PC's for schooling from home

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Offers and Wanted › PC's for schooling from home

CokemonZ

920 posts

Ultimate Geek

#268446 20-Mar-2020 08:12

Based off every other country on the planet it's fairly likely our schools will be locked down soon.

Based off this (and with 3 school age kids) I'm keen to be prepared. We have a couple of laptops at home, but they are cramped and it's not ideal for longer usage.

Before I just head out and buy a couple of exlease pc's (like these https://www.ptlcomputers.co.nz/e_store/commodity/get_by/e_store_sku/SKU-47FAKJOVFEP) and a couple of exlease monitors does anybody have anything they'd like to sell on the cheap? I'm in birkenhead on the north shore and happy to drive a bit.

The spec isn't hugely important but I'd like to be able to have them do some light gaming - I'll probably pick up some second hand graphics cars in the $100 sort of range.

martyyn

1845 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#2441903 20-Mar-2020 08:58

Can you not plug a keyboard, mouse and screen into the laptop?

MyHeritage

Shop MyHeritage and uncover your origins and find new relatives with a simple DNA test. (affiliate link).

CokemonZ

920 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2441905 20-Mar-2020 09:02

Sure - I will still need 1 extra anyway (3 kids, 2 laptops), and 1 of the two 'spare' laptops is my wifes who I am sure will get frustrated with the kids stealing it.

Laptops are also underpowered and don't allow for gaming really at all.

One of them can't even run starcraft 2!

Prefer to spend a few hundy and get setup, rather than just have a bad experience all around.

antoniosk

2331 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2441911 20-Mar-2020 09:13

The immediate pressure will be the sudden bulk buying across the country as people rush to fill gaps. It's happening everywhere - its not panic so much as being prepared. I heard on a report earlier in the week that there was a gap of 100k pupils without machines to use at home, and thats just a reality. You dont need a $5000 macbook, just anything with reasonable performance that can run a browser.

Spark is pushing out it's wireless modems under Jump, but once they burn up all their stock, replacement will be in short supply, just because of disruptions to supply.

Good on you for thinking ahead, my only observation is, if you can of course, don't hesitate.

________

Antoniosk

CokemonZ

920 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2441916 20-Mar-2020 09:29

That's crazy! 100k students without devices. I guess if you do the numbers I have 2 of those.

But there will be many many more people in much worse situations

HiddenChin

75 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2441967 20-Mar-2020 10:57

I found out about Allheart in a thread yesterday where someone was looking to buy some monitors, they have a couple of physical stores in Auckland and a TradeMe presence.
They've got a few HP machines which are quite reasonably priced, which would be more than enough for schoolwork.

https://allheart.store/

elpenguino

2908 posts

Uber Geek

#2441988 20-Mar-2020 11:34

My son recently expressed worry that there wouldn't be a machine he could use at home for when the inevitable comes.

I put his mind at ease by counting off all the desktops and laptops lying around. I stopped at ten.

What's more a problem is having somewhere comfortable to use a machine for a long session.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

CokemonZ

920 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2442003 20-Mar-2020 11:46

HiddenChin:

I found out about Allheart in a thread yesterday where someone was looking to buy some monitors, they have a couple of physical stores in Auckland and a TradeMe presence.
They've got a few HP machines which are quite reasonably priced, which would be more than enough for schoolwork.

https://allheart.store/

That was me :)

I'd called them but they only had SFF machines - full desktops were much more expensive.

I want full desktops so I can get cheap graphics cards for a bit of light gaming. Low profile ones are much more expensive.

Technofreak

6103 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2442153 20-Mar-2020 13:17

What are you buying these for? School work or gaming?

One would presume you would already have the gaming option covered. How does that change if schools close?

To me a laptop option would be a far better long term option for schooling use. Transportability will be extremely useful.

Sony Xperia XA2 running Sailfish OS. https://sailfishos.org The true independent open source mobile OS
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6
Dell Inspiron 14z i5

CokemonZ

920 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2442188 20-Mar-2020 13:41

gaming for the kids - not me :)

We have one xbox one, and with 3 kids stuck at home for a month, especially as the weather turns ensuring they have their own devices would be useful.

Laptops, sure, but I can get an exlease machine + 22" monitor for about $350.Maybe another 200 for video cards.

2 of those + mine and we got a mini lan going. Laptops in that price range will be rubbish.

However back to topic - looks like no one has any gears to get rid of, so I'm going to go to one of those shops and get a couple.