Thinking about a laptop again... suggestions? Thin AMD?

[moocow]

I just got an email from eBay showing a sell on Lenovo laptops. I see a ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 using a 7xxx AMD CPU but only 8GB of memory for $1K. eBay item 335419119348.

 

[Marzipan]

I just got an email from eBay showing a sell on Lenovo laptops. I see a ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 using a 7xxx AMD CPU but only 8GB of memory for $1K. eBay item 335419119348.

View attachment 43058

that's a bit much...for mebe $100 more you could* get a new one with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD.

*need to have a business website and domain email...though possible workarounds may exist.

 

[moocow]

*need to have a business website and domain email...though possible workarounds may exist.

Oh I didn't see that part, nvm then.

 

[Shadowmeph]

So between the bad weather, some setbacks on projects and some health concerns... yeah, I'm thinking of an impulse buy.

Except I'm crap at impulse buying. I always research and overthink things, usually to the point of just convincing myself to not buy at all.

Well regardless, I'm at least researching again, and as per usual, I've come to good ol' HWC for help.

The laptop:
MUST HAVEs:
1) ThinER, lightER, and NOT a lap -burner. (My AW R13r3 remains the hottest dang thing in my house* and I don't want another one. Its also very heavy and like an inch thick, which is ridiculous for a 13in laptop)
2) AMD CPU
3) Somewhere between a 13" and 16" display.
4) Around $1k CAD new or used. (Mayyybe can stretch for a really good choice)

LOVE TO HAVEs:
A) AMD 7xxx or 8xxx series APU.
B) USB4 (to allow for a possible future external gpu which could enable some light gaming, especially if it's only got a 680m or weaker iGPU)
C) OLED (Still a sucker for OLED displays, theyre just sooooo good looking to me)
D) Under $750 CAD new or used
E) A Flip/Fold design that vents out the side or "top" (when standing like a tent) would be great
F) Quiet but study-feeling keyboard, at least 60% sized or bigger but don't need a numpad (prefer not to have a numpad at all really) (just after the OLED panel, the keyboard feel on my AW R13r3 remains the second and only other reason I still use it. Such great, fast and quiet typing).

Nice to Haves:
i) Wifi AX or AC
ii) two NVME slots would be nice, even if they're not 2280s.
iii) if it's got a Webcam, a shutter is always a good call for privacy.
iv) A backlit keyboard would be a really nice feature to have as well.

(*= I did once have the idea of a project to re-paste the entire AW R13r3 as well as modify the heatsink and fan grilles once upon a time, but never got around to doing it. Still have the parts though, so I'll probably do it someday regardless... but It's just so big and heavy for a 13" laptop, slow by current standards and annoying to bring around.)

That's all I can think of for now, will edit this OP if I add or change anything.

Current models under consideration =
- Lenovo Yoga series (Yoga 6? 7?)
- Lenovo P14? Probably too expensive
- GPD ____ ? Some are getting around 1k or under used nowadays, but the tiny display and weird keyboards might be a deal-breaker... would appreciate input though, as I've still got a Pocket 1 and love it for mobile tech work)
- HP Envy 360 models have always tempted me too.

Sorry for my typical wall of text, and thanks in advance for any/all input HWC

Curious what came of this did you buy one and if so which one ?

 

[CMetaphor]

Curious what came of this did you buy one and if so which one ?

OH! Totally forgot that I forgot to mention it:

I ended up getting:
A refurbished Asus* Zenbook 14.
(Yeah, I know, ASUS. Ugh. They put the power button to the left of the Delete key hahaha. Silly Asus)

Basically only got it because it was a fantastic deal on Asus' official ebay page.

Stats:
-Ryzen 8840HS / 16GB Ram (wish it was more, but it's sufficient)
-14" OLED panel 1900x1200 touchscreen.
-VERY thin and very light too. Sub 3lbs I think.
-Backlit Keyboard
-USB4

So I the only feature I didn't get was a "2in1"/ Tent mode. Not the end of the world. And as I mentioned, the price was too good to ignore, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for it all, due to my financial probs.

Pretty happy with it so far. Runs quiet enough, but have yet to push it much (been busy with too many things at once). Real test will be, possibly, with a certain USB4/TB5 enclosure for eGPU gaming. We shall see about that part though, might have to cancel/downgrade my kickstarter pledge... even if I don't want to.

Anyways.

 

[Shadowmeph]

OH! Totally forgot that I forgot to mention it:

I ended up getting:
A refurbished Asus* Zenbook 14.
(Yeah, I know, ASUS. Ugh. They put the power button to the left of the Delete key hahaha. Silly Asus)

Basically only got it because it was a fantastic deal on Asus' official ebay page.

Stats:
-Ryzen 8840HS / 16GB Ram (wish it was more, but it's sufficient)
-14" OLED panel 1900x1200 touchscreen.
-VERY thin and very light too. Sub 3lbs I think.
-Backlit Keyboard
-USB4

So I the only feature I didn't get was a "2in1"/ Tent mode. Not the end of the world. And as I mentioned, the price was too good to ignore, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for it all, due to my financial probs.

Pretty happy with it so far. Runs quiet enough, but have yet to push it much (been busy with too many things at once). Real test will be, possibly, with a certain USB4/TB5 enclosure for eGPU gaming. We shall see about that part though, might have to cancel/downgrade my kickstarter pledge... even if I don't want to.

Anyways.

cool I was thinking of going more mobile getting a laptop for when I am on down time at work on grave yards ( like now) simple gaming to stay awake but then at home using as a media plug in Hard drive ext and plugging it into both my 4k tv and my old monitor running dual screen for kodi on 4k and normal daily stuff on smaller monitor

 

[djbrad]

OH! Totally forgot that I forgot to mention it:

I ended up getting:
A refurbished Asus* Zenbook 14.
(Yeah, I know, ASUS. Ugh. They put the power button to the left of the Delete key hahaha. Silly Asus)

Basically only got it because it was a fantastic deal on Asus' official ebay page.

Stats:
-Ryzen 8840HS / 16GB Ram (wish it was more, but it's sufficient)
-14" OLED panel 1900x1200 touchscreen.
-VERY thin and very light too. Sub 3lbs I think.
-Backlit Keyboard
-USB4

So I the only feature I didn't get was a "2in1"/ Tent mode. Not the end of the world. And as I mentioned, the price was too good to ignore, otherwise I wouldn't have gone for it all, due to my financial probs.

Pretty happy with it so far. Runs quiet enough, but have yet to push it much (been busy with too many things at once). Real test will be, possibly, with a certain USB4/TB5 enclosure for eGPU gaming. We shall see about that part though, might have to cancel/downgrade my kickstarter pledge... even if I don't want to.

Anyways.

Congrats on that laptop, nice specs!

 

[CMetaphor]

cool I was thinking of going more mobile getting a laptop for when I am on down time at work on grave yards ( like now) simple gaming to stay awake but then at home using as a media plug in Hard drive ext and plugging it into both my 4k tv and my old monitor running dual screen for kodi on 4k and normal daily stuff on smaller monitor

Well, the one I got, the 2024 Zenbook 14 AMD version, can certainly do all that and more. I'll report back in a few days with 780M gaming performance.

Congrats on that laptop, nice specs!

Thanks