More Questions re Purchasing An Inexpensive Laptop

[MEXICOWANDERER]

I shop. I see quad-core HP units with 1.7 GHz processors. There are Intel then AMD processors. I realize the more expensive the processor the more likely it is to be faster.

But the low end laptops are awash in variety of CPU types.

This is going to be the last laptop I will ever buy. I am at that age.

Should I just ignore all the hype and assume one processor will work just as fast as the other brand?

I am NOT multi-tasking. I am surfing the internet maybe with 3 or four sites open at the greatest load.

I found out too late the bargain 1.0 GHz C-50 HP with 2Gb RAM Compaq I purchased in 2011, was a real dog. Now I see 1.7 GHz models. Is that speed still too slow for reasonable performance? Most of the low-end jobs have 2Gb RAM. I've never loaded a hard disc with more than 80 GB of data.

Also are all WiFi receiver gizmos the same as far as sensitivity? No "One type will give three bars of power while another is lucky to get one"?

Slowly I absorb and learn this stuff. Thank you.

[qtla9111]

Costco Mexico Online Acer laptop 11.6" Intel® Celeron® Processor N2840

$299 U.S.

Sistema Operativo: Windows® 8.1
Disco Duro: 500GB
Color: Negro
Peso: 1.2kg
Marca: Acer
Procesador: Intel® Celeron® Processor N2840
Memoria: 2GB
Conectividad: 1HDMI, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, Bluetooth®
Tamaño de Pantalla: 11.6"
Dimensiones: 29.1cm frente x 21.1cm profundo x 2.1cm alto - See more at: http://www.costco.com.mx/view/product/mx_catalog/cos_1,cos_1.2,cos_1.2.2/632457#sthash.LlQTd5h5.dpuf

[Romer1]

Take a look here for laptops or tablets

Lenovo laptops

[Naio]

I don't think processor brand or number of cores or RAM over 2gb will affect you, with what you use it for.

Yes, anything much under 2ghz is slow. 1.9 is fine.

[SCVJeff]

darsben wrote:
How fast is your internet?
What may seem like poor performance on the laptop may actually be slow internet/ Do not confuse what you are told with what is actual speed.
TEST
You can use this one
http://2wire.com/bandwidth/initialmeter.php

LINKIE-POO

[darsben]

How fast is your internet?
What may seem like poor performance on the laptop may actually be slow internet/ Do not confuse what you are told with what is actual speed.
TEST
You can use this one
http://2wire.com/bandwidth/initialmeter.php

[SCVJeff]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Do they store PDF files? My fingers are rotten on electronic keyboards.

iPads do as well

[Vixen21]

This was on sale yesterday (expired now)and it was a Good basic laptop for $200 It would have been fast enough for anything you will likely do with it.
It was a Toshiba which arguably is a more reliable brand these days than HP.
Computer at best buy
Thread at SlickDeals discussing it
After more research it wasn't quite as good as originally thought.

expect to pay $200-$225 for a celeron or $275-$300 for a Intel I3. The laptop should have at least a 500 GB drive and 4Gb of ram plus a DVD drive (not always included anymore) If possible buy it using a credit card that doubles the warranty....My preference would be Amex.
I would check this forum every day until a similar deal comes along,
SlickDeals Hot Deal Computers

[MrWizard]

yes ,Android tablets can download, store and DISPLAY PDF files
i have a bunch on my 4yr old Motorola Xoom tablet
if you look at tablets stick with NAME brands Acer, LG, Samsung, Motorola
they have the Best displays, and this is a two sided coin
best to look at and most responsive when using

but i think you might be happier with a laptop
a 15" touch screen Android tablet might be hard to find
and windows tablets will be dealing with Win 8.1
although i admit, i haven't used windows in touch mode

on laptops .. well i'm not very enamored of this Celeron (2) core, Dell
that i'm using, as cheap as $200 when on sale at FRYs electronics
of course i have six windows and 20 tabs open
but i don't think Win 8.1 is very friendly to any TWO CORE processor
but if it can do this for me (even grudgingly) it should handle your surfing needs

i can't give any first hand advice about other mfg processors such as AMD

[2oldman]

If it's "that time" perhaps you should be treating yourself to something real nice.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

What dual core processor speed? 1.0 GHz proved to be a real dog. Would a 1.7 be 170% as fast.

[wildtoad]

There are many good low cost laptops out there with 2.x processors which should be a minimum. Both Intel and AMD make good processor, and for what you say you do either will provide sufficient horsepower. Make sure you get at least 4gb of memory (RAM),more if available.

[MWJones]

subscribed

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Do they store PDF files? My fingers are rotten on electronic keyboards.

[donn0128]

Have you thought about a tablet? While not as cheap as bottom end lap tops, you get something that just works. It has gotten to the point that my lap top might get used maybe evety couple of weeks. My tablet does 95% of what I want. Besides both Android and Apple IOS see far less problems