Best value computer for web based classes?

[TOTS]

Looking for a good computer for kids to use for school. Laptop preferably. Usage will be web based classes and word processing. I’m wanting to spend as little as possible without wasting my money as I’ll need more than one computer. We’ve been the refurbished route before and don’t really trust it so looking at new. Windows OS for continuity. Ideally I’d like to spend as little as possible on these as we’re building a house this year and am setting a (possibly unrealistic) budget around $500.

Thoughts or suggestions? Thanks

[RoyGBiv]

Chromebook and Google docs/sheets.

Check techbargains.com for deals.

ETA... I see you said windows... Why? What features of windows would you miss?
I switched mom to a chromebook a few years ago and she's not missed anything about windows for her email, video chats and paying her bills.

[RJ]

With this set of constraints I'd probably go to Costco and see what is the cheapest Windows laptop they had.

Quick search shows the lowest price is a HP 14" 4Gb/128Gb laptop for tree fiddy.

https://www.costco.com/hp-14%22-laptop---intel-n200-processor---1080p---windows-11-in-s-mode---microsoft-365-personal-1-year-subscription.product.4000157317.html

Your Price349.99$
Shipping & Handling: $14.99*
Features:
Includes Microsoft Office 365 Personal (1-Year Subscription)
Wi-Fi 6 (1x1) and Bluetooth® 5.3
14.0" IPS Anti-Glare FHD (1920 x 1080) 250-Nits Display
Full-Size Backlit Keyboard and 1080p Webcam with Privacy Shutter
Microsoft® Windows 11 Home in S Mode (64 bit)

[PNWTO]

I'm a big fan of Chromebooks for GP use. They have their limitations but for school matters they should be fine.

[TOTS]

Chromebook and Google docs/sheets.

Check techbargains.com for deals.

ETA... I see you said windows... Why? What features of windows would you miss?
I switched mom to a chromebook a few years ago and she's not missed anything about windows for her email, video chats and paying her bills.

Mainly a general unfamiliarity with Chromebooks and as a household we are not that plugged into the google architecture. Most of the work we do has involved and will continue to use MS Office as I get it through work.


I'm a big fan of Chromebooks for GP use. They have their limitations but for school matters they should be fine.

If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate discussing these limitations. I’m pretty Chromebook ignorant.

Thanks for the feedback from all.

[RoyGBiv]

Mainly a general unfamiliarity with Chromebooks and as a household we are not that plugged into the google architecture. Most of the work we do has involved and will continue to use MS Office as I get it through work.



Thanks for the feedback from all.
If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate discussing these limitations. I’m pretty Chromebook ignorant.

I was not familiar with Chromebooks until a year or so ago... I found myself dealing remotely with Mom's aging PC and decided I'd pick up a Chromebook, deliver it to my house and see whether I could give her access to everything she needs... Turns out I could, so, i set it all up and brought it to her on my next visit... She's still very happy with it.

On the good side, since you're not running much in the way of local software, the device itself is much less expensive. I think I spent maybe $200 for a 14" non-touchscreen version... THIS one (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CSHPBL8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) is currently available as a refurb for $165...

The downside is that you need an internet connection to do anything useful... MS Office is available from the cloud, but I don't know how robust the Android app is for editing Office documents offline... Most things are moving to a SAAS model nowdays, so, if your kids get used to working in the cloud and storing work on Drive or whatever MS calls their version, they'll be good to go... Hopefully your access to Office includes the cloud version?

If they have documents stored in the cloud, they'll be able to access them from any connected device... phone.. school PC.. whatever.. No worry about hard drive failure or blue screen of death..

Here's a decent review...
https://www.cdw.com/content/cdw/en/articles/hardware/chromebook-pros-and-cons.html

If you need to run software that isn't available in the cloud, then Chromebook isn't for you...
My college kid is running some esoteric stuff that has to run locally, he needs a PC.

Chromebook is, essentially, Android.. if there's an app in the Play store, you're likely able to run it on Chrome..
Zoom? Yes...
Excel sheets?... https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.excel&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1

If you just want a monitor and keyboard to run cloud programs, it's worth considering.
Might want to make a list of the programs your kids will need and do a search for how to run them from Chromebook... then decide if the answer meets your needs.

[PNWTO]

If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate discussing these limitations. I’m pretty Chromebook ignorant.

Thanks for the feedback from all.

They tend to have low on-board memory and the GPUs can’t really handle things like gaming, multimedia design/creation, video/sound editing, etc, etc. But for browser access and for things like school and work they offer a huge bang/buck ratio for affordability and battery life. Think of them as “internet access machines” and not much else.

I used mine for online school during my senior year and use a newer Chromebook for my personal machine and still do some online certificate stuff through Udemy or Khan Academy as time allows.

[0ddl0t]

For instance with MS Office instead of running the application on the Chromebook directly you'll be running it through the web portal at office.com https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-access-microsoft-office-on-a-chromebook-32f14a23-2c1a-4579-b973-d4b1d78561ad


I kind of look at it like the old school days of having a "dumb terminal" where the end user entered data on a cheap machine but all of the difficult processing took place elsewhere on a host machine. Nowadays that host machine is in "the cloud" and instead of 1 host in a basement at your facility there are any number of hosts throughout the world.

The biggest advantages are start-up speed and cost. The biggest disadvantage is that a chromebook not connected to the Internet is extremely limited in what it can do.

[RJ]

MS Office is available from the cloud...

...

Excel sheets?...

I'm not a Chromebook user, but I have been using LibreOffice exclusively since 2021 or so under Linux Mint, on an ancient steam-powered, hand-crank deskside Gateway, with excellent results. It is my go-to for word processing, spreadsheet and drawings. To date there have been exactly zero issue reading/writing M$ Word compatible files both in and out. I really like it. And it's free.

They offer a version for Windows, as far as I know:

https://www.libreoffice.org/download

[TOTS]

In a moment of possible brilliance I remembered i had an ID.me account and am seeing Dell has a bunch of deals. For around three bills I can get a 15 in laptop with a 3.2 gHz processor, 8 Gig of memory, and a 256 Gig solid state drive. I’m a little concerned that it comes with windows 11 (S) mode, but maybe that’s good for a kid’s computer? Any red flags with this plan? I’m pretty sure you can upgrade to the full windows version if I want to later.

[RoyGBiv]

Zero experience with W11.

#imaluddite (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=imaluddite) ;)

[BN]

Our high school provided Chromebooks for all the students. They worked OK for that except they didn't work very well with our satellite internet provider. When 2 of the kids went to college taking online courses they got Apple Macbook Pro to be able to use the online programs per suggestions from their instructors.

What does your school recommend?

[RoyGBiv]

Just saw this on tech bargains.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BY2CQZMR?th=1&tag=tbpre-20&ascsubtag=05VnYgOC3mTWssVf0vpcjWc


Amazon has the Kamrui AM07 AMD Ryzen 5 5560U Win 11 Pro Mini Desktop with 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD for a low $223.19 Free Shipping after Clip Coupon and Coupon Code: "H38CQLQY" (Exp 8/14). This is originally $289.59, so you save $70 off list price.

[Stephanie B]

With this set of constraints I'd probably go to Costco and see what is the cheapest Windows laptop they had.

Quick search shows the lowest price is a HP 14" 4Gb/128Gb laptop for tree fiddy.

https://www.costco.com/hp-14%22-laptop---intel-n200-processor---1080p---windows-11-in-s-mode---microsoft-365-personal-1-year-subscription.product.4000157317.html

Your Price349.99$
Shipping & Handling: $14.99*
Features:
Includes Microsoft Office 365 Personal (1-Year Subscription)
Wi-Fi 6 (1x1) and Bluetooth® 5.3
14.0" IPS Anti-Glare FHD (1920 x 1080) 250-Nits Display
Full-Size Backlit Keyboard and 1080p Webcam with Privacy Shutter
Microsoft® Windows 11 Home in S Mode (64 bit)

I’m going to guess that a laptop running Win’11 with 4Gb of RAM will run like Usain Bolt mired in quicksand.

[MichaelD]

Just to put this in perspective, I'm an IT pro with 26 years of support experience.

I would go with a 2- to 5-year-old business-class laptop such as a Dell Latitude or Lenovo ThinkPad. You can find these in new or near-new condition on eBay or Amazon for $250 to $500 easily. Here is a relatively recent, apparently NIB Dell Latitude 5420 with an 11th Gen Core i5 for under $500 shipped: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325774458277?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=FyinGeOARgm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=6xdRhUg5Su2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[TOTS]

Just to put this in perspective, I'm an IT pro with 26 years of support experience.

I would go with a 2- to 5-year-old business-class laptop such as a Dell Latitude or Lenovo ThinkPad. You can find these in new or near-new condition on eBay or Amazon for $250 to $500 easily. Here is a relatively recent, apparently NIB Dell Latitude 5420 with an 11th Gen Core i5 for under $500 shipped: https://www.ebay.com/itm/325774458277?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=FyinGeOARgm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=6xdRhUg5Su2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I got the newer version of almost the exact same model from Dell’s outlet store at a great price. Said scratch and dent but I can’t find any issues with it. Thanks for the perspective.