Upgrading an older laptop

Just buy a new Mac for a grand or so. No need to keep bandaging an old PC. The Mac will last for 10 years and can run Windows if you need it.

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Edit: and when I say minimal use, I’m talking I might fire up the laptop once every 2 or 3 months.

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I get it. I use my laptop constantly. Do what you feel is right. The idea of resurecting an older PC reads pointless to me. I have a 15 year old iMac that still reads email and handles my huge photo library. But I do pay a bit for storage on iCloud. 2.99 for a terabyte I think.

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updated to Windows 11 due to the processor. I’ve read I can get around that.

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No, you can't. They're constantly deprecating processors, which is why I haven't been able to get a security update in over a year on a similarly aged laptop. Even after the registry "fixes" it's "CPU unsupported" and no updates will download.

Go on ebay and get a last generation Surface for $300.

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if you only use it 4 times a year why bother?

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I mainly need the storage. I can spend $80 to $150 to upgrade to 1tb or spend $600+ on a new laptop. That’s why I was thinking saving some e-waste and using the Dell might be a better option because it has a better processor than my Asus.. My current laptop (the Asus) is 256gb and nearly maxed out.

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Get a used thinkpad/lattude/elitebook on ebay. 8259u(9.5 gen) or 10th gen i5 is ~$130. 11th gen i5 is ~$175

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Not seeing these prices with >256gb SSD.

Well, since you'll use it so infrequently seems to me gettin a 1T is a no brainer...

Nope 256g is/was standard. Few enterprise customers see a need to go beyond that.
$500g Nvme drives are $35 1TB are $60. Less than that on resell markets. I’m selling a 1TB cheap w/ 100% health and can’t even get one single reply.
No point updating a 7200u machine if you use Windows. Not worth the hassle.

Great input. Appreciate it.

Bump. Per advice here, I’ve been browsing eBay for laptops around $350 or less. I’m sure there are other better deals I haven’t found yet, but which of these would be the tech boards choice for basic home use?

Asus Vivobook X1404Z $295 obo
- Intel Core i3-1215U
- 24gb ram
- 512gb SSD
- Intel UHD integrated graphics
- 1920x1080 res

HP Elitebook 840 G8 $317
- Intel Core i5-1145G7
- 32gb ram
- 512gb SSD
- Intel iris xe graphics
- 1920x1080 res
- certified refurb/2 year warranty

HP Elitebook 845 G8 $299
- AMD Ryzen 5 5650U
- 16gb ram
- 512gb SSD
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 graphics
- 1920x1080 res

Acer Travelmate P414-41 $275
- AMD Ryzen 5 6650U
- 16gb ram
- 1tb SSD
- AMD Radeon 660M
- 1920x1200 res

Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 $379
- Intel Core i5-1335U
- 24gb ram
- 1tb SSD
- Intel Iris Xe
- 1920x1200 res

Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 2 $278
- Intel Core i5-1135G7
- 16gb ram
- 1tb SSD
- Intel UHD graphics
- 1920x1080 res
- certified refurb/1 year warranty

For the price, I really like the Asus and the Acer. Issue with Asus is core i3. The Lenovo E14 sounds nice if I could get it for less. I have read the E series are notably worse build quality.

That’s the one I’m drawn to as well. Ram can be upgraded to 32gb, which I’d probably never need. Seems the most future proof. Acer quality could be questionable.