Laptop Recommendation

I currently have a laptop through my job that works just fine. I also have a personal laptop that is on the verge of totally breaking down. It’s a Dell from 2018 lol I want a new personal laptop to browse and use that isn’t a work laptop that’s being monitored. I’m not looking for something super powerful and will

mostly be surfing the web, editing docs, applying to jobs, and things like that. I want something cheap because I plan to buy a much stronger laptop in the next year or two. I considered the MacBook Neo but it is not thunderbolt dock compatible and I want whatever I get to work with my HP thunderbolt dock and 2 monitors. So I’m probably looking at a windows laptop. I’m open to refurbished and have heard good things about refurbished Dell and/or HP laptops. If I’m looking for something in the sub $600 range (ideally closer to $400) what is my best option?

LAPTOP QUESTIONNAIRE

Total budget:

-$600 max-

Are you open to refurbs/used?

-Yes-

How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life?

-something with good battery life, thunderbolt port support, not totally flimsy-

How important is weight and thinness to you?

-not hugely. Don’t want something ungodly large though -

Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A.

-maybe around 15” but can go smaller if it saves a lot -

Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run.

-not currently but would appreciate if I could play some easier to run games-

If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want?

-some multiplayer fps games if any-

Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)?

-touch screen could be cool but not necessary -

Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion.

-see larger paragraph above-