Diamonds Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Hi guys, A smart business decision has led us to the direction that we want to purchase 3 laptops for the sole purpose of getting on the internet, fulfilling orders, printing labels, and answering email inquiries. Where could I get 3 good basic cheap laptops? Somewhere like microcenter? Any other ideas? We'd ideally like to stay under 300.00/unit and have as large of screens as possible and "whatever makes them fast on the internet". recommendations would be great! Thanks, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Would chrome books not be sufficient? Those are like $200 brand new. I use my chromebook for everything now and never use my MacBook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90G60 Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Chromebook might be dicey with a label printer. Fast on the internet is going to depend more on the connection coming in. Do you have any specific operating system requirements? If not, MC has a few i3's starting at $279. http://www.microcenter.com/product/458710/B40-80_14_Laptop_Computer_-_Black http://www.microcenter.com/product/453921/Inspiron_15_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Silver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShowHBK Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 When you go that low in price you are really looking at an AMD A6 processor with Windows 10 and MAYBE 4GB of ram. sometimes you can find an i3 or i5... but not many good ones or new* systems. Something like this guy is rated Business class and is $299 at the stop of your budget. It is also rated at 9 hours of battery on a single charge which is always a plus. https://www.cdwg.com/shop/products/HP-255-G4-15.6in-A-series-A6-6310-Windows-10-Home-64-bit-Edition-4-G/3916301.aspx?pfm=srh Another system to look at would be something on Woot like a convertible ASUS for business. Once updated to Windows 10 they run good for the most part. Just throwing the idea out there. http://computers.woot.com/offers/asus-t200ta-11-6-32gb500gb-2-in-1-laptop-1?ref=cp_cnt_wp_14_9 Last... In my opinion the Cadillac of business computers are still Lenovo (IBM) Thinkpad systems. This system is a little over your budget and lacks in the battery department, but it makes up for all that in the raw specs. The processor is a very good i5 5200U (2.2GHz) that can really give good performance and reliability. All that, and Lenovo always puts rock solid networking in their system. (two different systems to consider) http://www.microcenter.com/product/458947/Ideapad_100_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black http://www.microcenter.com/product/456756/ThinkPad_E555_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Coworker got a refurb Lenovo T420 at Micro-center for stupid cheap. Though, at least per their website, they don't have any right now. It's what I use at work right now. Everyone I know who uses Leonovos for work loves them, they are tanks. I wouldn't want to use anything else at work. I think the Thinkpads are their 'business' laptops, they are probably built better than their normal use/personal laptops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprafiedd Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Used Dell M series Precision Workstations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mugen Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Micro center is the place to go for $150-250 laptops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds Posted January 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I got this one... I3, 8gb (I think that stuff matters...?) http://www.microcenter.com/product/456212/15-ac113cl_156_Laptop_Computer_Refurbished_-_Cross_Brushed_Pattern_in_White_Silver The salesman asked me if I needed anti virus software and I responded dead seriously "I'm not using this one to masturbate, just work stuff".... He looked at me funny, I smirked, and then we proceeded to laugh for a minute straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berto Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I can vouch for lenovos. We had them at work, and they were good. Then we switched to Dells.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) have as large of screens as possible and "whatever makes them fast on the internet". The salesman asked me if I needed anti virus software and I responded dead seriously "I'm not using this one to masturbate, just work stuff".... He looked at me funny, I smirked, and then we proceeded to laugh for a minute straight. I would stop right here before your smart Business decision becomes your worst Nightmare. Please don't take offense, but it's obvious your not up-to-speed on the threats facing Small Business's in today's online environment. Spend a solid 8-hours researching online-threats as it pertains to running a Small Business. (http://krebsonsecurity.com is a great start) Then ask yourself these questions: Who is going to be using these computers? Are they tech savvy? Are any financial transactions going to be taking place on the network? Are you, the Vice President, going to be interfacing with the network with any of your personal devices? do you use said devices to conduct financial transactions? There's a reason the salesman looked at you funny... http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/10/the-scrap-value-of-a-hacked-pc-revisited/ The project was designed to explain simply and visually to the sort of computer user who can’t begin to fathom why miscreants would want to hack into his PC http://krebsonsecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HackedPC2012-600x381.png Edited January 12, 2016 by acklac7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acklac7 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 (edited) Back on topic, I would get Chromebooks or older Mac's. PC's can be a nightmare for small Business if you don't have every last security box checked, and even then... Edit: just caught where you already purchased a PC. Cross your T's and dot your i's when it comes to Security. Edited January 12, 2016 by acklac7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamonds Posted January 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 The PC I currently use has no virus protection (nor has it for the last 11 month's we've been in business). I'm merely switching to one that is newer. I'm a 33% partner of a home-based business with 2 other people that I trust and have been in business with for 4 years in another venture. Can I trust them? Uh, yeah... If my business gets hacked and I lose money I will ABSOLUTELY let you know so you can have a nice big "I TOLD YA SO"... Until then, I will politely decline your recommendation to "spend 8 hours researching". Can a mod close this thread? I sense another tin-foil hat reply brewing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyM3rC Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Who is going to be using these computers? Are they tech savvy? Are any financial transactions going to be taking place on the network? Are you, the Vice President, going to be interfacing with the network with any of your personal devices? do you use said devices to conduct financial transactions? If they're just label printers, you likely only have to tweak internetz access so low-paid workers don't check their facebook and get malware from click-bait and other BS. I deal with small businesses every day that have dumb non-computer people- "Oh I ONLY use this for work" okay explain all these coupon printers and fake AV products and other BS you just downloaded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 OP wants it closed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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