Shehawk (original poster member #68741) posted at 4:50 PM on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
I find the advice given on here to be generally good so…
Like clockwork the hand-me-down laptop I have been using has started acted strange the week after the extended warranty expired. It is about 4 years old—which is like 100 years in computer (like dog) years according to the computer repair places…
I am going to do the normal stuff on a tablet or laptop…watch Disney movies, buy stuff we don’t need on marketplace, play candy crush, emails, SI etc
What sort of new or lightly refurbished apple or windows device with what specific processor, ram etc have people found to be "enough".
Is there a reasonably priced iPad that will do this?
Lighter weight and easier to travel with is a plus.
"It's a slow fade...when you give yourself away" so don't do it!
grubs ( member #77165) posted at 10:03 PM on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025
If you are heavily in the apple ecosystem, new 10 inch ipads are ~$350.
I'm not, so I use Kindle fires (10 " kindle fire is $95 right now. Typically $150, though I've gotten them as low as $75. I've bought eight of various sizes dating back to 2013 and have had really good luck with them.
sisoon ( Moderator #31240) posted at 4:06 PM on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025
How big a screen do you want/need? How much data do you store on your 'laptop'? How much do you travel with your device?
I like keyboards and touchpads, high reliability, responsiveness, and long life. That means a business-level product with a 15+" screen, solid sate drive of at least 256 GB, but more is better. I could still use my now 11 year old ThinkPad, if I could see a 14" screen. My 3 year old ThinkBook is literally falling apart - I have to tighten screws every week or so for it to work decently.
I use a 17" Chromebook as a tax-aide volunteer for AARP. I don't like the fact that Google knows everything I do, and it's keyboard is different from what I'm used to. If it were the only 'laptop' I used, though, I think it would be a good option - but 17" screens are heavy.
Now that I'm fully retired, I'm thinking about a tablet ... but the screen size....
fBH (me) - on d-day: 66, Married 43, together 45, same sex ap
DDay - 12/22/2010
Recover'd and R'ed
You don't have to like your boundaries. You just have to set and enforce them.
Shehawk (original poster member #68741) posted at 2:07 PM on Monday, January 27th, 2025
Great thoughts, questions and suggestions. Thanks. 13 inch screen is fine. Even smaller would probably work. But I think sisoon, you are right. A couple of the things I am needing to di are going to need 256 k. I find that the bigger screens do not fit in my under seat bag and that is what is my current issue even if I could get the touch pad fixed or switched to a hand me down external keyboard and mouse as a temporary measure. I have several trips planned for various reasons including 3 extended medical appointments.
I went computer shopping a bit this weekend and realized (a saying I heard from the man cutting my hair this weekend that his mom had said) "it’s Champaign taste on a water bottle budget"…..He made me smile. And the haircut was great too.
Thanks again for helping me think this through!
"It's a slow fade...when you give yourself away" so don't do it!
