2 Questions: Port adoption & finding a model

[Mac029]

Looking in the $500 - 700 range, 15.6 ish screen, 1080p?, portable laptop. Battery isn't important. I'll game but not a lot/fine w/older games. Will eventually do some photo/video editing. Storage: 256 to start is fine. I'd consider Costco, Sames Club, BJs, Amazon, Walmart, B&H, possibly the egg... Keep 5+ years? Unless I sell in a few years to trade up. No optical of course. So far I like Acer, possibly Asus or Lenovo. Live in U.S..

In 3 yr's I will absolutely want full capability USB4 or Thunderbird 4. Would really like it now. Will need a good IPS screen as I read all day, plastic OK as long as it's a sturdy build, and want a keyboard they put some effort into. Not crapkeys.

1. What are my options in this price range that have one of the above ports? Found an Acer Aspire 7 on sale and their site shows Thunderbird 4 but it doesn't have that. Can't go $900. Lite gamer/business with a Ryzen 5 and a 3050 would be fine.

2. Would I find more models this fall that have the above capabilities? I'm at wit's end surfing, researching and comparing sale prices.

Appreciate any feedback.

Cheers,
Mac

 

[Math Geek]

your low budget will keep that high end port out of reach. laptops are the odd case where you should buy as much as you can afford even if it is overkill at the time.

you can't upgrade it so what you buy now is all you get. so a low end budget buy now won't stay very current even 2 years from now. you'll quickly find yourself wanting more speed/resources/ports etc...

get the best you can now at your budget and worry about 3 years from now in 3 years. at that point, thunderbolt should be more mainstream and likely cheaper to get at that time. trying to buy now for the future is always a fools errand and trying it with a laptop is pretty much not gonna happen.

 

[Mac029]

I hear you. I've read more on USB 3.2 and luckily think I can do some things with that. But may still wait. Usually the screen or the cpu is weak. Or only integrated graphics.

Thank you.