Need help picking new laptop

[daninger4995]

I need some help picking a new computer. I need to get a computer under 300, maybe 350 tops if really necessary. I need it mainly for class, so the main things I will be doing are using the Microsoft Office programs (word, excel, powerpoint, and one note) as well as internet browsing. I was thinking of getting the HP Stream 11 because it is $199, which has 2gb memory, 32 gb hard drive (which I think is a removable SD card, 11.9 inch screen , and it comes with Microsoft office. Here is a link to it: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/HP-Stream-11-Signature-Edition-Laptop/productID.309174400
I realized that there are other options that are slightly more expensive but features such as touch screen, more memory, etc. Can someone that is more technologically inclined please help me pick one? I don't know much about computers and I want to make the best decision. Here is a link to a tech site that has a list of what they say are the "best laptops under 300" http://technobrij.com/top-10-best-laptops-under-300-april-2015/
Thanks for the help!

EDIT:

By the way, this is my first post and I am new to this forum. I am into computers and am going to be an active member on this forum (I didnt just come to get advice on this and never post again).

 

[spirit]

Yup for a low-end machine the HP Stream is quite good. The 32GB storage is an m.2 SATA SSD that is soldered onto the board and can't be removed or a little 32GB SATA SSD - not an SD card (it'd be VERY slow if the OS was on an SD card!)

If you can spend a little more money I'd suggest getting something with 4GB RAM and a more powerful CPU (maybe an i3 for the future-proofing and also because you'll find Windows 8.1 on a Celeron and 2GB RAM doesn't equate to the absolute best experience.

Have you considered some refurbished machines? I posted the list of refurb machines for less than $300 below in another thread recently. All much more powerful than the Stream but bigger and heavier and of course, older.

I think you'd be best off getting a professionally refurbished machine with $300.

There are some refurb options:

HP EliteBook - i7-620m, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HDD, 14", Windows 7 Pro x64 with a 1 year warranty: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM2038275

Same as above but with an i5-540m, 6GB DDR3 and a 160GB SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM2BN1683

Newer EliteBook with an i5 2520M, 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM2719184

ThinkPad T410 with an i5, 4GB RAM and 160GB SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM28P1945

Same as above but with 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM28P2011

ThinkPad T420 with an i5 2520M, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5WM1W78801

Or if you must have 15" here's a T510 (but you may want to replace the 160GB HDD with a 250GB SSD or a bigger 2.5" HDD) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA3SB1NG9461

Dell Latitude E6420 again with an i5 2520M, 4GB RAM, 250GB HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834300729


There's lots of options. Have a look through the refurbished laptops on Newegg.

They won't come with Microsoft Office so you'll need to get that separately. A lot of those come with Windows 7 Pro - you could install 8.1 if you wanted to.


Alternatively you could look for a refurbished or used Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2 tablet. I love my first generation Surface Pro - with an i5 3317U and 4GB of RAM it is still powerful enough and the Surface Pros are very well-built, versatile tablets/devices. :good:

 

[softechs]

The HP Stream 11 run classics like Word and Excel (and run them damn well-surprisingly silky smooth performance here) it also comes with Office 365 Personal for a year. That includes must-haves Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook among others, and includes 1TB of OneDrive storage.

If you are looking for cheap laptop,HP stream 11 is not a suitable machine. With killer build quality and above average performance for its price-range, the Stream definitely puts the pressure on Chromebooks.

Here are some of the best options.
http://www.laptopsamurai.org/cheap-laptops-under-300.html

http://www.laptopsamurai.org/cheap-laptops-under-600.html

http://www.laptopsamurai.org/paramount-laptops-under-the-$400-mark.html