Looking for a new laptop

moksha76

I am planning to do a CELTA course online (basically re-training to teach English as a foreign language). I then hope to teach online. I need a new laptop for this, but am a bit of a technophobe. A friend recommended the ASUS Vivobook 16 (£379) as a good all-rounder, with the HP-15 as a second choice. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to spend too much, but obviously don't want something cheap and nasty that is going to cause me problems. I'm in the UK.

Vitor

Goto John Lewis and see what they have

Woodstok2000

moksha76 said:

I am planning to do a CELTA course online (basically re-training to teach English as a foreign language). I then hope to teach online. I need a new laptop for this, but am a bit of a technophobe. A friend recommended the ASUS Vivobook 16 (£379) as a good all-rounder, with the HP-15 as a second choice. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to spend too much, but obviously don't want something cheap and nasty that is going to cause me problems. I'm in the UK.

This is a great deal just now: https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-vivobook-15-laptop-intel-core-5-processor-8gb-ram-512gb-ssd-15-6-full-hd-silver/p113888119

grumpycrab

Woodstok2000 said:... cheap and nasty that is going to cause me problems. I'm in the UK.

This is a great deal just now: https://www.johnlewis.com/asus-vivobook-15-laptop-intel-core-5-processor-8gb-ram-512gb-ssd-15-6-full-hd-silver/p113888119

I suggest getting 16GB memory.   An alternative approach (reused)   Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Gen 2 i5 16GB/256GB SSD £175.94 at eBay | hotukdeals

UnsureAboutthis

Do you really need a laptop?
I got a Chromebook.
It's fast, reliable, relatively cheap, and I do my
tax returns on it, emails, surfing the net, almost everything—including apps/Uber, etc. 
Also do my banking etc on it 

the chromebooks have less to go wrong, lighter and cheaper

Flugelhorn

UnsureAboutthis said:

Do you really need a laptop?
I got a Chromebook.
It's fast, reliable, relatively cheap, and I do my
tax returns on it, emails, surfing the net, almost everything—including apps/Uber, etc. 
Also do my banking etc on it 

the chromebooks have less to go wrong, lighter and cheaper

I agree - I like chromebooks, can do everything I want on them

Mee

If you're planning to join one of the online platforms for language tutors do check their requirements too. 

You may also find articles and blogs on the issue.

Also, a search of technical needs for online language teaching provides a useful AI summary and points out the importance of a reliable internet connection too.

flaneurs_lobster

Sounds like you may be home-based for your training and future work so a 16" laptop will be fine. If you need to be mobile with the device then 14" is more practical.

Chromebooks are great until you find a service that is only available via a Windows app and not in a browser or Android app (in my case Calibre and Audacity). You might not need such.

debitcardmayhem

Chromebooks, I would steer clear, Google are going to replace chromeos with aluminium in the not to distant future , e.g. https://www.androidauthority.com/aluminium-os-android-for-pcs-3619092/ and many other discssions

Vitor

For CELTA and online teaching I'd be wanting a decent webcam (HD (720p) minimum), a matte full HD (1920×1080) screen and quiet operation. The ASUS Vivobook 16 at £379 is a sensible choice if it has at least an Intel i5 or Ryzen 5, matte display and 16 GB RAM. Avoid 8 GB if possible, as video calls plus browser tabs will push it. For convenience USB-C charging (Power Delivery) would be best, but at the price-point it may still be a barrel-plug from the power brick. 

For CELTA work you will be typing a lot and navigating documents during calls. Cheap laptops can have spongy keyboards and poor trackpads

GDB2222

Every laptop I have used has allowed an external keyboard and mouse to be used, and I prefer that.