An okay laptop with 16GB of RAM is better than a nice laptop with 8GB, and this $520 HP OmniBook proves it
The HP OmniBook 3 is highlighted as a rare budget-friendly laptop that prioritizes 16GB of RAM over premium build materials. The reviewer argues that in the current market, internal specifications like memory are more critical for performance than chassis quality.
Why it matters
It provides consumer guidance on navigating the 'RAMageddon' trend where manufacturers often underspecify entry-level laptops.
Laptop prices are out of whack. $500 used to get you a tolerable laptop, and $900 got you a really good one. They often had similar CPU, RAM, and storage options because that stuff was comparatively cheap; the difference was often in build quality and screen rather than power. But RAMageddon has thrown everything off. Even laptops like the $950 Surface Laptop now start with 8GB of RAM, which isn’t enough. And on the lower end, where manufacturers are struggling to compete with the $700 MacBook Neo, they’re cutting corners on storage, CPU, and build quality too.
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