Hey there! I'm starting college soon for either bioengineering or chemical engineering and I need some solid laptop recommendations that can last me through my four years of undergrad. My budget is pretty limited, so I'm hoping to find something under $500, but I could stretch to $600 if necessary. Currently, I'm eyeing refurbished Lenovo Thinkpads, but my parents are a bit hesitant about refurbished models because they worry about longevity. I'm not into gaming much—mainly just The Sims on my old 2016 MacBook, which sounds like it might explode whenever I turn it on, haha. Should I be looking at a wider price range to get something decent? Any thoughts are appreciated! 🙂
Edit: I spoke with my parents, and they are willing to help me out a bit more, so now I'm looking at a range of $400 to $1000. Does that change anything?
2 Answers
If you can afford to spend a bit more, I’d recommend looking at some mid-range new laptops, too. Brands like Acer or ASUS offer decent laptops that might fall into your updated price range. Just ensure they fit your major's software needs. It might be better to go for something new instead of refurbished if your parents are worried about longevity—new brands can also give you a solid warranty. If you're careful with your laptop, it should serve you well for the four years! Good luck!
Refurbished Lenovo Thinkpads are usually off-lease corporate laptops, and they can be a great deal! Often, you can get way better specs for your money than new retail laptops at that price range. I've used Thinkpads for work, and they’re pretty tough—like tanks! Just double-check the software requirements for your courses. Generally, a Core i5 should be good, but an i7 would be even better if you can swing it. Aim for at least 16GB of RAM. Also, don’t forget about storage—500GB can fill up quickly. I recommend considering an external SSD if you need extra space. Just keep in mind that with used laptops, you could inherit someone else's issues, so it's always a bit of a gamble!
Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely keep the RAM and storage in mind. I'm not super familiar with Windows since I'm used to MacBooks, but I’ll do my homework!
Great point! A warranty can be a lifesaver. I had a laptop that had issues after a year and getting it covered under warranty was a huge relief.