New laptop

[dogememe]

The upcoming Prime day before Black Friday is a good time to buy a Windows 11 budget laptop.

A lot of laptops in the $3-400 range that aren't junk for the OP's need. Just keep it updated and you will be fine. I have lived for 2 years with a $ 300 unit I bought for $222 on Black Friday. Its been wonderful laptop with a real IPS screen, i3 Intel, 128gb storage with over half still free. I quit buying $6-700 laptops, they don't last any longer and full of stuff I don't need or want.. This is what I bought and its better than my Lenovo, with a much better screen. This is a lot more than I paid due to memory and import fees I guess. The 8gb RAM has caused no issues.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CV5ZSR17?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

You used to be able to get an acceptable laptop for $400. Those times have changed. Computers are literally double the price they were two years ago. Keep that in mind…

And an i3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is not a “wonderful” laptop. I am glad it works for you but… you get what you pay for.

I understand that everyone has a budget and different priorities which is why I specifically stated that if the budget was fixed at $400, used was the best route, while if the budget could be increased to around $700, you’ll get a nicer machine.

A new $700 computer will not necessarily last longer than a new $400 computer. But it will offer an enjoyable experience for a longer period of time and will likely remain useful even if OPs (or some software OP uses) requirements change.

I’m not trying to be rude or contrary but there is no world in which a $400 new laptop in 2026 is “wonderful”

 

[DCDG]

You used to be able to get an acceptable laptop for $400. Those times have changed. Computers are literally double the price they were two years ago. Keep that in mind…

And an i3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is not a “wonderful” laptop. I am glad it works for you but… you get what you pay for.

I understand that everyone has a budget and different priorities which is why I specifically stated that if the budget was fixed at $400, used was the best route, while if the budget could be increased to around $700, you’ll get a nicer machine.

A new $700 computer will not necessarily last longer than a new $400 computer. But it will offer an enjoyable experience for a longer period of time and will likely remain useful even if OPs (or some software OP uses) requirements change.

I’m not trying to be rude or contrary but there is no world in which a $400 new laptop in 2026 is “wonderful”

This Chromebook has been performing wonderful for the past 7 years just looking over the horizon for a suitable replacement I know it's aging and nothing lasts forever.

 

[Rand]

if you want a nice chromebook

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 CX3402CBA-DH388-GR 14" Chromebook - Full HD - Intel Core i3 12th Gen i3-1215U - 8 GB - 128 GB Flash Memory - Rocky Gray - Intel Chip - 1920 x 1080 - ChromeOS - UHD Graphics​

is under $400
but OLED screen is game changer.

 

[DCDG]

if you want a nice chromebook

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 CX3402CBA-DH388-GR 14" Chromebook - Full HD - Intel Core i3 12th Gen i3-1215U - 8 GB - 128 GB Flash Memory - Rocky Gray - Intel Chip - 1920 x 1080 - ChromeOS - UHD Graphics​

is under $400
but OLED screen is game changer.

That is a nice machine. My eyes are tired and hearing isn't what it used to be. Cheap Android screens with LCD panels look as good as my iPhone 16 screen I can't tell the different these days. OLED on a 14" panel must be interesting.

 

[Hermann]

You used to be able to get an acceptable laptop for $400. Those times have changed. Computers are literally double the price they were two years ago. Keep that in mind…

And an i3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is not a “wonderful” laptop. I am glad it works for you but… you get what you pay for.

I understand that everyone has a budget and different priorities which is why I specifically stated that if the budget was fixed at $400, used was the best route, while if the budget could be increased to around $700, you’ll get a nicer machine.

A new $700 computer will not necessarily last longer than a new $400 computer. But it will offer an enjoyable experience for a longer period of time and will likely remain useful even if OPs (or some software OP uses) requirements change.

I’m not trying to be rude or contrary but there is no world in which a $400 new laptop in 2026 is “wonderful”

It is at my house. Boots in a few seconds. For all that myself and the OP do on one, it's does a really nice job. Updates only take 3 or 4 minutes. Honestly, my $220. (now $400) laptop is the most reliable and quick computer I have ever owned.
Keep in mind I sold my 1st computer in 1978 working at Radio Shack in a college town. I'm not a moron. Just a realist.

 

[rszappa1]

This Chromebook has been performing wonderful for the past 7 years just looking over the horizon for a suitable replacement I know it's aging and nothing lasts forever.

Also after 7 or 10 years...not sure the time....the Chromebook will NOT get auto updates from Google...

 

[Astro14]

For YouTube, web browsing, even stocks and financials - iPad.

Inexpensive keyboards exist if you don’t like the native one on the screen.

Long battery life. Nice display. Very portable. Way better than a laptop if you don’t need the computing power.

I’m using one now whilst at breakfast in Portugal. Solve the Wordle. Surf BITOG. Read the news.

The only reason that I keep a laptop is for gaming and for true computing tasks - like storing data or running TurboTax.

For literally everything else - I use the iPad. Magazine apps and Kindle cut down on the paper I haul around with me. I rarely surf the web on a laptop. The iPad runs cooler, takes up less space, has a brighter/more video screen than any inexpensive laptop. I book flights, hotels, and cars on the iPad. It does everything.

 

[DCDG]

Also after 7 or 10 years...not sure the time....the Chromebook will NOT get auto updates from Google...

I have to check I think I’m good until 2028

 

[supton]

I like using my iPad for light work also. When the last one was dying I serious thought about giving it up, as I usually have a Windows machine quite handy. But the iPad won me over again for simple web surfing, which is the majority of what I use it for.

I do have a huge clunky keyboard (K780?) that I use when I want to type on it. Lousy for carrying around but if I leave it in the living room it's fine for light typing. I think I've had it for like 10 years and 3 different iPads, and probably have changed the batteries twice.

That said, my home PC's are i5-6500's running Mint while work gives me some late model Windows machine. If I no longer had the Windows machine I'd probably be 100% on Mint or some Linux derivative. I never got into gaming (outside of playing Doom poorly) and so my plan is to keep my "needs and wants" low going forward.

 

[Vil_Riker]

If you can bump the budget to $700 then Apple Neo makes most sense.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

Any refurb MacBook with any M-series processor and at least 16gb of memory is the answer. That might be hard for under $400 but not far off if you find a deal.

 

[DCDG]

Just came home to an update waiting for the device to reboot. Besides looks like I got updates out to June 2029 I shall run this machine to failure at this rate.