i have to buy a laptop and thought maybe labor day sale. what do i have to look out for/

[LizBeth]

so water spilled on puter and shift no longer works so no capital or question marks or exclamation. i only use it for normal stuff but not gaming or work or whatever else people do that needs lots of power or whatever. though i do not like slow, i get impatient. and i am computer stupid and need easy.

is there anything i have to make sure i have in a laptop/ i generally just grab the lowest price.

thanks for the information.

btw another reason i tend to go cheapest is cause i tend to spill on it like water, wine, diet dr pepper, so behooves me not to invest too much.

there has gotta be a karen....

[Emile]

1. I would try a fan on it for a couple days

before buying a new tablet. You never know you might get lucky and the shift may start working again.

[LizBeth]

3. +1

[highplainsdem]

2. What do you use your computer for?

I saw you were advised in the GD thread you posted, which was locked, against buying a Chromebook.

Chromebooks aren't hard to figure out - school kids use them - and they're inexpensive and light.

I have a Dell laptop that's a couple of years old (and my previous Dell laptop lasted 6 years), but earlier this year I bought a Chromebook I really like, this one

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-chromebook-314-laptop-14-full-hd-touch-ips-4gb-lpddr4-64gb-emmc-wi-fi-5-charcoal-black/6529399.p

but I bought it when it was on sale for $100 off.

One thing you HAVE to check before buying a Chromebook is the AUE or Automatic Update Expiration:

https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/6220366

You'll sometimes see very cheap Chromebooks, new ones but older models, with AUEs only a year or two away.

My Chromebook is a new one but a 2021 design with an AUE in June 2027. Still a lot of computer for four years for only $169. This is a review of the cheaper version that doesn't have a touchscreen: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/acer-chromebook-314

I also have an inexpensive tablet, a Fire HD 8, that I bought just for jotting down notes (much more usable than a phone, especially with the free Microsoft 365) but found so ridiculous easy to hold and carry once I put a handle on the back - I got this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R5HMYP/ but there are lots of different types - that I use it much more than I ever thought I would, including for DU (I'm using it now). These tablets go on sale fairly often for about $60, so with a strap/stand/handle that's $75 or less.

[LizBeth]

4. thank you for the info. really i use it for like du, fb, apply for jobs, resumes

pay bills you know the just everyday things but i do not do anything special. and pictures. looking to buy a computer presently, lol. i think this one has run out of space because it will not let me load from phone anymore. i have a fire but i end up two finger typing and that takes a lot of time. i am much faster on a laptop keyboard.

i am going to look at your links, thank you.

[highplainsdem]

5. You're welcome!

I hope they'll help.

If you're wary of Chromebooks, you can find lots of helpful videos on YouTube, some done for young students so they're very clear and easy to follow.

[usonian]

6. Suggestion - may or may not apply to you, but here goes.

I got a big tablet and a keyboard case for it.
That makes it a laptop in effect.

YMMV, as I got the expensive one for its large screen and my primary uses:
1. I put piano scores on it, so I can play without lugging the printed ones around. ( and a gesture turns pages for me)
2. I put my best photos on it to show off (I do not trust cloud providers to do anything but lose or steal my work)

If you are a klutz (looks in mirror) at least the keyboard is cheap to replace.
It's also a tablet, so all the virtues of that apply.

The keyboard case is also a stand. The tablet kept slipping off the music stands (which are made for printed scores) until I got the case.
Just fold the music stand down. Voila.