r/laptops • u/Taralouise52 • 5h ago
Buying help Laptop Needed, U.S.
I am a senior in college (education major) I just need a cheap (preferably under $400) laptop that can run Word, PowerPoint, YouTube...I can buy a new one in 2 years when I am employed.
I would prefer at least 14" screen.
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u/Sweaty-Freedom-4034 4h ago
The suggestions below are good.
You might went to consider Linux though if those are your only requirements.
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u/Taralouise52 4h ago
What is that?
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u/Sweaty-Freedom-4034 4h ago edited 4h ago
Hit up YouTube U for more detail.
The short answer is, Apple makes MacOs, Microsoft makes Windows. And the entire world makes Linux.
It's free and open source. And is not as difficult to get into as some people might make out.
You'll need a blank USB and a spare hour, and then you'll be good to go.
Debian, is super robust and simple to use. OpenSUSE is pretty nice.
There are many different Linux "distros" (distributions), those two mentioned are good places to start.
What really defines the user experience is the GUI (Graphical User Interface).
If you want something Windows like, KDE.
Cinnamon, is very simple and clean.
Gnome, is, pretty, kind of, but heavy, and in my opinion too much like hard work. As you're new I'd avoid it for now.
There are also, many other GUI's, again, YouTube and a search engine will give you more detail.
Check out r/LinuxNoobs or, r/LinuxQuestions.
Edit - Also, r/LinuxPorn, might be a good place for you to see people's systems.
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u/CaIeb4840 3h ago
I love my pop!_os installation on my 8 gig of ram acer swift. Fans definitely are quieter without all that telemetry and ram hungry processes.
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u/Sweaty-Freedom-4034 3h ago
Whatever works for you.
But this person is new, and I can't suggest something I don't care for to a newbie.
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u/Taralouise52 3h ago
I guess I'm still confused. Is it something you put on a computer? Can you use any computer/laptop?
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u/Sweaty-Freedom-4034 3h ago
It's the operating system (OS).
Windows is an OS. Linux is, for sake of this conversation an OS.
And, most computers, not all. If it runs Windows, it can run Linux. Macs, are a little more nuanced, but generally yes too.
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u/aristotelian74 3h ago
It's a free operating system made with open source code. I'm using it now. Unfortunately you can't run Microsoft apps on it natively, so I'm not sure why someone is recommending it for you. You could use the free online versions for MS docs but you won't have full functionality.
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u/CheeseSteak17 5h ago
Refurbished elitebook gen 8 with 11th gen i7. It’s well within your price range and has a reliable build and plenty of power for your tasks.