In search of the perfect $600 laptop PC

There’s an expression that describes my addiction to new computers: You need this like you need a hole in your head. But the only expression that counts for me is the smile that comes with unboxing and turning on the new machine. 

And so, with $600 burning a hole in my pocket, here are my must-haves for a Windows laptop: 

Apples to apples

I already have a laptop, a 2022 model MacBook Pro with a hearty M2 chip. I use it for long flights because it’s light and will fit on the seatback tray. But with a 13.3-inch screen and Apple’s basic 8 gigabytes of RAM and 256 gigabyte solid-state hard drive, it’s not big enough or powerful enough for anything other than word processing, email, web browsing and basic photo editing.

The retina display is impressive but attaching the MacBook to an external monitor with an adapter reveals the integrated graphics shortcomings. The backlit keys are wide and somewhat tactile. The touchpad is large and responsive, with easy to memorize gestures for different tasks. Its wifi and Bluetooth connections are fast.

On the flip side, it has only two USB-C ports, one of which is used for battery power. You’ll need a hub for the other port to use ethernet, display port, backup drive and the like. But when you buy an adapter or hub on Amazon, make sure they’re compatible with the MacBook. (You’ll find that out by reading one-star reviews.) I bought an ethernet adapter online that didn’t work, forcing me to fork over $29 at the Apple Store for one that did work.

At a fighting weight of three pounds, it doesn’t burden me much as I run to make a 50-minute connecting flight between terminals at JFK. On a 20-hour trip abroad, in-flight and in airport lounges, it lasted for nearly 18 hours of word processing, browsing and email. Touch screens aren’t offered yet on MacBooks, but on my 2022 MacBook Pro there’s a touch bar that offers shortcuts for whatever you’re doing. The touch bar was dropped on the newer MacBook Pros. Best of all, it was on a Black Friday sale for $950, hundreds of dollars less than it cost at the Apple Store.

Apples to apples, the MacBook that is comparable to my laptop specs borders on $2,000.  But – and this is a big one – all Macs use a different operating system from Windows. All of my important software such as Quicken run on Windows, so I needed a laptop that runs that operating system. If you want to run Windows on a Mac, you’ll need Parallels Desktop ($100) and, of course, Windows11  ($139) . And, if you travel a lot or are clumsy, AppleCare+, which costs about $80 a year, covers 24/7 tech support, hardware issues and accidental damage. Don’t leave home without it.

I have no doubt that I’ll keep the MacBook Pro for years to come. Like all Apple products, it’s user-friendly, durable, dependable and wags its tail when I turn it on. If you want a laptop you can carry around the world, and you aren’t doing memory-intensive photo editing, for example, I suggest getting either a previous version of the MacBook Air with 8 gigabytes of memory with 512 gigabytes of storage. Apple tech support is very good, although it has been slipping for the last few years.

These days, I’m taking fewer flights and more road trips. Weight isn’t a major consideration. I’m willing to consider a laptop that weighs a few more pounds than a MacBook when I’m only toting it from car to motel. 

Here are some options for Windows and Chrome OS laptop shoppers:

Chromebook will do the job

If all you need a laptop for is writing, emailing and browsing, a Chromebook will do the job. A Chromebook is a very basic laptop with a display as small as 11 inches, a very small hard drive and minimal memory. An 11-inch model weighs about 2.5 pounds; you can lug as much as 3.5 pounds for larger displays. It uses the Chrome operating system, which is just as easy to navigate as Windows. The Chrome OS and programs such as Google are stored in the cloud. Students and others who need to take notes or fire off an email in airports or join a Zoom meeting will appreciate a Chromebook.  But don’t expect blazing speed or a decent front-facing camera.

Many Chromebooks use Celeron processors (which are the least robust ones) and 4 gigabytes of memory. At this writing, Dell offers an 11.6-inch Chromebook for $269. Lenovo has a basic model for $250, and HP has a 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook for an impressive $250. You can spend $1,000 for a Chromebook. But you also can spend that much on a lightweight and mid-range Dell or any number of other, more powerful, laptops. Since the hard drive is tiny, everything you do will be available on in the cloud.

something more robust

For more robust chores, such as freeze-free Zoom meetings and web research, a basic laptop with 4 gigabytes of memory and a 15-inch display can be had for as little as $300. Don’t expect speed or freeze-free streaming from a basic 4 gig RAM office-supply store laptop. Windows and your software will take their good old time loading. Lenovo, Dell and HP have decent ones for as little as $250 at this writing.

If you want something more robust, HP has an 8-gig RAM model for $320. These laptops usually have ports for attaching peripherals such as external hard drives. Basic laptops are great for folks whose chores center around emailing, basic word processing and browsing. If they have a front-facing camera, the resolution will be 720p, so don’t expect stunning video. They tend to be slightly heavier than Chromebooks. Watch for sales on computer websites, Costco and Best Buy.

Let’s take a break.

Intel processor or AMD processor?

The latter tends to be cheaper, but Intel has a reputation for being the gold standard. I’ve used both and unless you have a stopwatch that measures milliseconds, I’d go for the AMD processor. You’ll save enough money to buy a ticket to a Taylor Swift concert. Well, not quite. Not even close.

How much memory is enough?

You can’t have too much memory. 8 gigs of RAM and a 512 gig solid-state drive are a good starting point. Less than that, and you’re going to have some serious speed issues. Many PC companies are offering 16 gigs of RAM and a 1-terabyte solid-state drive. 1 terabyte is a thousand gigabytes. Go for it. Gaming laptops need as much RAM as possible. (I’ll deal with gaming PCs in another column.)

Glossy or non-glare display?

If you fancy looking at your reflection in your display, glossy screens tend to be sharper. I don’t mind looking at my face, but if I did, I’d go for non-glare.

Tech support

Dell wins hands-down. Premium support costs about $75 a year. Techs are off-shore, but their language skills typically aren’t an issue. They are tenacious, staying with you until the problem is solved, and calling back the next day to make sure you’re still up and running. Lenovo support, also offshore, is a couple notches below Dell support. Their language skills are not great, and often they will give up before a problem is solved. I don’t have an HP, but Laptop magazine gives their support limited praise.

warranties

Before I leave, let’s talk about warranties. I always get a warranty that includes accidental damage, 24-hour technical support and overnight parts and onsite service. Dell Premium Support can cost as much as $250 for a three-year warranty. Dell’s technicians pick up on the first ring, and they won’t abandon you until the issue is resolved. Most support technicians for Dell, HP and Lenovo are based outside the U.S. Dell has the best support, followed closely by Apple. Lenovo’s offshore is a distant third. Their language skills, unlike Dell technicians, are poor.

Now, back to our program.

Scratching the surface

If you don’t want to spend an incredulous $329 for a basic iPad but still want a tablet and don’t mind the extra weight, head for the 2-in-1 laptop aisle. A 2-in-1 laptop has a screen that swivels so you can use it for either a traditional laptop with a touch screen or as an iPad-like tablet. They come in several sizes, including a 14-inch and even a 16-inch display. Larger displays weigh four or more pounds. HP and Dell have nice ones for about $450. The 2-in-1s are handy for drawing. Two-in-ones start at about $400 for a 14-inch model and soar all the way to $2,000 and more. A 2-in-1 with my specs would cost about $800 from Dell, HP or Lenovo.

Microsoft makes its own Windows laptops that seem to be taken from the Apple playbook. The Surface, which looks like a high-end HP or Dell, is thin and light (2.8 pounds), but its entry-level 13-inch model, with 8 gigs or RAM, starts at $900; beefier models run up to $1,600. The Surface Pro, which is an overpriced tablet, starts at $850. The entry-level model, like the MacBook, is underpowered and has limited memory. If you want to use the Surface Pro as a laptop, you’ll need a  keyboard, mouse and stylus bundle that ups the price by $280.

When I tallied it up, I couldn’t see spending that much on something I could get elsewhere for one-third of the price. There was one more turn-off. The Surface Pro seemed cheaply made. Even the packaging was a poor imitation of MacBook packaging. A Surface Laptop with my specs would cost $1,400.

Decision time

Since I already have a lightweight MacBook Pro, weight is not a consideration. Laptops from Dell, HP and Lenovo start in the $600 range for my specs and rise to the stratosphere. As in $2,000 and more. I chose the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Slim because it has a useful variety of ports and a numeric keypad on the right side. The touchpad is sensitive, and I use the touch screen more frequently than I had thought I would. Using the 50-minute sprint at JFK test, it’s too heavy to be portable. But it was on sale for a hard-to-pass-up $500, with free two-day shipping, reduced in a flash sale from $824. It checks all the boxes; no compromises here. 

There are other laptop brands, such as Asus, that are worth considering, too. But at the end of the day, I like the  Lenovo’s combination of speed, build and features. Do I need all these features? I could spend hundreds more for models that I need like another hole in my head.

Apple

dell

Lenovo

Summary
Yes, Virginia, there is a $600 laptop… if you know what you need and when to jump on a sale.

Tech Specs
MacBook Pro M2 (2022) – 13.3-inch screen; 8 GB RAM; 256 GB solid-state hard drive Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Slim