Which Laptop

codo

My daughter needs a laptop for sixth form. She will be primarily using it for homework, so word, PowerPoint, possibly excel and surfing for info on the subjects she is taking.

I would like a laptop that will last a couple of years but budget is £400-450.

These are the three I am looking at, any advice on which might be best greatly appreciated.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/acer-spin-5-133-inch-ci3-8gb-128gb-laptop-black-amazing-price-38999-argos-2780367 - £389

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/costco-online-asus-vivobook-max-x541ua-intel-core-i5-8gb-ram-1tb-hard-drive-156-inch-notebook-37999-costco-2777935 - £379

http://m.dell.com/h5/m/uk/SecondaryInventorySearch?p=%2FOnline%2FSecondaryInventorySearch.aspx%3Fc%3Duk%26cs%3Dukdfh1%26l%3Den%26s%3Ddfh%26sign%3DPXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%252fPR7UdUjfatIsvAVj4Kk3QnoTVV48yoUltXSksO0qyvIcnmWdkDfluk9q5uq0dhjKQ%252fzwAe%252fwjvINKvynTinf4vXEsBGydm4ftniHmYVtOah4fsLwBANPLzEl18vl7hS1Jo%252boEPV5irhZ5YPo6JliYd1EqOc18UU31BNvBhD6Xq7VFISYYKvyAYn0jg2zEEyozAYNiVkshpEGsertHO0JGrgYa2SOyzVt6fYPb0ZODIw98jhz - £323

Dell link doesn't seem to be working details here

Inspiron 15 - 5567
Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-7100U (2 Core,3M Cache,2.40 GHz,15W)
Windows 10 Home (64bit)
8GB (1x8GB) 2400MHz DDR4 SDRAM Non-ECC
1 TB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
8X DVD+/- RW Drive
Software
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 802.11ac, 1x1, 2.4 & 5GHz + Bluetooth 4.2
LCD Back Cover for Non-Touch Screen with HD Camera-Tango red
Power Cord : 250V
Primary 3-cell 42W/HR Battery
15.6 Inch HD (1366x768) Truelife Non- Touch LED-Backlit Display
Internal English Non Backlit Keyboard

The Dell is scratch and dent but from what I have read these are generally in good condition. I'm not sure how much storage she would need so I'm not sure how the ssd would work out as we have only ever had computers with a hard drive.

Many thanks

were

Mmmm, the i5 are faster than i3, but not my much. Screen resolution is around 1366 x 768, not the best. Personally I have felt that Acer had a poorer build quality. SSD is smallish but fast and shock proof, while 1T is nice, not shock proof, but slow-ish.

Personally I would buy an old Dell like e6410 with an i5 (or i7) chip (about 10% slower than your i5 but cost about £100 from ebay 8gb mem i cost less than £50, and from amazon a samsung 240gb for £83, you should have change from £230, has 4 usb ports, no usb3 or usb C though, and an older bluetooth standard. There is just not enough progression in new laptops around the sub £400 mark compared to an old £100 business class one to justify the £400 one.

But that is just my take. To be fair and old e6410 with an i5 or i7 and 4gig would also not be a horrendous choice either for around £100 mark

grumpycrab

I assume the best way to get Office (inc Powerpoint) is through a student license... for laptop I recommend a 256GB SSD (a.fast b. enough space and c. less likely to break than a traditional hard drive). Nothing obvious is coming up (that isn't an Acer).
On the subject of Acers...we have
£335 (refurb) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acer-Aspire-15-6-Inch-Ci3-8GB-256GB-SSD-Laptop-Red-The-Official-Argos-Store-/332291420222
£430 (new) http://www.argos.co.uk/product/6555755
£450 (new) https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6552624 (excellent screen, battery but smaller disk at 128GB; the metal chasis may make this more releiable than is usual with Acer).
(note that I'm not recommending Acer).

codo

Thanks Were, I had a quick look at an e6410 they look solid, don't know if they are heavy but will check them out a bit more.

Thanks also Grumpycrab, I will have a look at 256ssd. We have Microsoft office on our old computer so can take it off that and use it on the laptop.

were

They are not the lightest, but also not that heavy. Think a bit of extra weight and a chassis that does not bend may be an advantage in a school bag.

I doubt any new laptop purchase will give you free unlimited MS office everlasting licence, would guess 30 days to a year at most.

I have colleagues that have paid a few quid to a seller on ebay and bought win 10 pro licences, bet you can find office on there too. I use Libre office - free.

WAYT

codo wrote: »

Thanks Were, I had a quick look at an e6410 they look solid, don't know if they are heavy but will check them out a bit more.

Thanks also Grumpycrab, I will have a look at 256ssd. We have Microsoft office on our old computer so can take it off that and use it on the laptop.

Dell Latitude E6410 too old. Seven years old is just not acceptable.

Within budget is this http://mcscom.co.uk/product/dell-inspiron-15-5558-i5-5200u-2-20ghz-8gb-1tb-920m-15-6-fhd-w10h-1yr-rtb-wty-mln298/
If it were supplied with SSD instead of a 1 TB HDD it would cover most bases.

AndyPix

^^ This.
The 6410s are a bit heavy too.
I wouldnt want to lug one of those round in a school bag all day

WAYT

codo wrote: »

My daughter needs a laptop for sixth form. She will be primarily using it for homework, so word, PowerPoint, possibly excel and surfing for info on the subjects she is taking.

I would like a laptop that will last a couple of years but budget is £400-450.

These are the three I am looking at, any advice on which might be best greatly appreciated.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/acer-spin-5-133-inch-ci3-8gb-128gb-laptop-black-amazing-price-38999-argos-2780367 - £389

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/costco-online-asus-vivobook-max-x541ua-intel-core-i5-8gb-ram-1tb-hard-drive-156-inch-notebook-37999-costco-2777935 - £379

http://m.dell.com/h5/m/uk/SecondaryInventorySearch?p=%2FOnline%2FSecondaryInventorySearch.aspx%3Fc%3Duk%26cs%3Dukdfh1%26l%3Den%26s%3Ddfh%26sign%3DPXhcOSHtr1T4IOw%252fPR7UdUjfatIsvAVj4Kk3QnoTVV48yoUltXSksO0qyvIcnmWdkDfluk9q5uq0dhjKQ%252fzwAe%252fwjvINKvynTinf4vXEsBGydm4ftniHmYVtOah4fsLwBANPLzEl18vl7hS1Jo%252boEPV5irhZ5YPo6JliYd1EqOc18UU31BNvBhD6Xq7VFISYYKvyAYn0jg2zEEyozAYNiVkshpEGsertHO0JGrgYa2SOyzVt6fYPb0ZODIw98jhz - £323

Dell link doesn't seem to be working details here

Inspiron 15 - 5567
Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-7100U (2 Core,3M Cache,2.40 GHz,15W)
Windows 10 Home (64bit)
8GB (1x8GB) 2400MHz DDR4 SDRAM Non-ECC
1 TB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
8X DVD+/- RW Drive
Software
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 802.11ac, 1x1, 2.4 & 5GHz + Bluetooth 4.2
LCD Back Cover for Non-Touch Screen with HD Camera-Tango red
Power Cord : 250V
Primary 3-cell 42W/HR Battery
15.6 Inch HD (1366x768) Truelife Non- Touch LED-Backlit Display
Internal English Non Backlit Keyboard

The Dell is scratch and dent but from what I have read these are generally in good condition. I'm not sure how much storage she would need so I'm not sure how the ssd would work out as we have only ever had computers with a hard drive.

Many thanks

The relatively basic DELL in your link can be purchased for £282, together with a free Starter bundle: – Targus Sports 15.6″ Backpack, 16Gb USB Pen, USB Optical Mouse and a HDMI cable http://mcscom.co.uk/product/dell-inspiron-15-5567-i3-7100u-2-40ghz-8gb-1tb-15-6-hd-w10h-1yrs-rtb-wty-mln543/

or for £260 for the 500GB HDD model with the same free Starter bundle: http://mcscom.co.uk/product/dell-inspiron-15-5567-i3-7100u-2-40ghz-8gb-500gb-15-6-hd-w10h-1yrs-rtb-wty-mln542-bundle/

My main issue with these machines is that you have to fiddle around to swap the HDD for SSD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spldop-OLtY and that personally I would prefer a Full HD screen in this day and age.

The ACER SPIN looks ok, but the screen is a bit small.

codo

Thank you all. I have seen a number of dell refurbished laptops on mcs. Has anyone bought from them? Are they good if you have any problems? My only issue with refurbished units is you don't know how long they have been used for and any effect that has on the battery life.

Frozen_up_north

WAYT wrote: »

<SNIP>My main issue with these machines is that you have to fiddle around to swap the HDD for SSD

Crucial (http://uk.crucial.com/gbr/en) offer an easy to use compatibility check tool and the SSD comes with Acronis drive transfer software. With Acronis can even install a smaller SSD than the hard disk it replaces (assuming you haven't used more data than the size of the SSD).

Crucial also stock USB to SSD adapters (needed to transfer the data).

Been there, done that. Very easy. Recommended.

J_B

codo wrote: »

Thank you all. I have seen a number of dell refurbished laptops on mcs. Has anyone bought from them? Are they good if you have any problems?

My 'mate' bought one from there
I set up some programs for him and then realised that it wasn't charging.
There is no means of phoning them but an email was replied to within a few hours.
A new charger was despatched the next day.
Sadly this didn't resolve the problem.
A 'returns courier' came to collect it on the day that I wanted it.
Sadly, again, it was unrepairable, so they promised to send 'mate' a refund.
I haven't checked with him to see if he has been repaid .. yet!

So, we had problems, but there was no quibble.