What is a good and affordable laptop/computer?

[LIA]

I'm graduating in a week so I have to return this school laptop, and I'm also going to college too so I will need a laptop (preferably) does anyone have any suggestions? I've heard a ThinkPad is a good contender but I've also heard it has some cons and is a pretty bad laptop.

I'm not that familiar with computer quality. I just use them and run into cons as I use them but if anyone is also a college-goer and had to buy a laptop or has gone to college, please let me know your recommendations! 

[Memory]

How much do you want to pay?
Can you work with used gear, too?
Can you use Linux? That would open more options, as you could take some old laptop and install a well-running Linux on it, which will be likely the cheapest option. However that depends if you need any special software, that can only run on Windows. What are the tasks that your laptop has to be able to do?
Thinkpads had some good models, but not all survived well.
One newer laptop that I can praise is the 7-years-old HP 350 G2. At my workplace, there are six of those still running in excellent condition. Very accessable are the RAM (up to 8 GB) and the SSD. Having those at the upgraded to the maximum is just enough to Windows 10 fine.

[LIA]

How much do you want to pay?
Can you work with used gear, too?
Can you use Linux? That would open more options, as you could take some old laptop and install a well-running Linux on it, which will be likely the cheapest option. However that depends if you need any special software, that can only run on Windows. What are the tasks that your laptop has to be able to do?
Thinkpads had some good models, but not all survived well.
One newer laptop that I can praise is the 7-years-old HP 350 G2. At my workplace, there are six of those still running in excellent condition. Very accessable are the RAM (up to 8 GB) and the SSD. Having those at the upgraded to the maximum is just enough to Windows 10 fine.

maybe in the hundreds but not up too 900. Preferably 100-700
Yes I can work with used electronics.
I cannot use Linux, but I hope to, soon. I will not know when that will be but it won't be now.
Tasks needed are to run programs like art programs, saving documents maybe cloud storage and just surfing the web. Nothing too much.

[Mayflower]

I think the best idea is to just check whats available on your local ebay/craigslist or other used marketplace and see if you can spot yourself a decent office laptop for ~500 I want to say? Theyre often nothing remarkable but they do the job and live a decent life.
+ You can always send the specific laptop here and ask what others think of it! That makes selection easier (at least in my book)

[Memory]

https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/sr/laptops/500-or-less?appliedRefinements=15271

Here's some laptops you can buy in the us. I had to use a VPN so I could get English results as everything would be in Norwegian.

[Memory]

[removed by author]

[Melooon]

Im aware Im a known Apple shill  but if your budget is around 700 then I would absolutely recommend getting a first gen M1 Macbook Air - everything from the screen to the battery life to speakers to the keyboard will just whip any new similarly priced laptop - and the software for art, design and website making on macos is so far ahead of anything in the windows or linux world. Also if you are on this forum then online life is prob a big part of your life, so it's worth investing in a computer you'll really love!

I was actually gonna do a separate thread recommending people to get older iMacs if they are serious about web design (again for the software and the screens) but if you are planning to use it in college, then having a super light, long battery laptop is the best way to go.

You can find them for around $720 on ebay - just make sure its an M1 model and not an older Intel model, they look the same but the Intel ones are not nearly as good! (Also they are a lil harder to find, but the copper/pink one is what Id go for  )

[shevek]

Also good to look for any websites in your region that offer refurbished electronics, or the refurbished sections of local electronics markets or the companies themselves. I think if art programs are the most demand you'll put on it and the rest is just for saving documents and typing, then all you need to look out for is enough RAM in the specs of the laptop. If video editing is also something that might come up for you, definitely follow Melon's advice and also look for even more RAM.

I think mine is be over the top for your uni uses, but in case other people read this some time who have different needs, I'm very happy with my laptop still. Bought it in early 2020. It's a Lenovo IdeaPad L340 Gaming, with an i7-9750H, 16GB RAM, with 2x USB slots, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x LAN, and a headphone jack plus integrated webcam with a movable shutter. Used or refurbished, it is available rather cheaply now and it's perfect for gaming or demanding 3D renders as well as big Photoshop projects. Never lagged, froze, crashed all this time and all games run nicely in high or medium settings. Maybe not Elden Ring, but I don't play that :P

[teatime]

+1 to the recommendation on looking for a refurbished model! there's also the option of shopping for open box items at your local tech store as well. a touchscreen on a laptop COULD be useful if you don't own a drawing tablet already, but i'm not sure how well that'd work in practice.

i have no experience with linux, but as someone who's wanted to try i feel like it may be better to go with an older used/refurbished laptop because there would be more documentation.

older thinkpads have a vocal community because they're very well built computers that have lasted a long time, but you might need something a little newer than something from the early 2010s. unfortunately the newest thinkpads seem to not last as long as the older ones, so people don't generally recommend those. i keep seeing concerning videos pop up about the build quality of modern dells and lenovos, but that could just be PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE on hp's part.

whichever way you go, +1 to sending us the ones you're looking for!

[aoeu]

I would absolutely recommend getting a first gen M1 Macbook Air

I second this. While I'm not really a fan of Apple's business practices, I will admit that they do have some nice offerings insofar as laptops are concerned.

I've heard a ThinkPad is a good contender but I've also heard it has some cons and is a pretty bad laptop.

Define "bad" in this context. While it's true that there are probably better options out there for most people's everyday needs, I wouldn't go so far as to call them "bad" laptops when compared to their more commonplace alternatives.

[debleb]

+1 to the recommendation on looking for a refurbished model! there's also the option of shopping for open box items at your local tech store as well. a touchscreen on a laptop COULD be useful if you don't own a drawing tablet already, but i'm not sure how well that'd work in practice.

i have no experience with linux, but as someone who's wanted to try i feel like it may be better to go with an older used/refurbished laptop because there would be more documentation.

older thinkpads have a vocal community because they're very well built computers that have lasted a long time, but you might need something a little newer than something from the early 2010s. unfortunately the newest thinkpads seem to not last as long as the older ones, so people don't generally recommend those. i keep seeing concerning videos pop up about the build quality of modern dells and lenovos, but that could just be PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE on hp's part.

whichever way you go, +1 to sending us the ones you're looking for!

just anecdotally i have had some pretty bad experiences with modern lenovos. the hinges on the 2 lenovo laptops i had between about 2017 and 2019 both broke and i wouldn’t consider myself too rough with my laptops

[Memory]

i bought my second-hand refurblished Thinkpad X220 for under £100 about a year ago
though, i did need to buy a new keyboard (the shift key was broken), which was an extra £30

good idea to look on sites like ebay instead of places like Amazon, the latter of which charges
extortionate prices!

This, and not just because I use an X220 as my main PC. This thing is reliable, easy to fix on your own, and can be found for cheap on Ebay. If you know what you're doing, you can mod yours like mine to disable the BIOS' WIFI card whitelist and install a Linux compatible one.