I'm in the market for a Windows laptop for everyday home use, looking to spend up to $450. I've been using Macs for the past few years, so I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to Windows. Prefer to avoid Dell. Any recommendations?

In that budget, your best bet is probably refurbished. Lenovo Outlet has a solid selection under $450, can’t speak to other companies. If you want new, Acer Aspire 5s are decent machines.

Beyond particular model recommendations- definitely recommend waiting for a sale as they come up like eight times a year if you’re not in a rush, as well as having a basic understanding of the specs that you are looking for- processor, ram, storage etc to get a good idea of your needs