Cactus Game Design Message Boards

I'd like a new laptop. My current one is fine, but I want something smaller.

This was purchased for me. Was this a worthwhile purchase? Looking over the specs, it seems to meet my needs, but I'm not sure if there's something better out there. But for $250, it doesn't seem like you can go wrong. Even if the processor is underwhelming.

I don't play video games. I want a portable computer with decent battery life for word processing, email, youtube, occasionally netflix, etc.


I was actually just considering getting a tablet, but if I'm not the one paying for it, I don't really mind what I get..... Basically, I'm wondering if I should try to cancel the order or see if I can return it after I get it.

I bought a laptop about a year ago, and came up with a rubric for evaluating them.  Based on that, this laptop would look like this:

Processor (Pentium B980) = #111 = 2pts

Graphics (Intel HD 4000 at best) = #206 = 3pts

RAM (4GB) = 1pt

Screen (14") = 5pt

Brand (Asus) = 1pt

HD speed (5400) = 1pt

Total = 13 (I wasn't interested in anything over 10 pts)

So I would probably pass on this machine.  But I really wanted a 17" screen.  If you don't care about the small screen size, then it would only be 9pts, and would actually be about the best computer you'll find at the price point you are looking.  It would certainly be fine for word processing and email.  I'm just a bit concerned that the screen size and graphics would make watching stuff on Youtube or Netflix pretty disappointing.

I was just mostly worried about the processor I guess. I know pentium processors are super outdated

You're right that the word Pentium goes back a LONG time, but the specific one your computer has (B980) is actually a particularly good one based on benchmark tests (ranking #111).  For some perspective, there are several i7 processors in the same range.  So you can't just go by the name of the processor.  I did some checking around and I couldn't find any other laptops for the same price with a better processor than the one you're looking at.  Most of them ranked in the 200s.

i7-2637M (#108)
i7-2657M (#110)
i7-2617M (#120)
i7-640LM (#121)
i7-620LM (#122)