Help With Buying a laptop for under $600

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

First,

this laptop is for my mother's birthday. But I only know how to build desktops and my laptop knowledge is lacking.


My budget $600 USD
Needs

8GB ram or more
1TB hard drive. (SSD + hdd is a plus but not mandatory)
DVD drive preferred(i can buy external if needed)
Built in wifi

Things she will use it for.

Facebook
Games on Facebook
web surfing,
excell / outlook
Family Tree Maker
watching youtube.


Prefered stores Amazon // Walmart // BestBuy Inside the USA
Any links you can suggest?

Many thanks.

PS who knew trying to buy a laptop for your mom is harder than building a gaming pc for yourself?


Thanks all, went with the laptop Bad Motha suggested for my moms birthday gift.

[r.linder]

It's not Amazon, but it's the best price I could find for a good laptop with what you needed (as cheaper offerings seem to lack a 1TB HDD nowadays I guess or only come with a crap HDD)

https://www.newegg.com/peacock-blue-asus-vivobook-f512da-eb55-bl-mainstream/p/N82E16834235228?Item=N82E16834235228&nm_mc=AFC-RAN-COM&cm_mmc=AFC-RAN-COM&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-PCPartPicker&AFFID=2558510&AFFNAME=PCPartPicker&ACRID=1&ASID=https%3a%2f%2fpcpartpicker.com%2fproduct%2fwDzFf7%2fasus-vivobook-15-156-1920-x-1080-ryzen-5-3500u-21-ghz-8-gb-memory-128-gb-ssd-1-tb-storage-laptop-f512da-eb55-bl&ranMID=44583&ranEAID=2558510&ranSiteID=8BacdVP0GFs-ZIcMMbf3HyWpilraqXVBFg

Ryzen 5 3500U, 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, nice backlit keyboard. I have a similar laptop with a 3200U, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and backlit keyboard and it's good enough but lacks support for HDDs (no connector on the board even though there's a space in the case for it because it's a reused design).

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

It's not Amazon, but it's the best price I could find for a good laptop with what you needed (as cheaper offerings seem to lack a 1TB HDD nowadays I guess or only come with a crap HDD)

https://www.newegg.com/peacock-blue-asus-vivobook-f512da-eb55-bl-mainstream/p/N82E16834235228?Item=N82E16834235228&nm_mc=AFC-RAN-COM&cm_mmc=AFC-RAN-COM&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-PCPartPicker&AFFID=2558510&AFFNAME=PCPartPicker&ACRID=1&ASID=https%3a%2f%2fpcpartpicker.com%2fproduct%2fwDzFf7%2fasus-vivobook-15-156-1920-x-1080-ryzen-5-3500u-21-ghz-8-gb-memory-128-gb-ssd-1-tb-storage-laptop-f512da-eb55-bl&ranMID=44583&ranEAID=2558510&ranSiteID=8BacdVP0GFs-ZIcMMbf3HyWpilraqXVBFg

Ryzen 5 3500U, 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, nice backlit keyboard. I have a similar laptop with a 3200U, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and backlit keyboard and it's good enough but lacks support for HDDs (no connector on the board even though there's a space in the case for it because it's a reused design).

That would work but the hard drive is just way too small. After WIndows 10, that 128gb will be like 60 to 70 gb, and her family tree maker and photos will bog down whats left. Otherwise that would work. I dont want to complicate it with an external HDD, she is older, only 66, but gets frustrated fast if too complicated.

[r.linder]

Първоначално публикувано от Toothless Raider:

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

It's not Amazon, but it's the best price I could find for a good laptop with what you needed (as cheaper offerings seem to lack a 1TB HDD nowadays I guess or only come with a crap HDD)

https://www.newegg.com/peacock-blue-asus-vivobook-f512da-eb55-bl-mainstream/p/N82E16834235228?Item=N82E16834235228&nm_mc=AFC-RAN-COM&cm_mmc=AFC-RAN-COM&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-PCPartPicker&AFFID=2558510&AFFNAME=PCPartPicker&ACRID=1&ASID=https%3a%2f%2fpcpartpicker.com%2fproduct%2fwDzFf7%2fasus-vivobook-15-156-1920-x-1080-ryzen-5-3500u-21-ghz-8-gb-memory-128-gb-ssd-1-tb-storage-laptop-f512da-eb55-bl&ranMID=44583&ranEAID=2558510&ranSiteID=8BacdVP0GFs-ZIcMMbf3HyWpilraqXVBFg

Ryzen 5 3500U, 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, nice backlit keyboard. I have a similar laptop with a 3200U, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and backlit keyboard and it's good enough but lacks support for HDDs (no connector on the board even though there's a space in the case for it because it's a reused design).

That would work but the hard drive is just way too small. After WIndows 10, that 128gb will be like 60 to 70 gb, and her family tree maker and photos will bog down whats left. Otherwise that would work. I dont want to complicate it with an external HDD, she is older, only 66, but gets frustrated fast if too complicated.

The laptop I linked has 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD.

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

Първоначално публикувано от Toothless Raider:

That would work but the hard drive is just way too small. After WIndows 10, that 128gb will be like 60 to 70 gb, and her family tree maker and photos will bog down whats left. Otherwise that would work. I dont want to complicate it with an external HDD, she is older, only 66, but gets frustrated fast if too complicated.

The laptop I linked has 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD.

TY I overlooked the 1tb spec

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Първоначално публикувано от Toothless Raider:

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

It's not Amazon, but it's the best price I could find for a good laptop with what you needed (as cheaper offerings seem to lack a 1TB HDD nowadays I guess or only come with a crap HDD)

https://www.newegg.com/peacock-blue-asus-vivobook-f512da-eb55-bl-mainstream/p/N82E16834235228?Item=N82E16834235228&nm_mc=AFC-RAN-COM&cm_mmc=AFC-RAN-COM&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=afc-PCPartPicker&AFFID=2558510&AFFNAME=PCPartPicker&ACRID=1&ASID=https%3a%2f%2fpcpartpicker.com%2fproduct%2fwDzFf7%2fasus-vivobook-15-156-1920-x-1080-ryzen-5-3500u-21-ghz-8-gb-memory-128-gb-ssd-1-tb-storage-laptop-f512da-eb55-bl&ranMID=44583&ranEAID=2558510&ranSiteID=8BacdVP0GFs-ZIcMMbf3HyWpilraqXVBFg

Ryzen 5 3500U, 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD, 8GB RAM, nice backlit keyboard. I have a similar laptop with a 3200U, 128GB SSD, 8GB RAM and backlit keyboard and it's good enough but lacks support for HDDs (no connector on the board even though there's a space in the case for it because it's a reused design).

That would work but the hard drive is just way too small. After WIndows 10, that 128gb will be like 60 to 70 gb, and her family tree maker and photos will bog down whats left. Otherwise that would work. I dont want to complicate it with an external HDD, she is older, only 66, but gets frustrated fast if too complicated.

Win10 only takes up 20gb

120gb is more then enough for what your Mom wants to do cause everything is online, not on the machine.

Most older folks who just do office and light Internet stuff would have very little use for above 100GB or so. Plus you can replace or even add another ssd if you wish.

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

Първоначално публикувано от Bad 💀 Motha:

Първоначално публикувано от Toothless Raider:

That would work but the hard drive is just way too small. After WIndows 10, that 128gb will be like 60 to 70 gb, and her family tree maker and photos will bog down whats left. Otherwise that would work. I dont want to complicate it with an external HDD, she is older, only 66, but gets frustrated fast if too complicated.

Win10 only takes up 20gb

120gb is more then enough for what your Mom wants to do cause everything is online, not on the machine.

Most older folks who just do office and light Internet stuff would have very little use for above 100GB or so. Plus you can replace or even add another ssd if you wish.

My mother does alot of photo stuff and family tree maker, her last laptop I bought her 7 years ago had a 1tb hdd and its at 600gb taken due to photos and programs, she will need 1tb, I know for a fact 128gb wont be enough for her. She runs an online cooking show, so she requires a little more space. Not to mention all the windows updates that 20 gb turns out to be more like 35/40gb after updates are done.


WIndows 10
Family Tree Maker
Photoshop
PrintShop Deluxe
Adobe Photo editor(the lighter version)
Powerpoint/excel/outlook(she prefers the actual ones that install, not the online subscription version)

photos and some home videos to show family when traveling.


128GB just wont cut it sady. Because more like 70% of it is actually on the pc itself and only 30% is online.

However I want her to enjoy the SSD speeds, so I decided to go a tad out of my budget and ordered her this.
https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Inspiron-15-5593-i5-1035G1/dp/B0826DJYG1/


Has backlit keyboard for dark nights and checking emails.

Has ram expansion option up to 16gb
supports up to 1tb ssd
and up to 2tb sata

So I can just buy her an internal 2 tb sata drive later for under $100. I can upgrade her laptop nicely and this has enough speed and screen space.

I do like the Asus you guys linked but it lacks any real upgrade option, so maximizing its future use would be rough.


Thanks again for the help, insight and suggestions-and I stand by my statement, buying a laptop for my mom is harder than building my own pc lol.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Just buy a 1tb M2 ssd and add it into the laptop and use it for storage. TEAM Group M2 (sata speed) 1tb ssd are around $80

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

Първоначално публикувано от Bad 💀 Motha:

Just buy a 1tb M2 ssd and add it into the laptop and use it for storage. TEAM Group M2 (sata speed) 1tb ssd are around $80

Link please? I am already going over my budget

[RTX 5080 FE(Mr Happy)]

Първоначално публикувано от Bad 💀 Motha:

Just buy a 1tb M2 ssd and add it into the laptop and use it for storage. TEAM Group M2 (sata speed) 1tb ssd are around $80

Not sure where you are from but 1 tb m2 drive here are about $150 to $200 USD, also replacing the SSD I'd then need to buy a OS as well, Id rather just keep the stock 256gb ssd and add a 2tb sata for $80. It will be a massive upgrade over her 8 year old i3

[Bad 💀 Motha]

No you keep the ssd it came with and just add in a 2nd ssd drive for general storage.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/XZhKHx/team-ms30-1-tb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-tm8ps7001t0c101

Best to avoid using mechanical hdd in laptops.

[The Brown Hornet]

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-1920x1080-Display-i3-7100U-A515-51-3509/dp/B07CK8VHR4/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=acer+aspire+5+1tb&qid=1598914538&sr=8-6

[r.linder]

Първоначално публикувано от The Brown Hornet:

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-1920x1080-Display-i3-7100U-A515-51-3509/dp/B07CK8VHR4/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=acer+aspire+5+1tb&qid=1598914538&sr=8-6

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i3-7100U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-3500U/m176913vsm760067

The laptop I linked in the first comment is a lot better than that one. Nobody in their right mind should be paying 585 for that outdated hunk of junk.

[The Brown Hornet]

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

Първоначално публикувано от The Brown Hornet:

https://www.amazon.com/Acer-1920x1080-Display-i3-7100U-A515-51-3509/dp/B07CK8VHR4/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=acer+aspire+5+1tb&qid=1598914538&sr=8-6

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i3-7100U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-3500U/m176913vsm760067

The laptop I linked in the first comment is a lot better than that one. Nobody in their right mind should be paying 585 for that outdated hunk of junk.

Then that makes my post even better, know how to compare and get the best product for your money

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Mobile i3 are junk, go with a Ryzen 3500U minimum.

You can save money by getting one with a mechanical drive. Then later just buy your own SSD and clone the OS drive to new ssd, then change boot order in bios so SSD is first.

[r.linder]

Първоначално публикувано от The Brown Hornet:

Първоначално публикувано от Escorve:

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i3-7100U-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-3500U/m176913vsm760067

The laptop I linked in the first comment is a lot better than that one. Nobody in their right mind should be paying 585 for that outdated hunk of junk.

Then that makes my post even better, know how to compare and get the best product for your money

An outdated and weak dual core vs a quad core with much better workstation performance... HMMM