Laptop

Bonhomie

stinky_daddy said:

Hi All

apologies for resurrecting an old thread of mine, but I am looking at:

ASUS VivoBook 15 Laptop, Intel Core i5 Processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 15.6" Full HD, Black (johnlewis.com)

it is 11th Gen

Same item but refurbed

ASUS VivoBook 15 X1500EA 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 512GB - REFURB-B | eBay

My son wants it in black and my ex wants it new ideally (god alone knows why when refurbed is cheaper) and would like him to have HP (I myself have an Asus) but she doesn't like them for some unknown (to me) reason

So, my query to those more knowledgeable than me, is what are the pro's and con's with this model, or should I be looking at something else, have never really researched chromebooks so can't speculate on them as to whether they are better (or not)

TIA

s_d

 

Have a look at DELL Outlet too: https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?brandId=3&c=uk&cs=ukdfb1&l=en&s=dfb&~ck=mn&ref=cpcl_lp-uk-outlet-tab-laptops0_cta_link_shopalllaptops

They have a 10% discount for everyone and 14% for Uni students

DODEC10 is the 10% off promo code.

Example; Dell Outlet Inspiron 16 - 5635 for £351 after 10% discount.

Dell Outlet Inspiron 16 - 5635 Laptop

AMD Ryzen 5 7530U Processor (6 Core, Up to 4.50GHz, 19MB Cache, 15W)

Windows 11 Home

8GB Memory

512GB PCIe M.2 NVMe Gen 4 Class 35 Solid State Drive

16 inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 Wide View Angle Anti-Glare 250-nits ComfortView Non-Touch Display

FHD RGB Camera and Microphone

AMD Radeon Graphics

MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 2x2 802.11ax Wireless LAN and Bluetooth

Platinum Silver - LCD Back Cover (Non-Touch Screen)

4-Cell, 54 WHr Lithium Ion Battery

No Optical Drive

UK Irish Qwerty Backlit Titan Grey Keyboard

Normal price: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/laptops-2-in-1-pcs/inspiron-16-laptop/spd/inspiron-16-5635-laptop/cn56310sc

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/3830vs5126/Intel-i5-1135G7-vs-AMD-Ryzen-5-7530U

It should be 'as new' condition with a full DELL warranty. You'll even have the choice to extend the warranty. Far better than the ASUS. Up to date where the ASUS is a couple of years behind, alongside it's dire webcam specs.
Don't dally too long... it's coming up to Christmas.

Grumpy_chap

DAztagnan said:

I agree with cerebus. There is no need to purchase a new computer for any '(normal) college work'.

A very old, second hand, notebook/laptop capable of running Windows Vista, (yes over fifteen years old), will adequately handle everything they require of it. 

You are correct, but may be incorrect at the same time. 
Any basic computer should be more than adequate for any "normal" college work.
However, my wife is currently undertaking a college course and the college require that a computer is Windows 11 in order to be able to connect to and access the college IT systems.  Given that assignments are set via the college IT system and inaccessible otherwise, that becomes a controlling factor.  My wife has untold challenges trying to circumvent from her Windows 10 laptop.
The OP's son may be finding similar constraints.

Bonhomie said:

Have a look at DELL Outlet too: https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?brandId=3&c=uk&cs=ukdfb1&l=en&s=dfb&~ck=mn&ref=cpcl_lp-uk-outlet-tab-laptops0_cta_link_shopalllaptops

They have a 10% discount for everyone and 14% for Uni students

DODEC10 is the 10% off promo code.

Example; Dell Outlet Inspiron 16 - 5635 for £351 after 10% discount.

We just purchased a DELL computer.
When we went to purchase, the website invites to join DELL REWARDS which we duly did.
The next morning, we received a welcome e-mail for DELL REWARDS with a 5% discount voucher off next laptop purchase.
I was able to cancel the order placed the day before and re-order with the discount code, but it was a faff we could have done without.

If anyone is considering that they might buy a DELL, then join the reward scheme now regardless so that the discount is available to use if required and avoid the extra effort of cancelling an order to replace it immediately.
I don't know whether the DELL REWARD discount can be used on top of the 10% / 14% discount code shared in the preceding post.

cerebus

Grumpy_chap said:

DAztagnan said:

I agree with cerebus. There is no need to purchase a new computer for any '(normal) college work'.

A very old, second hand, notebook/laptop capable of running Windows Vista, (yes over fifteen years old), will adequately handle everything they require of it. 

You are correct, but may be incorrect at the same time. 
Any basic computer should be more than adequate for any "normal" college work.
However, my wife is currently undertaking a college course and the college require that a computer is Windows 11 in order to be able to connect to and access the college IT systems.  Given that assignments are set via the college IT system and inaccessible otherwise, that becomes a controlling factor.  My wife has untold challenges trying to circumvent from her Windows 10 laptop.
The OP's son may be finding similar constraints.

Bonhomie said:

Have a look at DELL Outlet too: https://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?brandId=3&c=uk&cs=ukdfb1&l=en&s=dfb&~ck=mn&ref=cpcl_lp-uk-outlet-tab-laptops0_cta_link_shopalllaptops

They have a 10% discount for everyone and 14% for Uni students

DODEC10 is the 10% off promo code.

Example; Dell Outlet Inspiron 16 - 5635 for £351 after 10% discount.

We just purchased a DELL computer.
When we went to purchase, the website invites to join DELL REWARDS which we duly did.
The next morning, we received a welcome e-mail for DELL REWARDS with a 5% discount voucher off next laptop purchase.
I was able to cancel the order placed the day before and re-order with the discount code, but it was a faff we could have done without.

If anyone is considering that they might buy a DELL, then join the reward scheme now regardless so that the discount is available to use if required and avoid the extra effort of cancelling an order to replace it immediately.
I don't know whether the DELL REWARD discount can be used on top of the 10% / 14% discount code shared in the preceding post.

Given how only 25% of computers that run Windows are windows 11 thats incredibly restrictive

Clearly it can also be circumvented too if your wife is doing it!

What is the reason they give that Windows 10 or Linux computers are not good enough to access the colleges it systems? 

Grumpy_chap

cerebus said:

Given how only 25% of computers that run Windows are windows 11 thats incredibly restrictive

Clearly it can also be circumvented too if your wife is doing it!

What is the reason they give that Windows 10 or Linux computers are not good enough to access the colleges it systems? 

Their reason is "security".

We manage to circumvent the block, but it is variable how long a session can stay connected before it somehow identifies it is not Win 11 and then blocks the access.  The message tells you accordingly that is why you have been locked out.  Sometimes, a reboot can get you back in.  At worst case, it blocked her after a few minutes and could not get back in for whole two-hours teaching session.  Onsite, she manages to get reliable access using an ethernet cable (if she can get a suitable desk) but not at all via their wifi.

We've solved the problem now with the new DELL we bought last week.

cerebus

Grumpy_chap said:

cerebus said:

Given how only 25% of computers that run Windows are windows 11 thats incredibly restrictive

Clearly it can also be circumvented too if your wife is doing it!

What is the reason they give that Windows 10 or Linux computers are not good enough to access the colleges it systems? 

Their reason is "security".

We manage to circumvent the block, but it is variable how long a session can stay connected before it somehow identifies it is not Win 11 and then blocks the access.  The message tells you accordingly that is why you have been locked out.  Sometimes, a reboot can get you back in.  At worst case, it blocked her after a few minutes and could not get back in for whole two-hours teaching session.  Onsite, she manages to get reliable access using an ethernet cable (if she can get a suitable desk) but not at all via their wifi.

We've solved the problem now with the new DELL we bought last week.

That does make me giggle that their reason is "security" but its clearly incredibly easy to circumvent!

You could have installed windows 11 on your old machine if you really wanted to

Grumpy_chap

cerebus said:

Grumpy_chap said:

cerebus said:

Given how only 25% of computers that run Windows are windows 11 thats incredibly restrictive

Clearly it can also be circumvented too if your wife is doing it!

What is the reason they give that Windows 10 or Linux computers are not good enough to access the colleges it systems? 

Their reason is "security".

We manage to circumvent the block, but it is variable how long a session can stay connected before it somehow identifies it is not Win 11 and then blocks the access.  The message tells you accordingly that is why you have been locked out.  Sometimes, a reboot can get you back in.  At worst case, it blocked her after a few minutes and could not get back in for whole two-hours teaching session.  Onsite, she manages to get reliable access using an ethernet cable (if she can get a suitable desk) but not at all via their wifi.

We've solved the problem now with the new DELL we bought last week.

That does make me giggle that their reason is "security" but its clearly incredibly easy to circumvent!

You could have installed windows 11 on your old machine if you really wanted to

Indeed.  (On both points made.)

It was time we went for a new machine, so maybe for the better