Note: All the links in this page are affiliate links.
I’m frequently asked to recommend a specific tech item that I trust and feel comfortable recommending to others.
Since I receive so many of these requests I thought it might be a good idea to create a page featuring the products I recommend most often.
Note: If you click on a product link and find that the item is sold out, please let me know so I can update it. Thanks a bunch!
Windows laptops
Budget Windows laptop – Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15IAU7 15.6″ Laptop
This laptop is very affordable, yet well suited for typical home/Internet use.
It comes with Windows 11 Home instead of Windows 11 in S mode (that’s a huge plus). It also comes with a 15.6″ screen, which is larger than the screens you’ll find on most budget laptops.
Midrange Windows laptop – Dell Inspiron 3530 15’6″ Laptop
This nice Dell is for those who need a little more horsepower than you typically find in a budget laptop, but in a machine that won’t break the bank.
It has a great combination of RAM and fast SSD storage to go along with its very capable Intel i5 CPU. I believe it’s a really good deal for the money.
High-End Windows laptop – ASUS Vivobook 16 Laptop
If you’re looking for a machine with speed and power to spare, this could well be the best value you’ll find in its price range.
Its ultrafast AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 Processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM and spacious 1TB SSD and other advanced features make this a fantastic choice for a less-than $1,000 laptop.
Gaming laptop – ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop
This quickly became my favorite gaming laptop after it was introduced – and it still is.
ASUS ROG machines are quite popular with gamers thanks to their reputation for high quality and power at a very reasonable price. This particular model is fantastic.
Windows desktop PCs
Budget Windows desktop – GMKtec Mini PC Intel N150
If you’re looking for a good, but really inexpensive desktop PC that’s capable of most any typical home computing task, this is it.
This little gem is about the size of a brick, but it has about as much processing power, RAM and SSD storage capacity as some mid-range laptops.
Mid/High range Windows desktop – Geekom A8 Max AI Mini PC
This tiny PC is roughly the same size as the brick-sized GMKtec machine above, but it’s packed with tons of computing power.
If you want a desktop PC that doesn’t take up a lot of desk space but is absolutely packed with computing power, storage and general awesomeness, this is the one.
MacBooks
Budget MacBook – Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M4 chip
This laptop is perfect for students or most anyone else who wants to move into the Apple world without spending a ton of cash.
It comes with all the usual advantages found in Apple products and it’s quite fast when performing most every tasks.
Midrange MacBook – Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch Laptop with M4 chip
This machine fits into what I consider to be sweet spot when it comes to Apple MacBook laptops, providing a great balance between price and performance.
High-End MacBook – Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro chip
High performance rules the day with this high-end MacBook Pro. This is a top-seller for Apple, for good reason.
Mac Desktop Computers
Budget Mac desktop – Apple 2024 24-inch iMac All-in-One Desktop Computer with M4 chip / 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
Like it’s MacBook Air cousin, this popular iMac is an excellent machine for anyone wanting to move to the Mac world.
It’s compact all-in-one design is a real space saver, and it packs plenty of punch for the price.
High-End Mac desktop – Apple 2024 24-inch iMac All-in-One Desktop Computer with M4 chip / 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU
If you’re looking for top performance in a desktop Mac, you can’t go wrong with this gem.
Chromebooks
ASUS 15.6″ Chromebook CX15 Laptop
I believe this is the best Chromebook deal going at the moment and it’s the only one I’m currently recommending.
Computer monitors
Budget monitor – Philips 22 inch Class Thin Full HD (1920 x 1080) Monitor
One of my most frequent recommendation requests is for a really cheap monitor that’s still dependable and gets the job done. This is it.
Large screen monitor – ViewSonic VA3209M 32 Inch IPS Full HD 1080p Monitor
This is my primary work monitor. I love it!
Gaming monitor – ASUS TUF 32″ 1440P HDR Curved Gaming Monitor
This is one of the best-selling gaming monitors on Amazon. Try it for 15 minutes and you’ll find out why.
Battery Backup / UPS
APC BE600M1 600VA/330 Watts UPS/Battery Backup and Surge Protector
I have had three of the units protecting my work computers and TV for quite some time. They work flawlessly.
Mesh WiFi Systems
Budget mesh WiFi system – TP-Link Deco S4 Deco Mesh AC1900 WiFi System
Unlike a typical WiFi extender, this three-node mesh system provides much better coverage even though it’s very close in price to what you would pay for a quality extender.
Midrange mesh WiFi system – Amazon eero 6+ mesh wifi system
This system supports Gigabit speeds and great coverage, without the premium price tag.
Premium mesh WiFi system – Introducing Amazon eero Pro 7
This kit features the latest WiFi 7 technology with support for up to 5 Gbps speeds and expanded coverage (up to 6,000 sq. ft.).
Wireless Home Weather Stations
Sainlogic Wireless 8-in-1 Weather Station w/ Outdoor Sensor
This little gem will keep you updated right to the very second with what’s going on weatherwise in your very own neighborhood (indeed, in your very own back yard).
