Value Laptops 2022

Value Laptops 2022

Want the best value for your money on a laptop in 2022?

This is targeted mainly at students and bloggers; people who need a do-it-all laptop that won't bust even a modest budget.

I'm very pleased with the direction that the industry has gone in the last few years. I've long recommended computers with an SSD, or solid-state drive, because they truly are that much better than the old spinning hard drives. It's like comparing a 1975 Cadillac Sixty Special Brougham (they called them 'land yachts' for a good reason!) to a modern Shelby Mustang - in terms of performance or reliability, there's simply no comparison.

I no longer need to make that recommendation, because you'll be hard-pressed to find a laptop without an SSD these days.

Links for August 2020

I don't normally watch a ton of YouTube videos, because there are too many time-wasters out there. But this video made a ton of great points about money, capitalism, and time.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mRbDEtDoyA

*I'd note that the person who made this video missed one crucial element: risk tolerance. Sure, everything he says makes sense. But it doesn't make sense for just anyone to start a business. And he missed that crucial element.

Remember when everybody was panic-buying toilet paper and paper towels? This analysis provides some insight into why:

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/11/heres-why-people-are-panic-buying-and-stockpiling-toilet-paper.html

ASUS Vivobook 15 - $499

    https://amzn.to/2BEYP68

*A little light on the storage space, but it's pretty powerful for the price, and there are a number of options for extra storage.

 

Laws like this are exceedingly scary for homeowners:

    https://reason.com/2020/07/24/county-wants-answers-from-treasurer-who-seized-mans-home-over-8-tax-bill/

How rich are Americans, by age group? 

    https://froogalstoodent.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-rich-are-americans-by-age-group.html

Hey Americans, interested in what happens to your tax money? You might be surprised where the military ranks in this list...

    https://blog.cheapism.com/where-your-tax-money-really-goes/

A snapshot into the financial picture of "John," someone who retired in 2018 and is looking for income:

    https://seekingalpha.com/article/4340665-retirees-dividend-portfolio-johns-march-update-new-way-to-look-portfolio

Tips to help you retire, regardless of what the economy is doing at the moment:

    https://www.moneytalksnews.com/retire-even-when-the-economy-heads-south/

How much can you withdraw safely after you retire?

    https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/12/07/stocks-part-xiii-withdrawal-rates-how-much-can-i-spend-anyway/

Steve Adcock and his wife retired early, in their thirties. He offers some advice to help the rest of us retire, as well:

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/31/early-retirement-millionaire-saved-70-percent-of-income-lives-by-basic-money-rules.html

Along similar lines as the above:

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/04/stop-wasting-money-on-these-7-useless-things-and-save-for-early-retirement.html 

For some perspective on the REAL point of having money:

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/07/warren-buffett-son-doesnt-regret-spending-berkshire-stock-he-got-at-19-worth-200-million-now.html?&doc=106539730

This post makes an important point about the power of emotions:

    https://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/how-to-motivate-yourself/

Scared to invest? Don't be. Here's why:

    https://www.listenmoneymatters.com/investing-for-beginners/

The best Vanguard funds:

    https://www.listenmoneymatters.com/best-vanguard-funds/

Be on guard against financial abuse:

    https://partnersinfire.com/finance/financial-abuse/

Entrepreneurship isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be:

    https://steveadcock.us/entrepreneurship-lies

Possibly the single most succinct summary of the FIRE movement:

    https://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/05/12/stocks-part-vi-portfolio-ideas-to-build-and-keep-your-wealth/

How much money do Americans think it takes to be financially comfortable? And how has COVID-19 changed that?

    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/27/how-much-money-americans-say-is-enough-to-be-financially-comfortable.html

How should you invest? Ty of CampF.I.R.E. Finance describes one solid approach—index and chill:

    https://www.campfirefinance.com/index-and-chill/

Best laptop bargains 2019

Best laptop bargains

Here are 2019's best laptop bargains, hand-picked by The Froogal Stoodent!

You'll find everything from general-purpose to gaming laptops (but mostly general-purpose). The sweet spot is usually $400-500 for a good, reliable machine that will get the job done.

ASUS Vivobook F441 - $440
Amazon

• 8 GB of the latest DDR4 RAM 
• AMD A9-9425 processor 
• 256 GB solid-state drive (SSD) version highly recommended

ASUS Vivobook K570ZD - $650
Amazon

• 8 GB of DDR4 RAM 
• Ryzen 5 2500U processor
• 256 GB SSD

Are you a student who hopes to game on a tight budget? It's possible with this laptop.

Lenovo 330S-15ARR - $410
Amazon

• 8 GB of DDR4 RAM
• Ryzen 5 2500U processor
• 128 GB SSD

High-performance on a tight budget. It's also possible to game on this one, though with the tight storage requirements, I wouldn't recommend it.

ASUS X555QA - $350
Amazon

• 8 GB of RAM
• AMD A12-9720P processor
• 128 GB SSD ($350) OR 512 GB ($440)

I'd get the 512 GB one for $440 if I were shopping for myself.

Best Laptops (Fall 2017)

Great deals on great laptops!

Looking for a new high-performance laptop? Of course, you want one that will be reliable, cost-effective and capable of handling any task you need!

Well, as always, I've got you covered:

ASUS Flip TP501; $450
Amazon

Here it is, folks: the laptop deal of the season!

Value Chromebooks

Best Chromebooks 

If you're looking for a cheap computer to surf the Internet, or for your kids, a Chromebook might be a good option for your needs. Chromebooks have very limited capabilities, and I generally prefer—and advise—computers with more robust capabilities. 

But if a Chromebook (or a cloud-first Windows netbook) is all you need, here are some of the best options:

Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga Chromebook; $200
http://amzn.to/2nXZ5ED

*My top recommendation
   -360-degree hinge, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB eMMC SSD storage, 11.6" HD screen, decent Intel Celeron N3150 processor, very positive reviews

Best laptops for bloggers and students

Best laptops for bloggers and students (Oct 2016)

Looking for great deals on the best laptops? Look no further!

Top Premium Laptops 2016

Top Premium Laptops 2016

Think reliability, comfort, and high style are only for businessmen with big bucks? You'd be surprised!

A nice computer doesn't have to break the bank! As I do every year, I've collected the best premium laptops for you. The best news is that most of these are under $1000!

Top 10 Value Laptops 2016

Top 10 Value Laptops 2016

This year, I'll be rating my recommended computers on a 1-10 scale on the following criteria:

Your Next Phone

Your Next Smartphone

What to get for your next mobile device? With so many choices, it can be tough to make up your mind! When you consider all the possible options, you might get a facial expression like this guy:

Water balloon toss guy...the original image is hilarious! See it here: 

http://s191.photobucket.com/user/Gooey_GUI/media/water-balloon-toss.jpg.html

And, of course, the hype about the new devices being revealed at this year's Mobile World Congress (and the slew of commercials that are sure to follow) will muddy the waters for anyone looking to get a good deal on their next phone.

Here's a pro tip: If you haven't already done so, let your cell carrier's contract run out, get an unlocked phone and an off-contract plan, and enjoy paying under $50 per month--probably less than half of what you're currently paying!

There are a ton of devices out there for any budget...but not all of them are worthwhile! How can you tell which phones are a good deal and which are junk?

Never fear, the Froogal Stoodent is here to point you toward some of the best options for any budget!

Value Laptops 2015

Value Laptops 2015

This is an old article and will no longer be updated. Please see my latest version here.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of laptops. However, I’m also a fan of saving money and living within my means. If you're looking for a great deal on a new computer, I've picked out some of the best deals around to include in this article. Isn't it nice to have someone else do your shopping for you? :)

from http://press.asus.com/content/201406021517165793.jpg

Premium Laptops 2015

Premium Laptops 2015

This is an old article and will no longer be updated. Please see my latest version here.

Being Froogal doesn’t mean you can't have nice stuff! The trick is to allocate your resources effectively. If you can justify the purchase of a higher-quality, more expensive item because you need it for work or a hobby and you can afford a premium item, you can still get a great value!

Value-priced laptops for 2014

The best value-priced laptops for school or work

This is an old article and will no longer be updated. Please see my latest version here

Premium laptops

Premium laptops

This is an old article and will no longer be updated. Please see my latest version here