In the same spirit as my thread from a month ago where I solicited advice for my upcoming desktop PC purchase, I'm now prostrating myself before the Cohost Council of Computer Know-Abouters for help picking out a new (or at least new-to-me) laptop.

My current machine is a 19.5" Asus beast of burden that I got more or less sight-unseen back in 2013 at a Future Shop, from before all Future Shops became Best Buys. It's heavy as fuck and runs Windows 8.1, which as of January 2023 will no longer be receiving updates from Microsoft. I'm honestly excited to have a genuine good reason to replace this thing, because up until now it's been just BARELY sufficient for the limited number of tasks I employ it towards, and upgrading would have felt like an extravagance.

Here are my priorities for what my ideal new laptop would be like:

• Smaller than 19 and a half inches, something in the 16-17.5 range. This feels achievable
• Windows 10, natch
• Not a Chromebook
• Powerful enough to do word processing and navigate modern internet browsers and that's about it. I mainly use my current laptop for charting my treatments at my RMT day job, and for writing scripts in Google Docs. I have a Switch and a Steam Deck, I'm not looking for a gaming laptop
• Decent onboard speakers would be nice but not a dealbreaker
• A minimum of gimmicks like touchscreens etc
• Ideally coming in at $800 CAD or below. I could MAYBE see myself going up to $1k for the perfect machine but given my modest requirements I feel like the lower figure is doable
• Refurbs are fine, I'm not precious

If you have a laptop you purchased recently that fits these requirements or are someone who knows about computers and the purchasing thereof, I'd love to hear from you! Thank you!