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

hdmi said:

But... how can anyone who is genuinely interested in science, technology, engineering and maths be not interested in this:

ASUS Zenbook DUO (2024) UX8406｜Laptops For Home｜ASUS Global

Zenbook is compact, thin and light, with the best innovative laptop technology, NanoEdge displays, precision craftsmanship, and uncompromising performance.

www.asus.com

?

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Because of his age I guess. More interested in how things look and doesn't understand what the future of his subjects might lead to. I think a lot of 'A' level students haven't a clue what they want to do in the future. They just do the subjects they're good at.

Of all the many many sites online that say "Macbook Air is the best laptop for students", this run down was much more balanced and aligns with my thinking. How can teens not be influenced by stuff all over the internet saying "Macbook Air is the best laptop and best for students".

Bear in mind that Windows laptops are generally a lot more compatible with a wider range of applications. If you’re an engineering student or you’re routinely working with niche, specialist software, a shiny new MacBook could end up being about as useful as a £999 paperweight.

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That Zen duo will break the first time it's dropped.
All Apple software is expensive. Apple computers can only update the OS for a few years and then the hardware is changed.
Apple has total contempt for its customers, that's why they keep changing plugs and sockets to force you to buy new hardware.
Apple addicts are called fanbois because they get a religious fervour for Apple products.
The top-selling office suite for Apple computers is Microsoft Office!
'Nuff said.

I had an iBook once but I ran Windows on it for a better choice of free software.

kelper said:

That Zen duo will break the first time it's dropped.
All Apple software is expensive. Apple computers can only update the OS for a few years and then the hardware is changed.
Apple has total contempt for its customers, that's why they keep changing plugs and sockets to force you to buy new hardware.
Apple addicts are called fanbois because they get a religious fervour for Apple products.
The top-selling office suite for Apple computers is Microsoft Office!
'Nuff said.

I had an iBook once but I ran Windows on it for a better choice of free software.

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I've had an HP laptop which survived real freezing temperatures (measuring info about glacier melts etc out in the field and sending data back to Icelandic meterology institute for their research and and measurement of glacier melts due to climate change etc ), it's also been dropped from a Cessna private plane --OK on to grass but still quite a drop -- and had numerous other knocks and bangs -- no problem with it.

An iBook would probably have given up the ghost at the first knock. !!!
The only redeeming feature (less now these days) with iBooks / Apple computers used to be that the built in screen was far superior to other "bog standard" Windows machines -- not any more though.

Apple vs the Rest is a bit like a religion -- Logic or even technological evidence doesn't come into it. If people want to buy (Cr-)Apple products -- so be it --its their money to waste.

Otherwise a pointless argument --except that it's bonkers that laptops suitable for students (even if they like gaming) have to cost more than $ (US) or € 2,000.

If you want one buy one (if you've got the dough) OK but you don't have to spend anything like that on a perfectly good laptop.

Cheers
jimbo.

I do think there need to be more Macbook alternatives for students. If you read through all the various listings/reviews, there is less and less comparable. Only really the Dell XPS (which apparently can have quality control issues sometimes). At one time the HP Spectre x360 used to come top of the list for the best portable laptop. What the reviewers are raving about are the M chips and the long battery life. Well other laptops have long battery life, and how much "power" does a student need?

So I do think laptop manufacturers need to up their game a bit to have something equally as desirable as a Macbook air. The Dell XPS has been around for a while - apparently it's due a refresh this year with a 16/10 screen like the macbook and surface pro. But is it my imagination or is there a lack of laptop manufacturers doing Macbook lookalikes these days? They can compete with touchscreens and 2 in 1's but some of them (HP Envy 2 in 1 eg) have some very bad reviews with issues from the start. So what's going on?

There used to be a lot more choice in portable windows laptops. I know there is Asus and Lenovo as well but .....

The Surface Pro is a good alternative (but can cost more than a Macbook Air for equivalent specs) but isn't strictly a laptop.

Windows laptop manufacturers need to produce a few more portable laptops that look fantastic and have kudos.

As for breaking when dropped. Whatever we get, I'm taking out insurance!

hdmi said:

But... how can anyone who is genuinely interested in science, technology, engineering and maths be not interested in this:

ASUS Zenbook DUO (2024) UX8406｜Laptops For Home｜ASUS Global

Zenbook is compact, thin and light, with the best innovative laptop technology, NanoEdge displays, precision craftsmanship, and uncompromising performance.

www.asus.com

?

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Because it's black. It's not shiny with a choice of colours and more of a gadget look and less of a grown up look. That's what seems to appeal to the teens. Choice of colours, smart look.

Hazel123 said:

Because it's black.

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No, it's not. It's ponder blue. As for accidental drops. A good science student ought to know a thing or two about how gravity works. So don't drop it. lmao

Hazel123 said:

Because of his age I guess. More interested in how things look and doesn't understand what the future of his subjects might lead to. I think a lot of 'A' level students haven't a clue what they want to do in the future. They just do the subjects they're good at.

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No decision as yet - he’s been busy. But hoping he’ll see - after my recent issues - that windows computers are repairable! I hate to think what it would cost to send a MacBook away for new ram or to swap a screen. And presumably be without your computer for longer.

So he couldn't decide - said there were a lot of variables. But had a good chat where he asked various questions that helped him decide. One was - which is more powerful? The surface pro i7 is more powerful than the Dell XPS i7. So he went for the Surface pro. Trouble is they are both so very different. One is a laptop that sits on your lap - the other isn't. I did try suggesting the Zenbook flip again saying it could do both but he really wasn't interested. I think it's all about the coolness of the name! So Surface pro it is. Best deal (with current discount on the Microsoft site) was approx £1200 for the Core i7 with 16gb ram if you get the smallest ssd of 256gb. But the ssd is upgradeable so I thought that was the best option for now. Dell XPS with a touchscreen wasn't much less. Keyboard and pen for the Surface Pro £250 extra though. The Macbook air would have cost more for 16gb ram and 500gb of non upgradeable storage. He seems fairly certain about his decision on that now though. I've seen quite a lot of stuff about the Dell XPS having a lot of quality control issues too - brand new ones - so it's probably for the best. Also took out 3 years Microsoft cover.

Of course he really wanted a Macbook Air so I feel a bit mean and have probably overcompensated now! It was going to be the Core i5 surface pro initially. But I still think it's best to have Windows for the next few years if he's not sure which direction he's going in science wise.

Been an expensive month with my laptop packing up too! But I'm happy with cheap second hand ones lol. OH doesn't do computers so I have everyone's files on mine. The Dell xps 13 Plus sounds a bit like it's not quite there. There is a new "modern" Dell xps coming out this year though but not out yet.

There really isn't a huge choice in 13" laptops now though. A lot are 2 in 1's. HP don't make the 13" envy any more. Just the 2 in 1 which apparently has hinge breaking issues. There need to be more to compete with the Macbook air.

I would have gone for the Zenbook 13S flip at £900 personally. And there's only one place that sells them seemingly. However the surface pro would be the better tablet experience and can be a laptop as well - even if not so "lappable".

A possible translation for my fellow Americans: presumably "Hazel123" meant "mean" in its original sense, which would be "cheap", rather than its common US usage, which is more synonymous with "cruel".

I'm glad that I don't have to deal with getting a teen a laptop. I just have to deal with my own poor judgement.

No not as in cheap and not exactly as cruel, but just not quite as kind maybe As in the definition unkind or unfair. Not quite sure how to describe it lol.

Hazel123 said:

No not as in cheap and not exactly as cruel, but just not quite as kind maybe As in the definition unkind or unfair. Not quite sure how to describe it lol.

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I'm crushed. I advocate archaic usage.

I admit I would never use "bimbo" for a male. Or the word "gay" in its original sense.

And I've given up on pronouncing kilometer as kilo-meter.

We used to have enormous drum shaped tanks in cities and large town for storing gas. This was coal gas before we switched to north-sea gas.
The were called gasometers - pronounced gas-om-et-ers with the stress on the second syllable. Maybe that's why we ended up pronouncing kilometres in the same way?

Rumor has it that Qualcomm will be so terrible and mean, as a matter of fact it will sell its soul to Microsoft after which it will cheap shot both Intel and Apple later this year. Surface Pro 10: all the major changes rumored for new model | Digital Trends

hdmi said:

Rumor has it that Qualcomm will be so terrible and mean, as a matter of fact it will sell its soul to Microsoft after which it will cheap shot both Intel and Apple later this year. Surface Pro 10: all the major changes rumored for new model | Digital Trends

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This does suggest that Windows 12 might be coming along in "late Spring or early Summer" along with a new surface pro ....................

Hi,
Win-12 release
Speculation of 12 is just hype for clicks
Seriously doubt 12 will come in 2024 although there will be a large addition of AI nonsense to 11 but that will just be the norm not win-12.
10 would have to be a lot closer to eol before 12 is released.
Not sure anyone still counts win-8.1 hehe

Hazel123 said:

This does suggest that Windows 12 might be coming along in "late Spring or early Summer" along with a new surface pro ....................

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No, it doesn't suggest that at all. Instead, it states that it's clear that a significant AI-focused Windows update to Windows 11 is being planned.

I'd be surprised if 12 lands anytime in 2024.