I need a basic laptop for internet browsing, mail, itunes, download some photos, and for my wife to connect her Garmin and her Timex to so she can analyze her power and running data. She has an old Vista laptop that sucks.
Windows 7 home, windows 7 office or windows 8.1 - let’s start there
I assume touchscreen is not needed.
memory
I3 or I5 or something else
storage - probably don’t need a lot given the use
I bought my kids some Chromebooks and they are great but I don’t think the Garmin stuff will work (seamlessly) with the Garmin to get the PT data into the software. As for analyzing your powerdata - TrainingPeaks or GoldenCheetah? She also downloads a timex running watch data.
In short, we need to start over and I don’t want a $1,000+ Mac or PC machine
I have a Lenovo Ultrabook. I use all the apps you are talking about and I love it. It is a touchscreen, but you can flip the screen flat (I want to say it is a Yoga). So far no issues at all with it and I have had it for almost 1.5 years now.
Seems like double the price over a basic windows PC with 4G of memory and an I5 chip with an okay display.
Not sure it’s worth it.
It’s worth it.I’d like to get into Trainer Road and thought about getting a Macbook to use next to my trainer, but it seems pricey to buy for just one application. Any luck with refurbished Apple laptops? What about eBay…or is that a guaranteed way to get screwed buying a laptop?
Seems like double the price over a basic windows PC with 4G of memory and an I5 chip with an okay display.
Not sure it’s worth it.
It’s worth it.I’d like to get into Trainer Road and thought about getting a Macbook to use next to my trainer, but it seems pricey to buy for just one application. Any luck with refurbished Apple laptops? What about eBay…or is that a guaranteed way to get screwed buying a laptop?
I don’t really know. I’ve never bought used or refurbished. I think you can get factory refurbished macs for a decent deal. Never really looked into it.
Trainer Road is (supposedly) launching an iPad version “soon”.
I’d just go to best buy and look at Acer, Asus, other machines in the $400 range. You can probably get 6 gigs of ram for that price. Get a decent external monitor if you like (make sure it can connect to one). Laptops are not durable goods. Just get a new one every year or two at that price point.