Computers & Tablets

[hefferhog15]

hi I cannot seem to fig out how2 start my own question, (and I apologize to the person whos question I'm posting on😬)
but here's my question..
I bought my laptop from best buy goin on 5 yrs ago..it was around $600=$700 (at the time) and the screen got broken in 2013..it started out still being useable but quickly spread and it got impossible to use until I got an hdmi cable and plugged it into a tv I had. well that tv has since stopped working and for some reason the other tvs I have (both are the exact same) won't show a picture from anything being hooked thru hdmi, so I haven't even used the laptop in prob close to a yr. ive just used my phone or tablet but I'd like to be abl2 save pics to the laptop& be abl2 print coupons(that can't be done from a mobile device)..basically I'm getting at..I'd like to have a laptop but my needs are basically met thru my mobile devices, so I dont think its worth spending a lot on another laptop. I'd heard it'd cost just as much as buying another computer to replace the screen but I just thought about looking in2 it and realized it actually shldnt cost all that much, at least if I cld replace it myslf. oh yea and I did notice b4 my tv went out& it got impossible 2 use my laptop I had2 keep it plugged in bc the battery wasn't holding a change and I remember something coming on the screen also telling me about the battery.
so (finally) my question is..with my computer being a few yrs old, and obv needing a battery as well, do u think it'd be worth trying to fix? is it very hard to change a screen? are there any kinds of updates that I'll need if I do fix it that would cost$ & if so how much? I'm really not all that smart when it comes to technology but that's prob a given. also, so you have any clue why the tv's I have won't show a picture when hooked to something with a hdmi cable? the brand is upstar btw.

[autotech796]

Hefferhog15,
Thanks for reaching out to us on the community forums, your can definitely choose to repair your computer, this choice is yours, but honestly if you aren't planning on doing these repairs yourself, the parts and the labor can be quite expensive.

It also sounds like a computer isn't really for you anymore since you are mostly on a tablet or mobile device. Setups like our surface pros are going to able to provide you a computer with a tablet feel and look. The technology will be tons faster all around, and in this instance I would say stop in and shop around.

This is the question I would ask.
Let's say your repair is reasonable say 300 dollars, half the cost of your old computer. Would you be more willing to spend 300 dollars towards a new computer or 300 dollars to repair what you currently have.

^answer this question and I think you will be on your way.

One last side note almost 99% of the time if a computer is 5 years or older parts generally do not exist anymore in new conditions, so just be careful, they can be found but a lot of times more of a hassle than anything, and I wish you the best of luck!

[hockeycanuckjc Valued Expert]

You can print using a mobile device. Some newer smart phones have a wireless printer setup. If you have an HP Printer, you can download HP Cloud Print  and do your printing that way. @SoMeAm-HP can explain this on newer printers. 

[bobberuchi]

I myself save a lot of photos to a computer from both my camera and phone, and I do the same for my wife so I know how important it is to me to be able to do so.

Honestly though since your apparent needs for a laptop are essential but yet routine I think it would simply be more cost effective to purchase a new lap top.  Just the cost of fixing what is wrong could cost more than what brand new would cost.

Right now Best Buy is having a pretty good sale on a nice machine from Asus.  The link below will take you to it.

Asus VivoBook 

They also carry a great selection budget priced HP Notebooks that are all rock solid.

[AWBrown Valued Contributor]

Welcome to BestBuy forums Hefferhog15,

I used to run my own computer business out of my house for eight years. I would have to agree with @autotech796 on the issue of used versus new parts. You have to really do your shopping and know where to go for quality new products or go where you know used products won't be totally trashed.

As it sounds like your Geek Squad plan has expired and was never renewed your best bet would be to find an alternative for saving pictures and printing. @hockeycanuckjc had a great point you can print coupons from mobile devices with the correct printer and it's what I actually do as well.

I would actually suggest something such as an ipad mini. You can use icloud (iclooud is an online storage feature) to help store pictures and it also has extremely long battery life and decent size picture space of 32GB unless you are taking 4K HD pictures that should be plenty of space.

I found one on the BestBuy website for $270.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-ipad-mini-2-with-wi-fi-32gb-silver/8881067.p?skuId=8881067

[hefferhog15]

wow thank you all for your suggestions! I didn't expect so much support! as far as the coupon printing goes..I am able to print from coupons.com but have found quite a few I've wished I wlda been abl2 print from redplum but they haven't made their coupon printing mobile friendly..u hav2 install a driver and either be using Windows or a Mac.
Ive thought of using an OTG cable, or adapter..I 4get wat it's called..and actually I bought one mts ago and tried 2 use it to transfer my pics onto a flash drive from my phone but wasn't abl2 fig out how2 get it to work. I emailed someone who had a tutorial on transferring media using OTG, but they just confused me more& told me my phone might not support OTG, but I researched it and its supposd2..its ben awile so I cant rly remembr exactly wat I did..then I lost the lil thing & havnt ben abl2 find it newere, all I can find is the same type thing that has a HDMI port instead of USB(I bought it@the store thnkn it was a USB to micro USB then realized nope! and its obv ben useless 2 me since my stupid tv's wont wrk w HDMI!?!) I'd forgotten about that, so I'm about to order another OTG..I do use cloud storage but I like having hard backups..JUST IN CASE sumthn crazy were 2 happen..ive got a 20 mt old daughter, so PRICELESS pics& videos to me, and I like to go bk& edit and don't like going thru the trouble of downloading them to edit.
ok, so new laptop it is..my budget isn't large enuf to spend any more than I hav2..so another question..ive looked into new laptops a little and saw some called "stream"laptops..what is the diff between these and regular laptops? I def want it to be a Windows computer..no Chromebook! I already have a Nexus7(2nd gen), & I havnt ben abl2 fig out wat the diff between it& a chromebook wld b besides a keyboard? plz correct me if I'm wrong bc I've been curious about the diff between tablets& Chromebooks for awile now.
neway, thx again 4 the feedback! & I look 4wrd to ur responses!

[bobberuchi]

I you referring to the HP Stream laptops?  They are amazing little machines. However, I dont' think they would entirely suite your needs.  

While they are speedy and very power efficient they use what is called  eMMC for storage.  eMMC is a method of storage sort of like an SD Memory card.  The limitation in your uses is the limted storage for your photos.  My feeling is these computers are more designed for email, online shopping, social media etc.

The Streams are really the ultimate take with you portable notebook because of their size, weitht and very good power managment.

[hockeycanuckjc Valued Expert]

If you have a USB 3.0 External HDD, this almost solves your storage issues on the HP Stream 11.6 

I have one of the first models with Windows 8.1 that HP sold at Best Buy and it's running WIn 10 solid when clean installed from a Windows iso. 

[SoMeAm-HP]

Hello @hefferhog15, thank you for your post which has received very helpful input from the experts on the Best Buy Forum.  Even though the price of LCD's has dropped significantly over the years, you most likely have made a good decision to purchase a new laptop.  The Stream which interests you is reasonably priced.  See these two models at Best Buy.  As you have been advised, storage is limited but this concern can be resolved with an external drive as recommended here.  However, there are other models that my interest you, for example, this HP Pavilion i5 notebook at Best Buy has far more features and functionality:

Model: 14-AK030NR

• SKU: 5623624

• Windows 10 Home
• NVIDIA GeForce 940M 2GB dedicated graphics
• Technical details: 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i5 processor; 15.6" display; 8GB memory; 1TB hard drive
• Special features: Bluetooth; HDMI output

Keep in mind that it can only be purchased online at Best Buy.  Let us know if you have other questions.