(NGC) Computer Geek Advice Requested

[ChuckH]

Our G'daughter (17 and a Junior in HS) is smart and works hard (the best combination).  She's been using a school-provided I-Pad but now needs something more -- a laptop that will sustain her through the rest of HS and the first years of college.  Mom and Stepdad work hard, manage their limited finances very well but can't afford to buy a new computer.  Biological dad is a piece of trash.  G'ma/G'pa will need to help.

The question is -- what capabilities should the laptop have?  How much hard drive/RAM capacity?  How much processer speed?  What processors are to be avoided? What kind of software?  (She is more literary than technical in her classes and leans more towards the Windows format).  What other questions should I be asking?  We will be going shopping this weekend.

Thanks guys/gals.  Ride safe out there.

[Murray]

Graphics intensive stuff media animation film editing will need more, basic word processing excel etc most mid range stuff will do in its sleep, bluetooth wifi lots of USB ports for memory sticks keyboards mouse track pads wear thin really quickly. Avoid glossy screen if you intend to use it outdoors base model mac book pro will do most things but they are getting pretty thin on USB ports.

 Industrial stuff CAD Data Processing C++ PLC programming etc is all windows/pc based so you'll need to stick to that unless you work where I do and they just write a Matlab script to do whatever it is they want. CD roms are really a thing of the past and if you can spring for it a solid state drive will improve reliability and maybe a HDD in a caddy to back up too on a regular basis. It is not possible to have too much storage space if you are going for an option thats the one to take. Things like RAM can be upgraded latter.

Basically it depends I'd suggest no smaller than 13 inch screen after that things like keyboards start getting pretty small and annoying.

[twowheeladdict]

For what you describe a $300 laptop would suffice.

Whatever you get, add the damage warranty, and get her some thumb drives to back up her work.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/dell-inspiron-15-6-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i3-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive-black/5835852.p?skuId=5835852

Above is just an example of what you can get for around $300.  Personally, I would try and find one with a 500 Gb drive and i5 intel processor, and skip the touch screen, but the above computer will do what she needs it to do and since she has been using a iPad she will appreciate the touch screen.

[Luap McKeever]

I feel somewhat qualified to chime in here since I've been doing this since 1996 . I had to get a new laptop recently.

Avoid like the plague:
Acers, Gateways, Chromebooks.
AMD Processors in laptops.
Intel Celeron Processors
Anything with less than 3 USB ports.
Anything less than a 15.6" screen will dissapoint
Anything less than $200 will probably not fulfill your expectations, nor last.

Preferred:
HP or Dell
Intel i5 or better
At least 8GB Ram
At least 1TB Hard Drive space
Microsoft Office, but it can be pricey. A good free program that will do everything Office will do is located at www.libreoffice.org

I had narrowed my research down to two possible choices to replace my dead 5 year old Lenovo. 

Here (http://tinyurl.com/y8tzlkhm) was my first choice, but my local staples was sold out and I had to have one that day since mine completely died. I could have drove 125+ miles to get it, but backed out due to time restraints. You can still order this online too, and it's a beast for the money.

Here (http://tinyurl.com/y8ha88e6) is a laptop that I just got to replace mine.  Found this for $599 (normally $899). Some stores mark them down more than others. I had to drive 50 miles, but it saved me a lot. Call around to your local stores and see if they have any left at $599. They are discontinuing it because of a newer model, but for the price I gave, I feel like I stole it.  It has all the options anyone would need (I use the touch more than I thought I would) and should be more than enough to last 5 years or more if maintained properly. I did replace the Harddrive in mine with a Solid State (for speed and reliability). That's also be my recommendation for anyone. It's a little pricey, but so worth it.

Hope this helps.

[twowheeladdict]

I feel somewhat qualified to chime in here since I've been doing this since 1996 . I had to get a new laptop recently.

Avoid like the plague:
Acers, Gateways, Chromebooks.
AMD Processors in laptops.
Intel Celeron Processors
Anything with less than 3 USB ports.
Anything less than a 15.6" screen will dissapoint
Anything less than $200 will probably not fulfill your expectations, nor last.

Preferred:
HP or Dell
Intel i5 or better
At least 8GB Ram
At least 1TB Hard Drive space
Microsoft Office, but it can be pricey. A good free program that will do everything Office will do is located at www.libreoffice.org

I had narrowed my research down to two possible choices to replace my dead 5 year old Lenovo. 

Here (http://tinyurl.com/y8tzlkhm) was my first choice, but my local staples was sold out and I had to have one that day since mine completely died. I could have drove 125+ miles to get it, but backed out due to time restraints. You can still order this online too, and it's a beast for the money.

Here (http://tinyurl.com/y8ha88e6) is a laptop that I just got to replace mine.  Found this for $599 (normally $899). Some stores mark them down more than others. I had to drive 50 miles, but it saved me a lot. Call around to your local stores and see if they have any left at $599. They are discontinuing it because of a newer model, but for the price I gave, I feel like I stole it.  It has all the options anyone would need (I use the touch more than I thought I would) and should be more than enough to last 5 years or more if maintained properly. I did replace the Harddrive in mine with a Solid State (for speed and reliability). That's also be my recommendation for anyone. It's a little pricey, but so worth it.

Hope this helps.

I have run several 14" notebooks because they are easier to carry on work trips on the motorcycle.  Never a problem and like that they are a little lighter, but they do cost more.  15.x seem to be the cheapest.

No need for a 1Tb drive unless you are storing a lot of photos and videos.  My 14" work computer has 500Gb and has 259 GB free and contains 25 years of reports and data.

There is a student program for Microsoft Office so she should be able to get it for $20 or so. 

I don't want to confuse what she needs and what computer geeks need.  Needs and wants get confused all the time. 

[old head]

IMHO, I would get a low end laptop to start with.  Depending on what she goes into, the requirements will be different.  She will probably change her mind what her major is, most kids do.

Generally, you won't need the computing power until the last  2 years of college.  First two years tend to be basic or general courses that don't require much computing power.  Most colleges have top of the line computers the students can use if need be in the libraries.

Back up harddrives definitely, as long she uses it.  thumb drives are a very good thing.

As a recent graduate of Architecture, I didn't buy my laptop until I got into the third year of a 5 year program.  First two years were papers and doing research.  third year is when we started using the graphic intensive programs, and the ones who bought laptops regretted buying so soon.  computing power makes leaps and bounds each year and at the end of 3 or 4 years the laptop you bought will be struggling with the newer graphic intensive progams.

buy here a good budget laptop, and save up for the killer machine for her Junior year.  PC or Apple, it depends on the major.  Apple is limited in what programs it will run unless you want to partition a disk and load Windows.  Apple tends to be more expensive, good machines but limited in some fields.  Windows are generally cheaper, easier and less expensive to upgrade.

Unless its an engineering type major, Apple will be fine.   The programs like Revit, Autocad, and other engineering programs are very limited for Apple, although that seems to be changing a little.

Old Head

[ChuckH]

Thanks guys.  This gives me a lot to go on.

[ramarren]

I used to work in the computer industry.

When my brother called me to see what laptop he should get his son, I told him to have his son ask the guidance counselor at the school he was going to attend what computer he should get for his studies. The boy asked the guidance counselor and the teachers in his science, composition, and mathematics classes. All four recommended the same thing: an Apple MacBook Air would be sufficient to any of the classes needs and comes with most of the software he would need to start with right out of the box as well. Since the company I worked for was Apple, I was very pleased to hear this. We got him a 13" MacBook Air with the maximum RAM, storage, and processor, and an external hard drive for backup.

Four years later, he still hasn't found any particular need for a more powerful machine, the laptop is still working just fine with the latest operating system revision, and he's going to college with it now. It's light, runs all day on the battery, and does a good job. He's since bought himself an iPad Pro 10" model because so much of the course work is now accessible in that format, and the machine is smaller, lighter, etc.

The key isn't to buy what machine YOU think is going to be best. Ask the people where the person is going to be studying what they recommend. They have a huge amount of experience in helping students with their computers nowadays. I have no special insight into what a young person in school needs these days, even though I worked for the industry. I only have special insight into what works best for my needs, and for the needs of my professional clients.

[Wayne Orwig]

In addition to my large high end laptop, I wanted something portable. Early this year I got a refurbished Surface 3. Yes, it is last years model, but for under $400 I got a higher performance portable machine. It runs the various software compilers and CAD programs that I want to run. I did add a micro SD card for saving large media files to. And of course it runs GuzziDiag. The stylus works well for CAD work, marking up PDF files, and from what I understand a lot of students love the stylus for note taking in class.

But without knowing what tools she will need to use, it is hard to say what she needs. A cheaper Chromebook may do the job.

[Orange Guzzi]

After going thru the same thing with my Daughter last week, My advise, go to a Brick and Mortar Store.  Stay away from the online deals.

I purchased a "new" in the box computer and received a "used" in "a" box with a little packing materials computer that was missing the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hardware and software.  An who know what other handling damage was incurred during shipping. 

Amazon.com.  Seller had good reviews on the day of purchase.  When I went back to return, there were 8 complaints for the same reason.  This stuff moves fast thru Amazon.  Customer reviews are fake. 

I would not over spend and buy extra's.  It will be outdated, lost, stolen, dropped or break. 

[twowings]

https://alpha.store/

[ITSec]

Another good place to shop is the Lenovo outlet store ( https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/landingpage/promotions/lenovo-clearance-sale/?menu-id=Clearance ) - a couple of good examples for under $500 are:

https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-300-series/ideapad-310-15-inch/p/80TV00BJUS
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-300-series/ideapad-300-15ISK/p/80Q70021US
https://www3.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-300-series/IdeaPad-310-Touch-15/p/80SN0005US

I agree with Luap's recommendations in general, though my own experience with HP has not been as positive as his. Newer i3 processors aren't as slow as the old ones (if i3, make sure it's so-called 6th-gen or newer). Definitely stay away from AMD processors, but don't be scared of a machine with an Intel processor and an AMD graphics chip. Most lower price laptops will not have a separate graphics chip, so you won't have to deal with that question in most cases. Unless she's dealing with multimedia, a 340-500 GB drive should be plenty. Get as much RAM as you can afford; a practical lower limit is about 6 GB and more is definitely better.

I've made my living in the industry since about 1985, and my first true laptop was a Kaypro 2000. There's more good stuff out there now than at almost any time, but unfortunately a bunch of junk too.

For a student, the LibreOffice suite Luap mentioned is a great option - free, fully functional, easy to learn, and cross-platform (versions for Windows, Mac, Linux). It also handles MS Office format files with excellent compatibility in most cases. MS Office Student edition is missing some key tools from the full Office suite, but is definitely cheaper. I'd try Libre first, and then get the MS tools if she has trouble. Since she's been using an iPad, she can't have been too heavily tied to MS Office since the version on that platform is pretty limited.

[Markcarovilli]

Kaypro

now that is a name I haven't heard in forever.....

Mark

[rodekyll]

I like the advice given so far.  Luap and ramarren have especially good thoughts.  I'd guess the right machine will be in the $500 - $800 area for something that will get her through the foreseeable future.

First, what she needs is what works for her classes.  All the expensive software out there won't help her if the teachers don't know it well enough to help her learn it and the documents she produces can't be exchanged with others in the class.  The teachers will have preferred software (sometimes required software) for assignments and class projects.  If they run mac-dedicated stuff, then you need a mac.  If WINDOWS-compatible, then she needs a PC. 

Same with the networking at school -- what type of platform works best with the school's network?  Sometimes specialty software is given by the school, or is purchased via school discount programs.  Find out what they provide before buying any software retail.

The only thing I'd add is that I prefer the I5 processor (Intel) to the I3.  I'd go with a hi-cap battery + a standard for a spare unless she knows there will always be shore power available. 

Do they even make Gateway anymore?  My choices would be DELL, HP/Compaq, Toshiba, or Sony Viao.  Be sure of what you're getting with the warranty -- when I was doing computer work I'd get folks in all the time who'd bought warranties that were not "on-site" or "next day" or "full coverage" despite the salesman's promises.  Often we were forced to ship computers with "next-day, on-site repair" off for depot service (up to 6 week turnaround) and shipping would not be included.  A lot of the warranty pitfalls have to do with no contract tech in your zip code.  If they offer on-site service, find out who the service center is.

That's all I've got.

[AJ Huff]

I'd get her what's compatible with what she's using in school.

-AJ

[Yukonica]

I work in a library setting so I see/help the good, the bad, the hopeless. Machines and humans.
Our public access stations use LibreOffice. Files saved as docx or xlxs open just fine in MSOffice.

It is amazing how poorly some machines are treated and still keep working. SSD drives withstand a lot of pounding around in backpacks, slapping the lid closed and rushing to the next place. HDD don't have the same luxury until the drive spins down.
 
Intel processors won the market for a reason. Core i5 is my own baseline. 8mb ram is also my baseline.
Storage volume depends on how the machine is used. 125gb is fine if the files are mostly text and a USB drive of some form is available. My own laptop has a 250gb SSD with one Tb auxiliary storage linked through firewire (a bit old, I know, but it works).

My home operating system is Apple. I don't think it is a good value anymore. The entry level MacBook Air costs more than a PC with better components.

[daytonars97]

So what was the selection?  Inquiring minds want to know...