A low-cost laptop that runs Linux
If you want a really cheap PC, every penny counts. The companies that make them are keenly aware of that. Although what they pay Microsoft to install Windows 10 is only a fraction of the £80-odd that it would cost you in a shop, it all adds up. One way to shave a bit more off the price is to install a free operating system (OS) instead.
A couple of months ago we looked at Chromebooks, which come with Google’s OS. An alternative is Linux, an open-source OS based on Unix, which dates all the way back to 1969 and is also the basis of Apple’s OS X and iOS. This HP laptop is available with Ubuntu, the version of Linux that’s easiest to use.
The quad-core AMD A10-8700P processor, which sits roughly between Intel’s i3 and i5, should be quite adequate, and 8GB of memory is plenty. There’s little to slow down everyday tasks except the hard drive, which provides a full terabyte of storage but, being a mechanical drive, can’t keep up with the other components. A lower-spec model, the Probook 355, is available for as little as £249, and well worth considering if your needs are modest, although it was out of stock at the time of writing.
The 15.6in screen makes this a full-size laptop, but its 1366x768 resolution is no higher than smaller displays. While text and icons come out big the LCD panel is dull and looks clear only from straight on. The keyboard is fine, the trackpad just average. At 2.2kg, the Probook is no MacBook Air, but it’s not too heavy, and the battery lasted seven-and-a-half hours of light use. Watching videos or using the internet can halve this, though. You do get a DVD writer and a full set of ports.
Ubuntu is currently in version 15, but the Probook comes with version 12, which is guaranteed to have security updates until early 2017. You could upgrade it yourself. The user interface is familiar enough, resembling a cross between Mac and Windows.
LibreOffice is also pre-installed. The Ubuntu Software Centre offers more programs, but the choice isn’t inspiring and the ‘paid’ section has effectively been discontinued.
The Probook 455 G3 is a good basic laptop at a very reasonable price. Just be aware that doing without Windows will severely limit your choice of software.
VERDICT
An attractive laptop at a low price, but not without compromises.
SPECIFICATIONS
AMD quad-core A10-8700P processor • 8GB memory • 1TB hard drive • 15.6in 1366x768-pixel display • 720p webcam • 802.11n Wi-Fi • Ubuntu OS • 25.5x375x263mm (HxWxD) • 2.26kg • One-year warranty