I just ordered AE and need to get a cheap laptop to run it. Ive got access to my dad in laws but id like to have a cheap used one just to keep all the 6.0 info on as I really dont have any other use for one. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to get? Thanks.

 

i bought a 10 year old gateway off evilbay for $75.
it works great, and i also use it as a backup/ on the road computer. it lives in the truck.

 

By far the best deals I've found are on Craigs List. But also laptops in general are getting cheap and you only need a cheap one, so you could find a new one for $2-300 easy. I haven't looked into AE but I suspect they have a minimum requirement of windows XP, so make sure you're getting one with a current enough OS.

A couple of tips: make sure the person selling you the laptop has the re-install discs and you are getting a legitimate (legal) copy of all the software. You can verify against MSFT's website by doing an update check for new updates -- it will validate the license before updating. Most folks out there will wipe all their old stuff off the unit and do a fresh install.

Next and just as important is does it have a good battery? and see if you can get a car charger to boot.

I have had quite a few laptops over the years and have tended to find Toshibas to be a bit more rugged in general for travel. But I have a Dell and an HP right now that do fine around the house. The HP I recently bought used off CL and I paid a bit more buying it from a small (legitimate) dealer, but he has enterprise licenses for a ton of S/W that I got included -- so for me it ended up being a great deal. I found the newer laptops are more energy efficient than the older ones -- which makes a diff. if you are just running off the battery -- so I'd go as new as you can afford. If it is advertised as a "gamers" unit it will be way overkill and actually be a bit of a power hog (have max memory fast processor, etc.). I'd either go with XP (if AE runs under it) or jump to windows 7. Avoid Vista!!! and I'd also say avoid Win8 -- XP and 7 are relatively small kernels so don't require a lot of ram. Try to get something with at least 2GB ram for XP and 4GB for 7.

If you plan to do other things with this laptop you may need to move up the scale for how loaded a unit you look for.

Good luck!

 

1 gig of ram with XP is way more than enough to do anything you need. 512 meg of ram will run AE with no problems on XP..

 

^^^^^ Best advice right there -- someone who's been there and done it. My 2GB for XP and 4 for 7 was ignorant of just running AE and thinking of (more my usage) running browser sessions and MS Office apps and the like...

I threw away a Dell last year that would have been perfect for you It only needed a battery but it was Win2K (lots of stuff that runs on XP still runs on Win2K). It was just old-n-slow for current apps...

Maybe someone will have a "doner" for you?!

 

I bit the bullet on a Gateway with 1.8ghz and 1 gig ram running XP on eBay for $100. Has good battery and ac adapter. Just gonna use it for truck stuff, I hate laptops.

 

i hated laptops too until i got that gateway.
then i bought a new one and very rarely use the desktop any more.

 

I don't mind a desktop, got my tower hooked to my 47" and we use a wireless keyboard and mouse along with a wireless printer so it doesn't feel like an office setup. We do everything from the comfort of the couch or recliners. Plus we've all got tablets so I don't see a need for a personal laptop, but then again when I get it I may change my mind.

 

I purchase all of my computer parts and laptops from newegg.

 

vote goes to a netbook

 

Panasonic Tough Book CF-29 Is what I use for my truck stuff.
I don't have the AE package as of yet. But it should be happy
on this laptop. Right now I have the Ford workbooks on it and
the software for my SCT tuner and that worked better on the laptop than the desktop.
I got mine from REPC | Seattle Recycled Computers & Peripherals

Sean

 

i bought a gateway netbook at best buys for $175, but you can pick
up something used on craigs list for $50. if it boots, loads AE, and
runs, you are good to go.