Windows 10 is losing support in Oct. Need a new computer

[eddot98]

To return to the original post’s question, I have an inherited all in one computer that runs Windows 10 well, but does not have a TPM, never mind 2.0. It has an Intel i5-6200 cpu @ 2.3GHz, 16GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB hard drive (not SSD). Having done a little research on installing TPM with no success, I am guessing that I will need to replace the all in one before next fall. I have a Windows 10 laptop that can be ungraded to Windows 11, but I prefer the desktop/all in one size. (Holding out on upgrading that until the last minute because of some of the comments on Windows 11 here).

I have been looking at mini PC’s and am wondering if one of those would be good enough for my needs, which are Internet browsing, tax software use, playing MP3’s and FLAC’s from external hard drives, occasional use of Office suites (I own MS Office 2019), etc., no gaming. I would use a 24” monitor that is currently stored, and the existing wireless mouse and keyboard and external 2.1 speaker system. Thinking that the mini PC could be mounted on the back of the monitor (cutting down on the messy wiring), right? I’m thinking that a N100 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD would be adequate for my needs. Something like this? Any manufacturers to recommend or to stay away from?

https://www.amazon.com/Trycoo-N100-16GB ... YXRm&psc=1

PS Please do not point out all the negatives of all in one PC’s. I have fought that battle and lost.

[yankees60]

To return to the original post’s question, I have an inherited all in one computer that runs Windows 10 well, but does not have a TPM, never mind 2.0. It has an Intel i5-6200 cpu @ 2.3GHz, 16GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB hard drive (not SSD). Having done a little research on installing TPM with no success, I am guessing that I will need to replace the all in one before next fall. I have a Windows 10 laptop that can be ungraded to Windows 11, but I prefer the desktop/all in one size. (Holding out on upgrading that until the last minute because of some of the comments on Windows 11 here).

I have been looking at mini PC’s and am wondering if one of those would be good enough for my needs, which are Internet browsing, tax software use, playing MP3’s and FLAC’s from external hard drives, occasional use of Office suites (I own MS Office 2019), etc., no gaming. I would use a 24” monitor that is currently stored, and the existing wireless mouse and keyboard and external 2.1 speaker system. Thinking that the mini PC could be mounted on the back of the monitor (cutting down on the messy wiring), right? I’m thinking that a N100 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD would be adequate for my needs. Something like this? Any manufacturers to recommend or to stay away from?

https://www.amazon.com/Trycoo-N100-16GB ... YXRm&psc=1

PS Please do not point out all the negatives of all in one PC’s. I have fought that battle and lost.

Here are two of the reviews there which seem to come from genuine buyers / users.

Powerful mini PC
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
We got this to use in our living room as a shared computer for our kids to complete schoolwork. We have connected 2 monitors to this and it has held up very well. Now this is not a gaming PC. This is perfect for essay writing, spreadsheets, PDF reading, and the occasional YouTube video. I have stress tested this min pc as was able to have 50+ tabs open on Google Chrome and it held up with no problem! It is such a small PC it can be mounted on the back of your monitor making it very easy to keep your desk space. Overall if you’re looking for a work computer this is your best bet. Highly recommend!


Great little computer
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This is a fantastic little PC for what it does.

It may not run high end games, but it'll work for smaller projects and programs like coding or other things you may not want your main PC for. It's a great alternative to a raspberry pii, or a perfect docking station for security cams etc. It'll do the basics you need it to and do it well.

It comes with Win 11 pre installed and plenty of RAM to manage lighter loads. But I wouldn't suggest anything more strenuous than a 4K streaming video. It handled youtube and a simple platformer at the same time, which is more than I expected it to do!

[eddot98]

To return to the original post’s question, I have an inherited all in one computer that runs Windows 10 well, but does not have a TPM, never mind 2.0. It has an Intel i5-6200 cpu @ 2.3GHz, 16GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB hard drive (not SSD). Having done a little research on installing TPM with no success, I am guessing that I will need to replace the all in one before next fall. I have a Windows 10 laptop that can be ungraded to Windows 11, but I prefer the desktop/all in one size. (Holding out on upgrading that until the last minute because of some of the comments on Windows 11 here).

I have been looking at mini PC’s and am wondering if one of those would be good enough for my needs, which are Internet browsing, tax software use, playing MP3’s and FLAC’s from external hard drives, occasional use of Office suites (I own MS Office 2019), etc., no gaming. I would use a 24” monitor that is currently stored, and the existing wireless mouse and keyboard and external 2.1 speaker system. Thinking that the mini PC could be mounted on the back of the monitor (cutting down on the messy wiring), right? I’m thinking that a N100 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD would be adequate for my needs. Something like this? Any manufacturers to recommend or to stay away from?

https://www.amazon.com/Trycoo-N100-16GB ... YXRm&psc=1

PS Please do not point out all the negatives of all in one PC’s. I have fought that battle and lost.

Here are two of the reviews there which seem to come from genuine buyers / users.

Powerful mini PC
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
We got this to use in our living room as a shared computer for our kids to complete schoolwork. We have connected 2 monitors to this and it has held up very well. Now this is not a gaming PC. This is perfect for essay writing, spreadsheets, PDF reading, and the occasional YouTube video. I have stress tested this min pc as was able to have 50+ tabs open on Google Chrome and it held up with no problem! It is such a small PC it can be mounted on the back of your monitor making it very easy to keep your desk space. Overall if you’re looking for a work computer this is your best bet. Highly recommend!


Great little computer
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
Amazon Vine Customer Review of Free Product( What's this? )
This is a fantastic little PC for what it does.

It may not run high end games, but it'll work for smaller projects and programs like coding or other things you may not want your main PC for. It's a great alternative to a raspberry pii, or a perfect docking station for security cams etc. It'll do the basics you need it to and do it well.

It comes with Win 11 pre installed and plenty of RAM to manage lighter loads. But I wouldn't suggest anything more strenuous than a 4K streaming video. It handled youtube and a simple platformer at the same time, which is more than I expected it to do!

Thanks for your hard work, but I was hoping to get some input from fellow BHer’s who actually use them. I have read several articles comparing desktops vs mini PC’s and reviews on Amazon, which I take with a grain of salt. They all seem positive, but the prices range from $150 to $500 or more.

[gavinsiu]

To return to the original post’s question, I have an inherited all in one computer that runs Windows 10 well, but does not have a TPM, never mind 2.0. It has an Intel i5-6200 cpu @ 2.3GHz, 16GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB hard drive (not SSD). Having done a little research on installing TPM with no success, I am guessing that I will need to replace the all in one before next fall. I have a Windows 10 laptop that can be ungraded to Windows 11, but I prefer the desktop/all in one size. (Holding out on upgrading that until the last minute because of some of the comments on Windows 11 here).

I have been looking at mini PC’s and am wondering if one of those would be good enough for my needs, which are Internet browsing, tax software use, playing MP3’s and FLAC’s from external hard drives, occasional use of Office suites (I own MS Office 2019), etc., no gaming. I would use a 24” monitor that is currently stored, and the existing wireless mouse and keyboard and external 2.1 speaker system. Thinking that the mini PC could be mounted on the back of the monitor (cutting down on the messy wiring), right? I’m thinking that a N100 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD would be adequate for my needs. Something like this? Any manufacturers to recommend or to stay away from?

https://www.amazon.com/Trycoo-N100-16GB ... YXRm&psc=1

PS Please do not point out all the negatives of all in one PC’s. I have fought that battle and lost.

Here's a review of one from a trusted reviewer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZFcnsNh_es

Based on your use case, it will probably be good enough for your use case. I used a mini-pc with lower spec than this from 2016 as a daily driver, so you should be fine unless you are one of those users who are used to top of the line PC.

The only downside is that you won't have much support. Most of these come oversea manufacturers with no support staff. You won't support unless you buy a larger brand like Asus or Lenovo. However the machine equivalent cost to a support plan for a PC, so they might be cheap enough to gamble on. Make sure you buy one with a decent return policy in case it doesn't work.

[eddot98]

To return to the original post’s question, I have an inherited all in one computer that runs Windows 10 well, but does not have a TPM, never mind 2.0. It has an Intel i5-6200 cpu @ 2.3GHz, 16GB of dual channel DDR3 RAM, and a 1TB hard drive (not SSD). Having done a little research on installing TPM with no success, I am guessing that I will need to replace the all in one before next fall. I have a Windows 10 laptop that can be ungraded to Windows 11, but I prefer the desktop/all in one size. (Holding out on upgrading that until the last minute because of some of the comments on Windows 11 here).

I have been looking at mini PC’s and am wondering if one of those would be good enough for my needs, which are Internet browsing, tax software use, playing MP3’s and FLAC’s from external hard drives, occasional use of Office suites (I own MS Office 2019), etc., no gaming. I would use a 24” monitor that is currently stored, and the existing wireless mouse and keyboard and external 2.1 speaker system. Thinking that the mini PC could be mounted on the back of the monitor (cutting down on the messy wiring), right? I’m thinking that a N100 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 500 GB SSD would be adequate for my needs. Something like this? Any manufacturers to recommend or to stay away from?

https://www.amazon.com/Trycoo-N100-16GB ... YXRm&psc=1

PS Please do not point out all the negatives of all in one PC’s. I have fought that battle and lost.

Here's a review of one from a trusted reviewer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZFcnsNh_es

Based on your use case, it will probably be good enough for your use case. I used a mini-pc with lower spec than this from 2016 as a daily driver, so you should be fine unless you are one of those users who are used to top of the line PC.

The only downside is that you won't have much support. Most of these come oversea manufacturers with no support staff. You won't support unless you buy a larger brand like Asus or Lenovo. However the machine equivalent cost to a support plan for a PC, so they might be cheap enough to gamble on. Make sure you buy one with a decent return policy in case it doesn't work.

Thanks for the link. The review is very positive, but the comments by people who actually bought one and use it are most helpful. The comments are especially positive. This particular brand GMKtec seems like it stands out in a sea of competitors. I will certainly consider them when I am forced to give up my Windows 10 PC.

[gavinsiu]

Here's a review of one from a trusted reviewer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZFcnsNh_es

Based on your use case, it will probably be good enough for your use case. I used a mini-pc with lower spec than this from 2016 as a daily driver, so you should be fine unless you are one of those users who are used to top of the line PC.

The only downside is that you won't have much support. Most of these come oversea manufacturers with no support staff. You won't support unless you buy a larger brand like Asus or Lenovo. However the machine equivalent cost to a support plan for a PC, so they might be cheap enough to gamble on. Make sure you buy one with a decent return policy in case it doesn't work.

Thanks for the link. The review is very positive, but the comments by people who actually bought one and use it are most helpful. The comments are especially positive. This particular brand GMKtec seems like it stands out in a sea of competitors. I will certainly consider them when I am forced to give up my Windows 10 PC.

Most of these are rebrands. The more well known are beeline, miniforum and gmctec. Of the three, gmctec actually supply components. Note that this does not mean their support is better.

You may want to purchase the computer through Amazon if Amazon has a better return policy. I recall gmctec has a 7 day return if purchased directly.


Here’s a link to a buyers guide
https://www.reddit.com/r/MiniPCs/s/i3P2LqbKJH


Note I have no personal experience with any of these vendors.

[lws]

The minicomputer will work for you.
I bought one made by Beelink and it does the job well.
It came with Win 11 professional.

[Lou Sevens]

I am also in the same boat- I have a Legion by Lenovo laptop 17 inch- been a great computer for 6 + years, but is starting to show its age.

I am considering a Thinkpad P16, and getting 64gb vs. 32 gb ram. I like having the larger screen but will have to go likely to a 16. I've been making gradual backups of files over time. I am not going to do the update to 11 on the machine.

64GB RAM??!! For what need?

I had my ultimate computer custom built about two years ago. Had 32 GB RAM put it in to accommodate future needs. Thought that would be plenty enough.

Still have not made that computer my every day computer. Continue to use this 2017 computer that I bought used with 16 GB RAM. I think it suffers from only having that amount given how many tabs I will have open in three separate browsers at the same time.

But I'm hoping that when this one finally dies and I'm using the other that 32 GB RAM will plenty enough for many, many years.

Hello, ,I do a lot of digital audio - using multiple instruments at once and the more ram the better. I was using my Legion and getting crackling/sound cut out at 16gb, so switched to a MAC with 64gb.For example, piano sounds use a lot of memory, and I might have different sounds and voca.s

However, I do not think I want to spend $4k on a thinkpad, so am looking at either another Legion like the 5i, or perhaps a Asus or Acer with a 18" screen.

[gavinsiu]

64GB RAM??!! For what need?

I had my ultimate computer custom built about two years ago. Had 32 GB RAM put it in to accommodate future needs. Thought that would be plenty enough.

Still have not made that computer my every day computer. Continue to use this 2017 computer that I bought used with 16 GB RAM. I think it suffers from only having that amount given how many tabs I will have open in three separate browsers at the same time.

But I'm hoping that when this one finally dies and I'm using the other that 32 GB RAM will plenty enough for many, many years.

Hello, ,I do a lot of digital audio - using multiple instruments at once and the more ram the better. I was using my Legion and getting crackling/sound cut out at 16gb, so switched to a MAC with 64gb.For example, piano sounds use a lot of memory, and I might have different sounds and voca.s

However, I do not think I want to spend $4k on a thinkpad, so am looking at either another Legion like the 5i, or perhaps a Asus or Acer with a 18" screen.

How are you handling the audio out. You may be able to setup a usb based DAC.

[gavinsiu]

I notice that the computer I purchased back in January is now $200 more expensive and it wasn't even on sale. Tariff related increase?

[prioritarian]

There are also ways to get Windows 11 install on unsupported hardware, but I don't recomend doing this since it's risky. It may suddenly fail one day when MS decides to do a takeback on something.

It will definitely fail. MS wants to use newer x86 instructions and TPM to lock down the system. Your only real option is Linux for unsupported machines.

It's trivial to create a registry key that disables the TPM check:

https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/byp ... equirement

[zhiwiller]

Here's a review of one from a trusted reviewer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZFcnsNh_es

Based on your use case, it will probably be good enough for your use case. I used a mini-pc with lower spec than this from 2016 as a daily driver, so you should be fine unless you are one of those users who are used to top of the line PC.

The only downside is that you won't have much support. Most of these come oversea manufacturers with no support staff. You won't support unless you buy a larger brand like Asus or Lenovo. However the machine equivalent cost to a support plan for a PC, so they might be cheap enough to gamble on. Make sure you buy one with a decent return policy in case it doesn't work.

Thanks for the link. The review is very positive, but the comments by people who actually bought one and use it are most helpful. The comments are especially positive. This particular brand GMKtec seems like it stands out in a sea of competitors. I will certainly consider them when I am forced to give up my Windows 10 PC.

I have a GMKtec NUC that I bought a few months ago. I moved my more powerful PC that I use for gaming to a media room and needed something for basic functions. It is great; no complaints. I've even been using it as my Plex server and it has performed above expectations.

[munemaker]

There are a few instances where 64 Gb or even more is needed.

• If you do a lot of virtual machines. If you have multiple machine, it can eat up a lot of memory.
• You do video editing or modeling work.
• You play games, some of the games are memory hungry but I don't think there is one right now that uses 64 Gb.

Most are good with 32GB. I think MS Flight Simulator wants more.

I upgraded my laptop to 32GB last year. It was a cheap upgrade. I wouldn’t go with less than 32 for a newly bought machine.

I am amazed that typical users think they need this kind of RAM. I get it if you are gaming, running Flight Simulator, producing digital audio or editing video...but to read the news, email and surf the web, and watch some video (YouTube TV), Microsoft Office, H&R Block tax program...really? My current desktop system is a Dell Vostro with Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz and 4 Gb RAM running Windows 10 Pro with 2 monitors. Performance seems perfectly fine with maybe two dozen tabs open. OK, I wouldn't buy a new system with 4 Gb, but I wouldn't feel the need to replace this one either if it were not for it going unsupported.

I also use Chromebooks a lot. Mine have 8 Gb RAM with an i3 and i5 processors which seem very responsive.

MUN

[rockstar]

Most are good with 32GB. I think MS Flight Simulator wants more.

I upgraded my laptop to 32GB last year. It was a cheap upgrade. I wouldn’t go with less than 32 for a newly bought machine.

I am amazed that typical users think they need this kind of RAM. I get it if you are gaming, running Flight Simulator, producing digital audio or editing video...but to read the news, email and surf the web, and watch some video (YouTube TV), Microsoft Office, H&R Block tax program...really? My current desktop system is a Dell Vostro with Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz and 4 Gb RAM running Windows 10 Pro with 2 monitors. Performance seems perfectly fine with maybe two dozen tabs open. OK, I wouldn't buy a new system with 4 Gb, but I wouldn't feel the need to replace this one either if it were not for it going unsupported.

I also use Chromebooks a lot. Mine have 8 Gb RAM with an i3 and i5 processors which seem very responsive.

MUN

The tasks you describe can be done on a tablet. Why do you need a PC?

Also, Windows 11 is a memory hog. With 8BG you have very little left over doing simple stuff.

[munemaker]

I am amazed that typical users think they need this kind of RAM. I get it if you are gaming, running Flight Simulator, producing digital audio or editing video...but to read the news, email and surf the web, and watch some video (YouTube TV), Microsoft Office, H&R Block tax program...really? My current desktop system is a Dell Vostro with Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4460 CPU @ 3.20GHz and 4 Gb RAM running Windows 10 Pro with 2 monitors. Performance seems perfectly fine with maybe two dozen tabs open. OK, I wouldn't buy a new system with 4 Gb, but I wouldn't feel the need to replace this one either if it were not for it going unsupported.

I also use Chromebooks a lot. Mine have 8 Gb RAM with an i3 and i5 processors which seem very responsive.

MUN

The tasks you describe can be done on a tablet. Why do you need a PC?

Also, Windows 11 is a memory hog. With 8BG you have very little left over doing simple stuff.

A tablet wouldn't work for me as a main computer (although I do own two Android tablets). I do a lot of Excel and Sheets spreadsheets and I wouldn't think of inputting data (or even typing email) from a mini keyboard. I like the full size keyboard and large dual displays.

Like I said, I wouldn't buy a Windows 11 machine with 4 Gb. Just saying it is perfectly adequate for my current situation.

MUN

[MGBMartin]

My current daily task computer is a Dell laptop I bought for my daughter back in 2008.
I use it for the likes of email, word processing and general web browsing etc.
It came with Vista, I later updated it to Windows 7 and later Windows 10.
It has 4gb RAM and I swapped the HD to a SSD.
It still works fine and I’m sure I could get Windows 11 to run on it; but I figure 17 years of use it has been worth the money.
So, I just ordered one of those Mini PC’s mentioned in this thread for about $140. I’m planning on wiping the drive, reinstalling the Windows 11 OS from the Microsoft download, checking for viruses and BIOS malware etc all while keeping it off my network. Once I am comfortable that there is nothing nefarious on it I will make it my daily task computer.

[Yarlonkol12]

Macbook Air,

No reason to buy a windows laptop unless your a PC gamer

[gavinsiu]

I just installed the following update today and if finally fixed a usb mic issue I had sinc January.

2025-03 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5053598)

[exodusing]

Macbook Air,

No reason to buy a windows laptop unless your a PC gamer

Or unless you

prefer windows to macos

don't want a screen with lots of reflection/glare or prefer oled or prefer a touchscreen

want a computer than can run linux natively

want a better keyboard

don't want a notch taking up screen real estate

want some user replaceable parts

etc.

[Lou Sevens]

Hello, ,I do a lot of digital audio - using multiple instruments at once and the more ram the better. I was using my Legion and getting crackling/sound cut out at 16gb, so switched to a MAC with 64gb.For example, piano sounds use a lot of memory, and I might have different sounds and voca.s

However, I do not think I want to spend $4k on a thinkpad, so am looking at either another Legion like the 5i, or perhaps a Asus or Acer with a 18" screen.

How are you handling the audio out. You may be able to setup a usb based DAC.

Using a Presonus 24c usb interface- audio outs to 2 Presonus Eris 5 BT monitors. (Big Presonus fan, use Studio one). However, I had Rokit monitors in the past and saw they have some usb ones.

[Lou Sevens]

Is anyone using Asus? I like the looks of this as I enjoy having a 17" screen of course I could always get a 16" and add a portable external.



https://www.costco.com/asus-rog-strix-g ... 47570.html

[Barkingsparrow]

Is anyone using Asus? I like the looks of this as I enjoy having a 17" screen of course I could always get a 16" and add a portable external.

https://www.costco.com/asus-rog-strix-g ... 47570.html

I cannot advise on the hardware - but I had a similar interest, replacing my 8-year old Dell Windows 10 box with a more gaming-oriented machine, as I anticipate retirement sooner than later (or a job loss). I just cannot commit to a gaming laptop however, I would prefer a desktop. I would start with the hardware you anticipate you will need to play the games you are most interested in, as a baseline. That said, I have no idea on what hardware is advisable, say, for a 5-year cycle of new games. I don't play a lot of games but I was not able to play say, The Witcher 3 - Next Gen on my current machine.

[prioritarian]

Macbook Air,
No reason to buy a windows laptop unless your a PC gamer

You'd have to pay me to purchase a mac or windows laptop (and I have not done so for >15 years).

[yankees60]

Macbook Air,

No reason to buy a windows laptop unless your a PC gamer

In breaking news for me, I'm actually strongly considering buying one.

I believe that the best overall value is to buy one at Apple refurbished. Get the same warranty as a new one and at least 15% off from the new price. The inventory changes every day and probably even throughout the day.

When I go there I search on those with M2 / 16GB RAM.

Initially it will only be for extremely basic use ...when I am outside and want something better than having a tablet.

No serious work to be done on it. Will continue to that in my elaborate, more power Windows based desktops.

This will be both my introduction to the Apple computer world and something I expect would be useful for the next 5 to 10 years.

[stockwiz]

My next computer will likely be a NUC or micro PC. Small enough to do the job for scanning files, electronic recordkeeping, Quicken investing, playing MP3s (converted CD collection), Spotify, and the like. If I need to travel with it - I unplug it and carry some simple wireless keyboard + mouse and an HDMI cable. The PC Mag best pick is only $379 w/o hard drive.

I currently use a $350 hp laptop that I bought new (Win10, min RAM and HD size) and is not Win 11 compatible. I'll use it until it "Win7s" (stops working). My former Win7 laptop is my back and runs like a champ.

[exodusing]

Macbook Air,

No reason to buy a windows laptop unless your a PC gamer

In breaking news for me, I'm actually strongly considering buying one.

I believe that the best overall value is to buy one at Apple refurbished. Get the same warranty as a new one and at least 15% off from the new price. The inventory changes every day and probably even throughout the day.

When I go there I search on those with M2 / 16GB RAM.

Initially it will only be for extremely basic use ...when I am outside and want something better than having a tablet.

No serious work to be done on it. Will continue to that in my elaborate, more power Windows based desktops.

This will be both my introduction to the Apple computer world and something I expect would be useful for the next 5 to 10 years.

"when I am outside and want something better than having a tablet" The highly reflective screens of the MBAs are a concern for outdoor use. It's usually easier to angle a tablet or phone than a laptop to avoid reflections and glare. YMMV.

[yankees60]

My next computer will likely be a NUC or micro PC. Small enough to do the job for scanning files, electronic recordkeeping, Quicken investing, playing MP3s (converted CD collection), Spotify, and the like. If I need to travel with it - I unplug it and carry some simple wireless keyboard + mouse and an HDMI cable. The PC Mag best pick is only $379 w/o hard drive.

I currently use a $350 hp laptop that I bought new (Win10, min RAM and HD size) and is not Win 11 compatible. I'll use it until it "Win7s" (stops working). My former Win7 laptop is my back and runs like a champ.

Not familiar with this type of computer but assume it has some form of built-in monitor since you did not cite taking one of those along with you.

[yankees60]

In breaking news for me, I'm actually strongly considering buying one.

I believe that the best overall value is to buy one at Apple refurbished. Get the same warranty as a new one and at least 15% off from the new price. The inventory changes every day and probably even throughout the day.

When I go there I search on those with M2 / 16GB RAM.

Initially it will only be for extremely basic use ...when I am outside and want something better than having a tablet.

No serious work to be done on it. Will continue to that in my elaborate, more power Windows based desktops.

This will be both my introduction to the Apple computer world and something I expect would be useful for the next 5 to 10 years.

"when I am outside and want something better than having a tablet" The highly reflective screens of the MBAs are a concern for outdoor use. It's usually easier to angle a tablet or phone than a laptop to avoid reflections and glare. YMMV.

Yes. I thought about that. Not easy to use an IPad in direct sunlight. Extremely difficult when I am using mine to keep score of our softball games and I have to be with it in the direct sun.

I'm thinking I might, though, be using the laptop in the shade.

[prioritarian]

My next computer will likely be a NUC or micro PC. Small enough to do the job for scanning files, electronic recordkeeping, Quicken investing, playing MP3s (converted CD collection), Spotify, and the like. If I need to travel with it - I unplug it and carry some simple wireless keyboard + mouse and an HDMI cable. The PC Mag best pick is only $379 w/o hard drive.

I currently use a $350 hp laptop that I bought new (Win10, min RAM and HD size) and is not Win 11 compatible. I'll use it until it "Win7s" (stops working). My former Win7 laptop is my back and runs like a champ.

As I noted above, it is trivial to make any computer that is running windows 10 compatible with windows 11 by editing the windows registry as described here:
Install Windows 11 without secure boot on an unsupported old laptop

More details on how to upgrade incompatible Windows 10 computers to Windows 11 here:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-up ... 1-in-2025/

[Jigglypuff]

I'm doing that very annoying thing of being a new user and piling in with an answer that may have already being given, but:

Microsoft has in fact dropped most of the restrictions in the last couple of months, and almost any computer that is less than 10 or 12 years old can have W11 installed without any workarounds now. Most of the online guides are therefore out of date.
Simply update it either through windows update, or download the MS installer to a usb stick, and check the box during the install saying MS won't be responsible for any issues, and that's pretty much it.

I'd advise you restrict updates to 23H2, as 24H2 is known to have a fair few bugs.

In my experience it runs very well on systems with 8GB RAM unless you're doing photo/video editing etc (or are Black Jack ). My other tweaks have been simple, all done with quick regedits:
-restore the recent locations folder in explorer
-get rid of bing searches on the start menu
-restore the full right click context menu.

And install a W10 style start menu eg start11.

With all these changes it runs as well as W10 on my boxes.

[munemaker]

I too am contemplating a new computer due to losing security updates for Windows 10. I am retired, so no work implications here.

My current rig is a Dell Vostro desktop (Intel i5) with hard wired ethernet and dual monitors that you might say is my main computer. I am using Microsoft Office 2007. In addition, I have a couple Chromebooks that work for almost everything. The Chromebooks will read and write simpler Word and Excel files, but choke on RPM, for example.

My thought process: There are 3 ecosystems: Apple, Google & Microsoft. My world is almost exclusively Google. I have zero interest in Apple products, and have always had a Windows computer available. It seems though, that Microsoft is getting more manipulative with their seemingly arbitrary requirements to force a new computer. Not only that, but they are more aggressively pushing their browser, email, etc. I understand that in order to install Windows 11, one has to open a "Microsoft account," presumably giving personal information. As a result, I would like to get away from Microsoft and just go with Google.

I am thinking about replacing my Windows machine with the "Acer CXI5-I7V16G Chromebox Intel Core i7 12th Gen i7-1270P Dodeca-core (12 Core) 2.20 GHz 16 GB RAM DDR4 SDRAM 256 GB PCI Express SSD Model CXI5-I7V16G." https://www.newegg.com/p/1VK-0017-00V83 ... 0017-00V83 I could hardwire it to the internet (ethernet), it has onboard connectors for multiple monitors and lots of USB ports. While the hardware (Intel i7 with 16 GB RAM) doesn't sound that strong by today's standards, the Chrome OS runs more efficiently and doesn't need heavy duty hardware.

The Chrome OS is built on Linux, and newer Chromebooks can actually run Linux programs directly. I loaded LibreOffice and their spreadsheet can run RPM and the other spreadsheets I use (most will run on Google Sheets). The only issue is the H&R Block tax program, and I can just go with the online version...not my first choice but not a major issue either.

Anyone have any thoughts or comments on this?

MUN

Could you just install Chrome OS Flex on your current computer. Maybe install it on a new hard drive so you don’t have to wipe your windows drive. I don’t think it can run Google play programs so it might not be worth it. I’m turning my 2014 MacBook into Chrome Flex in October when both its macOS and win10 will nether get updates.

Have you tried the online versions of MS Office which are free. Maybe they can run the RPM spreadsheet. I don’t know, just curious.

I’ve never seen such an expensive desktop Chromebook than your link. Wondering what all that extra horsepower would get you with your use cases. A new i3 would be much faster than your current machine I think.

I tried your suggestion of Chrome OS Flex on an old Toshiba Chromebook and an old Dell laptop PC. I really like it. Fast and efficient! I need to do some research to see how it would work on my Dell Vostro with 2 monitors and 2 internal drives (1 SSD, 1 hard drive). If it supports dual monitors and two internal drives, that will be a good solution for me, and at no cost. The Vostro has so much horsepower compared to the old Chromebook and Dell PC that I am sure Chrome OS Flex will really fly (with the i5 processor). And I don't really need to run Android apps on this machine. Thanks for mentioning it.

MUN

UPDATE: You can try Chrome OS Flex on a Windows computer from a USB drive without actually installing it. I did that and it does support two monitors and two internal drives. Everything seemed to work except the DVD drive, which of course Chrome OS does not support. The NUM LOCK key doesn't work either but all the number keys do. This is a great solution for me. I am going to upgrade my Vostro to 16 Gb (the max it supports) and do the install. No downside to this for me. It is free and keeps a Windows 10 machine out of the landfill.

UPDATE: I increased the RAM from 4 Gb to 16 Gb. Nice improvement. I moved Windows 10 from the SSD to the hard drive and installed Chrome OS Flex on the SSD, which is the boot default. Did some tuning up - cleaned & defragged the hard disk & Windows registry, disabled junk programs running in the background, etc. Now I can dual boot to either OS using the F12 key at startup. The downloadable tax program is the only reason I can think of for using Windows again; everything else I can do in the Chrome OS, including Libre Office and Google Docs (I still have Microsoft Office on the Windows drive if I would find out it need it, which I doubt). As last resort, I would use the online tax program before buying a new Windows 11 PC. Very happy with this approach. Both OS run really well.

MUN

[cubs1999]

I've been following this thread and I guess I'll procrastinate dealing with it until Sept/Oct.

I have an old computer I got in 2014 that was a top of the line gaming computer back then. I don't really do any gaming anymore but it still runs an MMORPG in which I have many years invested. I just log into my account once a month to keep my guild refreshed under my ownership.

I rarely use the computer anymore except to do a few spreadsheets for taxes and to do some surfing or research that would be more time consuming to do on my phone.

I used the update took and it told me that my computer is too outdated for Windows 11.

I don't really need a new computer so maybe I'll try to mess with the registry or pay to get the extra year.

[FatefulTanker]

Could you just install Chrome OS Flex on your current computer. Maybe install it on a new hard drive so you don’t have to wipe your windows drive. I don’t think it can run Google play programs so it might not be worth it. I’m turning my 2014 MacBook into Chrome Flex in October when both its macOS and win10 will nether get updates.

Have you tried the online versions of MS Office which are free. Maybe they can run the RPM spreadsheet. I don’t know, just curious.

I’ve never seen such an expensive desktop Chromebook than your link. Wondering what all that extra horsepower would get you with your use cases. A new i3 would be much faster than your current machine I think.

I tried your suggestion of Chrome OS Flex on an old Toshiba Chromebook and an old Dell laptop PC. I really like it. Fast and efficient! I need to do some research to see how it would work on my Dell Vostro with 2 monitors and 2 internal drives (1 SSD, 1 hard drive). If it supports dual monitors and two internal drives, that will be a good solution for me, and at no cost. The Vostro has so much horsepower compared to the old Chromebook and Dell PC that I am sure Chrome OS Flex will really fly (with the i5 processor). And I don't really need to run Android apps on this machine. Thanks for mentioning it.

MUN

UPDATE: You can try Chrome OS Flex on a Windows computer from a USB drive without actually installing it. I did that and it does support two monitors and two internal drives. Everything seemed to work except the DVD drive, which of course Chrome OS does not support. The NUM LOCK key doesn't work either but all the number keys do. This is a great solution for me. I am going to upgrade my Vostro to 16 Gb (the max it supports) and do the install. No downside to this for me. It is free and keeps a Windows 10 machine out of the landfill.

UPDATE: I increased the RAM from 4 Gb to 16 Gb. Nice improvement. I moved Windows 10 from the SSD to the hard drive and installed Chrome OS Flex on the SSD, which is the boot default. Did some tuning up - cleaned & defragged the hard disk & Windows registry, disabled junk programs running in the background, etc. Now I can dual boot to either OS using the F12 key at startup. The downloadable tax program is the only reason I can think of for using Windows again; everything else I can do in the Chrome OS, including Libre Office and Google Docs (I still have Microsoft Office on the Windows drive if I would find out it need it, which I doubt). As last resort, I would use the online tax program before buying a new Windows 11 PC. Very happy with this approach. Both OS run really well.

MUN

Sounds like you have a really nice solution. Thanks for the update. I’m always amazed at how well Windows runs when newly installed and cleaned up. I’ve even got Windows 11 cleaned up on my cheap laptop where it hasn’t annoyed me for a couple of months.