You can save a lot of money by finding a budget laptop that makes reasonable compromises.Īs you shop, consider the most common hardware compromises you will encounter. For example, if you spend most of your computer time browsing the web or watching movies, chances are you don’t need the latest-generation processor or an ultra-powerful video card. Naturally, a “budget” laptop is one that is more affordable than cutting-edge machines, and in the majority of cases, a lower price means less-powerful internal hardware. (For example, while you can’t install Microsoft Office on Chrome OS, you can use Microsoft’s “Office Online” suite of web-based equivalents.) Surprisingly, there isn’t much of a learning curve for Chrome OS if you are migrating from a Mac or Windows laptop – especially for those who spend most of their computer time web browsing, anyway.īestReviews Electronics Expert Limitations

For laptops running Chrome OS, the browser is the entire interface, and instead of running local software, everything is in the cloud. Chrome OS is a relatively new operating system from Google based on their popular web browser, Google Chrome.

If you live your life in the cloud, consider a Chrome-OS-based laptop. Usually, the next models up are only slightly more expensive. If macOS is a must but the MacBook Air is not the right machine for you, consider other MacBooks as well. The MacBook Air is consistently their most affordable portable machine, and it is usually the only one Apple sells for less than $1,000. If you are looking for a budget Apple laptop with MacOS, investigate the MacBook Air. That said, there are a few nuances and pitfalls to be aware of. Operating systemsĮach of the major operating systems – Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS – is available in the lower price tiers. As a result, low-cost laptops are not typically “gaming laptops,” at least not beyond the occasional farming game or hand of solitaire. Manufacturers typically keep prices low by using entry-level graphics cards.

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