Cheap Laptop

Take your pick

https://microdream.co.uk/laptops-and-netbooks.html

The one time Corporate mobile of choice for the likes of BAE. My daughter has one from the same source to see her through Uni. Better with an SSD and an extra 4GB of ram but quite usable without those.

With that in mind I would go for the ThinkPad T430 as it has both for £219, is the same build quality and is another Corporate favourite for the likes of Royal Mail. I own a T420 which is used daily for my business.

I bought one for the village hall accounts which I do. These are not the most modern looking or light machines but are pretty reliable. The refurbished machine quality is fine.

I suspect that peer pressure can have a lot to do with the choice of sub-optimal machines. Our daughter had a portable that was, I admit, sleeping dog slow.

I replaced the old 5400 rpm drive with a 500 GB  SSD and doubled the memory. The sleeping dog is, relatively speaking a greyhound now. She somewhat reluctantly admitted that it was now fully usable, but I thought she still hankered after a new shiny something, whether it was good or bad. She is hoping to go to a university next year. The university may have recommendations for suitable devices.

She admitted that currently, she does not really need a portable for her course. I suggested that she tried this machine ‘as is’ for now, as a whole slew of new smaller lighter devices, some with the option of 5G capabilities built in, are starting to emerge. The new intel standard is set to be the bellwether for such new devices.

Ed P wrote:

If you know the college/course details an email to the appropriate student union might produce a helpful reply.

Not sure that the SU would be the best place to go for info on that – students unions are usually seperate entitites from the University itself. However, depending on the Uni, they may have a department for it.

The IT or IS department would probably be the best point of call to start with – certainly Nottingham and Loughborough have (and I can’t recall from my time at Leeds), student facing helpdesks for IT queries.

However, you may not need a portable – depending on the Uni. At Nottingham, we run a laptop loan in the library (link). Don’t think it’s used much mind (and caused my predesscor no end of trouble apparently).

Mark Turner wrote:

Just to let you know she ordered the HP one same model as above but without the camera(the other sold). At least she will be able to delete them spam emails about recording her watching porn etc in confidence that’s if she gets any. Thanks again Mark

I had one last week Mark, threatening to expose me masturbating if I don’t let him into my system and pay him. (or her?) My gson asked me to type a message for this pond life person, then transmitted it (don’t ask me how) without giving his location or source in any way. Message read:

“Thank you very much for your interesting message. I would be interested to know your reaction on seeing a disabled man in his 70’s, with a very damaged and decidedly out of shape body, trying to resuscitate a dead object. I wish you well, but as you received this in person and are unable to determine the sender’s location, you should know that the sender has some large young relatives who are aware of your own location. Good luck and have an unhappy new year.”

Grandson said he was struggling to type that while laughing.