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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: The Sheriff on 19 June 2015, 17:05:27

Title: Student laptop
Post by: The Sheriff on 19 June 2015, 17:05:27
I've promised my lad a laptop to use when he goes to sixth form college in September.i thought I knew what I'd be looking for but there are so many to choose from.
He will not be using it for serious gaming (no point on the wifi speed we get), it will be used for general surfing, email and possibly a few simple online games.
So...a medium type laptop, not cheap and nasty but not mega expensive and over sophisticated. I realise that as he gets older he may want to do more with it, but tbh they're not much good after a couple or three years anyway, so he'll probably buy what he needs later on.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: Broomies Mate on 19 June 2015, 21:25:28
Anything that will play Porn will be fine.  :y
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: The Sheriff on 19 June 2015, 21:26:29
Anything that will play Porn will be fine.  :y
Thanks, I'll bear that in mind  :y
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: Vamps on 19 June 2015, 22:58:27
I have just bought a Toshiba laptop from PC World for swmbo's birthday, that's all she uses if for really. I don't really have a clue about all the technical side of things, but if it does everything is says it will she will be happy............ :y :y

My wallet was also happy, whole lot coming in at a little over £300.00 including them setting it all up and loading softwhere etc, there was a £100 off........ ;) ;)
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: Broomies Mate on 20 June 2015, 01:17:34
Seriously, any laptop will fufill the needs you are looking for.  And, you are right, anything you buy today will be superceeded within months!

I currently run a HP Envy 17" jobby for just about everything.... It wasn't exactly expensive, but far from cheap.  On the other hand, I bought the wife a 15" *fnar* Compaq a couple of years ago - A budget machine which was £350.  It's still running absolutely fine and does everything she wants it to do.

Many will disagree, but if portability is not an issue, then go for a budget brand.  If it's sat on a desk all the time, then heat and weight arent an issue.  If it is for use on the move, you need something sturdy yet light.
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: 05omegav6 on 20 June 2015, 08:00:25
Summat like this...

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=L0D74EA&opt=ABU&sel=PCNB  :-\
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 20 June 2015, 08:45:24
Around £350 should get a 4th gen i3 with 4Gb, a decent branded make. Might be a small price hike as we approach new term (or less deals about).

I'd go for:
HP business (not consumer stuff like Paviliion)
Toshiba Satelite
Dell business (Latitude, though will easily be £500+)

I'd avoid the following on reliability grounds:
HP Pavilion (and Envy)
Dell Inspiron
Anything Acer
Anything ASUS
New thinkpads


He needs to decide how important portability is, versus screen size. Most are now coming with larger screens, and keyboards with separate numeric pads. These tend to get surprisingly heavy when lugging around a lot. My own preference is a slightly smaller screen and no numeric pad, as I find them more portable.
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: The Sheriff on 20 June 2015, 09:13:01
Thanks, Jaime, I was leaning towards the Toshiba as I thought I'd heard you mention them before. Portability is not an issue, it will live on a desk in his room.
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: The Sheriff on 20 June 2015, 09:19:33
Summat like this...

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=L0D74EA&opt=ABU&sel=PCNB  :-\
Thanks, Al. I'm probably fretting unnecessarily. I've had cheap, obscure stuff that's lasted forever and expensive, high end stuff that has been crap.
He'll probably say 'Thanks, dad' and then leave it gathering dust anyway. ;D
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: 4x4 on 20 June 2015, 22:48:01
Summat like this...

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=L0D74EA&opt=ABU&sel=PCNB  :-\
Thanks, Al. I'm probably fretting unnecessarily. I've had cheap, obscure stuff that's lasted forever and expensive, high end stuff that has been crap.
He'll probably say 'Thanks, dad' and then watch as much porn as he can. ;D
Fixed that for you stmo lol
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: chrisgixer on 20 June 2015, 22:51:40
Thanks, Jaime, I was leaning towards the Toshiba as I thought I'd heard you mention them before. Portability is not an issue, it will live on a desk in his room.

Yes he knows his stuff doesn't he. (Obviously) ....H is very pleased with her TB inspired lappy. :y
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: Broomies Mate on 20 June 2015, 23:27:10
Around £350 should get a 4th gen i3 with 4Gb, a decent branded make. Might be a small price hike as we approach new term (or less deals about).

I'd go for:
HP business (not consumer stuff like Paviliion)
Toshiba Satelite
Dell business (Latitude, though will easily be £500+)

I'd avoid the following on reliability grounds:
HP Pavilion (and Envy)
Dell Inspiron
Anything Acer
Anything ASUS
New thinkpads


He needs to decide how important portability is, versus screen size. Most are now coming with larger screens, and keyboards with separate numeric pads. These tend to get surprisingly heavy when lugging around a lot. My own preference is a slightly smaller screen and no numeric pad, as I find them more portable.

Very interesting.  I'd avoid the modern Toshiba laptops like the plague.  Also, I'd want the biggest screen possible for the budget, and with a seperate numeric pad.  I'm old school though, and use keyboard short-cuts more than the mouse/touchpad.

My budget was £800 and I opted for the HP Envy based on thousands of online reviews.  It was between this laptop and an Acer of similar specs.  I went for the HP due to it having a very slightly higher customer feedback score, and the benefit of being able to use 2 HDD's at a time.  It's 17", has sepeate Numeric keypad and weighs bugger all.... the Touchpad is bloody useless though.
Title: Re: Student laptop
Post by: TheBoy on 21 June 2015, 10:19:20
Very interesting.  I'd avoid the modern Toshiba laptops like the plague.  Also, I'd want the biggest screen possible for the budget, and with a seperate numeric pad.  I'm old school though, and use keyboard short-cuts more than the mouse/touchpad.
Yeah, horses for courses, which is why I asked STEMO the question about portability. I really don't get on with the larger ones (but I take mine everywhere, including in the bath ;D), but know others use them on a table, and rarely move them, so portability/weight is less important than big screens for Excel, Films etc

The Tosh's generally have good reliability, and are built for servicing. 2nd hand parts are generally easy to get from likes of egay. Same with most branded stuff, such as HP, engineered to be serviced. Compare that to Lenovo era Thinkpads, which are nigh on impossible to service without doing further damage.


My budget was £800 and I opted for the HP Envy based on thousands of online reviews.  It was between this laptop and an Acer of similar specs.  I went for the HP due to it having a very slightly higher customer feedback score, and the benefit of being able to use 2 HDD's at a time.  It's 17", has sepeate Numeric keypad and weighs bugger all.... the Touchpad is bloody useless though.
Envy's have a great spec, and really look the part. But, like most HP consumer oriented stuff, suffer badly from reliability. Much like Acer, a lot for your cash, but woeful (worse than HP consumer stuff) reliability.

Allow it room to cool, always use on a hard surface, and be gentle with the power plug, will all help though :y