machines, if you use them a lot for more power intensive programs) just expensive for basic computing.
I haven’t looked at laptops in a while, but my brother who is very savvy recommends refurbished Lenovo’s and we both run them! (He uses his for university and lab work too)

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Originally Posted by Claudette

I think £500 for a laptop to do emails and store documents is waaay too much. You can easily get something for around £300 for that. I have usually had Acer laptops. I would not even consider a MacBook for email and document storage.

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Depends on which Macbook you're talking about! The MacBook Pro line would usually be way overpowered just for very basic usage. The 12" Macbook and MacBook Air lines have lower specs and might work well for basic usage. However, they definitely cost a lot more compared to equivalent Windows laptops, so would not be a budget option by any means.

Originally Posted by pad406

Agree with Claudette. Way too much for what you need. Why not use the iPad with online storage? Or do you need access offline? Typing on iPad the issue?

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I remember posting something fairly recently here on the Dibb about iPads on their own not being a great device.

Several reasons off the top of my head why I would not use an iPad as a solitary device, even if just for storage/documents:
- Typing - I have a Smart Keyboard and shudder at the thought of typing more than I have to on it
- File organisation. Files was a great update to the iOS system, but pales in comparison to a file management system on a proper computer
- Editing documents. Anything Microsoft Office related is tricky to edit on an iPad. They work much better on a proper computer.
- Multi-tasking - iPad does not have true multi-tasking

Long story short - iPad is great for content consumption but poorer for content creation...

(I've been away several times with my iPad 10.5" with Smart Keyboard - always miss having a full laptop when I've done this! I can manage with just an iPad for short periods of time but not for longer than that...)