My current desktop (HP Pavilion 23) just died on me and I need a new computer/laptop. The computer was about 11 years old and was for a former manager before me. So I did not pick the computer out, do not have any attachments to the current brand/model.

I mostly use the computer for quickbooks, spreadsheet and recording licenses/permits. I might use the computer 5-8 hours a week.

What kind of recommendations you got? Not looking to spend a fortune since I do not use it full time

Preferably windows program since my old computer is backed up on an external drive that ran windows

This post was edited on 11/30/25 at 5:18 pm

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Posted by LemmyLives

Texas

Member since Mar 2019

13195 posts

Posted on 11/30/25 at 6:30 pm to The Dunder Mifflin

You can get a used Microsoft Surface 4 from Ebay. I bought one in this fall for $279 before shipping, it showed up without a fingerprint, and was factory reset as expected.

quote:
Microsoft Surface Touch Laptop 4 1959 13" Ryzen 5 16GB RAM 256GB SSD Win11

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Posted by Dallaswho

Texas

Member since Dec 2023

3375 posts

Posted on 11/30/25 at 6:39 pm to LemmyLives

Anything 12th gen or later i5 or u5w/ 16+ GB ram. i3 is ok if model ends in “p” or “h”.

Memory and storage should be micron/crucial Samsung or SK.

Finding a laptop with Thunderbolt gives best of both worlds with single plug docking.

This post was edited on 11/30/25 at 6:49 pm

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Posted by PapaDunk

Temple

Member since Oct 2023

893 posts

Posted on 12/1/25 at 12:30 am to The Dunder Mifflin

Buy a MacBook. Most Office related apps are either available for MacOs or they are web based.

MacOS is a little learning curve but not horrible. Compared to Windows…MacOS just works with fewer issues and the hardware has longer legs and will functional a lot longer than a Windows laptop is.

Better bang for your buck.

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Posted by Ricardo

Member since Sep 2016

6170 posts

Posted on 12/1/25 at 10:20 am to PapaDunk

I like Mac hardware, don't get me wrong, but I'd think long and hard about buying a mac. If it's primarily just for browsing the web and doing some web-conferencing or whatnot, fine... cool even. The problem is with legacy stuff and interoperability. If you need to use other people's software/files or share things among coworkers, then make sure you're buying similar stuff. If they're all Mac, cool, do it. If they're all PC, then I'd advise against mac and stay with a windows system.

Again, no shade thrown at apple's stuff. I know some relatives that use Mac desktops for day to day stuff and they're happy as can be. Just consider that it is different and there will be minor annoyances (sometimes major) that pop up.

This post was edited on 12/1/25 at 10:22 am

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