Solved Best student laptop that doesn't cost £2,000

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

Looking for a new laptop for son's birthday - he's going to college later this year, but not university - 'A' level college. So I thought a Surface Pro 9 might be nice - but to get 500gb storage it needs to be Core i7 and with the keyboard came to about £1,900. About the same as a Macbook air. He doesn't want a Mac. Just wondering if there are any recommendations for something less expensive that would be a good lightweight student laptop for a couple of years. Not HP - lovely as they are have had two with charger port issues.

neemobeer · Jan 8, 2024

Less than 2000 is pretty vague requirements. There are tons of laptops for under that price. What are some actual requirements? Less than x lbs/kgs, what type of workload is expected with it etc? Also what are you willing to spend on it?

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

Sorry I know that's a bit vague

I just meant didn't want to spend nearly that much money and wondering what was the best value for the least amount. I'm already realising that Core i7 and 16gb ram is going to push the cost too high. Core i5 and 8gb would probably be fine for college (but less likely to play the odd game). He does have a desktop gaming pc though. So portable for college basically. He was keen on the idea of the surface pro as it's a tablet as well. But also said he'd be happy with something like his old one (9 or 10 year old HP Spectre X360). Trouble is the old one is really good spec with Core i7. So the new equivalent and it's getting on for £1800 plus.

So touch screen - decent keyboard, light, tablet option. The Surface Pro is supposed to be one of the most popular student laptops. Apparently the SSD is upgradeable (at a cost) so could cut the cost of it by getting the Core i5 8gb ram and 250gb ssd. But even that comes to about £1,000 and the Keyboard is extra (£250 extra with the pen as well). And for £1,250 maybe there is a good touchscreen laptop with Core i7.

pparks1 · Jan 8, 2024

would also talk with the college and see if they have any requirements or suggestions. I'm sure either a mac or PC would work, but it's always nice to know which platform the school is most likely going to support you on.

dacrone · Jan 8, 2024

Look into a Lenovo yoga as an alternative. If it’s just normal everyday use, that will be fine. I (or we, here) can guide you through setting it up to max its speed, etc as well.

Bree · Jan 8, 2024

Hazel123 said:
So touch screen - decent keyboard, light, tablet option.

How about a Lenovo Yoga?

Configure Your PC

Wynona · Jan 8, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Sorry I know that's a bit vague I just meant didn't want to spend nearly that much money and wondering what was the best value for the least amount. I'm already realising that Core i7 and 16gb ram is going to push the cost too high. Core i5 and 8gb would probably be fine for college (but less likely to play the odd game). He does have a desktop gaming pc though. So portable for college basically. He was keen on the idea of the surface pro as it's a tablet as well. But also said he'd be happy with something like his old one (9 or 10 year old HP Spectre X360). Trouble is the old one is really good spec with Core i7. So the new equivalent and it's getting on for £1800 plus.

So touch screen - decent keyboard, light, tablet option. The Surface Pro is supposed to be one of the most popular student laptops. Apparently the SSD is upgradeable (at a cost) so could cut the cost of it by getting the Core i5 8gb ram and 250gb ssd. But even that comes to about £1,000 and the Keyboard is extra (£250 extra with the pen as well). And for £1,250 maybe there is a good touchscreen laptop with Core i7.

Also, remember that he will probably need Microsoft 365 (Office).

pparks1 · Jan 8, 2024

Wynona said:
Also, remember that he will probably need Microsoft 365 (Office).

Maybe not, lots of places using google docs and the likes these days.

dacrone · Jan 8, 2024

open office or libre office

Wynona · Jan 8, 2024

pparks1 said:
Maybe not, lots of places using google docs and the likes these days.

Well, yeah, also Libre Office. Which I recommend to my students. That's the only one I know anything about; haven't tried Google Docs.

Anyway, I think we got the point across.

bobkn · Jan 8, 2024

Maybe an LG Gram, if you want a light notebook. They come in a variety of specs and prices.

I don't own one, but I've read favorable comments about them. (Mostly the high-end models, though. OLED display, for example.)

Bree · Jan 8, 2024

Wynona said:
Also, remember that he will probably need Microsoft 365 (Office).

That's a subscription, isn't it? Most OEMs let you purchase Office as part of their bundle. For example, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 adds £199 to the configuration of this Lenovo Yoga.

Build Your Yoga 7i 16

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

Thanks all. There is 10% student discount for MS Office 365 personal. Which makes it £53 a year instead of £59 ish! He has full office on the gaming pc but just for that PC. I think the 365 includes things that could be useful when studying (plus cloud storage).

Ok so the Surface Pro 9 has an upgradeable ssd so could maybe get a lower spec one. The Core i5 8gb 256gb ssd is much more affordable. 256gb really isn't very much - but if it's easily upgradeable (which it is, at a cost) it could be worth it. The keyboard and pen are still extra of course. I just think he'll be disappointed by Core i5 and 8gb. So I was wondering if there's a 2 in 1 with core i7 and 8gb that costs about the same (About £1,000). Although really Core i5 and 8gb is probably enough (not for playing any games though but its not a gaming machine).

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

Bree said:
How about a Lenovo Yoga?

Configure Your PC

Are they reliable?

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

I can see why he likes the Surface Pro. Good ergonomics (keyboard tilts up), detachable tablet, very small and and light to carry. But not cheap. A Dell XPS 13 with touchscreen and Core i5 is within the realms but it's not a detachable tablet.

Wynona · Jan 8, 2024

Hazel123 said:
Thanks all. There is 10% student discount for MS Office 365 personal. Which makes it £53 a year instead of £59 ish! He has full office on the gaming pc but just for that PC. I think the 365 includes things that could be useful when studying (plus cloud storage).

Ok so the Surface Pro 9 has an upgradeable ssd so could maybe get a lower spec one. The Core i5 8gb 256gb ssd is much more affordable. 256gb really isn't very much - but if it's easily upgradeable (which it is, at a cost) it could be worth it. The keyboard and pen are still extra of course. I just think he'll be disappointed by Core i5 and 8gb. So I was wondering if there's a 2 in 1 with core i7 and 8gb that costs about the same (About £1,000). Although really Core i5 and 8gb is probably enough (not for playing any games though but its not a gaming machine).

I'm working on an i7 desktop and have two i5 laptops. I really can't tell any difference between the two. This desktop is a Pro and the laptops are Home. Still no discernible difference. Pro has things I'll probably never use.

I teach Windows 11 at the local Senior Activity Center, so create tutorials as well as "show and tell". My i5 laptops can do everything I can do on this i7 Pro desktop.

Porthos · Jan 8, 2024

Surface anything is fine until something goes wrong or physically breaks then they are disposable. Not very repairable.

dacrone · Jan 8, 2024

If you really want Microsoft office, just get 2021 Pro from stacksocial. ~$50 for a license

bobkn · Jan 8, 2024

Hazel123 said:
I can see why he likes the Surface Pro. Good ergonomics (keyboard tilts up), detachable tablet, very small and and light to carry. But not cheap. A Dell XPS 13 with touchscreen and Core i5 is within the realms but it's not a detachable tablet.

Champagne tastes?

Hazel123 · Jan 8, 2024

Wynona said:
I'm working on an i7 desktop and have two i5 laptops. I really can't tell any difference between the two. This desktop is a Pro and the laptops are Home. Still no discernible difference. Pro has things I'll probably never use.

I teach Windows 11 at the local Senior Activity Center, so create tutorials as well as "show and tell". My i5 laptops can do everything I can do on this i7 Pro desktop.

Thanks that's really helpful. Must check which i5 is in it. Presumably it's an ok one as haven't seen any complaints.

Porthos said:
Surface anything is fine until something goes wrong or physically breaks then they are disposable. Not very repairable.

That is a point. How reliable are they? Eg macbooks are supposed to be reliable (and even more expensive). The SSD is upgradeable but I don't suppose anything else is fixable.

bobkn said:
Champagne tastes?

Lol. He was spoilt in having a top spec Spectre X360 before (got it second hand for a very reasonable price) but this is a big-ish birthday present as well as for college.