Electronics

[Laura14]

My Acer laptop is so old it needs to be replaced.  Not much wrong with it except it takes about 2 minutes for it to boot up and you have to keep it plugged in for the battery.  It's kind of served it's time and it's too big to lug around but I have zero complaints.  It's been phenomenal.

Now, I primarily use an Acer Chromebook which is smaller (11.6") that I love but it doesn't handle Windows and of course storage is non existent on the machine itself.

I was looking for a smaller windows laptop with machine storage since I love to write and want to start getting serious about it without putting it up in the cloud.  Came across the Dell Inspiron 11 3168 2 in 1 that I could grab for about $300 at Walmart that has decent reviews and a good processor (pentium quad core) plus 500GB of storage.

I think I know the answer since I would guess just about any laptop would work fine for word processing these days but would this Dell serve my purposes here and then some?  I know HP has the Streams out but they also have minimal storage so I'm kind of going old fashion and the Dell seems to have higher end features at a really good price.    

[Abrowneyegirl]

Thoughts for you - NEVER buy a laptop at Walmart.

I have learned that it is best for tech support and $$ to buy direct from the manufactor.

I recently needed another laptop..........(((groan))))

I signed up for email sales alerts from Dell, HP, etc  (of course they always sent me coupon codes)  I got a great laptop at a great price.

[mars01]

Just back up your work on a portable hard drive.

[qbetzforreal]

@Laura14- Before I purchased my laptop, I researched brands through Consumer Reports.  I have a Toshiba which I purchased from Office Depot. Other than maintanence here and there, I've never had a major problem.  We have tech support company we use.  You have to decided what you're going to use the PC for, gaming? work? etc.

[stevieb]

@Laura14... To some extent, it's the luck of the draw but I had a Dell Inspiron and I'll never have another... Personally, I avoid Dell and HP... If you had a good Acer experience, look around, you can probably find another in your price range. When I need a new laptop and the time is coming soon, if I don't go Apple, then it'll probably be Asus or Lenovo...

[Laura14]

@qbetzforreal Primarily word processing.

[Laura14]

@Abrowneyegirl I have toyed with HP's site before but never bought. I'll check it out again.

[Nuttmeg]

 You should consider cloud storage. 

[qbetzforreal]

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@Laura14 wrote:
@qbetzforrealPrimarily word processing.

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Go to Cnet.  They rate budget laptops.  You don't have to buy directly from the manufacture.

[Laura14]

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@Nuttmeg wrote:

 You should consider cloud storage. 

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@Nuttmeg  I know I am fighting the wave but I really hate it.  I have to do that with the Chromebook and I am finding out I am more of a C drive kind of girl.