Laptop or Tablet for 6th former?

paddyrg

Tyler_Durden_UK wrote: »

I agree that a laptop is better in this case, but what makes you say tablets are toys, my industry uses them for business use.

Sweeping statement, to every rule there's an exception, etc :-)

Data entry, spreadsheets, documents, anything involving much typing, laptops win.

Occasional jobs like high-end portable POS (eg order taking), ticket management/barcode scanning, checking stuff tablets have a place. But I think we both know that 99%+ of tablets sold get used for watching cat videos on youtube or playing games ;-)

Jivesinger

penrhyn wrote: »

Personally I would have thought that having a keyboard and mouse are a better way of entering data, than using a touch screen, but then I'm very old.

No you're right.

Laptops/ tablets/ whatever may change, but until we humans get round to evolving eyeballs in our hands or fingers, it's better to have the screen at eye-level and the keyboard/ mouse at the level of your elbow (in a relaxed sitting position, that is).

Timalay

If you did want go the new laptop route, but want to save a bit of money. Why not consider refurbished.

Flugelhorn

I find a tablet great for e-mail and being out and about but if I want to research or type anything of length then a keyboard is essential. I upgraded an old acer with more RAM - (Aspire 3610) v easily done after I watched it on Youtube

NiftyDigits

Timalay wrote: »

If you did want go the new laptop route, but want to save a bit of money. Why not consider refurbished.

That is what is being suggested...to simply refurb the existing laptop.
Will still handle general office tasks and surfing.
£10 will do it, as long as there are no mechanical faults.

busiscoming2

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Let's try again with the full model number..

I will have to look later but I think most of the labels have worn off.

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Anyway, on the surface the Aspire 5050 is cheaply and easily upgradeable.

1GB DDR2-800 notebook memory x 2 for £9.98

Update and a clean install and you are up and running faster than ever.

I have a similar model. It's around six years old.

Thank you, I hadn't realised it could be speeded up. This one was about the same age.

Timalay wrote: »

If you did want go the new laptop route, but want to save a bit of money. Why not consider refurbished.

Yes I probably would. The one I own I bought refurbished and it's been fine.

DCFC79

I agree with Paddyrg's comment about Laptops for work and Tablets are toys. Laptops all the way for typing and Tablets for playing games, reading books.

closed

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

busiscoming2

closed wrote: »

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

Thank you

bluesnake

That acer is not a bad spec if it is http://www.cnet.com/laptops/acer-aspire-5050-4570/4505-3121_7-32508793.html

Think if you get your son to do odd jobs around the house at £6 per hour, you may find that he can cope with the existing laptop fairly easily:D

Your best bet would be upgrade the ram and reinstall the os as NiftyDigits said.

If you want to make it fly and you have a working copy of bootable backup, or a working install disk, you could always install Zorrin - a very polished and light weight fork of ubuntu, just do not bin it.