# Laptop Question and Price Difference **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077 "2021-09-04T01:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/1 "2021-09-04T01:42:23Z")
I’m looking for a new laptop. The old one gets too drunk sometimes and falls off the couch. So I see this: > **[Amazon.com: HP 15 Home & Business Laptop (Intel i7-1165G7 4-Core, 32GB RAM,...](https://www.amazon.com/Business-Laptop-i7-1165G7-1920x1080-Bluetooth/dp/B098F9YZZ7)** > > Amazon.com: HP 15 Home & Business Laptop (Intel i7-1165G7 4-Core, 32GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080), Intel Iris Xe, Wifi, Bluetooth, Webcam, 2xUSB 3.0, 1xHDMI, SD Card, Win 10 Home) : Electronics 32MB RAM, 1TB SSD, Intel Core I7-11th Gen, HP and this: > **[Amazon.com: HP Latest EliteBook 840 G8 14" FHD Touchscreen (Intel 4-Core...](https://www.amazon.com/850-Business-Laptop-Fingerprint-Thunderbolt/dp/B09BF28P7V)** > > Amazon.com: HP Latest EliteBook 840 G8 14" FHD Touchscreen (Intel 4-Core i5-1145G7, 64GB RAM, 2TB PCIe SSD, Full HD IPS) Business Laptop, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, Fingerprint, 3-Year Warranty, IST Bag, Win 11 Pro : Electronics Same specs as above. Why the massive price difference? In addition, what makes a “gaming” laptop better than a regular laptop? Everything I have seen says faster processor, more RAM, bigger HDD, but I have seen others with the same specs as the first one (the ones I mentioned) but for twice the price. Thanks for your help. ETA: 3rd question…are the specs I listed good for business use? Too much? Too little? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/2 "2021-09-04T15:45:44Z")
Your first link is showing as “Currently unavailable” for me. But I’m curious about your question too. When there is a big price difference, does it reflect a significant difference in quality or specs, or is it just an instance of [price discrimination](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/price_discrimination.asp)? ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/3 "2021-09-04T16:08:28Z")
There are assorted differences between Windows Home and Windows Pro - the main one being that on Pro you can connect to Windows domains, and run virtual machines in Hyper-V. IIRC, the retail price difference between the two versions is $100 or more. It’s Bill Gates’ plan to extract more money from businesses that need the functionality and provide a cheaper version for those at home who will never use those functions. Not to be confused with Windows Home S which is even more restrictive, need to pay extra so you can install programs not from the Microsoft store. (Where’s they learn that trick from? _cough_ Apple? ) If this is your only PC and you don’t do a lot of fancy software, Home should be adequate. I like to run Hyper-V. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/4 "2021-09-04T16:25:26Z")
There are a number of differences between consumer and business computers. The biggest is around durability, manageability, and lifecycle. If you compare a Dell Inspiron (consumer) and Latitude (enterprise): Plastic vs Metal cases None vs Offline management with Intel vPro 1 year vs 3 year availability Mail in vs on site next day warranty Consumer vs dedicated enterprise help line General customizable config The RAM, CPU, storage, and screen may be the same, but everything else around it including support is different. This is worth very little to a consumer, but for businesses amortizing over 3 years it’s worth it. ETA @md-2000 point about Home vs Pro adds another $100. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/5 "2021-09-04T16:27:44Z")
Also the pro version seems to have more features - Bluetooth 5 vs. 4.2, Thunderbolt ports to allow chaining of extra monitors (vs. 1 HDMI port), WiFi 6 vs 802.11ac, etc. The business model also has support for a docking station. This allows all those doo-dads like a full keyboard, mouse, and multiple monitors to be connected to the dock, and it’s one simple trick to unplug it all - vs having to unplug each of those one at a time. This is a business-level feature, for the guy who pops his laptop off the dock and takes it home each night. The guy who doesn’t ahv all the extras, or rarely removes their home laptop except for trips, does not need that feature. Generally a more featured computer.cost more. Business people are willing o pay more. Your average high-end office worker pulling down, say, $70,000 a year or more - makes $35/hr or about $5600/month. A $2000 laptop that they’ll use for 2 to 4 years is chump change, especially if it’s the primary tool of their business work. Some places pay almost $1000 just for the office chair. It’s a different economics than home use. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/6 "2021-09-04T16:29:43Z")
Have you tried the HP website for the same or similar models, to see what price they offer directly? (It can be a little difficult, as in my experience, you might find the same model but configured differently, and seemingly minor differences in the memory or SSD can account for a big price difference.) ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/7 "2021-09-04T16:36:46Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > In addition, what makes a “gaming” laptop better than a regular laptop? More powerful graphics interface. You wouldn’t want a gaming laptop for business use because that fancy GPU will drain your battery a lot faster. You don’t want a business laptop for games because the under-powered GPU isn’t going to be able to run the game at an acceptable frame rate, causing the game to stutter and possibly be unplayable. If you have HBO, a gaming laptop might do a bit better with the stuttering and buffering issues that HBO is known for. HBO needs a fast network connection as well as a fast and powerful GPU to handle their crappy compression/decompression and extremely poor handling of even the slightest bandwidth issues. Any other streaming service will run just fine on even the least expensive business laptop. General web browsing, email, message boards, and other typical home uses don’t need much computing horsepower, so any modern laptop can handle this type of use with ease. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/8 "2021-09-04T17:10:29Z")
A little over a year ago, I bought a laptop based largely on price. LeNovo IdeaPad S145. I have three problems with it. The sound is nearly inaudible and I have had to use the Bluetooth connection to my sound system to hear anything. My hearing is not what it once was but other laptops are much better. Second, there is something wrong with the color; one example is that the staff color on mod notices doesn’t show at all. Another is that some check boxes are the same, whether I’ve checked or not. The third problem is that from time to time, the Bluetooth disappears completely. See first problem. So cheap is sometimes just cheap. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2021, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/9 "2021-09-04T19:40:25Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > The business model also has support for a docking station. All the new Dell and Lenovos I am buying now are USB C/Thunderbolt docks, no more proprietary connectors! ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/10 "2021-09-05T23:29:12Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > All the new Dell and Lenovos I am buying now are USB C/Thunderbolt docks, no more proprietary connectors! But one simple trick I’ve never checked - are the docking units generic - will they work plugged in to any laptop with USB-C? Or are they tied to specific drivers or specific other hardware or software that only that brand or model has? Presumably then you could also use any USB-C hub to connect a keyboard, a monitor or two via USB adaptor, your DVD drive, etc. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/11 "2021-09-05T23:35:34Z")
They are generic. I’ve got a mix of Dell, Lenovo, and Monoprice docks at the office and they all work. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/12 "2021-09-06T01:36:31Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > . . . need to pay extra so you can install programs not from the Microsoft store. I haven’t found this to be true. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/13 "2021-09-06T04:19:36Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I haven’t found this to be true I was under the impression that Windows 10 S (note the S) would not install apps if they didn’t come from the Microsoft Store. In fact, this is what Microsoft has to say about it: > [@](#): > > ## My Windows 10 S PC won’t install some apps. Is that normal? > > If you have a Windows 10 PC running Windows 10 S (such as a Surface Laptop), you may notice that it won’t install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. Don’t worry—that’s the way we designed it. > > By exclusively running apps from the Microsoft Store, Windows 10 S helps keep your PC running fast and secure and provides peace of mind by removing the risks that come with downloading apps from other places. I personally have never used Windows 10 S. Can anyone confirm how it works? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/14 "2021-09-06T04:24:31Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > Or are they tied to specific drivers or specific other hardware or software that only that brand or model has? You sometimes have to install the driver of the docking unit itself. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/15 "2021-09-06T05:29:30Z")
Thanks for everyone’s input. Is the 32GB and 1TB a good baseline for business applications? More or less? Intel I7? ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/16 "2021-09-06T08:19:40Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > > [@jaycat](#): > > > > I haven’t found this to be true > > I was under the impression that Windows 10 S (note the S) would not install apps if they didn’t come from the Microsoft Store. In fact, this is what Microsoft has to say about it: > > > [@](#): > > > > ## My Windows 10 S PC won’t install some apps. Is that normal? > > > > If you have a Windows 10 PC running Windows 10 S (such as a Surface Laptop), you may notice that it won’t install apps from outside the Microsoft Store. Don’t worry—that’s the way we designed it. > > > > By exclusively running apps from the Microsoft Store, Windows 10 S helps keep your PC running fast and secure and provides peace of mind by removing the risks that come with downloading apps from other places. > > I personally have never used Windows 10 S. Can anyone confirm how it works? While in S Mode you can only install Windows Store Apps. However, you can switch out of S Mode for free. [Switching out of S mode in Windows 10 (microsoft.com)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/switching-out-of-s-mode-in-windows-10-4f56d9be-99ec-6983-119f-031bfb28a307) ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/17 "2021-09-06T10:10:34Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Thanks for everyone’s input. Is the 32GB and 1TB a good baseline for business applications? More or less? Intel I7? More than enough, unless you are virtualizing a lot or editing full length 4K movies. I run an IT company and we typically go for 16Gb/512Gb/i7. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/18 "2021-09-06T12:16:13Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > While in S Mode you can only install Windows Store Apps. However, you can switch out of S Mode for free. Correct, I should have clarified that. You need to switch out of S mode, but I haven’t had to pay anything once I did that. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/19 "2021-09-06T13:49:27Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Is the 32GB and 1TB a good baseline for business applications? I am curious as to what you consider to be “business applications.” Most people unless they are in IT or graphic arts are using email, web browsing, maybe Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Those do not require high power. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077/20 "2021-09-06T13:58:19Z")
I didn’t have time to do a real analysis but the first link (the one that is not an available product) is sold by MichaelElectronics2 (not HP). They did upgrades, but it is not clear what the base model was and what they upgraded. The warranty is one year from MichaelElectronics2. The second one is sold by HP but says it was upgraded from the base model by Issaquah Highlands Tech. Again, no rundown of exactly what was upgraded. The warranty is one year from Issaquah Highlands for the upgraded parts, one year from HP for the rest. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-question-and-price-difference/950077.md?page=2)