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Computer Help forum

Question

whats the best laptop for Uni course HELP

by thegaul1 / November 26, 2014 7:30 PM PST

Hi my daughter is doing a computer science bsc honours

Due to start next year but want to buy a laptop for Christmas

But i dont know which is or will be the most suitable for her requirements spec wise?

My budget is not large @ £500 less if possible :/ was looking at lenovo as reviews good? And any software she may need?

Any advice ?

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Answer
Re: laptop
by Kees_B Forum moderator / November 26, 2014 7:37 PM PST

I'd ask the school what they require and recommend. They might even have a program to buy it via the school, including support or a lower price.

But I wouldn't buy it now if she only needs it next summer. Current laptops come with Windows 8.1. Next summer they will come with Windows 10.

Kees

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laptop advice for BSc Honours best buy
by thegaul1 / November 26, 2014 7:51 PM PST
In reply to: Re: laptop

Kees

I never thought of the upgrade from 8.1 to 10

Was going to get it now so she could finish her BTEC with ease - she's currently working on a notebook which only starts up when it feels like it and is so slow

As she has been offered a conditional place at a particular Uni yet I'm a not stuck as who to phone ? She has only just submitted her choices list ?

If I don't buy the laptop now I'm stuck for Christmas present ideas Grin

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Re: laptop
by Kees_B Forum moderator / November 26, 2014 8:52 PM PST

Important things for a laptop for school use are:
- weight (you have to carry it)
- screen size (it has to fit in the bag)
- battery time (the class might not have mains for everyone at the same time)

Then the other specs:
- processor I5 (I7 probably makes it too expensive)
- hard disk size depends on how much video's she wants to download and store; the usual 500 GB is fine
- RAM 8GB
- USB 3 for a fast connection with an external hard disk
- a touch screen is not really necessary with Windows 8.1 and Classic Shell (free) installed.
The school will tell about the necessary software, and there is no need to buy that now already.

Also important: after sales support. I've seen reputed makes of laptops (Acer, Fujitsi-Siemens) at reputable chains that have to be sent to a centralised repair service when some repair is needed and that easily takes a few weeks. Your daughter won't like to be without her laptop so long, especially if the software she needs for her study isn't installed on her home PC as well. My local PC-shop sells MSI-laptops and says they do repairs (well, the easy ones maybe) themselves. That might take a few days. Much better.

Kees

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option 1
by thegaul1 / November 27, 2014 10:43 PM PST
In reply to: Re: laptop

How's about this Knees

Lenovo G50-70 Laptop, Intel Core i7, 8GB RAM, 1TB, 15.6", Black

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thank you !
by thegaul1 / November 28, 2014 1:22 AM PST
In reply to: option 1

Kees sorry autocorrect :/

So yay finally a decision and cost effective too with 3 year guarantee

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