MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I was after a small Windows laptop for using as a music machine - running Ableton Live and looping guitars, etc. in a live/band setting. So nothing horrendous graphics-wise, but it needed to be stable, sturdy and relatively powerful.
I also didn't want to be spending too much with sprog 2 on the way soon, so buying new was out of the question.
I ended up looking at refurbed HP Elitebooks on ebay. Seemed to fit the bill - Magnesium chassis, designed to withstand dust and moisture, 2nd or 3rd gen i5/i7 processors, 4-6GB Ram, 240-320GB HDs. Apparently they were £1000+ when new. I know that processors have moved on a bit in the last 4/5 years, but we seem to have left behind the days of massive increases in processing power every 2 years.
Anyway, I pushed the button on a dinky 12.5" one - 3rd Gen i5, 6GB ram, 320GB HD, Windows 7 Pro - all for £110 posted. It turned up today and I'm seriously impressed. Bar a couple of marks on the lid it looks to be in A1 condition. Battery charged up and seems to be holding its charge a couple of hours later (though it'll be pretty much always plugged in anyway).
I just loaded up Ableton, and gave it a test with loads of samples loaded, set at low latency, and a bunch of VST effects enabled, and it's running as smooth as can be.
Money well spent!
Sounds great, who was the seller? I just spent more on a printer lol! Still at least it works unlike most I buy
A lot of workplaces offload elitebooks at 3 to 5 years old. They are LOADS better than the plasticcy packard bell rubbish you can get off the shelf in pc world. Shop bought laptops come crammed with "free" samples of bloatware too. If I needed a laptop Id do exactly what you've done.
yes, where from? Also looking for one.
Indeed, who's the seller? Looking for new laptop but can't afford macbook prices. One of your these could do the job nicely.
Seller was called Tier 1 Outlet on eBay. Loads, and I mean loads, of refurbed for sale.
tier1-outlet FWIW, do look good
Just realised I mistyped - was actually £120 posted. Still a good deal though!
Tier1 are great, got my daughter one of theirs a few months ago. It came with a dead battery, they sent out a new one in the post no questions the same day.
There's another shop which seems to be a similar setup called Gigarefurb. Not tried them, but may be worth a compare if Tier1 don't have exactly what you're after, (and what stock they have does depend on what's being sold off by large companies)
I've also found the Elitebook (specifically 14.1" 840 G2) to be great. Nice and light, well built (not MBP standards but very good), lots of USB 3 ports, and easy to work on. mSata as well as 2.5" SATA drive so potential for fast SSD in mSATA and large mechanical drive, will take 16Gb ram and with an i5 5300u and the native intel graphics Lightroom and Photoshop run smooth and quick.
(though it'll be pretty much always plugged in anyway)
Good way to kill the battery, that. Run it on the battery sometimes, or remove it.
I picked up a wee Lenovo convertible Win 10 refurb off of Argos for £102 the other day, well pleased with it. Was a grade B but looks brand new to me.
Interestingly, Argos seem to be one of the only sellers on there not offering "Collect at Argos"
Currently use i5 Elitebook , replaced a core 2 Elitebook and have advised for others - they are corporate level tough machines - very cheap as per OP - and technology refresh/asset/OEM Warranty means that loads come on the market.
Metal - stainless screen/lid - all the ports you need - docking stations for
peanuts (need higher power adaptor sometimes)
The only downside is that some screen models are not so bright .
There is every size available - just pop in an SSD and go.
Good to know, have been looking at the Lenovo thinkpad refurbs which are a bit more dear than that, they are good but the touchpad arrangement is annoying.
Have also thought about chromebook but would also like to be able to run my audio software and lightroom etc
I'd have an i5 windows 10 refurb elitebook over a brand new chrome book any day of the week. Far more rugged and capable...