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

hdmi said:

A college student doesn't generally require that much extra battery life, though. It takes only about an hour to charge the Zenbook 14X OLED fully, and, where I live I could still always decide to get a 45000mAh 67W power bank for just 73 Euros

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I'm sure that zenbook has good battery life. My core i9 dell precision (work provided) gives me a total of about 2 hours. That stinks. Always carrying my charger around. I think a student would appreciate all day battery life.

hdmi said:

Apple has limited software choices due to their walled garden approach, and the real-world performance of the M2 also is held back by this, in a number of ways, although that still also depends on how you use it (and on what you use it for). Either way, the Intel Core i7-13700H overall real-world performance is not very far behind the M2 (and actually even beats the M2 in a lot of situations). Also I don't think the Zenbook 14X OLED has troubles with sleep.

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Core i7 "could" outperform it, but whats the hit on battery life? Most college kids aren't compiling code or doing non stop blender renders, so having super high performance I wouldn't think would outweigh the faster drain on the battery.

hdmi said:

The Macbook Air 13 (or 15) with M2 has pretty much zero serviceability, as only the battery is user-replaceable so, if you choose to go with the 8GB-RAM-and-256GB-SSD to keep it "affordable", it means that you will inevitably be stuck with those two choices.

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Yeah, i agree that part is not awesome. And apple does punch you in the gut with their pricing to upgrade those things. With that said, I have a 2013 macbook pro with 8gb and a 2020 m1 mac mini with 8gb of ram and for the basic tasks I use my Mac for, it hasn't been a problem. Meanwhile I have 64GB of RAM on my windows desktop.

hdmi said:

I find that a rather bitter pill to swallow when you're shelling out that much money for a student laptop with no touchscreen that you could use during class to take notes with a stylus pen. In situations when you can't/won't use a mouse, a touchscreen with a stylus pen also is more convenient and faster to use than a touchpad.

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Yeah, I'm torn on the touchscreen. On my computer, I've never had a touchscreen laptop or desktop. I've supported coworkers who used them, so I have experience with them, but never really wanted to have one. I'd think Apple would add touchscreen support to the Macs, but they never have. I'd have to believe they have marketing research showing its not as important and touchscreen support is best supported by the phone or tablet.

I've found with work, if there is a meeting and a drawing goes up on a whiteboard, I'm going to just take a picture of the board with my phone versus drawing it all out on my device.

It’s because they want you to buy an iPad as well IMO . I’m sure that would be the next thing asked for. It was actually the Zenbook 13 flip I had been looking at. Thought it would be more portable. I’ll check the weight difference. I did see a deal on an asus rog flow x13 . Only slightly more than the MacBook Air with the upped specifications. Wonder if he’d be interested in that. It has nvidia graphics. Its ryzen though - not sure if that would be ok for future engineering subjects.

Hazel123 said:

It’s because they want you to buy an iPad as well IMO . I’m sure that would be the next thing asked for. It was actually the Zenbook 13 flip I had been looking at. Thought it would be more portable. I’ll check the weight difference. I did see a deal on an asus rog flow x13 . Only slightly more than the MacBook Air with the upped specifications. Wonder if he’d be interested in that. It has nvidia graphics. Its ryzen though - not sure if that would be ok for future engineering subjects.

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Pretty good review for it.

Hazel, am I correct in my assumption that you do NOT live in the USA?
You don't say, in your profile.
I'm sure that must enter into your decision, in part, at least.

It was like a Lifetime ago, that I had to make the decision as to whether to go with an Apple computer or an IBM Compatible PC, with Microsoft DOS. Everyone I knew, had the PC, and not the Apple.
After making the decision to go with the IBM Compatible PC, it became obvious that I had made the correct decision.
Since then, around 1980, many things have changed in the Computer world, but I remain convinced that I made the correct decision, those 40+ years ago.
I just refurbished an older HP Laptop, which would be virtually impossible if that were an Apple laptop.
So, regardless of Brand, or price, I would still recommend a Windows compatible laptop, over the Apple.

Here's wishing you a GREAT day, wherever you are!

TM

Hazel123 said:

It’s because they want you to buy an iPad as well IMO . I’m sure that would be the next thing asked for. It was actually the Zenbook 13 flip I had been looking at. Thought it would be more portable. I’ll check the weight difference. I did see a deal on an asus rog flow x13 . Only slightly more than the MacBook Air with the upped specifications. Wonder if he’d be interested in that. It has nvidia graphics. Its ryzen though - not sure if that would be ok for future engineering subjects.

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uk.store.asus.com

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My last 3 built computers are all AMD based Ryzen's. They are fantastic processors.

TechnoMage2021 said:

Hazel, am I correct in my assumption that you do NOT live in the USA?
You don't say, in your profile.
I'm sure that must enter into your decision, in part, at least.

It was like a Lifetime ago, that I had to make the decision as to whether to go with an Apple computer or an IBM Compatible PC, with Microsoft DOS. Everyone I knew, had the PC, and not the Apple.
After making the decision to go with the IBM Compatible PC, it became obvious that I had made the correct decision.
Since then, around 1980, many things have changed in the Computer world, but I remain convinced that I made the correct decision, those 40+ years ago.
I just refurbished an older HP Laptop, which would be virtually impossible if that were an Apple laptop.
So, regardless of Brand, or price, I would still recommend a Windows compatible laptop, over the Apple.

Here's wishing you a GREAT day, wherever you are!

TM

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In the U.K.

Hazel123 said:

It’s because they want you to buy an iPad as well IMO . I’m sure that would be the next thing asked for.

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I'm not entirely sure that is the case. I think the MacOS itself isn't really ideally suited for touch screen control. i think the powers that be decided to let iOS be the environment in which touch is used, and MacOS stay consistent for the laptop/desktop environment. Sure, it gets them more sales of product for those who want both....but I think there are plenty who just prefer to keep the laptop environment the way the laptop environment is and doesn't care much for touch.

As a windows user, I think we have experienced the growing pains and changes here as we tried to move Windows in a more touch centric direction with tiles, and start menus, settings menus over control panel, and the like.

Hazel123 said:

I did see a deal on an asus rog flow x13 . Only slightly more than the MacBook Air with the upped specifications. Wonder if he’d be interested in that. It has nvidia graphics. Its ryzen though - not sure if that would be ok for future engineering subjects.

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I'd be sure to get the 75Wh version if you went this route. It originally came with a 62Wh battery and was the biggest complaint was that the battery life wasn't very good.

I guess the downside would be he might end up playing games at college instead of studying.

pparks1 said:

I'm not entirely sure that is the case. I think the MacOS itself isn't really ideally suited for touch screen control. i think the powers that be decided to let iOS be the environment in which touch is used, and MacOS stay consistent for the laptop/desktop environment. Sure, it gets them more sales of product for those who want both....but I think there are plenty who just prefer to keep the laptop environment the way the laptop environment is and doesn't care much for touch.

As a windows user, I think we have experienced the growing pains and changes here as we tried to move Windows in a more touch centric direction with tiles, and start menus, settings menus over control panel, and the like.

I'd be sure to get the 75Wh version if you went this route. It originally came with a 62Wh battery and was the biggest complaint was that the battery life wasn't very good.

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Good point

Hazel123 said:

I guess the downside would be he might end up playing games at college instead of studying.

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i thought he had a gaming desktop he was taking with him.

That’s at home . He’ll be travelling to college daily.

Hazel123 said:

I think there is a lot of pressure on parents re macbook airs.

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This is Tim Cook. This is what he does. I can't speak for England and Europe but let me explain America.

Where the world has access to Xiaomi (Redmi, and Poco) phones, America does not. But why? Our corporate media in America tells us 'The Chinese can't be trusted with our info on phones!" while they say NOTHING about what Google does with info on our phones.

Tim controls our few carriers. AT+T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. He says, "I'll discount the daylights out of our iPhones in exchange for you preventing Americans from knowing they could have $247 Xiaomi phones that are perfectly good. Tim is fine with Samsung phones because they are marked up as well, justifying his prices for iPhones.

If Tim can get iPhones into kids hands, they join the ecosystem and then say "Mommy Mommy I need a MacBook Air!" I'll admit Apple Silicon makes MacBook Airs rather tempting -- and not the worst choice -- but I resent that Apple hasn't been slapped with a bajillion anti-trust lawsuits at this point. It's appalling what they not only do... but simply get away with.

I'm convinced that Tim has made it clear to our leaders, "Mess with Apple and we move off shore." That's not reaching. That's where Apple keeps a lot of their money to avoid taxation.

Hazel123 said:

That’s at home . He’ll be travelling to college daily.

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What we call a "townie" in the US, eh?

I was one, back in the 70s. Economically advantageous, socially not the greatest. (Not that the social thing would have been much for me, regardless. I was a physics major. )

bobkn said:

What we call a "townie" in the US, eh?

I was one, back in the 70s. Economically advantageous, socially not the greatest. (Not that the social thing would have been much for me, regardless. I was a physics major. )

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It's just because it's 'A' level college - university won't be for a couple of years and then he'll probably move away.

The Pool Man said:

This is Tim Cook. This is what he does. I can't speak for England and Europe but let me explain America.

Where the world has access to Xiaomi (Redmi, and Poco) phones, America does not. But why? Our corporate media in America tells us 'The Chinese can't be trusted with our info on phones!" while they say NOTHING about what Google does with info on our phones.

Tim controls our few carriers. AT+T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. He says, "I'll discount the daylights out of our iPhones in exchange for you preventing Americans from knowing they could have $247 Xiaomi phones that are perfectly good. Tim is fine with Samsung phones because they are marked up as well, justifying his prices for iPhones.

If Tim can get iPhones into kids hands, they join the ecosystem and then say "Mommy Mommy I need a MacBook Air!" I'll admit Apple Silicon makes MacBook Airs rather tempting -- and not the worst choice -- but I resent that Apple hasn't been slapped with a bajillion anti-trust lawsuits at this point. It's appalling what they not only do... but simply get away with.

I'm convinced that Tim has made it clear to our leaders, "Mess with Apple and we move off shore." That's not reaching. That's where Apple keeps a lot of their money to avoid taxation.

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I don't know about that but I can see the logic. He has an iphone and he has airpods - hence the macbook attraction as it works with the other things. Which is annoying.

Hazel123 said:

It's just because it's 'A' level college - university won't be for a couple of years and then he'll probably move away.

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I'm not very familiar with the UK educational system.

As far as I know, there is no simple equivalent to ab "A" level college in the US. We have AP (advanced placement) courses in our state-run schools, which some universities accept as credit towards a degree. But the course work is taught alongside the regular "high school" curriculum, in the same physical school.

In New York City, there are some specialized elite high schools, but that sort of thing isn't common in most of the country.

People with sufficient funds may send their kids to "prep" schools (similar to a UK "public" schools, I guess), in the hope of getting them placed in elite "Ivy League" universities. (One Ivy league school, Dartmouth, is so snobbish that they call themselves a college. )

Less well-heeled people try to find housing in areas with good public schools (US meaning, not UK). Schools are largely supported by local property taxes.

There are even elite pre-schools for 4 year olds. Some offer a refund if your child isn't admitted to an Ivy at age 18.

bobkn said:

What we call a "townie" in the US, eh?

I was one, back in the 70s. Economically advantageous, socially not the greatest. (Not that the social thing would have been much for me, regardless. I was a physics major. )

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Where I went to college being a 'townie' wasn't the worst if you attended the college. The term more referred to local residents not attending the college, who sneered/rolled their eyes at those 'college boys'.

A level is age 16 to 18 and the qualifications you need to go to university. Some people leave school at 16 and do an apprenticeship.

Hazel123 said:

I don't know about that but I can see the logic. He has an iphone and he has airpods - hence the macbook attraction as it works with the other things. Which is annoying.

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You find it annoying that the things work together????? I don't understand that logic.

pparks1 said:

You find it annoying that the things work together????? I don't understand that logic.

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To state the obvious:

Working together is good. Paying a premium for that may annoy some.