Need a budget laptop?

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steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,522
edited February 2018 in The Clubhouse
Just bought an Acer Aspire E15 and really impressed with it. It was on the top of a number of "best laptop under $500" lists; and what's better, it's only $349. I spent $85 on an additional 8G's of RAM (Comes with 4G's) to bump it up to 12 gigs. Great build quality, fairly feature-rich.

Check it out: https://www.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.GG5AA.005
Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
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    This replaced an ASUS that is almost 8 years old, and now doing duty in my shop.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • rooftop59
    rooftop59 Posts: 7,976
    edited February 2018
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    nbrowser wrote: »
    Yep, Acer is one of only two brands I'd buy. Still have my decade old 8735G and still functions. The other brand is Dell...for some odd reason they make decent laptops too.

    Dell would not have all the corporate accounts if they were not reasonably reliable. I’m not saying they are great machines or don’t have problems, but I think they are reliable overall.

    Although it’s not at all budget. I am really digging my new latitude 5285 hybrid (a work machine). So far it easily hangs with theMacBook I traded in...
    Living Room 2.2: Usher BE-718 "tiny dancers"; Dual DIY Dayton audio RSS210HF-4 Subs with Dayton SPA-250 amps; Arcam SA30; Musical Fidelity A308; Sony UBP-x1000es; Squeezebox Touch with Bolder Power Supply
    Game Room 5.1.4:     Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology Power Monitor 900 mains, CLR-3000 center, StudioMonitor 350 surrounds, ProMonitor 800 atmos x4; Sub - Monoprice Monolith 15in THX Ultra
    Bedroom 2.1    Cambridge Azur 551r; Polk RT25i; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited February 2018
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    Another nugget I forgot to mention, the keyboard is backlit. I LOVE this feature, with my 56yr old eyes.

    QUESTION: Is the HDMI port an input or output?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
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    Cool, thanks man.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,906
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    Steve, is that a touch screen ? Seems to be well equipped for the price.
    HT SYSTEM-
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
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    No touch screen, though it is full HD 1080p.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • WLDock
    WLDock Posts: 3,073
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    Nice, I'm in need of something like this. Plus it would be nice to have a machine with 802.11ac Wi-Fi to match my 802.11ac ASUS router.
    2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited February 2018
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    I installed the extra 8gb ram (12gb total) last night, no drama---took about 2 minutes. Love this thing. Really good battery life.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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