Unrelated topic, Laptop question

[Xfaxman]

I dont think a tablet or chrome book type thing is going to be the right choice;

Why not a Chromebook laptop?

That is what I was going to recommend: Chromebook laptop - Image Search

 

[riptides]

Wife and I are gonna need to get son a laptop for use in college, and I'll admit I'm very far separated from the computer scene. No CAD, graphics design, or complex processing stuff; but something that works well, and can handle getting thrown (hopefully not literally) in a truck. He's going to be commuting for atleast the first couple semester, and he has a 'gaming pc' desk top at our house; but needs something to take to school/use at school between/before/after classes. Probably touch screen, as I had one at work, until they "upgraded" me to a non-touch screen. I dont think a tablet or chrome book type thing is going to be the right choice; just a functional, cheap, durable laptop. Any recommendations? Any to avoid? For not CAD/graphic design/gaming; is there anything that you would specifically look for, or runaway from?

You checked what the school recommends for use? Wednesday and Thursday.

They usually have deals on software combinations that they may use in class settings. That would drive your hardware choice. As well as their IT department may offer support services.

 

[LittleBill21]

90% of everything now is cloud based, computer specs don't matter as much anymore. make sure whatever you get has a wifi 6e adapter, 32g of ram and i5 and ssd. stay away from mac and chromebook, they are not as common and have more restrictions on what they can run

 

[cj7]

I carry my laptop in a padded back pack. Need for a dedicated case for it. But everyone is different as to how they use and care for things.

 

[not2old]

I got taken with an HP. Rarely used it because I hated windows 8. Only bought because we needed a backup to keep in touch with our rentals if the desktop was messed up. Less then a year old and the hinge was falling apart which was excluded from warranty. Lots of complaining and got the bill cut in half, still costing over $100.00. I will admit that it has been used steady since our wildfire evacuation last September. Been too busy to wire up our desktop which does not have WIFI capability.

 

[tradosaurus]

Wife and I are gonna need to get son a laptop for use in college, and I'll admit I'm very far separated from the computer scene. No CAD, graphics design, or complex processing stuff; but something that works well, and can handle getting thrown (hopefully not literally) in a truck. He's going to be commuting for atleast the first couple semester, and he has a 'gaming pc' desk top at our house; but needs something to take to school/use at school between/before/after classes. Probably touch screen, as I had one at work, until they "upgraded" me to a non-touch screen. I dont think a tablet or chrome book type thing is going to be the right choice; just a functional, cheap, durable laptop. Any recommendations? Any to avoid? For not CAD/graphic design/gaming; is there anything that you would specifically look for, or runaway from?

Might want to involve your son in the decision to buy a laptop. He might know quite a bit about the capabilities of the laptop he wants.

 

[paulsharvey]

Might want to involve your son in the decision to buy a laptop. He might know quite a bit about the capabilities of the laptop he wants.

Yeah, but the world has moved past computers, so he has no idea what they need or what is a good spec/antique. Other than at work, who still uses a computer? Yes, we still have one, but it get turned on maybe 2 times per month; (the credit union I have tractor loan through doesn't have an app, or even a mobile friendly webpage). Want to search something, online shop, YouTube, that's all on your phone...

 

[paulsharvey]

I asked him, what's better, tablet, chromebook, or laptop, and I think his words were "probably a laptop I guess"...

If anyone doesn't currently have kids in elementary/high-school, they use exclusively chromebooks; which really seem to be in no-mans land, between tablets/phones and laptop; while not as good/easy to use/or capable as either...

 

[tradosaurus]

I asked him, what's better, tablet, chromebook, or laptop, and I think his words were "probably a laptop I guess"...

If anyone doesn't currently have kids in elementary/high-school, they use exclusively chromebooks; which really seem to be in no-mans land, between tablets/phones and laptop; while not as good/easy to use/or capable as either...

I don't think my kids have a choice at school. Only Chromebooks are issued.

Why do schools use Chromebooks?

 

[paulsharvey]

I don't think my kids have a choice at school. Only Chromebooks are issued.

Why do schools use Chromebooks?

The youngest, just finished 3rd grade, they left chromebooks at school, and they still did do printed tests/homework packets. The one that just finished 7th and 12th; they both basically only used their take home chromebooks for everything. The oldest didn't skip a beat; the 7th grader; she struggled with not having physical paper, but she is learning to adapt.

 

[Oaktree]

I'm a big fan of HP. I buy them for home and we also use them where I work and have for years. Stay away from Lenovo.

You definitely want a Solid State Hard Drive (SSD)

Never had an HP laptop, but their desktop machines are very good. As for laptops I've had Dell, Lenovo and Acer. No problems with any of them.

As far as a SSD goes, don't worry about it, pretty sure that's all anyone has used in the past 7-8 years or so.

Personally, multiple USB-A ports are a must, and an ethernet port is nice to have too. Not every place I need to use one has wireless. YMMV on that.

Why not a Chromebook laptop?

If I'm not mistaken, a Chromebook is pretty much a paperweight without an internet connection.

Yeah, but the world has moved past computers, so he has no idea what they need or what is a good spec/antique. Other than at work, who still uses a computer? Yes, we still have one, but it get turned on maybe 2 times per month; (the credit union I have tractor loan through doesn't have an app, or even a mobile friendly webpage). Want to search something, online shop, YouTube, that's all on your phone...

Well that makes one of us. Give me a real computer any day of the week. Have no interest in dicking around with some dinky little 5" screen and no keyboard.

 

[cdaigle430]

Here is my 2 cents, I am also a Windows Engineer.

1-Laptop vs tablet or both and touch screens.
Why not both? I have an Asus 2 in 1 and it allows me to do everything very well. I can edit video or photos, internet work, programming while at the same time use it for entertainment as a tablet for streaming movies, music or back to laptop for gaming. Its very handy for a student who will be taking various classes like word processing or editing and research online. Its a little bit heavier and you want to get the 16 inch screen as a minimum. If you go just laptop then the touch screen is pretty much a useless option.
2-SSD drive or platter drive.
SSD drive all the way for security, speed and vibration or shock proof from students.
3-Windows 11 or Mac or Chrome-
Windows 11 , not because I am a Windows Engineer but for compatibility and versatility. Even backwards compatibility-Windows cant be beat and colleges do use older sw from time to time.
4-Minimum SW to be installed for a college student-Skype, Zoom, Office 2021, AntiVirus SW, VPN SW like Surfshark. Chrome Internet, or Firefox or my fav, Duck Duck Go.
Others Students may need-Organizational Tools-Evernote, ToDoList, Writing Tools-Google Docs, Grammerly, Softare Tools for Image Editing-GNI Image Manipulation, Canva, Adobe Photo Shop, Blender, Audio Editing Tools-Audacity, Ocenaudio, Lightworks, Automatic Video Transcriptions with Maestro.

I know thats alot but hope it helps.

 

[deserteagle71]

Yeah, but the world has moved past computers, so he has no idea what they need or what is a good spec/antique. Other than at work, who still uses a computer? Yes, we still have one, but it get turned on maybe 2 times per month; (the credit union I have tractor loan through doesn't have an app, or even a mobile friendly webpage). Want to search something, online shop, YouTube, that's all on your phone...

Guess the world has moved way past me, then. I have a smart phone but it is used for phone calls and texts ONLY. My fingers are old and shaky, I cannot use the tiny keyboard that shows up on the phone screen. So I carry a stylus and pick out letters and numbers with that.

No problem typing on a full-sized keyboard, so I use my computer for everything. It is used every day. Also - this is rural Nevada where cell service, unless you are in town, is either non-existent or sketchy. I don't live in town so my cell service can best be described as "poor".

 

[LittleBill21]

Yeah, but the world has moved past computers, so he has no idea what they need or what is a good spec/antique. Other than at work, who still uses a computer? Yes, we still have one, but it get turned on maybe 2 times per month; (the credit union I have tractor loan through doesn't have an app, or even a mobile friendly webpage). Want to search something, online shop, YouTube, that's all on your phone...

I still have multiple computers I use. 3 feet of screen can do a lot more than 3 inches.

 

[paulsharvey]

I still have multiple computers I use. 3 feet of screen can do a lot more than 3 inches.

I dont disagree; But I would guess the number of households that have a computer has dropped over last 5 years? for general purpose, FB marketplace browsing, YouTube, Google searching, Amazon, I think a phone is not just capable, I think it's easier. It always surprises me people use TBN on a computer instead of the tapatalk app.

 

[LittleBill21]

that stuff is good for consumption, input is where it fails greatly. but yes over 50% mobile users at this point

 

[Xfaxman]

It always surprises me people use TBN on a computer instead of the tapatalk app.

Computer only, rarely use the phone on the internet.
Never have tried tapatalk.
Computer is a HP 21.5" touch screen ChromeOS All-In-One.
Good view of the pictures here on TBN.

 

[paulsharvey]

Computer only, rarely use the phone on the internet.
Never have tried tapatalk.
Computer is a HP 21.5" touch screen ChromeOS All-In-One.
Good view of the pictures here on TBN.

But harder to use in the bathroom

 

[deserteagle71]

I still have multiple computers I use. 3 feet of screen can do a lot more than 3 inches.

^This!

I shoot a lot of photos. My old eyes can see the details I need to see (and edit) much better on my huge photo-quality monitor. And from there its just a couple clicks away from posting something I like on line.

 

[deserteagle71]

But harder to use in the bathroom

I've heard of people reading on the throne. I never knew surfing the net in the bathroom was a thing! Unless I'm in there for a shower bathroom time takes only a couple minutes at best.