Recommend a Laptop for High School Use - Budget $800

LKayfam on 02/08/2021 - 20:43
Last edited 07/08/2021 - 12:41 by 1 other user

Hi all, I'm after a laptop for my son who is currently in year 9. So basic office software and internet browsing. He has a gaming PC so this will be strictly for school work use. Any recommendations up to about $800? Hopefully something below that mark but hoping for it to get him through to year 12. Any deals to keep an eye out for? I'm thinking a windows laptop will be a better option than a Chromebook?

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 02/08/2021 - 20:46
    +1

    Lenovo/ Dell deals popping up all the time.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/brand/lenovo

    IMO if you need to do actual work, go windows laptop in case he needs to install particular software. Chrome oil is awesome for media consumption/ social media.

  • thatonethere on 02/08/2021 - 20:50
    +2

    Best to see what the school likes and supports best. It will either be a Windows Mac or Chromebook school. I suspect only a MacBook would make it from year 9 to 12

    • pharkurnell on 02/08/2021 - 21:01
      +2

      both my kids schools had a limited list of PC's/Macs you could use as they reimage them which ipssed me off as I can get Dells through work cheap but apparently the image they use wouldnt work on Dells, which sounded like manure to me. they also had a 'preferred supplier' who took off with 30+ peoples money never to be seen of again.

      • ShannonN on 03/08/2021 - 02:49

        bad experience did you change schools?

        • pharkurnell on 03/08/2021 - 14:03
          +1

          No point but the school took no responsibility - those parents had to all find another $1500+ each kid for the laptop that never showed first time.

          • ShannonN on 03/08/2021 - 16:17

            @pharkurnell: That sucks big time if school stated was their preferred supplier ( they got kickbacks etc. ) then school is part the blame for referrals?

            if the it dept of that school can't get an image to work on a dell then they are useless imo

  • whitelie on 03/08/2021 - 03:10

    Our eldest not long finished up at a public school, pretty much had to buy from the school (at a subsidized rate).
    Middle child is at a private school, had no requirements at all, which I thought was odd.

    I'd recommend Lenovo or Dell, should be able to get something half decent in that budget.

    • jv on 03/08/2021 - 14:07

      (at a subsidized rate)

      'Sure' it was……….

      • whitelie on 03/08/2021 - 15:04

        Obviously I'm sure I could have sourced it cheaper myself but it wasn't RRP

  • Kayfam on 03/08/2021 - 13:15

    Thanks for the input all. I'll keep an eye out for a Dell or lenovo deal.

  • busterau on 03/08/2021 - 14:02
    +1

    For $800 I would be looking at these as mandatory for a school windows based device.

    i3 cpu
    8Gb Ram
    256Gb SSD
    FHD Screen.

    The $500-800 market is littered with cheap systems that either throw a Pentium processor, 4GB ram, 64-128gb SSD, and HD screens and try to pass them off as usable. I suggest the above minimum would allow for a reasonable Windows based system.

  • Kayfam on 04/08/2021 - 15:17

    Managed to get this one https://deals.dell.com/en-au/productdetail/9xj1 for $599 via the 20% off offer from Dell on eBay. Whilst heavy it seems to tick the boxes, certainly for the price. I appreciate all the input, very helpful forum.

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