Laptop for Undergraduate Studies?

[knittingmomof3]

I haven’t had a computer in…I don’t even want to say how long it’s been. I’m proficient in IPad and iPhone. But I haven’t used anything else since I left the workplace in 2004. I have now enrolled in an online university. What is the best bang for my buck for online classes? I assume I will need Microsoft office programs? Or is it possible to do university from my iPad? If you tell me I can do this with my current iPad, I will love you all forever…

But if you tell me I need a laptop, I like basic,  cheap, and I love red and blue. Bonus points if your suggestion is part of Prime Day or any competing sale right now. 
 

GO! 
 

💜

[Tap]

Check with your university. They often have a recommendation based on what programs the university/professors generally use. 

ETA: do not get a Chromebook unless the university recommends it. It is all App based and can't run all software. If you like Apple products, I would invest in a Mac. I know that doesn't fit in as cheap, but it will last you for years and won't need a software subscription like Windows 365

Edited June 22, 2021 by Tap

[Bootsie]

Check with your university to see if there are particular expectations for a computer at the university and then within any particular major. Macs are used in some fields, but many business programs require a windows-based computer for software compatibiity issues.  Your university may have a computer purchase program for students.  Also, you often can get free or reduced cost software as a student through the university.

[catz]

Unless you have a very particular need for a Mac, I would get a pc.  We’ve had the best luck with asus laptops. Agree with not getting a chrome book, that’s more like an iPad.   What you need in terms of capability might depend on your major.  Checking out program recommendations is a good idea.   If you are going to be taking it with you to campus, etc regularly I’d really watch size and weight.   My son took a huge gaming laptop and couldn’t easily take it anywhere.  We ended up getting him a 14” asus.  
 

the other good reason to get a PC is a lot of employers will assume you can get around on one and it’s good to have familiarity if you are more used to apple products.  
 

(both DH and I are comp sci people, I can’t even tell you how many laptops we own right now.  And yes we do have apple products too).  
 

eta, we haven’t had Microsoft subscriptions in years.  I mostly use the google suite for docs, drive, sheets, etc.  this is what my sons college use too, maybe something to check out.  

Edited June 22, 2021 by FuzzyCatz

[Katy]

Macs will integrate with your other products easily and last much longer than a PC, but they also cost twice as much. I think it’s worth it for the lack of hassle and longevity, my DH does not. Maybe go to a Best Buy where you can try both out, my guess is the mac will be more intuitive to you.  

If you buy an open box (returned) item from Best Buy you can probably get it for 40-50% off if you ask the store manager for a better deal. Especially if you buy more than one open box item. You can see some of the open-box inventory online now.  If you do buy open box make sure to power everything on before leaving the store; one open-box computer hadn’t been wiped yet and I had to take it back in for Geek Squad to do it for me.

Edited June 22, 2021 by Katy

[Lanny]

8 hours ago, Bootsie said:

Check with your university to see if there are particular expectations for a computer at the university and then within any particular major. Macs are used in some fields, but many business programs require a windows-based computer for software compatibiity issues.  Your university may have a computer purchase program for students.  Also, you often can get free or reduced cost software as a student through the university.

+1    OP begin with the Online University!     They may sell PC Laptops and/or Apple Laptops (I don't know anything about Apple products) that have: Pre-installed Software, such as Microsoft Office, a more expensive version of Microsoft Windows and of Microsoft Office, and have other things pre installed so that everyone is on a level playing field.

I realize that you are in an Online University and not in-person, but I suggest, in the strongest possible way, that  you begin with them and make an inquiry, before contemplating purchasing anything anywhere else.

Note: When my DD began at UNC (August 2019) they had Lenovo Laptops with 13.3 inch displays and also Apple products.  The laptops they had in their program have four (4) year worldwide guarantees regarding the Hardware (HW) and also four (4) year worldwide insurance against damage ($100 USD Deductible) and I think that also includes Theft, but I cannot remember. More than one student has spilled coffee into their laptop, and then paid the $100 and gotten a  new replacement machine.

DDs roommate spilled Chocolate into her Laptop, which she did not buy from the UNC program and she had to pay for a new Laptop...  That was a costly experience for her. She purchased it in the USA, probably in Chapel Hill, but not from UNC.

They have a "Loaner" program and if someone is on-campus hopefully in the Repair/Tech Support facility, they have a loaner of the same model that can help the student continue with what they are familiar with.

I think her Lenovo is in the  L480 or L490 series. It was the least expensive one they had and in addition to the price, my belief was and is that they are the most common machine there and that if there was an issue, the Techs would have the most experience with that model and hopefully have replacement components available on-site or available from Lenovo. A  low-end Enterprise machine sold to Enterprise clients (corporations and governments) and to schools. She hasn't had any issues with it. It has 8 GB of RAM which is the minimum I suggest to you for running a modern OS (Operating System) such as Windows 10 or the Apple OS which is Linux based. If it was faster, I am sure she would like that for Gaming, but for classes (Zoom or in-person) it does the job.

Note: If you go into a Best Buy store or some other store those are Consumer Grade machines. If you get an Enterprise Grade machine, there is a much better possibility that if you need replacement components down the road, they will be available. The models are built in huge quantities.

If you cannot buy a machine from your school, I suggest buying Online, for example on eBay, from the Lenovo store or the Dell store. Buy an Enterprise grade machine. Another advantage to them is that they are (probably) easier to service than a Consumer grade machine.

Good luck with your Laptop purchase and especially with your Online studies! 

[Dmmetler]

We got L's from Dell directly. FWIW, L's community college and school for next fall both had Office 365 included for students, so find out what software students have access to. 

[BusyMom5]

If its for the more basic gen ed classes,  most any laptop that can run Microsoft Office will work.  You can find one in the $350-500 range. Once you get into your degree-specific classes, there will probably be specific recommendations due to the software that has to be used- these can be $1-2K if you are in a business or STEM field- or the basic one may still be plenty.  

We got DD a $350 laptop from Target for her basic gen ed classes a few years ago.  Its worked fine so far, but she wants a new one- just not sure which one bc she isn't sure of her major yet- and 2 she is considering have different recommendations!  

[mommyoffive]

Not sure if it is a good one for you, but I saw this sale

HP 14″ Chromebook Only $149.99 Shipped on Target.com (Regularly $259.99) | Ends at 9am PST! - Hip2Save

[elegantlion]

Office 365 is free for students, your school may have a sign up to use. 

I used a PC for school. I prefer having a desktop so I can have a larger screen (ds built me a PC one year, I have two monitors - which is very helpful for my field). I have a laptop that's smaller and portable for days I need to use one outside of school. I bought a Microsoft Surface (tablet with laptop capabilities) right before Covid shut everything down. It's nice and portable.  

One thing to consider is screen size on laptops and eye strain. I'm old and have a harder time working solely on a smaller screen. 

I also would not recommend a chrome book. Some online testing methods (for instance if you need LockDown Browser) will not work on a chromebook. LockDown Browser is a software that locks down other websites on a computer while you're testing. We used that for our online students this year. It's a deterrent against cheating. I'm not sure how prevalent its use throughout other school systems though. 

 

 

[Bambam]

I think it depends upon your major. Biology major did fine with a Chrome Book until she got to some upper level labs that required you to download specific software (free) to illustrate compounds like they do in textbooks. At that point, she used her sister's laptop until she got a new one. Other labs required more downloads. You cannot download anything on a Chrome Book. 

Accounting major has had to download a variety of software programs (Microsoft Office suite, various open source accounting analysis type programs, etc), so she was thankful she had a regular laptop. 

 

31 minutes ago, elegantlion said:

I also would not recommend a chrome book. Some online testing methods (for instance if you need LockDown Browser) will not work on a chromebook. LockDown Browser is a software that locks down other websites on a computer while you're testing. We used that for our online students this year. It's a deterrent against cheating. I'm not sure how prevalent its use throughout other school systems though. 

 

 

Elegantlion is right about this. I had forgotten about the LockDown Browser one had to download to take exams. 

Personally I wouldn't get a Mac either. Accounting major has a friend who has a Mac. Often she has to spend hours at the college computer lab so she can download some of the open source software needed to complete her homework - and that open source stuff doesn't work on Macs. I'm sure much does, but not the stuff they have to use. 

[knittingmomof3]

Thanks for the input everyone! I settled on this laptop today:

https://smile.amazon.com/HP-Celeron-Classroom-Compatible-Accessories/dp/B08T931LXB
 

I have an appointment with an academic advisor to plan my degree path and I’m hoping to start on 8/1!!!  
 

I’m so stinking excited. And absolutely terrified. I haven’t taken any classes in 24 years. I feel like such an old lady. 
 

I will keep you all posted on how things go. 💜

[Lanny]

OP in my long reply to you (upthread) I included these words about the Laptop my DD got from the UNC Computer program: "It has 8 GB of RAM which is the minimum I suggest to you for running a modern OS (Operating System) such as Windows 10 or the Apple OS which is Linux based"

The link you sent about the HP Laptop you bought indicates it only has 4 GB of RAM.  That will be a stretch with Windows 10.

Disclaimer: I am using an old Dell Latitude E6400 that only has 4 GB of RAM.  It has the standard (Home?) version of Windows 10 after the Free upgrade from Windows 7.  It does OK.  I have a newer Dell Latitude Laptop (E6410) with 8 GB of RAM but I was not able to successfully complete the Free upgrade from Windows 7 on that one so here I am with 4 GB of RAM every day.

Hopefully you can upgrade the RAM to 8 GB.

Question: It has a 128 GB SSD Drive?

Enjoy your new machine!