Deciding Between Two Laptops - Advice Requested!

[FarNerdy]

Hi all,

I've been on a search for a new, bottom-line, basic needs laptop. This will mainly be my travel laptop, so I only need to it do the basic functions such as:

- accessing the Internet from hotels, airports, etc.
- web browsing
- Netflix streaming
- word processing (either via Office 365, Google Docs, OpenOffice, or Microsoft Office software)
- and maybe some Google Hangout or Skype calls (but this is rare)

I don't want a Chromebook. I've been down that route and that is what I am replacing. My Samsung Chromebook crashed, and I think I want to stay with a PC. But, if you can give me some good reasons to stay with a Chromebook, I'm willing to listen to them.

My budget is $400, but I'd be ecstatic to stick under $300.

Here are the two I am considering as of now:

1. ASUS X555LA-HI31103J (http/smile.amazon.com/Asus-Laptop-i3-5020U-Windows-Gradient/dp/B0181OV6JA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1455224569&sr=8-1&keywords=asus+x555la-hi31103j)
2. Dell Inspiron I5558-5003BLK (http/versuslaptop.com/dell-inspiron-i5558-5003blk-review/)

Regarding the Dell Inspiron, it is on "Open Box" sale at my local Best Buy for $370. With the i7 processor, I figured it was worth considering.

Any advice would be extremely appreciated. Thank you in advance!

 

[thejackal85]

For what you're wanting to use the laptop for, I'm thinking the ASUS would be better. ASUS has parts that often tend to favor graphics and visualizations; so they're not easily as overheated, etc.

Dell Inspirions are known as the corporate standard of what laptops are considered to be; I wouldn't imagine they would fair up against an ASUS for Nextflix streaming.

Just my opinion, but every person who answers this will give you a different one.