[SOLVED] Need new laptop. Where to find useful and reliable reviews of laptops

[don99]

Before I posted this I searched the forums using the words laptop reviews. I found lots of useless threads.
Question: My HP Probook 470 laptop is 5 years old. It runs Windows 7 pro. Where would you look to find useful and accurate reviews of laptops?
I need a laptop running Windows pro of some flavor, 16 or 17 inch screen, 500 gig SSD, at least 8 gigs memory and has a camera. I don't need an expensive computer. Would like to spend under $800.
Suggestions? Thank you for your help.

 

[jacob249358]

It's tough to recommend laptops because they vary so much with cooling, build quality, and stuff like that. I would suggest looking at laptop mag or finding one with your requirements and watching a youtube review on it. maybe this one?
https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-envy-laptop-17t-ch000-touch-optional-24l48av-1

 

[Lafong]

Reviews might tell you certain things....mostly features and someone else's first impressions.

But nothing at all about stuff you might care about......reliability, performance under your personal work load, satisfaction level after a month of ownership, etc.

How much are you willing to rely on reviews for a buying decision? Ten percent of your decision? 80 percent?

100 hours pounding Google may generate 10 minutes of useful information, but even that will likely be anecdotal.

The most general advise I could give follows, all of which would apply to a pre-built desktop:

Try to actually use any prospective candidate...even for 10 minutes.

Avoid spinning drives.

Avoid Pro version of Windows unless you have a highly specific reason. If you must have it, you can upgrade after purchase from MS direct for 100......possibly avoiding being overcharged by the laptop manufacturer.

Don't be overly enticed by Windows 11.

Avoid more than 16 GB RAM unless you have a very unusual use case.

Emphasize raw CPU horsepower.

Try to buy from "business" or "corporate" lines, rather than consumer/home.

Emphasize vendor, customer service, and return privileges in case you are highly dissatisfied for whatever reason soon after purchase.

Accept that the chances of dissatisfaction are likely to be higher than a random purchase of some other random consumer product.

 

[lga1156_ftw]

Before I posted this I searched the forums using the words laptop reviews. I found lots of useless threads.
Question: My HP Probook 470 laptop is 5 years old. It runs Windows 7 pro. Where would you look to find useful and accurate reviews of laptops?
I need a laptop running Windows pro of some flavor, 16 or 17 inch screen, 500 gig SSD, at least 8 gigs memory and has a camera. I don't need an expensive computer. Would like to spend under $800.
Suggestions? Thank you for your help.

Those older Probooks are pretty durable, expecially ones with intel HD graphics instead of radeon.

What product number that laptop has (from back cover)?

You can still upgrade win7 pro to win10 pro for free : https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

G0 and G1 models support up to 16gb ram, you can install new SSD 500gb works sata3 speeds. Just giving alternative to new laptop.

 

[don99]

Those older Probooks are pretty durable, expecially ones with intel HD graphics instead of radeon.

What product number that laptop has (from back cover)?

You can still upgrade win7 pro to win10 pro for free : https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

G0 and G1 models support up to 16gb ram, you can install new SSD 500gb works sata3 speeds. Just giving alternative to new laptop.

Thank you for your post. I will try this.

 

[don99]

Before I posted this I searched the forums using the words laptop reviews. I found lots of useless threads.
Question: My HP Probook 470 laptop is 5 years old. It runs Windows 7 pro. Where would you look to find useful and accurate reviews of laptops?
I need a laptop running Windows pro of some flavor, 16 or 17 inch screen, 500 gig SSD, at least 8 gigs memory and has a camera. I don't need an expensive computer. Would like to spend under $800.
Suggestions? Thank you for your help.

Thank you

 

[lga1156_ftw]

Thank you for your post. I will try this.

Before doing anything else try getting win10 activated, you might need to screw around with some drivers but eventually it should work out.

If it works fine you can think about upgrading ram, even used is fine if your on budget but make sure to buy COMPATIBLE ram ( check with crucial.com and use your laptop product number)

I can look it up if you tell what product it is