We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide
Student needs a cheap but reliable laptop for dissertation, please help!
Comments
-
evil - if you're going to spend £300 on a netbook, there are some great new and refurb deals out there on "proper" full-size lappys, even one or two with 17" displays....sorry, but 15.4 or 17" with proper keyboard, etc., etc. beats 10" hands down...
(just ask any lady :rotfl:)
True, but they're not as portable. If netbooks were around when I was studying, I'd have snapped one up (or not, as I couldn't actually afford a computer when I was first at uni ...). My 'main' laptop is a 17", but there's no way I can cart that back and forth throughout the day at work, in addition to two bags, several instruments etc. My NC10 slips into my handbag easily, and as mentioned, the keyboard is about 90% full size anyway.
Horses for courses I guess.
0 -
evil - if you're going to spend £300 on a netbook, there are some great new and refurb deals out there on "proper" full-size lappys, even one or two with 17" displays....sorry, but 15.4 or 17" with proper keyboard, etc., etc. beats 10" hands down...
(just ask any lady :rotfl:)
As the old saying goes its not the size its what you do with it that counts
There is a misconception that netbooks are a compromise because of price and for many people this just is not true. For word processing, web surfing and many other daily tasks a Netbook is more than up to the challenge. Add to that the fact you can fit them in a large pocket or a ladies handbag and you have the kind of convenience that a "proper" laptop would never have. In addition around many student areas it is well known for the police to advise the students not to carry a laptop bag as it is obvious to muggers, again a problem that can be avoided with a netbook.
The only thing to consider is what the OP needs and whats from the machine. Typing on the smaller keyboards is no problem as long as you sit properly and yes probably typing 15000 words in one go would probably cause your hands to cramp up on one the same goes for a full sized KB.The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.
Arthur C. Clarke0 -
Maybe it depends on your money situation. If £300 is your life savings or money that you're cutting other things out to afford, then get a cheap netbook for £150ish, being aware of its limitations (a small screen so you'll probably need to use your main computer to do some editing; oh, and maybe you could tidy up the main computer if your daughters are always downloading things? Make sure you have a virus checker and firewall, run 'ccleaner', etc...) but also its advantages (incredibly portable and light, cheap, perfect for taking anywhere and writing on).
If £300 is a drop in the ocean to you then spend it all on a decent laptop being aware that it will be less portable but that you won't need to use your main computer again. Hope this helps!0 -
guys, I appreciate what you're saying about carrying, I just feel that the compromise to performance and ease of use isn't worth it...
as I said earlier, the OP is putting together a dissertation, which should call for more than just word processing...much more difficult on a smaller machine, e.g. much more difficult to put together larger flow diagrams, powerpoint slides, etc., if I am doing this stuff for work I always use my 20"-display desktop rather than 14" works laptop even though the desktop isn't as powerful in theory as the lappy...but it's a darn sight easier with the bigger screen...
my opinion I know, but don't think I'll be swayed on this one......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......
I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple
0 -
guys, I appreciate what you're saying about carrying, I just feel that the compromise to performance and ease of use isn't worth it...
as I said earlier, the OP is putting together a dissertation, which should call for more than just word processing...much more difficult on a smaller machine, e.g. much more difficult to put together larger flow diagrams, powerpoint slides, etc., if I am doing this stuff for work I always use my 20"-display desktop rather than 14" works laptop even though the desktop isn't as powerful in theory as the lappy...but it's a darn sight easier with the bigger screen...
my opinion I know, but don't think I'll be swayed on this one
Does that not depend on the dissertation though...? Many subjects will be just word-processing rather than flow diagrams or powerpoint slides... .
Sorry to argue - I'm just avoiding revision at the moment!0 -
lol...no probs david...being an engineer I can't really imagine a document of that size NOT having diagrams etc. in it ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......
I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple0 -
Can't say I'm compromising much with my netbook as it has 2GB RAM and 160GB HDD - exactly the same as my other larger laptop. As I mentioned earlier, I wouldn't have had a problem writing a dissertation on it at all, but I suppose that would depend on the user's eyesight. Tidying up the editing right before submission may be considered easier by some on a larger screen, but again, perfectly manageable on a 10".
Dissertations are usually predominantly word processing (although obviously this does depend on the subject), and a netbook should have no problem running Office/Works/OpenOffice. Mine is also currently running Sibelius (music notation software - quite a large program), with no issues. As previous posters have noted, the best thing to do would be call in PCWorld, Comet, Currys etc and have a go on some. I'm singling out the Samsung over Acer, Asus, Advent etc, as the others tend to have the smaller 8" screen, smaller keyboards, and far inferior battery life. I reckon you should go for a netbook for the portability, lessened mug-ability and battery life, and then use your desktop if needed to edit.
As others have said, can't emphasise enough saving & backing up your data frequently! 2 copies at least. Best of luck!
0 -
-
lol..I'm glad that everyone is taking this in the light-hearted way it was intended ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......
I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.3K Spending & Discounts
- 247.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 603.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.3K Life & Family
- 261.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards