Laptop for teenager

Prudent

closed wrote: »

dying or slow?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2752490

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

Many thanks. I hadn't noticed your sticky. You have just saved me £350

Bogtrotter

If you really need a new laptop and you must get it from a shop check PCWorld... at this time of year they are getting in the latest generation of hardware heading up to Christmas and you can sometimes get substantial savings on last seasons machines.

However I'd be of the school of thought that fixing would be the way to go... To be honest even a broken power jack should be a quick and inexpensive repair with a reputable PC techie. It amazes me how quick people are to scrap old hardware. In the last year I have seen people replace laptops because of a broken keyboards, power supplies and poor battery capacity.

Is there any reason that you specifically need a laptop. Desktops are generally more durable and cheaper and easier to repair if anything goes wrong.

Like has been already mentioned the quality of the machines nowdays leaves a lot to be desired. I know that when my current workhorse (a 7 year old Compaq Presario Pentium M based machine) finally gives up the ghost I'd be up for spending a little more for a better built machine.

matboo

I recommend macbooks, you could pickup a decent 2nd hand one of ebay for £300, great for young children because they dont easily break and very easy to use.

donny-gal

Estelle

If your daughter has all her school work on the laptop, please ensure you have a USB hard drive so she can back up everything. I would imagine that your daughter has load of photos from friends, and loads of files, that a clean up would seriously improve the performance, and it will not take long for a new machine to get into the same state. If she takes files off to a usb hard drive it will help. However, be warned, everything should be in at least two places, whether stored onto CD's or a USB hard drive. If the damaged jack plug for the power socket?

I did mine a few months ago, adding a larger Hard Drive, and it made a big difference. DG

Hammyman

sharnad wrote: »

Well if a laptop is thrown around the room it doesnt matter if its a cheap one or an expensive one they will both be damaged

Sorry but it does matter and by that comment I can only assume you've never had one. A Lenovo Thinkpad T or X series will just laugh it off unlike their flimsy consumer N and P series because they have a solid alloy cage in the base and solid alloy plate behind the LCD and the hinges are very strong. Likewise a similar story with Dells Latitude series which is built completely different to the consumer level Inspiron. Both aforementioned also have accelerometers in that park the hard drive when they detect a rapid movement. The plastics are also far more robust.

Once you get into business spec laptops that have a RRP above £1k, you get a whole different way of build, design and materials used. I have actually stood on the lid of a closed Thinkpad T42 and not a single thing happened and I weigh the thick end of 20 stone. Try doing that with anything you can buy from PC World apart from the Macbook Pro.

Bogtrotter

I haven't actually seen the Lenovo Thinkpad X or T series but its certainly going on my shortlist when I finally have to upgrade on Hammyman's recommendation.

Also being "Moneysavers" buying the more expensive machines doesn't necessarily mean you don't get better value for money.

My current old laptop cost just shy of £1000 way back in 2004 and still going strong with enough power to do everything I need to do. My friend however is on his third machine in that time with the previous computers failing for some reason or another. He's spent £400-£500 for each machine so I've actually either saved by buying an expensive well built laptop or been very fortunate to have a laptop last so long.

sharnad

Hammyman wrote: »

Sorry but it does matter and by that comment I can only assume you've never had one. A Lenovo Thinkpad T or X series will just laugh it off unlike their flimsy consumer N and P series because they have a solid alloy cage in the base and solid alloy plate behind the LCD and the hinges are very strong. Likewise a similar story with Dells Latitude series which is built completely different to the consumer level Inspiron. Both aforementioned also have accelerometers in that park the hard drive when they detect a rapid movement. The plastics are also far more robust.

Once you get into business spec laptops that have a RRP above £1k, you get a whole different way of build, design and materials used. I have actually stood on the lid of a closed Thinkpad T42 and not a single thing happened and I weigh the thick end of 20 stone. Try doing that with anything you can buy from PC World apart from the Macbook Pro.

so your saying if a person drops an open laptop onto the ground the screen wont gt damaged on a more expensive model

GunJack

sharnad wrote: »

so your saying if a person drops an open laptop onto the ground the screen wont gt damaged on a more expensive model

a heck of a lot less likely than a cheapie flimsy one

sharnad

GunJack wrote: »

a heck of a lot less likely than a cheapie flimsy one

Just as likely really the screens on a £2OOO Sony Vaio arent made from some fantastic material

Open one up drop it face down with an Asus and they are both just as likely to have cracks on the screen