Please help me buy a computer! I’m clueless and don’t want to spend more than £500

[MrsJaneyLloydFoxe]

Sorry to post in Chat but hoping for some good advice. I need to buy a PC or laptop and I’m utterly confused as to what to buy for my needs.

I recently left my job and therefore handed back by laptop which I used for everything, so I’ve always had the decision made for me!

My reqs...

• I think I want a PC as I have a nice little desk area at home and I won’t be using it out the house at all
• I need it for using the internet/research, MS Word and Excel, emails etc
• I also have a large screen already which is DH’s one from WFH during lockdowns
• I just want something quick and reliable!

looking online I have no idea what all the specs mean and what sort of memory I need. Hugely grateful for any advice please!

www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/refurbished-lenovo-thinkcentre-m910s-core-i5-7500-16gb-512gb-nvme-windows-1-t1-m910si516gb512gbw10p/version.asp

hope the link works. In my opinion this is the best device I have found for under £500

Thank you very much, I will need to check they deliver (live on an island not mainland and we have issues sometimes)

I have been looking at this - is it any good?

www.johnlewis.com/hp-m01-f2001na-desktop-pc-intel-core-i3-8gb-ram-256gb-ssd-black/p6195571

Backmarket are good for reconditioned 2nd hand ones.

In terms of longevity, Lenovo products are good, particularly the IdeaPad models.

You don't need a particularly powerful processor to do what you want to do - an i3 or i5 core will be sufficient.

I would avoid HP and Dell, tbh.

I would get a laptop and plug in the big screen, with a separate mouse and keyboard you will be comfortable using it but will also have the option to use it elsewhere.

I've got the same problem - clueless about what I'm looking at other than I think I want a laptop rather than desktop - although I never take it out of the house.

I looked on Laptops Direct yesterday. There were lots of Lenovo so good to hear they are a decent brand.

Can anyone tell me if it's worth going for Windows 11 rather than 10 (they seem to be selling both). One of the reasons I need a replacement laptop is because mine is Windows 8 and I don't think it will run an upgrade. It's all so confusing to ageing, non techy me!

You could get a Chromebook for around £200 and just use Google docs and spreadsheets instead of Word and Excel. They're pretty good and efficient.

I like ACER and ASUS. My Lenovo work laptop was ok.

I asked (the it tech) about a laptop and he said this is a minimum spec

i5 or i7
8Gb ram
512gb ssd
Windows 11

Even if you have no clue what that means like i did it's a baseline and I got a laptop for £399

Amazon will have some in Black Friday deals for under £500

Should add I want it for internet, and basic office. Maybe a few films but Not games.

I usually watch films on my iPhone!
The joy of a of is that you can choose the keyboard and so seperately

Thanks everyone.
I really don’t want a laptop - is there something I’m missing that I would get a better ‘computer’ overall if I got a laptop instead of a desktop? Hope that makes sense (am so out of my depth!)

Get an HP i5 laptop with 8 gb of ram with windows home edition. Good solid workhorse. You can connect it to a bigger monitor if you want.

don’t whatever you do buy a chromebook.

I would decide what sort of spec you want then look for second hand locally, you'll save a packet! A PC is upgradeable (desktop much more upgradeable than a laptop) so could last a lot longer for you, potentially. It takes a while to familiarise yourself with the different specs etc. There's the build a pc reddit site which people may help you on. Also other buy a pc or similar reddit sites that have people who can help!

I also would personally go for 16gb of ram. It may not be necesary 100% for what you're doing but it will futureproof it a bit and speed it up for you. 8gb can be less than ideal.

My Lenovo has lasted years....

I don't think it matters whether it's a laptop or a desktop too much in terms of basic spec.

The advantage is you get more bang for your buck with a pc as you don't need the peripherals like monitor and keyboard and so on.

So the base spec above you can look for the next spec up

So
i7 processor
16gb ram
1024gb ram