Recommendations for casual laptop

[eudemon]

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations for a casual use laptop around budget of $1k please. Thanks in advance!

Laptop will be used mainly for heavy web-based research/browsing, multi-task app windows etc. No preference for brand (except not Mac) as long as reliable. Helpful if bigger screen and not too heavy/bulky. Ideal if there is option to bundle software preloaded like antivirus, MS Office and Photoshop, else I need to hunt for them separately.

Also where would be good to buy from nowadays? Seems like 8 Apr will have another virtual sale here
(https://www.comexitshow.com.sg/), but might be gimmicky unlike physical IT Show. How about sales at electronics store like GainCity? And read here that buy direct from brand website like Lenovo might be cheaper than retailer.

 

[Henabi]

budget 1K..... Intel i5 or i7 with 16GB ram
10th gen intel should be on discount now as 11th gen processors are out

go down to the various physical IT stores to try out the laptops... feel it, touch it, type on it, see the display quality

since you are going to do PS, settle nothing less than 95% sRGB for colour accuracy

Antivirus.... probably need to pay money. you should do fine with Windows Defender
MS office.... you can check with your University if its provided free. Otherwise just use Google Doc. its free and come with 15GB of storage

Photoshop... If you are talking about Adobe PS... sorry its not free. Must pay. Then again, there are plenty of alternatives like GIMP

 

[eudemon]

Thanks Henabi! Yeah I don't mind topping up for bundled software that I need. I assume it'll be cheaper than getting licences individually too. And less hassle. But not an essential requirement.

Hope to hear more recommendations please, especially where would be good to buy from.

 

[yusoffb01]

someone selling 4500u acer for $600 in carousell

 

[eeLsinneD]

I had been laptop hunting for the past few months so probably I can share with you my insights

Under $1000, a bit hard. Unless you are settling for reburbished sets or 2nd hand goods, cos basically under $1000 sets you can get on average i5 cores/ryzen 5, which are to me, minimum essentials for using Photoshop (even on few layers and not much filters) and typically 4-8gb of RAM.

If multimedia usage is important to you, even if you don't want to spend more on an i7 core/ryzen 7, 16gb RAM is essential. Some more this 16gb will last you for the next few years to make your laptop viable for future software requirements, especially if the laptop you are getting has the RAM soldered into it, making RAM upgrading impossible.

Harddisk space you don't have to worry if you cannot afford a 1tb or even 512gb space. These days many laptops have microSD slots which you can buy as expansion later if you are more financially comfortable. My laptop has 512gb, and I expanded 256gb with microSD.

With your budget, touchsreen ones would be hard. So hope you don't aim for touchscreen. If processor brand to you is not an issue, normally AMD machines are cheaper than Intel Core machines.

Hope you can find your dream machine!

 

[LexusIS]

It is possible for below $1k. i got my lenovo ducati i5 laptop at 979 (including $88 top up for 3 years onsite). good for day to day and looks chio but not for gaming tho.

But like what bro share, u need to balance what u need. There are sales from time to time and even some flash sale at Lazada and shopee are quite worth it (800+ to 1k).

Software don't get it bundled is my advice. I got it cheaper outside including office and anitvirus. Way cheaper. Just google or PM me if you can't find.

 

[eudemon]

Great ideas, will definitely check out these suggested avenues. Any more suggested laptop models for my kind of requirements please?

 

[Windowlover]

Can consider Lenevo models,, so far I'm using for work and play,, quite stable also.

 

[Henabi]

just saw Amazon.com has a ok deal

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Proce...&rnid=2421890011&s=computers-intl-ship&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaP...&rnid=2421890011&s=computers-intl-ship&sr=1-2

 

[wtfh4x]

just saw Amazon.com has a ok deal

https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-Proce...&rnid=2421890011&s=computers-intl-ship&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Lenovo-IdeaP...&rnid=2421890011&s=computers-intl-ship&sr=1-2

Don't think got local warranty though, got to check with Lenovo SG. AFAIK Flex 5 locally is only Intel, not AMD so high chance they won't be able to service it.

 

[firesong]

Don't think got local warranty though, got to check with Lenovo SG. AFAIK Flex 5 locally is only Intel, not AMD so high chance they won't be able to service it.

Hmm.. I just bought an Ideapad Flex 5 AMD R5700U with my godson about a month back from Funan Centre...

 

[wtfh4x]

Hmm.. I just bought an Ideapad Flex 5 AMD R5700U with my godson about a month back from Funan Centre...

Is it? Maybe old stock I guess, I couldn't find any Flex 5 AMD on the Lenovo Singapore website at all.

 

[firesong]

Is it? Maybe old stock I guess, I couldn't find any Flex 5 AMD on the Lenovo Singapore website at all.

The Ryzen 5700U was just launched in Jan/Feb 2021. Not sure how "old stock" that is for you but I'm guessing you live on the cutting edge.

 

[dreamer_toons]

Came across XPS and Inspiron on Dell outlet (online refurbished store) with discounts. Online chat with their sales and the promotion is till 26 Apr.

 

[dgeralds]

is this good? I need a pen support.

https://www.dell.com/en-sg/shop/tab...in-1-laptop/hni54105049sg?view=configurations

 

[wtfh4x]

The Ryzen 5700U was just launched in Jan/Feb 2021. Not sure how "old stock" that is for you but I'm guessing you live on the cutting edge.

You can't deny that a laptop model being launched in Singapore and then disappearing without a trace <2 months later is highly suspect. No matter the reason, it doesn't bode well for spare parts availability both by the manufacturer and 2nd hand on Carousell so I wouldn't recommend it just for that reason alone. Nothing to do with the model being bad so I'm not sure why you're getting all huffy.

 

[firesong]

You can't deny that a laptop model being launched in Singapore and then disappearing without a trace <2 months later is highly suspect. No matter the reason, it doesn't bode well for spare parts availability both by the manufacturer and 2nd hand on Carousell so I wouldn't recommend it just for that reason alone. Nothing to do with the model being bad so I'm not sure why you're getting all huffy.

I think you're reading into what's not there. I'm merely stating that it was a recent purchase. It was you who made the claims that they were "old stock". I merely pointed out that the spec in question, bought at Funan, carries a pretty new CPU all the way back to post #11, to which you replied (and quoted the mention of R5700 in your reply):

Is it? Maybe old stock I guess, I couldn't find any Flex 5 AMD on the Lenovo Singapore website at all.

It could simply be that Lenovo Singapore never updated their web site to list the models. It's not the first time they have failed to do that. There are models on sale locally (and covered locally) that aren't listed.

Rather, the way you word your insinuations suggests you think it was listed then pulled, and hence you assumed some suspicious behaviour in the process.

 

[wtfh4x]

I think you're reading into what's not there. I'm merely stating that it was a recent purchase. It was you who made the claims that they were "old stock". I merely pointed out that the spec in question, bought at Funan, carries a pretty new CPU all the way back to post #11, to which you replied (and quoted the mention of R5700 in your reply):

The Ryzen 5700U was just launched in Jan/Feb 2021. Not sure how "old stock" that is for you but I'm guessing you live on the cutting edge.

This is what you said, no? That's what I was pointing out. I believe that you bought the laptop with the 5700U which is why I quoted it. I'm not denying the existence of your laptop or calling you a liar, so I'm not sure why you brought an attitude with that reply.

It could simply be that Lenovo Singapore never updated their web site to list the models. It's not the first time they have failed to do that. There are models on sale locally (and covered locally) that aren't listed.

Rather, the way you word your insinuations suggests you think it was listed then pulled, and hence you assumed some suspicious behaviour in the process.

Because the general page is listed but it says no models available. Not Out of Stock, nothing. Zero models are listed. They also weren't available for sale anywhere in Singapore when i googled Flex 5i AMD. That then led me to come to the logical conclusion that they weren't available.

But then you said you had bought them, which then tells me that the model was available at least at some point but now no longer is available, and you said you bought it not long ago and it's a new model, which then leads me to think it was listed then pulled. So I struggle to understand why you're being disingenuous with reply #13.