I need a new computer. My other one broke in November 2013, so I'm typing this from my iPod. I had just gotten birthday money and I'm planning to save it for a computer. The only thing is, I'm only 15, so I don't have a job or anything. I would like an HP laptop. I heard they are very good. However, if there's another good brand of a laptop, I'll be fine with that - I just heard HP is great - my best friend has an HP laptop and it's a couple of years old and it works fine. My mother is going through money trouble, so I have to buy the computer myself. You can say I have a low budget. The most I will pay is $450. I'm planning to save my money until August 2014, also, I'll be selling a few of my things. In September 2014 I'm going into high school - 9th grade - so I'm going to need a laptop for school and my own personal use. If the Windows 8.1 laptops aren't good for $450 or below, you can recommend me a laptop a little above what I wish to pay. I'll be fine selling a few extra things of mine. So, can you please recommend a great, cheap laptop running Windows 8.1? I need one before September 2014.
I need an inexpensive but great Windows 8.1 laptop before September 2014? Can you recommend some to me?
HP Laptops are below average
http://www.rescuecom.com/...-2014.aspx
Envy is better than Pavilion
Samsung is good. Asus is OK. Lenovo Ideapads and Thinkpads are good, but Essentials is the same as Pavilion and Dell Inspiron. Acer is the bottom.
You can't know what to buy until it is time to buy it. Prices and sales keep changing.
A customer accessible battery is better than an enclosed one.
CPU Benchmarks
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/...u_list.php
Graphics benchmark
http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/gpu_list.php
Windows 7 is easier to use than 8, so I installed free Classicshell.net
Buying now,
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...puter.html
It is a low quality Gateway-Acer, but does have a powerful i5-3210M, and although no Bluetooth and all plastic, it does have a DVDRW, 6 cell battery that looks removeable, an OK Web Cam.
At $450, the price is excellent. If you do not live in New York, the shipping is free and no sales tax collected.
Windows 8 upgrades free to 8.1 at Microsoft.com, the last I checked.
This Samsung is on sale at Frys now for $468, which is above your number, and does have tax in many states. Only available in store and is a short sale
http://www.frys.com/product/7971270?site=sa:adpages%20page:P1_FRI%20date:050914
It looks like a great laptop.
Processor: Intel Core i5 -3230M, Memory: 6GB, Display: 15.6" Anti-glare Technology, Storage Drive: 750GB. It is an Ativ book 4 in an aluminum shell. Has bluetooth wireless. The battery life is low and is encased instead of removeable. There's no optical drive, but it is under 1 inch thick and weighs only 4.6 pounds. If I were buying now, this is a beauty at under $500.
It was a $700 retail on clearance.
Since not buying now, you need to wait to see what is available.
The Samsung you were pointed to is a decent machine, however you will be better off with a 4th gen (Haswell) i5 processor.
The previous poster is pretty much spot on for brands. With regard to HP, your best options are the Envy, EliteBook, and Probook. Unless you can find one of those as a refurb, however, they are probably out of your price range unfortunately. The Elitebooks and Probooks are like the Lenovo Thinkpads - they are built like tanks. I would, however, avoid the consumer grade HPs, particularly the DV6 series.
Beyond that, you need to decide on the things you want: large screen, medium, smaller; an Ultrabook which sips power slowly through a straw or a desktop replacement that will drink from a quart jug. Keyboard: do you want full sized keys, backlit keyboard, chicklet keys, 10 key key pad; display port; point stick; and so on. Go some place that has a bunch just to poke around and get a feel for the different options. Then you choose one that meets your likes and dislikes.