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networkn

Networkn
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#306346 14-Jul-2023 15:52
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Looking for a laptop that will get my preteen daughter through the next 3 years of school.

 

 

 

Ideally would be: 

 

 

 

Modern i5 or i7. 

 

Touchscreen or 2-1 Tablet

 

16GB Memory (Must).

 

256-512GB HDD

 

Decent battery life. 

 

Windows 10+

 

Screen size anything 13.3-15.6 but weight is a consideration.

 

 

 

Would like to spend less than $1000

 

PM if you have anything that is in excellent condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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K8Toledo
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  #3104155 14-Jul-2023 18:00
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Don't buy a tablet. In fact don't buy a computer from NL or HN, period. 

 

Ex lease business machines are easier to upgrade, generally faster, higher spec'd and last longer than overpriced consumer grade equipment sold by retailers. Plus they're cheaper.

 

 

 

If this is a BYOD for learning and not gaming, 8GB of RAM/256GB SSD should be plenty.  Schools in my area mainly use Google Drive. 

 

And unless there is a specific reason  (i.e. CAD/3D graphics learning) -  a dedicated GPU isn't needed either.

 

Many kids are using low spec Chromebooks if that's an indication of the requirements.

 

 

 

A $750 ThinkPad for example will blow the doors off of higher priced laptops sold at retailers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just sourced a Thinkpad similar to this one for a client needing a BYOD for his 14yo son. The son is learning coding. 

 

Even these specs are overkill.

 

 

 

 




shk292
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  #3104166 14-Jul-2023 18:48
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With limited or no charging available for kids' BYODs, I'd be concerned about her battery life of an ex lease machine

  #3104169 14-Jul-2023 19:18
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Replacing the battery is usually neither difficult nor expensive, and far easier in an enterprise machine than consumer-grade products.

 

 

 

My one main warning is do not get anything with eMMC storage. It's little more than a soldered-down SD card instead of a proper SSD. Non-upgradeable and slow. 

 

 

 

Full HD (1080p) or better display is also essential.




Handle9
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  #3104170 14-Jul-2023 19:38
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@networkn is an MSP so I don’t think he really needs schooling on what to buy.

FWIW we just bought Miss 11 an ASUS Vivobook Flip 13. It’s excellent and ticks all the specs but a bit over budget. She’s very happy and it’s not too heavy for her to cart around at school.

nztim
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  #3104180 14-Jul-2023 21:14
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Echo the ex-business lease laptop concept

 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/computers/laptops/laptops/hp/listing/4219988334

 

I 100% believe in HP elitebook/zbook

 

 





Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer. 


networkn

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  #3104249 15-Jul-2023 00:32
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nztim:

 

Echo the ex-business lease laptop concept

 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/computers/laptops/laptops/hp/listing/4219988334

 

I 100% believe in HP elitebook/zbook

 

 

 

 

Me too! If I had my say, it's all we would ever sell :) Having said that, I have had my eye out for a little while and hadn't found anything like that, thanks, that looks like what I want :) 

 

 

 

I Almost managed to pick up a second-hand first gen dragonfly the other day, but unfortunately, missed out.


K8Toledo
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  #3104539 16-Jul-2023 00:32
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Handle9: @networkn is an MSP so I don’t think he really needs schooling on what to buy.

 

And I'm sure the OP is quite capable of speaking for himself. 

 

Nobody is "schooling" anyone unless perhaps a dick swinging contest is taking place inside your head? (Sorry mods).

 

I personally don't think that way. 

 

 

 

Actually my thoughts were on how purchasing insanely high spec hardware that would never be utilized seemed like such a waste of cash. The OP at least should be able to make an informed decision for himself before pulling the trigger. 

 

Pointing someone toward quality gear offering excellent value for money? I'd want to know.

 

Sorry if you view that as a threat. 

 

 

 

And I suspect @networkn may have acquired  these specs from somebody else, possibly in a note from school or maybe a retailer?

 

I say this because when the client I sold the T460 to initially asked me to source a laptop, she gave me a $2600 budget cap and a note with hardware that the laptop needed.   

 

Specs: 11th Gen Intel /i9 or Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 1TB HDD, GPU w/ 8GB VRAM and W11.  Then she said it needed for school.

 

 

 

Warehouse Stationary recommended these specs which were almost identical to the specs in @networkin original post which seems quite a coincidence. 

 

 

 

No one person can be an expert in their field, in every field across an entire spectrum as broad as the IT industry. 

 

Example, my networking skills are relatively weak. However thanks to the networking experts here I have gained invaluable knowledge. 

 

We all have areas of expertise but that doesn't imply expertise in all areas. So your "MSP" logic is flawed (no disrespect op).

 

 

 

The fact remains system requirements for school BYOD do not necessitate the purchase of $2400 (new) high end laptops aimed at gamers. 

 

 

 

The Thinkpads and Elitebooks as someone else commented are of the highest tier and consistently lauded in reviews for corporate laptops.

 

These would be hands down the best value for money around.  I've sold maybe 15 of each, a couple of Lenovo X2's and one HP Envy X360.  They don't come back.

 

You won't find one at HN, JBHF or NL though. 

 

 

 

Recently I sold three Thinkpads. 

 

A T470s replaced an Ideapad, one T460 replaced a Surface Pro and the other T460 replaced a Chromebook.

 

The customer with T470s left for Sweden the next day. On Friday night Sabina messaged me on whatsapp to say thank you again, she loved the portability and the keyboard for typing.

 

The 14yo (taking coding) prefers the Lenovo keyboard over the Chromebook, which btw died. Writing lines of code using a touchscreen would become a tedious affair I imagine. 

 

The Surface Pro touchscreen also stopped working. 

 

Handle9:

 

FWIW we just bought Miss 11 an ASUS Vivobook Flip 13. It’s excellent and ticks all the specs but a bit over budget. She’s very happy and it’s not too heavy for her to cart around at school.

 

I see, so anecdotal observations from a sample of one? Compelling. 

 

Was this statement intended to stand on it's own, or did you have something more to add?? 

 

 

 

I think we can move on now. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
 
 

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K8Toledo
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  #3104540 16-Jul-2023 00:37
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networkn:

 

Looking for a laptop that will get my preteen daughter through the next 3 years of school.

 

 

 

Ideally would be: 

 

 

 

Modern i5 or i7. 

 

Touchscreen or 2-1 Tablet

 

16GB Memory (Must).

 

256-512GB HDD

 

Decent battery life. 

 

Windows 10+

 

Screen size anything 13.3-15.6 but weight is a consideration.

 

 

 

Would like to spend less than $1000

 

PM if you have anything that is in excellent condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just saw this listed? No adapter though. There's a few for sale as cheap as this. And Elitebooks too

 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/computers/laptops/laptops/lenovo/listing/4227023485?bof=dj40vufp


Handle9
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  #3104543 16-Jul-2023 01:14
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@K8Toledo OP has specific specs they asked for and knows what they want. It’s beyond me how you think you’re helping other than trying to strut.

networkn

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  #3104637 16-Jul-2023 12:02
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As has been mentioned, I know what I want, I wasn't asking for guidance, simply asking if anyone had anything for sale that matched those specs.

Looks like TM has a number of options that weren't present went I started looking a couple of months ago.

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