Advice for a student Laptop

6541

Hi can somebody give me advice for a Student laptop both online and bricks and mortar. Maximum price is 5-600, cheaper the better, Something that is sturdy.
Thanks so much.

this is just on your budget but good powerful 4-core cpu that will run well for years, full hd screen, 8gb ram, 256gb ssd. good battery life. 14 inch screen good size for working on and light enough for portability.

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-14-cf1599sa-14-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-silver-10192179-pdt.html

Ryath

glasso wrote: »

this is just on your budget but good powerful 4-core cpu that will run well for years, full hd screen, 8gb ram, 256gb ssd. good battery life. 14 inch screen good size for working on and light enough for portability.

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-14-cf1599sa-14-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-silver-10192179-pdt.html

Just over €500 if you are a position to head over the border.
https://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-14-cf1599sa-14-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-silver-10192179-pdt.html

Considering this one myself as my wife needs a new laptop.

Also looking at this Lenovo S340 Ryzen 5
for £30 more tn panel though.

Can get it with the IPS screen from lenovo direct for just €25 more @ €560 starting to push my budget though.

Very hard to look beyond the Lenovo 330s from BOX for £410 ~€455 delivered. Very well specced for the money though the newer S340 with the Ryzen 5 and Vega 8 graphics is tempting me . i5 has a slight edge on the Ryzen 5 but the Vega 8 is way better than the intel integrated graphics. Is it worth the extra €100?

the 330s has poor battery life though.

Peatys

Nothing to see here.....

Peatys

Peatys wrote: »

https://www.laptopsdirect.ie/refurbished-hp-840-g2-core-i7-5600u-8gb-480gb-14-inch-windows-10-pro-laptop-t1-840g2i78gb480gbw10p/version.asp

the current i3 cpu is more powerful than that old dual-core i7.

also refurbs will have diminished battery life.

screen is probably pretty poor to look at I would say too.

would give it a miss.

Ryath

glasso wrote: »

the 330s has poor battery life though.

6 hrs still seems decent enough for me never be to long away from a power source anyway. Our 3rd gen i5 Asus only lasts about 10minutes on battery and even my 6year old Chromebook only lasts a bit over 3 or 4 hours now!

Do you think the S340 ryzen 5 is worth the extra over 330s i5 model. Can’t find any direct comparison but reviews seem a bit more favorable.

Ryath

Ryath wrote: »

6 hrs still seems decent enough for me never be to long away from a power source anyway. Our 3rd gen i5 Asus only lasts about 10minutes on battery and even my 6year old Chromebook only lasts a bit over 3 or 4 hours now!

Do you think the S340 ryzen 5 is worth the extra over 330s i5 model. Can’t find any direct comparison but reviews seem a bit more favorable.

you won't get 6 hours.

people reporting 3 to 4 which will degrade over the years. may be fine for some people but some do need it.

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/should-i-buy-lenovo-ideapad-330s

the i5 cpu is more powerful than the ryzen 5. ryzen 5 would allow for some light gaming due to better integrated graphics but not the most intensive triple A titles.

your choice.

if you want a ryzen 5 I'd wait for this to come down in price again

full metal build , lighter and better battery life

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-Matebook-14-Inch-Laptop-Processor/dp/B07KV9J1PG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=matebook+d+14&qid=1567799281&s=gateway&sr=8-3

was down to just over £500 before.

Ryath

glasso wrote: »

if you want a ryzen 5 I'd wait for this to come down in price again

full metal build , lighter and better battery life

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-Matebook-14-Inch-Laptop-Processor/dp/B07KV9J1PG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=matebook+d+14&qid=1567799281&s=gateway&sr=8-3

was down to just over £500 before.

Already tracking it. Tried to get her to buy it when it was on the lightning deal @£;465 but she said she'd wait. It's out of stock at minute but seems to pop up @ £520 every few days going by keepa. Probably still not a bad buy at that price.

Tempted by the Ryzen 5 for some light gaming myself but it's mostly for the wife for work so probably not needed.

Peatys

glasso wrote: »

the current i3 cpu is more powerful than that old dual-core i7.

also refurbs will have diminished battery life.

screen is probably pretty poor to look at I would say too.

would give it a miss.

Cheers, i was about to pull the trigger myself

surm00

As for the cheaper, the better, and something studier - you cannot go wrong with old thinkpad X series models, or the T series for something more powerful. The X-series are my own preference - providing the main things you want out of your laptop are 1. long lasting battery, or the ability to carry a spare battery so you can last all day, or more, without worrying about a plug socket 2. the best in-class business typing keyboard 3. lightweight and portable 4. want something that is built to withstand an absolute kicking then they're the best second hand laptops available. The 12.5 inch screens are a perfect median between that which is too small, and an overly cumbersome 15 inch.

I tend to source second hand thinkpads for people, install brand new hardware then from amazon so if anything goes wrong said items can be replaced on warranty. The most obvious being the hard drive - a decent SSD, or an m3 nvme SSD. I then focus on ram to suit their tasks/ use. On many of these laptops you can install 2 harddrives and configure one to serve as a back-up, so you don't lose files. You can put 4G modules in some of even the cheaper laptops, so if you put your sim in, or run a cheap all-you-can-eat data sim then you don't have to worry if the colleges wifi network decides to drop.

Some people want new FHD screens on older computers, or 13.3 inch modded screens with custom bezels, or new IPS screen fitted for better colours/ viewing angles. You can have multiple long lasting battery combo, and I think being able to have a spare is better than it being built inside and inaccessible. Much newer hardware too can be got at reasonable enough prices - the x270, which comes with skylake processors, and can have up to a 20 hour battery life for between 500 and 600.

Many media students I have dealt with want a macbook on budget - as in they need some mac programs for college, so I'll set up a thinkpad of their choice with either the latest Mac OS X installed on it, and make sure the essentials work - mac finger gestures etc. The only downside with a hacked mac is that when you want it updated in the future you may either figure it out yourself, or bring it to whoever kitted it out for you. I personally run a dual-boot Thinkpad x230, with both Windows and OS X, and a 4G sim. Nowadays I'd rather spend money on a set of noise cancelling headphones to work with my laptop in the library than to waste another grand plus on a mac that gets spill damaged a few years later. I always include a 6 month bitdefender total anti-virus for both operating systems, and include an extra code for customer's phones if they're on android. Some people want their devices encrypted for security which is always doable

If you're just mainly typing assignments, and researching on the go, and then want to plug your laptop into your TV to watch something later on, then a 2 or 300 euro fresh refurb laptop that was once top of the line will always outperform a brand new one of similar price that are not made to last.

A thinkpad x230 is the minimum, though some love the x220 due to the keyboard. An x220 keyboard can be modded onto the x230. You can upgrade the screen to an ips display, or 13.3 with a custom bios that boots ultrafast. It can take up to 16gbs ram, but I don't see the point of more than 8gb for standard use. While the i5/ i7 processors are several generations old they can be got for around the 200 mark, depending on needs, and still perform as needed. Or even as low as 80, and then upgrade yourself.

The x250/x260/ x270 are excellent options, so long as you know someone who can upgrade the parts for you, or you're willing to contact someone with the specs you want, and agree to a price. Either which way, you'll end up with a better laptop for the money, and if you decide to use it as a frizbee it'll cost less to replace than most spend on a phone.

In terms of power - if you need a powerful pc then you're always better spending the bigger money on proper desktop, and then running a rugged portable that you won't mind if it gets damaged, unless you're working in certain professions and need the power on the go.

Mitzy

Has anyone any advice on this laptop?

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-5-a515-43-15-6-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-black-10193913-pdt.html

I'm looking for a home laptop that will mostly be used for photo storage & some personal office work. This would be the top end of my budget but want to get the best available for the investment.

Mitzy

Mitzy wrote: »

Has anyone any advice on this laptop?

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-5-a515-43-15-6-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-black-10193913-pdt.html

I'm looking for a home laptop that will mostly be used for photo storage & some personal office work. This would be the top end of my budget but want to get the best available for the investment.

if you are ok with a bigger size 15.6 that's ok.

altho somebody here picked up that model recently and said that the fans seemed to be on a lot and annoyed him and he's returning it.

if you're storing a lot of photos in large sizes and RAW etc 256gb is not a lot of space. but there is probably a 2.5inch slot free in that laptop to add another ssd or a hdd

Mitzy

glasso wrote: »

if you are ok with a bigger size 15.6 that's ok.

altho somebody here picked up that model recently and said that the fans seemed to be on a lot and annoyed him and he's returning it.

if you're storing a lot of photos in large sizes and RAW etc 256gb is not a lot of space. but there is probably a 2.5inch slot free in that laptop to add another ssd or a hdd

Thanks a lot for your advice. Was thinking the memory is a bit low. I'll go back to the drawing board............

Mitzy

Mitzy wrote: »

Thanks a lot for your advice. Was thinking the memory is a bit low. I'll go back to the drawing board............

you mean the storage?

you can add in more like I said - free 2.5 inch slot which can take a 2.5 inch sata ssd or a hdd.

check the model on crucial eu site and if it quotes 2.5 inch parts for it (make sure 2.5 inch parts quoted) that's the case as the included ssd will be an m.2 stick in a different port.

simple matter to click in the part after opening laptop with a screwdriver and cheap to buy e.g less than 50 euro for a 500gb ssd or a 1/2gb hdd

edit mabye not (surprising given the size to not have a 2.5 inch spac - I'd open it up and look)

https://eu.crucial.com/eur/en/compatible-upgrade-for/Acer/aspire-a515-43

so you'd have to swap the existing ssd for a bigger one and reinstall windows. easy job still

Mitzy

Thanks so much for your help. I'll check all that out

Mitzy

Mitzy wrote: »

Thanks so much for your help. I'll check all that out

does have space for an extra 2.5 inch drive (either sata ssd or HDD). this v easy to do - see video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiadRhJ70Rs