Apple Mac - wowcher

NI_BOBS

My DD needs a computer for her school work - mostly to download Microsoft for making power point presentations, designing leaflets, assignments etc
I thought she could get away with using her chromebook and google docs etc but seems for ease of use would be better with a laptop with microsoft installed.
So basically trying to find the cheapest way of doing this - I think she can install the microsoft package as a student for free with codes from school on a laptop she purchases - so basically trying to find decent and cheapish laptop -- can someone have a glance at the two below and give me a little advice - a refurb older apple mac or an Acer laptop.
Much appreciates and thanks

https://goo.gl/c6iH8B
https://goo.gl/xmvRZS

almillar

The links are to a 13 inch Macbook with an 80GB HDD, 2GB RAM and a 2GHz Core 2 Duo Processor, and an 11 inch Acer laptop, also with poor specs, for £170 and £140 respectively.


The Macbook won't run the latest OSX (MacOS these days!) and I wouldn't count it as secure.

Neither are worthwhile, and neither will serve her better than her current Chromebook - the Acer looks a lot like a Chromebook, but with Windows on.


Up the budget or maybe we can help with some second hand stuff.

NI_BOBS

Thanks AlMillar - dont want to spend lots of ££ when it will gather dust when not used for school work.

Would any of the refurbs from Argos be fit for purpose ? - I am so out of the loop now with all of this unfortunately.

http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/Argos?aspectFilter=%7B%7D&sortOrder=PricePlusShippingLowest&inCategory=175672

DoaM

Use the Chromebook and use Office Online instead of Google Docs?

Stoke

Hmmm, you want to run Microsoft Powerpoint..... you could always get a PC running Microsoft Windows and spend the money you save on something else?

NI_BOBS

DoaM wrote: »

Use the Chromebook and use Office Online instead of Google Docs?

have tried this and too much hassle with compatibility

Stoke wrote: »

Hmmm, you want to run Microsoft Powerpoint..... you could always get a PC running Microsoft Windows and spend the money you save on something else?

???
Use to create powerpoints and leaflets - dont have a PC running this ??

NI_BOBS

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B06X9T5YZG/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

maybe this one ??

almillar

maybe this one ??

No. Please don't buy anything until someone here says yes. That Dell has a similar processor to the Macbook you listed - a 'Core 2 Duo' - these are ancient, and I really don't think they'll do as well as even the Chromebook you're trying to replace.


You're looking at retailers here. I would suggest that if the budget won't go up, you should cut out the middleman, and go straight to eBay, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, and see what you can find there, pure second hand. You may be worried about the risk, but you're taking one anyway on old computers.


If you look around local to you, and share any links with us, we can help with sorting out the specs.


I would imagine you can have 4GB RAM in your budget, so there's a spec to look for for starters.


Anybody want to help finding the best Windows 10 laptop we can for under £200?

Heedtheadvice

Take care you do not buy one with fixed SSD that is too small. Stores have been selling these with just 30GB or so drives. you soon find that there is only 3-5GB of space left with a few progs installed and a small amount of user data stored. 32bit versions of win 10 seem less of an issue at the moment - but for how long? - 64bit ones a definite problem!
They are a right swine when windows tries to update (which it will!) and you just run out of space on the drive as the automatic downloads just nearly fill up the drive and then leave insufficient space to update windows. You end up with outdated windows, loss of security and functionality fixes etc.



There is a work around - but it is a right swine to do for those who are non too technical !!

J_B

NI_BOBS wrote: »

....- mostly to download Microsoft for making power point presentations, designing leaflets, assignments etc


...... I think she can install the microsoft package as a student for free with codes from school on a laptop she purchases -

Just being pedantic (sorry! ) but of course you mean Microsoft Office don't you?

NI_BOBS

thank you - think for school actually Office 365 - manage to get working on DD's original chromebook today - but no publisher !!!
Arrrggghhh - might be easier going into a computer shop and getting one sorted for me.