Essential Laptop, 14" HD Display, Intel Celeron N4120, 16GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, Webcam, HDMI, Wi-Fi, RJ-45, 1 Year Office 365, Windows 11 Home, Rose Gold

I thought this was just the right PC for us. We don't need much, web browsing, some gaming, some MS Office work. Yesterday I saw that the laptop OS needed update so started it. Noticed it was taking some time so I just let it do its thing all day. Went to turn the laptop back on that evening, and got a flash from the monitor but nothing else. I knew it wasn't a power issue because the separate mouse (not included) was lit, indicating it was connected. Tried everything I could think of then went to HP website. HP tells me there's 15 days left on the warranty ("whew!") and gave me repair options (phone, chat, local warranty provider [Best Buy]). I chose to go to Best Buy. They worked on the laptop for about 25 minutes, and while I can't tell exactly what was done, I do know it was a series of keystrokes and a flash drive. Geek Squad hands the laptop back to me and tells me it's a hardware issue and not worth the cost of repair. I take the laptop back home and get in a chat with technical support. They have me do what appears to be the same steps Geek Squad did. Then they tell me I need an empty flash drive to reset/reinstall the BIOS. Now I'm not really that tech savvy, but I know enough to tell the technician that all the steps that they have had me do I already had done by Geek Squad, their authorized repair center. Tech tells me that without doing that last step with the empty flash drive they cannot determine that it is truly a hardware issue (really??!) and that they won't be able to give me a repair/replacement if I don't take that last step.Sorry, HP, but you cannot convince me that the cost of a replacement laptop is worth more than the bad taste in my mouth, and my withering review (not only on Amazon, but to anyone who asks) of your inability to honor your very limited warranty. I can't imagine why you wouldn't send a replacement of a low-end laptop just to keep positive goodwill towards your customers. And it's why I strongly suggest anyone reading this review to search for a different unit.

I gave the *HP Essential Laptop (14", Rose Gold)* to my girl as a Christmas gift, and after two months, it’s been fantastic—she absolutely loves it! The rose gold color is gorgeous and gives it a stylish, modern look.Performance-wise, it’s been great for her daily tasks. With 8GB of RAM and the Intel Celeron N4120, it handles web browsing, streaming, and Office 365 apps smoothly. The HD display is clear and crisp, and the built-in webcam has been perfect for video calls with friends and family.She also loves how lightweight and portable it is—easy to carry around whether she’s working from home or on the go. Plus, having Windows 11 Home pre-installed and a 1-year Office 365 subscription was a nice bonus.Overall, this laptop has exceeded our expectations, and after two months of regular use, it’s still running like a charm. Definitely a great gift choice!