Help with buying a laptop(single parent)

Blacksheep1979

gonna sound harsh but do you honestly need a laptop or a computer at all? Universities provide quite comprehensive computing facilities and you tend to focus a little better when away from home where you can constantly 'make a cup of tea' etc.

Gemma7_2

Due to childcare costs etc i wont be able to afford to spend extra time at Uni and the only support i have is my mum and i have already had to ask her to take and pick up from nursery i cant possibly ask her to have them into the evening so i can stay at Uni to do my work. also more importantly is i wont see my children apart from weekends if i stay at uni into the evening to work.(uni is an hours drive)

Firehorse

I would agree with Blacksheep1979 re the excellent university computer labs. However, being a single parent undergrad (also an hours drive from uni) I can understand why Gemma7 would like computing facilties at home as well.

There's the obvious cost of childcare, although if you're doing a full-time course the LEA will help with these fees and uni's usually have creches on campus. Also there is the restriction of times re childcare providers. Another factor is being able to access campus facilities from home, which in my case adds valuable study hours to the week.

On the laptop v computer decision. Laptops are obviously more versatile as you can take them with you, but we have had a few go walkies on campus.

rubuhoeikanaika

I often think laptops are a fashion accessory for students... but you seem to have a very good reason for getting one.

I would advise you not to buy a new one, the cheap ones tend to be heavy and run hot. Instead, if you have a knowledgeable friend, ask them to help you troll ebay. Your best bet is something that *was* fairly good a few years ago, and is now outdated.

I suggest...

weighs no more than 3kg
has ubuntu linux, windows 2000 or XP (*not* vista)
at least 512mb ram
wireless

pay no more than 150GBP.


One downside of an old laptop is that the battery will likely not hold its charge very well, but that's no problem if you just want to sit downstairs with it plugged in (the cable will be quite long).

rubuhoe

Diane_239

hi,
when buying a computer or laptop ask about student discount apple mac offers this discount also get your daughter to ask at collage out student grants towards buying a laptop my son has just received £300 towards the cost of a lap top and dos'nt have to pay it back.i think the grant may differ from area to area but worth asking.

elisebutt65

£99 Laptop - for education -does the basics. I'm thinking of getting one for my youngest but it sounds ideal for what you need it for?

Helix

Diane_239 wrote: »

hi,
when buying a computer or laptop ask about student discount apple mac offers this discount also get your daughter to ask at collage out student grants towards buying a laptop my son has just received £300 towards the cost of a lap top and dos'nt have to pay it back.i think the grant may differ from area to area but worth asking.

If your looking for cheap then Apple is not a good idea even with the student discount they offer, the cheapest laptop is £650. I'm not saying they don't make good products (I have an iMac myself) but they are not cheap.

Some unis do have schemes where you can pay monthly for a laptop, so you could possibly look into that.

Blacksheep1979

So you're likely to be in Uni all day? If that's the case then I doubt very much (unless you're on quite an unusual course) to be fully booked with lectures/seminars all day. Do what I used to do (commuted for an hour each way each day) and when you don't have lectures use the computers that are available - you'll be suprised how much you can get done and how little extra time outside of this that you'll need to spend doing your work.

Gemma7_2

Thanks everyone for your suggestions i have looked at all of them. I have had a little bit of good news, a local charity said they are going to put my request froward and see if they could help me a little in the cost towards it.
Black sheep i see what you are saying but this will still mean i only can use the computers at uni and when i went into uni today they did reccomend you get a laptop as you are limited to using the library and for use at home as when you are on placement it means driving to uni to use a computer. If for example i dont start my lecture till 11 then i cant afford to pay for childcare from first thing so i can go in to study beofre hand and i would also never see my children.

Blacksheep1979

I really doubt that a university says that you should have a laptop - I did a computer science degree and they said that you did not need your own computer. Obviously there are benefits to having something of your own but if money is that tight then maybe it's money that could be spent elsewhere?