OU Students Past, Present and Future

mum2one

sh1305 wrote: »

Does the access to learning fund cover the extra costs of a computer if you need it?

No don't think it does, - I may be lost but if its the st yr of study, then they expect you to use your grant think £265 which you get once the course starts can be from 1 week to 4 weeks, more to make sure that people don't sign up for a course just to get a free computer, then the computer grant would come after you send the receipts in, hence the computer has to be new.

xx

mum2one

BeenieCat wrote: »

I know, but my current is a decent spec albeit on its last legs so i think i will get ebaying and make sure i can put the extra towards a better one. And i won't buy Acer or HP.

I'm sure you'll hear soon, they don't rush.

I had an absolute nightmare with Packard Bell.. our local newspaper took up the story, the computer was 5 months old was a desktop, the whole base unit had gone..... then they had to order a recovery disc from France, took about 8 weeks to get sorted, the retailer gave me £100 of vouchers as a goodwill gesture!!

BeenieCat

mum2one wrote: »

I feel like I'm showing me age now!!! I started studying in 2006, then it was £250 student grant and £250 for computer, as they based that if you needed a computer you used your student grant, and the computer grant was a top up, but then laptops were more expensive, my was mid range then and it was £600. Looks like the cost of laptops come down therefore the grant comes down as in theory you can get a descent one for £400 (going by Dell),

With Income support and the 60 points - you've got full grant, I don't know if they still do it, but think it came in 2007/08 time that if you had taken the computer grant they paid for a years internet access, (based on 1 months rental, but that was only if the internet bill was seperate and not tied in with phone etc), they may well of stopped it.

sent a pm x

Thanks, looks like you're right about the prices.

Does the internet access come from the access to learning grant then? I won't be able to claim for it anyway as i signed a new contract with Virgin not so long ago when wangling a poxy discount on the package

BeenieCat

mum2one wrote: »

I had an absolute nightmare with Packard Bell.. our local newspaper took up the story, the computer was 5 months old was a desktop, the whole base unit had gone..... then they had to order a recovery disc from France, took about 8 weeks to get sorted, the retailer gave me £100 of vouchers as a goodwill gesture!!

Omg what a nightmare, I have a Toshiba now and it's been amazing, i only trust Toshiba or Asus based on my loooooooads of research :rotfl:

I am currently lusting over this: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ASUS_X52F-SX163V_988940.html but means £100 extra towards it and no course grant leftover for anything else.

mum2one

BeenieCat wrote: »

Thanks, looks like you're right about the prices.

Does the internet access come from the access to learning grant then? I won't be able to claim for it anyway as i signed a new contract with Virgin not so long ago when wangling a poxy discount on the package

When I had mine, my internet was mobile dongle - contract - they paid that. It was a standalone bill, whether they still do don't know. But as yours is an all in one, based on my experience it would be a no. xx

mum2one

BeenieCat wrote: »

Omg what a nightmare, I have a Toshiba now and it's been amazing, i only trust Toshiba or Asus based on my loooooooads of research :rotfl:

I am currently lusting over this: http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ASUS_X52F-SX163V_988940.html but means £100 extra towards it and no course grant leftover for anything else.

That looks nice, I had a Dell free (thou thats 3 yrs old now - battery gone, lost some keys), but that was when upgraded AOL package, dd had a Dell last yr, it was bday/xmas off me, mum and dad - we paid £399 for hers its fab.

x

SuziQ

I have had problems with all the big names in computing tbh. This weekend I bought the ACER 5332 (4GB) tsv from qvc on easy pay (interest free) and I am delighted with it. It is extremely fast and has a very clear screen. The sound is also much better than my last laptop. It was £399 and I am paying £99 per month. I think you are being a little rigid not to consider Acer tbh-my ex has had an acer notebook for ages and loves it and I also have friends with Acer laptops who are pleased with them-you can get a rogue machine from any company.

juno

I had an Acer Aspire One and hated him!

michaelaeloise

Hi to you all - i cant believe i have just found this thread!!!

For all you starting K101 this year i would like to say good luck. I have just completed it, well got the exam left to do and thats it! It was quite enjoyable and i would say it was helpful for me personally to attend the first tutorial. The only other tutorials offered were revision workshops which i havent attended due to lack of time as getting married very soon! along with the assignments there is an online project halfway through the course which lasts 2 weeks and requires a lot of logging on to the live chats etc but its pretty much self explanatory. I would advise joining the previous terms facebook group to get more tips etc from students who studied the year before, it does help a lot. I would say the K101 is perfect for getting back into the swing of studying and a bonus is the certificate at the end of the course with which you can then add letters after your name lol. Anyway, good luck to you all and if i can help in any way just ask. Looking forward to a 2month break before the next one (u212 childhood) :j

Gemmzie

Just got my final TMA mark back, not too bad but not amazing, it means I could get up to a Grade 2 if I do well in my exam though, guess the pressure is on.

Anyone else got October exams?