I don’t buy new gadgets often. I don’t have the funds to splurge like that. I use a device until it either becomes completely obsolete or all of its minor issues converge into one giant PROBLEM that makes it unusable. Such is my current situation. Most of my gadgets are old or acting up. It’s time to replace pretty much everything.
So, I’ve been thinking about my future setup. What will my computing life look like in a year or two? What kind of devices do I want to use? To help me paint myself a picture, I made a list of what I think I’d like to have one day.
Note: I previously published a version of this post on April 1, 2019 as “My Setup: What I Have and What I Want.” If you want to see what devices I’m currently using, please check out my Equipment List page.
Main Computer
When I start shopping for a new computer, my primary goal is to get something slightly better than what I had before. Unfortunately, my current primary laptop, an HP Envy that I call Envy, set the bar pretty high in terms of both power and price. I’ll probably end up spending a pretty penny on its replacement. My limit is about $1300.
For my next main computer, I want another laptop. While I could probably get away with 8 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage, I would prefer 16 GB of memory. I don’t need an extremely powerful processor or top-tier graphics because I mainly write, which only requires a web browser and a Markdown/plain text editor; Microsoft Office; Scrivener; and a basic photo editor, like Paint.net and SnagIt. Something mid-tier would be fine.
Lastly, the laptop needs to be fairly lightweight. My first two laptops had 15.4″ screens because, as my only computers, they needed to be versatile for both home and on-the-go. I like the extra screen real estate when I’m working at home, but when I have to go somewhere, that screen gets too heavy. This new one needs to be less than three pounds, so the screen should be 13- or 14-inches.
Oh, and I’d like a backlit keyboard.
Option 1: MacBook Air
The most obvious choice here is a MacBook Air. I’ve always wanted a Mac. They’re like the crème de la crème of computers to me. But due to their crème de la crème prices, I’ve never been able to afford one. That’s changed somewhat. The prices have reached an acceptable level, and there are plenty of buy-now-pay-later options to use. Plus, it’s time for me to get more familiar with macOS after years of using Windows computers.
I can get the base model 13″ MacBook Air, with the M3 processor, 8 GB of memory, and 256 GB of storage, for $829 (refurbished) or $1099 (new). I can live with those prices. Even if I decide to bump up the RAM to 16 GB, the price would still be slightly cheaper than Envy was when I bought it. And of course, it has a 13″ screen and fits my weight limit. Perfect!
Option 2: Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
Getting a Mac means that all my current software or cords will become incompatible. It would take extra money on top of the computer’s purchase price to replace everything. It might be best to stick with Windows for the time being.
If I do choose to continue down the Windows route, I really like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus. It’s nice. It costs $1099 and has double the memory and storage as the MacBook Air. The screen is slightly bigger too, though its weight is still manageable.
Option 3: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
I think I could be happy with a Chromebook if I pair it with a regular computer. When Chromebooks first came out, I wasn’t interested in them because 1) I didn’t trust my work in the cloud, and 2) I couldn’t count on having a persistent internet connection. While those reasons remain in the back of my head, neither of them are serious concerns these days. I keep my files in Google Drive (and Dropbox), and I have home internet service again.
I want a standard premium Chromebook—not a two-in-one, no touchscreen. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus seems like the right match. It’s an absolute beauty! Actually, it kinda looks like Envy, which might explain why I like it so much. It has 8 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage for $699. Even though it has a 15″ screen, it only weighs 2.8 pounds. And the screen is AMOLED. I’m in love.
Secondary Computer
Although a single computer that serves all of my needs would be less work maintenance-wise, it’s best that I have two computers that handle different things. I learned this lesson the hard way during my laptop’s meltdown a few years ago. That’s why I work on Envy and keep my media library on my netbook, Bluebell. This homebound, secondary computer would replace my netbook in this scenario.
I don’t have many requirements for this new machine. It can be a desktop or a laptop, as long as it’s powerful enough to handle my media library. I have a lot of DVD rips and a ~50 GB iTunes library (full of songs and music videos) to manage. Not only does it need the oomph to run the resource-intensive programs that those media require—namely Handbrake and iTunes—but it needs to have enough storage to hold all of the files with ample room to grow. That means at least 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
Option 1: Dell Inspiron Small
My second option is the Dell Inspiron Small Desktop tower. It has powerful enough specs for my use cases: Intel Core i5 14400 processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB solid state drive. I like that it’s not one of those huge, fat towers. I don’t think it can be upgraded beyond that, but it should last a long time as is. It’s decently priced at $849.
Since it comes with its own peripherals—albeit not the wireless ones I would prefer—all I would need to buy is a monitor. A curved monitor.
Option 2: iMac
As much as I would love to have a tiny new Mac Mini, it’s probably not the right choice for me. The price is sweet, no doubt about that. However, I’ve never owned a desktop computer. I don’t feel like putting myself through the agony of choosing the monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. that I would need to buy for it. I’m having a hard enough time choosing devices, let alone their peripherals.
The iMac, on the other hand, is a one-stop shop. Everything I need is included in the box. The only thing I have to decide is which color I want (pink). The $1299 price is still a tad steep, so I would likely wait until a refurbished model is available.
Option 3: HP Envy Move (All-In-One)
Another fun option is the HP Envy Move All-In-One 23.4.” In a nutshell, it’s almost like a desktop/laptop hybrid: it looks like a regular all-in-one desktop computer, but it also has a rechargeable battery, handle, and keyboard pocket that allows you to take it places like you would with a laptop. I love that! I wouldn’t go to a coffee shop or the library with it, of course, but it would be nice to be able to move it between my bedroom and the living room if I need to work on stuff on a bigger screen.
The base price is $699, which includes an Intel Core i3-1315U processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage. When I customized it with an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB solid state drive, the price went up to $899. That should be good enough.
Option 4: An Upgraded Envy
Envy is still a good computer despite its hinge problems. I think it could work well for media purposes for a few years.
I could max out the memory to 16 GB and swap out the 80 GB hard drive for a 2 TB SSD for about $150. That would be considerably cheaper that buying another computer. I can’t upgrade the OS to Windows 11, but that’s actually helpful in this case. I want to continue running my music library with the desktop version of iTunes, which only works on Windows 10, instead of the Windows Store version of the iTunes app or the Apple Music app.
The downside here is that if I attempt to change the laptop’s guts, I would have to close Envy’s lid to access the bottom panel. There’s a very real chance that the screen will crap out in the process. If that happened, I’d have to buy an external monitor. At that point, the total cost would come close to $300. That’s money better spent on a new system.
Tablet
This time around, I’m looking for both a small tablet (7″-9″ screen) and a large tablet (11″-13″ screen). The small tablet can run any OS, but the large tablet has to be an iPad.
Small Tablet
Option 1: iPad mini
I’m extremely fond of the iPad mini. It’s just so portable! The thing that gives me pause is its price. Brand new, it costs $500. Even refurbished, it still costs over $400. I’m not sure I want to spend that kind of money when there are cheaper alternatives available. And yet, I can’t argue that it’s not totally worth the cost. Therefore, this tablet is still on the table.
I would like either a Starlight or Space Gray iPad mini. I would also like as much storage as possible (at least 64 GB, but 128 GB is preferable) so I’ll have space for my local music files.
Option 2: ONN tablet (7″)
I didn’t know that ONN, a Walmart brand, made tablets until I saw an ad for them on Instagram. It was a pleasant surprise. I’ve bought an ONN product or two and never had any problems with them. I would be willing to take a chance on one of their low-priced tablets.
These ONN tablets have a wide range of screen sizes. I’m most interested in the 7″ one ($59). I would mostly only use it for reading e-Books. It wouldn’t weigh much, which would mean less stress on my wrists. I would consider the 8″ one ($79) as well.
Large Tablet
Option 1: iPad (10th Generation)
I’ve been reading a lot of digital manga and magazines lately. It’s more satisfying than I thought it would be. An 8″ screen isn’t the best for that type of stuff.
The most basic iPad would make that kind of reading much more comfortable. It is reasonably priced at $349 (for 64 GB of storage) and has a 10.9″ screen. I’d like it in pink. That would get the job done.
Option 2: iPad Air (13″)
I’ve always wanted a 12.9″ iPad Pro. I have never been thrilled about the cost, though. Yikes! Now, I can get an iPad Air that’s basically the same size as the iPad Pro but much cheaper at $799.
The iPad Air’s large screen would be great for so many things. Manga and magazines would come to life. Watching movies would be awesome. I could add a keyboard and write stuff on it when I don’t want to pull out the laptop. Editing pictures would be a lot easier. Don’t even get me started on the games. Ooh, I want it so bad!
E-reader
If I get a large tablet, then it would be wasteful to get a small one too. I could just get an e-reader instead. I already own two e-readers, one of the original Nooks, which I don’t use anymore, and an older Amazon Kindle, which I recently started using again. I think I’m ready for an upgrade.
Option 1: Amazon Kindle
I like my Kindle. I had forgotten how nice they are. I wouldn’t mind having another one.
The basic Kindle would be fine, in Matcha green. That’s about $130 without the ads. I appreciate the option to lower the price with the ads, but the last time I did that, the ads eventually bugged the crap outta me.
Option 2: KOBO Clara Colour
I have one main problem with the Kindle: I don’t like Amazon knowing about every book I borrow from the library. I would prefer to keep those books separate from my Kindle books.
That brings me to the KOBO Clara. It’s $125 for the regular version or $145 for the color version. I could go for either, though the Color version is particularly tempting. Plus, the KOBO Clara can conveniently access the library’s digital front, Libby, directly from the device.
Option 3: BOOX Palma 2
I’m intrigued by that new e-book reader that’s shaped like a phone that everyone’s been raving about, the BOOX Palma 2. It fits in the palm of my hand, which would take up less room in my bag than a full-sized e-Reader. It also runs Android, has a microSD card slot, and can play music. I wouldn’t have to run down my phone’s battery when I’m out and about.
The cons here are that it costs $279 and that holding such a small device (6.13″ screen) for long periods of time would be bad for my wrists.
Smartphone
I’ll say this upfront: there’s no way in hell I’m spending $1000 on a phone. Any phone. My limit here is around $700. I used to spend $230-$250 every time I bought a new iPod Touch back in the day, so paying about $300 for a phone isn’t a big deal. Add in another $200-$300 for the camera instead of a separate point-and-shoot camera plus a bit for inflation and there’s your $700.
I’m leaning more towards an Android phone. Most of the iPhone choices in my price range are either older devices that will probably be discontinued within a year or two, or they have screens smaller than I prefer (at least 6.5″).
I’ve gotten comfortable with Google’s ecosystem, and I prefer how Android phones work in some ways. They also tend to be cheaper. And there had better be a headphone jack!
Option 1: Celero 5G+
I’ve taken a fancy to Boost Mobile’s Celero 5G+. It’s like the larger cousin to the Celero 5G, which my dad has been using for the last few years.
It has a seven-inch screen, 256 GB of storage, and 108 MP quad cameras. Everything about it sounds like a dream come true. I even like the Boost Mobile orange color, though I would prefer to get the “Twilight Blue” one.
Option 2: motorola razr
This is probably an unwise choice. History has shown that foldable phones are expensive and don’t last long. That said, I still love the idea of the motorola razr.
The razr has a 6.9″ screen when it’s unfolded and 256 GB of storage. At $199, it doesn’t cost nearly as much as some other phones on the list. I don’t know anything about its long-term durability, but it looks so cool that I don’t really care.
Option 3: Google Pixel 9
The recent Google Pixel phones—specifically the Google Pixel 9—is a good deal. It meets all of my requirements if you ignore the 6.3″ screen. I like that it runs pure Android. Oh, and guaranteed updates for a few years!
I would like it in pink, or “Peony” as Google calls it. That’s a beautiful color. The final cost is $649, which fits nicely into the budget.
Headphones
While my current over-the-head Beats Solo headphones can remain in rotation as long as I can buy a replacement aux cord for them, I’m in need of some new wireless earbuds. The charging case for my previous pair, the Air5s, died, which rendered the earbuds themselves inoperable.
For my next earbuds, I want a pair that fit completely in my ear (no little dangly ends like on Apple’s Airpods) and have decent bass. I don’t intend to spend more than $100 either. They don’t last long enough to blow big bucks on them, no matter how well they’re made or what innovative features they have.
Option 1: Beats Solo Buds
I like to stick with what works, so my next wireless earbuds will likely be something from Beats. I love Beats products. They have excellent bass, and if they’re anything like my current headphones, which have lasted for 13 years, they will likely last awhile.
My top pick is the red Beats Solo Buds. The price is acceptable at $79 and they look way cool.
Option 2: JLab Flex Open Earbuds
Even though I’m pretty much settled on the Beats earbuds, I wouldn’t mind trying some of those wireless earbuds that dangle from the middle of your ear like an earring. I’m not sure how they sound, but I like the open-ear design. Can’t be too careful out there!
The JLab Flex Open Earbuds are my top choice for these. They cost $50. I want the teal-colored ones.
Conclusion
Now you know what kind of devices I’d like to own one day. I had tons of fun fake shopping. None of my choices are set in stone, though. By the time I actually start buying things, I probably will have changed my mind about what I want or the exact thing will be phased out altogether. That’s fine. This is just a blueprint or a map of sorts.
Photo Credit: “Flat Lay Shot of Tools.” Miguel Á. Padrinán @ Pexels via Canva.com.