Laptop recommend

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33coupe

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#272517 29-Jun-2020 11:00

Sorry for another laptop thread.

My significant other is after a laptop so that she can request to work from home in the future. As we're a bit tight on cash right now it would have to be on Finance (at least 1 year). We are buying a lot of whiteware etc from Harvey Norman, so was looking to get something from there (am getting discount for bulk purchasing, 5 year interest free).

There doesnt seem to be a great selection though.

Her current desktop specs are:

i5-8500T

8GB

Wanting 14-16" screen

(excel, multiple windows, nothing too strenuous really)

I have an HP Elitebook 840 G3, with docking station at home, so was hoping to find something that could be docked as well (1 additional monitor, but will buy another down the track) but seems unlikely.

I looked at these

https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/computers/laptops/hp-15s-fq1031tu-15.6-laptop.html

https://www.harveynorman.co.nz/computers/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-c340-i5-8265u-14-2-in-1-laptop.html

but am unsure.

PB Tech have a better selection, but I dont think their Finance is as long.

Any recommendations / ideas?

Thanks

nztim

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#2514308 29-Jun-2020 11:16

Are you using the side dock of the Elitebook?

I would go for an Elitebook G5/G6 (they are well priced on trademe for barely used laptops) anything else and you are up for replacing the dock

HP Elitebook G7 is now out with the 10th Gen ISeries due to hit the market in August but they have dropped the side dock and its now thunderbolt 3 only - the last dock had a good run! 7 years!

but the world is now moving

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1101

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#2514310 29-Jun-2020 11:19

True Docking station compatible laptops are hard to find now
Port replicators are used instead .
Most laptops dont need that for a 2nd monitor anyway.

In your links
256 GB SSD . Thats fairly small . If spending that sort of $ I would want a 500Gb SSD .
256GB can fill up quite quickly if you have alot of photos, music etc .

Do you need an i5 ? Would an i3 do the job ?
I wouldnt get a 14" for working from home .
And look at the number of USB ports .

timmmay

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#2514313 29-Jun-2020 11:25

HP and Lenovo are both generally solid reliable machines. Get the one your SO likes the look of best :) My wife won't have a Lenovo because she says its ugly, but she likes her HP Probook.

33coupe

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#2514489 29-Jun-2020 14:52

nztim:

Are you using the side dock of the Elitebook?

I would go for an Elitebook G5/G6 (they are well priced on trademe for barely used laptops) anything else and you are up for replacing the dock

HP Elitebook G7 is now out with the 10th Gen ISeries due to hit the market in August but they have dropped the side dock and its now thunderbolt 3 only - the last dock had a good run! 7 years!

but the world is now moving

Yeah mine is the side dock, it's a work laptop so Ill use whatever they give lol. Didnt know about thunderbolt 3, although I have heard they are updating the DS here, so could be that.

They do seem pretty reasonable on Trademe, but do need to put it on Finance due to house build.

256gb should be enough as it would just be excel spreadsheets. I'm assuming I could put a larger hard drive in, later on if need be?

Thanks all for the replies, always great knowledge and help on here, really appreciate it

nztim

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#2514512 29-Jun-2020 15:16

there are 21 7NW23PA (HP Elitebook G6) in stock at EXEED (HP Distributor) so any Retailer would be able to order this for you, it will be the last laptop you can use with your dock though

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timmmay

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#2514530 29-Jun-2020 15:47

For home use a Probook is cheaper and almost as good as elitebook. When I did the research my impression was Elitebook looked nicer and had a few more enterprise features is all.

nztim

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#2514625 29-Jun-2020 16:27

timmmay:

For home use a Probook is cheaper and almost as good as elitebook. When I did the research my impression was Elitebook looked nicer and had a few more enterprise features is all.

There are 14 7PV11PA Probooks in stock with EXEED

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33coupe

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#2515266 30-Jun-2020 19:28

Oh cool thanks @nztim I didn't realise. Someone from Harvey Norman will get back to me so I'll ask about about the hps.
Cheers

1101

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#2515533 1-Jul-2020 09:57

The HP 250 (15") are OK (if i3 or above) , and cheaper than probook. Ive sold alot of the HP 250 line .

If a laptop is going to be used as a home PC, with external monitor & external kb & mouse, the Probook's may be overkill for what you need .
A higher spec Home type laptop may work out better than a lower spec Probook etc. (assuming they all have SSD's)