Recommendation for a portable 12-12.5" notebook

[qcy888]

I am looking for a portable 12-12/5" windows notebook with intel i3 and above and great battery life as I will be using it outdoor often. Microsoft surface pro or go is out of my budget. Can anyone here recommend

 

[Intrinion]

Hello, can i understand your budget and also, if you are okay with refurbished laptops?

 

[qcy888]

Hello, can i understand your budget and also, if you are okay with refurbished laptops?

Hi, yes I am okay with refurbished set if there is no hardware issue, and the battery life is at least 4-5 hours. Budget is around $300-$350 for used set. Currently using Asus E200HA 11.6", but the Intel Atom is unsuitable for my usage.

 

[Intrinion]

Hi, yes I am okay with refurbished set if there is no hardware issue, and the battery life is at least 4-5 hours. Budget is around $300-$350 for used set. Currently using Asus E200HA 11.6", but the Intel Atom is unsuitable for my usage.

I see! A refurbished ThinkPad is around this price. X240 - X260 series. Probook and Elitebooks are around this range as well.

But do check around as some “refurbished “ equipments are not what they claim to be. Basically just a clean up

 

[qcy888]

I see! A refurbished ThinkPad is around this price. X240 - X260 series. Probook and Elitebooks are around this range as well.

But do check around as some “refurbished “ equipments are not what they claim to be. Basically just a clean up

Ok, thanks

 

[Henabi]

Go with thinkpad. (not to say that I am a thinkpad user XD )

It has one of the largest laptop support community. plus, replacement parts are easy to get, be it from Sim Lim or ebay, as Thinkpad general designs tend to stay the same for many years.

 

[qcy888]

Go with thinkpad. (not to say that I am a thinkpad user XD )

It has one of the largest laptop support community. plus, replacement parts are easy to get, be it from Sim Lim or ebay, as Thinkpad general designs tend to stay the same for many years.

Thanks, I am looking at this and dell e7250.

 

[qcy888]

I see! A refurbished ThinkPad is around this price. X240 - X260 series. Probook and Elitebooks are around this range as well.

But do check around as some “refurbished “ equipments are not what they claim to be. Basically just a clean up

I saw a microsoft surface pro 3 intel i 3 selling for $299 ($349 with keyboard). Is it worth getting this? Some reviews say battery life is good while others say it is bad, am confuse.

 

[Intrinion]

I saw a microsoft surface pro 3 intel i 3 selling for $299 ($349 with keyboard). Is it worth getting this? Some reviews say battery life is good while others say it is bad, am confuse.

Ah the good old surface pro 3.
It was my primary device through university and when I was lecturing.

However, I would suggest that you look at other brands though.

1. It is end of life. Microsoft doesn't support it anymore. Hardware exchange support ended in 2019. This means that if you encounter issues and would like to swap out your device for a replacement with fees of ($700), that would be impossible.

2. The surface is sealed. Self repair is impossible. Few local repair shops do surface repair. So if it breaks, it would be a problem. Extracting your data would be a problem as well. I would say that the battery of the used laptops offered would have significantly degraded.

3. Has only one usb port, one mini display port. It's restrictive. You would have to get adapters (mini dp to hdmi /vga).

4. You are buying into the ecosystem. Everything is expensive. Keyboard, power adapter etc. replacement accessories easily sets you back $50-100

 

[Intrinion]

Thanks, I am looking at this and dell e7250.

Go with thinkpad. (not to say that I am a thinkpad user XD )

It has one of the largest laptop support community. plus, replacement parts are easy to get, be it from Sim Lim or ebay, as Thinkpad general designs tend to stay the same for many years.

I would concur business series laptops would be a good choice. Parts are more readily available on aliexpress and taobao.

For example the top cover of a thinkpad could be $25.00, and surprisingly many skins / keyboard protectors available for it.

 

[qcy888]

Ah the good old surface pro 3.
It was my primary device through university and when I was lecturing.

However, I would suggest that you look at other brands though.

1. It is end of life. Microsoft doesn't support it anymore. Hardware exchange support ended in 2019. This means that if you encounter issues and would like to swap out your device for a replacement with fees of ($700), that would be impossible.

2. The surface is sealed. Self repair is impossible. Few local repair shops do surface repair. So if it breaks, it would be a problem. Extracting your data would be a problem as well. I would say that the battery of the used laptops offered would have significantly degraded.

3. Has only one usb port, one mini display port. It's restrictive. You would have to get adapters (mini dp to hdmi /vga).

4. You are buying into the ecosystem. Everything is expensive. Keyboard, power adapter etc. replacement accessories easily sets you back $50-100

Oh, I didn't think about that. Thanks for both Henabi's and your input, I will go for Thinkpad.

 

[Intrinion]

Oh, I didn't think about that. Thanks for both Henabi's and your input, I will go for Thinkpad.

Don’t mention

One of my ex colleagues got a HP Ryzen 5 3500u laptop for about $5xx think it was on lazada or shoppee. Not sure if it was a flash sale or not.

If your budget permits, you can consider looking out for those too

 

[qcy888]

Don’t mention

One of my ex colleagues got a HP Ryzen 5 3500u laptop for about $5xx think it was on lazada or shoppee. Not sure if it was a flash sale or not.

If your budget permits, you can consider looking out for those too

Is it 12.5"?

 

[Intrinion]

Is it 12.5"?

I believe, 14!

 

[qcy888]

I believe, 14!

Oh, I am looking for 12.5" only, thanks.

 

[Tucksoon]

I am using a refurbished 14" Dell Latitude E5470. Bought for $400 (discount $50) in Qoo10. Rock steady.

Previously bought a couple refurnished Thinkpad x250 too. Similar price. Just that screen is a little small at 12.5".

 

[trenzterra]

Is there a reason why only 12" or 12.5"? 12.5" laptops quite hard to come by at your price range. Think only the ThinkPad X280 series (superseded by X390 and X13) and before comes in that screen size. In addition, newer laptops have very narrow bezels which allow them to fit 13.3" screen size into a 12.5" screen chassis.

If getting second hand, a ThinkPad would be good. As replacement parts are easily available for older models, you can pretty much refurbish the entire exterior of the ThinkPad and make it like new. For me, I replaced the screen, top cover, palm rest, keyboard and touchpad of my ThinkPad X13. Except for the screen, the rest cost me under $100 in total.

 

[watzup_ken]

Usually laptops that come with screens below 14 inch falls into the very budget (sub notebook category), or very expensive (high end ultrabook category). Given your budget, you are likely to end up with an Celeron/ Pentium Silver system to get a screen size that you prefer. Agree that you likely can get a used set, but I am not sure how long will the battery or the hardware last. Enterprise level laptops are usually very well built (high quality), but does not mean they won't fail.

 

[Intrinion]

Is there a reason why only 12" or 12.5"? 12.5" laptops quite hard to come by at your price range. Think only the ThinkPad X280 series (superseded by X390 and X13) and before comes in that screen size. In addition, newer laptops have very narrow bezels which allow them to fit 13.3" screen size into a 12.5" screen chassis.

If getting second hand, a ThinkPad would be good. As replacement parts are easily available for older models, you can pretty much refurbish the entire exterior of the ThinkPad and make it like new. For me, I replaced the screen, top cover, palm rest, keyboard and touchpad of my ThinkPad X13. Except for the screen, the rest cost me under $100 in total.

In need for a refurbishment for my X395!
Where did you get the parts from? Parts for the X395 seems to be overly expensive!

 

[trenzterra]

In need for a refurbishment for my X395!
Where did you get the parts from? Parts for the X395 seems to be overly expensive!

Got everything from Taobao. What part are you looking for? Can help you find