College laptop suggestions for someone with basic IT knowledge

Wheretonext

Hi everyone,

I’m heading back to college and will need to get myself a laptop. I have zero IT skills and no laptop knowledge so hoping someone here can help me.

Budget: €400 (€500 Max) looking for something that will do me the 4 years.

Intended use: College work, internet, e-mail, research, essay writing, Netflix etc.

Mobility: Will need to be able to carry to and from college.

Warranty: I have absolutely no knowledge of computers. I won’t have a lot of money as I won’t be working full time so the less of a money drainer the better.

What Operating System do you use? Windows based pc/laptop is what I am used to.

Thanks a million.

https://www.hihonor.com/unitedkingdom/product/honor-magicbook-14

use parcel motel, addresspal etc to order from Ireland

plenty of info in other threads about it

metal build, portable, long battery life, good quad-core cpu, fast ssd, 8gb ram

was €600 but now on sale so you're fortunate to get it at the moment at this price

nothing close in the price range or even 200 to 300 euro more for quality

it's a no-brainer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqgBzWitd0w

antix80

€400 budget on a laptop to last 4 years.. I know money can be tight but get your priorities right. I personally have never seen a laptop at that price that is worth buying. You'll probably pick up an acer that might do.

At the €550 price point (as my friend glasso recommends) you're spoiled for choice.

14" screen makes for a portable laptop and the resolution will be fine.. maybe go into PC world and see if 14" is too small for you to work on or watch netflix. I wouldn't like to work on a screen that small but when I was in college I'd a 12" screen on a little trojan of a laptop and it did the job despite the odd scrollbar.

Operating system: Windows 10. Microsoft Office 365 is usually free for students.

the magicbook has gone back up to £500 now

still a great deal at that price tbh

bobbyy gee

laptops
https://geizhals.eu/?cat=nb&sort=r&hloc=at&hloc=de&hloc=pl&hloc=uk&hloc=eu&v=e

mvl

antix80 wrote: »

€400 budget on a laptop to last 4 years.. I know money can be tight but get your priorities right. I personally have never seen a laptop at that price that is worth buying. You'll probably pick up an acer that might do.

At the €550 price point (as my friend glasso recommends) you're spoiled for choice.

14" screen makes for a portable laptop and the resolution will be fine.. maybe go into PC world and see if 14" is too small for you to work on or watch netflix. I wouldn't like to work on a screen that small but when I was in college I'd a 12" screen on a little trojan of a laptop and it did the job despite the odd scrollbar.

Operating system: Windows 10. Microsoft Office 365 is usually free for students.

Agree with this: we're on the second laptop for my 12yo in last 4 years - was looking for a budget 400-500 in both cause she was just starting up.

- on this one we're waiting for the screen refresh (as it failed after 2 years of use) and we've just topped it up with an SSD + additional RAM

(note for OPs need, can suggest 8GB for Windows 10 is horrendous for similar use as indicated above)

Anyway, we've discussed that when this "budget" laptop becomes a pain to use for her school needs, next one would be a macbook air.

Wheretonext

Thanks Glasso, I went for the Magicbook. Saw all your recommendations on the other threads and the reviews from other people.
Thanks for the help. Should have it in the next few days.

dvcireland

The magic book gets a lot of recommendations.

I have been searching for a suitable sub 400 euro laptop and it's very difficult.

antix80

dvcireland wrote: »

The magic book gets a lot of recommendations.

I have been searching for a suitable sub 400 euro laptop and it's very difficult.

When i did an IT course "netbooks" running windows were popular. Mid-recession and mature students turned up to study computer programming, spreadsheets, web design and project management software using underpowered aldi laptops with 10 inch screens. Sure they cost below €300 but they were rubbish. There's some things just not worth scrimping on for the amount of frustration it causes in year one, not to mention you'll probably end up replacing it within 2 years (with no resale value) rather than the 5 years you could get out of a better laptop - decent spec bought at the right price .

Wheretonext

Ordered last night but got an email this morning saying the order was cancelled
I have contacted the customer service as no reason was given. Hopefully I get in before the price goes back up.

Wheretonext

Just a final update.

My order was finally processed. I had a lot of confusing emails with my order being cancelled while at the same time getting invoices and DHL tracking numbers.