Laptop recommendation or what specs should I be shopping for.

[don256us]

I'm in the market for a new laptop. My current one is working but I've upgraded and repaired it so many times that the next time it breaks may be the last time.

Here's what I'll do with the machine.
Watch video. That is primarily what I do with it day to day.
I will also travel with it on occasion.

Here's what I think is of the most important.
Good quality screen.
Long battery life.
Lower cost.

These things are at odds so I will have to draw a balance between them.

I would like your thoughts on this. Even if its not a specific laptop, what specs would you be looking for?

I want to avoid Intel 13th and 14th gen. You may be able to teach me but I'm stuck on the fact that some of these are burning themselves up. Not buying something that will self destruct.

My current machine is an Intel 7th gen. I think it's 8 years old now? The lid opens and closes several times a day to the point that I had to replace the WiFi antenna because the broke. That was a pain in the butt.

 

[JLK03F150]

My current machine is an Intel 7th gen.

Is it an i5 or i7? Integrated GPU or a dGPU? 14" or 15.6"?

 

[don256us]

I like 15.6" but the CPU be it AMD or Intel will be fast enough if it is at least equivilant to a current i5 on the lower end.

I looked up my current specs and they are as follows:
Intel Core i7-6500U
Nvidia GeForce 940M w/2GB VRAM
1920x1080 screen of unknown tech.

The rest has been upgraded like the WiFi and RAM and HDD. I now have a SATA SSD.

I will miss the optical drive.

 

[EarthDog]

I want to avoid Intel 13th and 14th gen. You may be able to teach me but I'm stuck on the fact that some of these are burning themselves up. Not buying something that will self destruct.

I'll let the others do the laptop thing (i will say i love my amd apu laptops!). But buying NEW 13th/14th gen isn't a worry as the mitigations are in place or exist (update bios).

That said, it didn't affect mobile processors in the first place.

 

[don256us]

That's good to know. I have only seen the headlines and haven't had the gumption to look into it.