Purchasing Laptop - Help

I'd be more inclined to buy a Dell over an HP because I always thought Dell had a better build quality than HP. But those HP laptop specs are pretty sweet for that price.

> Microsoft 365 for $100 a year

There are open source alternatives that are free and almost indistinguishable from MS Office. OpenOffice is a solid product that's been around for years.

https://www.openoffice.org/download/

That one has twice the storage and a slightly bigger screen than the one above, so I'd say $679 is still a decent price, and ports shouldn't be a problem with it:

Display Connectors: 1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x Thunderbolt 4

USB Ports: 1 x USB-C 3.1, 2 x USB-A 3.1

If you need more USB ports, you can pick up a hub for about $20 or so.

I'd go for the Dell. It's pretty much the same specs as the HP (the HP processor is a bit more powerful) with a slightly larger (like pretty much negligible) screen size. They don't mention ports for the Dell, but again, you can always pick up a cheap USB hub f you need more.

keep in mind a laptop generally is only gonna last you 5 years...

i dislike HP laptops, they are generally built shoddy.

i like models with a metal case. 

type on the keyboard, move the track pad. do they feel janky?

and ya, as a normal consumer, most people really don't need to purchase office.

> with a slightly larger

That should have said slightly smaller.

> need for the Geek Squad?...sometimes I might need tech help

I wouldn't prepay for service, but that's just me.

I've always avoided Dell products. Company sucks.

I love my HP. It's a bit more expensive than you are looking at, but works great.

I have been using Open Office for many many yrs.   Fuck microsoft. I also deleted win 11 and installed 10 as soon as it came.  If I could go back to win 98 2nd ed I would. 

If TC was still here, you'd read about the lap top dance he bought for $1 bills.

I bought a refurbished Lenovo Think Pad 9 years ago for $200 from a local guy who was a computer geek. Used daily, it's done well so far.  I got lucky.  I like these recommendations and the input. I wouldn't know where to start anymore when I need a new one.

Mark, if you're really interested in giving MS the boot, you might want to look into Linux for your operating system. I've been using Kubuntu for about 10 years, and will never go back to MS.

You can download a bootable version and then run it from a USB drive (with no changes to your computer) if you want to try it out:

https://kubuntu.org/

Edit: Joe, you might want to look into Linux too. It's not a resource hog like Windows, and Installing it on that old Lenovo will make you think you just bought a new computer.

I would love to get away from microsoft. But I don't think I am savvy enough to make the change myself.  I wonder also if I can install Civ on it?

It took me a bit of savvy to make the switch, Mark, but less than you might think.

> I wonder also if I can install Civ on it?

I don't know what Civ is.

These are the conversations that make me comfortable with the basic fact that I can't deal with the simplest of computer/technology issues.

In my old age it actually gives me peace to know that I am completely powerless against the modern world.

I push the button that turns it on, and I'm thrilled when it works.

And that's what I say about everything in my life these days, be it computer, television, microwave, car, phone, bathroom light, etc.

I live in a world that I do not understand.

It's a trip.

Good luck with the laptop purchase, I'm sure whatever you choose, when you push the button it will work.

Ancient turn based strategy game. Civilization.