IT Blog

This story is part of Holiday Gift Guide 2020, CNET’s gift picks with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest tech gifts for you and your family.

Need a new laptop? If it’s for working from home, here are my basic-spec recommendations:

• Intel Core i3 processor or better
• 8GB of RAM or more
• SSD (solid-state hard drive)
• 15.6-inch full-HD display (because anything smaller starts to feel cramped for full-time work)

Two of the three machines below meet those requirements; one has a slightly smaller screen. But they’re all priced at $400 to $500, meaning they’re…