Laptop spec for new uni student

[hikiwari]

My son starts uni in September and I need to buy him a laptop. I've looked at stuff online and it looks like the minimum recommendation is Intel i3, 8Gb RAM, and 256Gb SSD. He'll be using the laptop for normal uni stuff but won't be doing any gaming on it.

My question is, assuming the laptop will last him 5 years plus, should I invest a bit more for Intel i5,16Gb RAM and 512 SSD. I presume you can add memory and RAM in the future but is it better to get it in the initial spec?

Also, I presume Dell, Lenovo, HP are all the same. There are pros/cons for all of them online and I can't see a clear winner.

I'd be grateful for any knowledgeable input. Thanks.

 

[fisicx]

Might be worth waiting until he gets there as many Universities offer laptop loan schemes.

5 years is long time for a laptop to survive. Or rather, it may limp along to the end but will be far less usable than it was when new.

 

[hikiwari]

Thanks @fisicx but we've decided to buy him his own.

 

[WaveJumper]

And judging by my son's other half they can get some pretty good student discounts if buying

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

it looks like the minimum recommendation is

Who recommended this?

MS offer student discounts on hardware and software, I believe.

 

[hikiwari]

Who recommended this?

Google search results.

 

[NickGrogan]

Thats a very low spec and wont last 5 years.

You can add SSD or ram later, but its tends to get expensive, better to buy a decent spec in the first place.

Are you sure he wont be gaming?

Also why a laptop? My youngest went to uni and took his desktop instead, much better spec, dual screen, etc.

You'll get more performance for your money if you avoid laptops.

 

[hikiwari]

Def won't be gaming.
He'll need a laptop to use in lectures.

 

[NickGrogan]

Def won't be gaming.
He'll need a laptop to use in lectures.

To do what?

The class materials are all shared online via portals, the lecturers send out PDF or powerpoints, most classes will be the teacher reading the presentation off of the screen.

My son sits in class listening, everyone else sits frantically trying to type notes of what the teacher is saying, despite it already being available.

How fast can your son type? The average talking speed is around 150 words per minute, and the average typing speed is under 40.

If he's studying software development, he'll need a much higher spec

 

[hikiwari]

No, he won't be taking notes verbatim @NickGrogan but he will be taking notes.

So, getting back to my question.

Everyone's suggestions on where to buy are helpful, thank you, but can someone give me some helpful information on the spec so I can make a decision on what to buy.
Thanks.

 

[fisicx]

Thanks @fisicx but we've decided to buy him his own.

Wait until he gets there. He will get all sorts of offers and discounts. The loan schemes include BYOD for which they offer funding.

If you really want to buy now, invest in the highest spec you can get.

And he will be gaming. Might not be interested now but it’s going to happen at some point.

 

[Kerwin]

Have you considered a MacBook Air? They are excellent machines and are fine for using while studying.

 

[fisicx]

Have you considered a MacBook Air? They are excellent machines and are fine for using while studying.

It's what I use. Took a little while to get the hang of how to use a Mac but it's a great piece of kit. Far better for just about everything than a PC/laptop (for the things I need to do).

The first one I had wasn't cheap but lasted nearly 10 years until the keyboard wore out.

And you don't have to put up with Windows constantly updating. Or adverts in the OS.

 

[hikiwari]

And he will be gaming. Might not be interested now but it’s going to happen at some point.

He uses his Xbox and TV for all gaming.

We're just looking to buy a laptop, for his 18th birthday in three weeks time, for uni, and don't want to spend £1,200 on a Mac (that could get pinched).

 

[ChrisLambert]

For most of my clients needs I go with this spec for day to day office work and will increase the spec where needed if their workload is higher or they need certain software.

CPU - i5
RAM - 8GB
SSD - 256GB
OS - Windows Pro - But Home will be fine for a student

As long as the laptop has HDMI or display via USB-C he can set up a second screen.

My preferred brand is Lenovo, it's lasted me well for years and likewise my customers. I tend to have more issues with Dell laptops when it comes to the bigger brands.

 

[fisicx]

We're just looking to buy a laptop, for his 18th birthday in three weeks time, for uni, and don't want to spend £1,200 on a Mac (that could get pinched).

So can a laptop. A decent laptop that will last until his degree is done is still going to cost you a decent wodge.

The alternative is to just get a cheap notebook if it's only going to be used for note taking and the production of course material.

 

[NickGrogan]

He uses his Xbox and TV for all gaming.

We're just looking to buy a laptop, for his 18th birthday in three weeks time, for uni, and don't want to spend £1,200 on a Mac (that could get pinched).

how much do you want to spend?

 

[hikiwari]

For most of my clients needs I go with this spec for day to day office work and will increase the spec where needed if their workload is higher or they need certain software.

CPU - i5
RAM - 8GB
SSD - 256GB
OS - Windows Pro - But Home will be fine for a student

As long as the laptop has HDMI or display via USB-C he can set up a second screen.

My preferred brand is Lenovo, it's lasted me well for years and likewise my customers. I tend to have more issues with Dell laptops when it comes to the bigger brands.

So this isn't far off what I said in my OP.

 

[ChrisLambert]

So this isn't far off what I said in my OP.

No, you were pretty spot on with a basic spec. I wouldn't go i3 on anything to be honest.

There are plenty of good devices out their with that spec at a good price.

I recently picked this up for a client to run his SME from and he's more than happy with it

https://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/len...nch-fhd-windows-11-pro-83fs000luk/version.asp

 

[IanSuth]

what course - and it is not as intuitive as you might think

That determines the laptop

Son - Maths, he needed big processor power but cared little about the screen

Daughter no1 - Physiotherapy, needed to be able to handle navigating 3D models of anatomy and allowing her to zoom in on areas smoothly.

She needed a beefier laptop than him and a decent cooling tray.

Also be aware her uni (Brunel) don't allow printers to connect to the wifi so if taking own printer it needs to be able to be connected by cable to the laptop/pc (they see unpatched printers as a security risk - laptops HAVE to have uni approved antivirus on them).

Daughter no2 undecided as yet - despite being predicted 4 a* she has had 3 rejections, 1 offer from a Uni she isnt keen on and is still waiting on Bristol making a decision for Maths/CompSci so she might take a year out earning and reapply if the exams go well or go through clearing if not good enough for the uni she really wants (Bath)

 

[NickGrogan]

what course - and it is not as intuitive as you might think

That determines the laptop

Son - Maths, he needed big processor power but cared little about the screen

Daughter no1 - Physiotherapy, needed to be able to handle navigating 3D models of anatomy and allowing her to zoom in on areas smoothly.

She needed a beefier laptop than him and a decent cooling tray.

Also be aware her uni (Brunel) don't allow printers to connect to the wifi so if taking own printer it needs to be able to be connected by cable to the laptop/pc (they see unpatched printers as a security risk - laptops HAVE to have uni approved antivirus on them).

Daughter no2 undecided as yet - despite being predicted 4 a* she has had 3 rejections, 1 offer from a Uni she isnt keen on and is still waiting on Bristol making a decision for Maths/CompSci so she might take a year out earning and reapply if the exams go well or go through clearing if not good enough for the uni she really wants (Bath)

Why laptops?

3D models would be much better handled with a decent graphics card, which is only really available on a desktop.

Laptops get hot and the first thing that happens in they slow down the CPU. Desktop will have more, bigger fans, run hotter and can have liquid cooling.

 

[WaveJumper]

I am an Apple lover ….. as many already know

Apple Store for Education - Student Discounts

Save when you buy a new Mac or iPad for university with Apple Education Pricing. Discount available for students, teachers and staff.

www.apple.com

 

[MJD12]

For most of my clients needs I go with this spec for day to day office work and will increase the spec where needed if their workload is higher or they need certain software.

CPU - i5
RAM - 8GB
SSD - 256GB
OS - Windows Pro - But Home will be fine for a student

As long as the laptop has HDMI or display via USB-C he can set up a second screen.

My preferred brand is Lenovo, it's lasted me well for years and likewise my customers. I tend to have more issues with Dell laptops when it comes to the bigger brands.

@hikiwari

Some outdated opinions on computers in this thread. But I agree with this one. I use a Lenovo Ideapad 310 that I bought in 2016 on offer for £300. Was perfectly capable of playing games for couple of hours until it got hot when I first had it. This is still my one and only computer that's used daily in a desktop setup. No maintenance done on it. The Dell I had previously didn't last me very long at all.

I can't see that you've told us your son s course, but as long he's not going to need massive apps, I'd recommend the spec in your OP.

 

[hikiwari]

Thanks @ChrisLambert and @MJD12
My son is doing International Relations at Uni so this is the information I needed.
Cheers

 

[fisicx]

I’d still wait. Unis have all sorts of deals with suppliers and you can get laptops for a lot cheaper.

The daughter of a friend paid a lot less than PC world were charging. Plus it came with the student version of MS Office already installed.

 

[UKSBD]

I’d still wait. Unis have all sorts of deals with suppliers and you can get laptops for a lot cheaper.

The daughter of a friend paid a lot less than PC world were charging. Plus it came with the student version of MS Office already installed.

The OP said, It's for his son's Birthday in 3 weeks time

A laptop is a nice present for an 18-year-old, the fact he may be able to buy cheaper when he gets to UNI would be irrelevant to me.

 

[AlanJ1]

He uses his Xbox and TV for all gaming.

And for the games his new friends play which you can't play on an xbox?

Trust me, he will be using his laptop for gaming.

 

[WaveJumper]

Especially when those so called full time courses amount to about two days (its no wonder the students get a shock when asked to work 9 to 5) a week, gaming is defiantly going to be difficult to resist

 

[NickGrogan]

The OP said, It's for his son's Birthday in 3 weeks time

A laptop is a nice present for an 18-year-old, the fact he may be able to buy cheaper when he gets to UNI would be irrelevant to me.

Really? If my son could get a cheaper or better laptop for the same money by waiting a few weeks, I know what he'd choose.

 

[hikiwari]

Thanks everyone.

My original question was not about when or where to buy a laptop, it was specifically to ask about the specification of which laptop to purchase.

If I purchase now or later, at a discount price or not, I still need to decide on the specification before I do anything.

 

[NickGrogan]

Start with your budget and work back,

You want the fastest processor and best screen you can get for your money.

Ram: 16GB - Ram is cheap, so might was well have 16 over 8
HD: 256GB OK, 512GB ideally - you can store documents online, but you need space for software

Go to somewhere like John Lewis or Currys and look at the different screen sizes. 14-inch laptops are light and easy to carry, but they're small when you're trying to write. 17-inch laptops are nice to use but heavier to carry around. If you go small, maybe get an external screen as well so you've got a proper screen. Once you're happy with the screen size, then see what's the fastest CPU for your money.

If definitely not gaming, you can ignore graphics card specs.

 

[IanSuth]

Why laptops?

3D models would be much better handled with a decent graphics card, which is only really available on a desktop.

Laptops get hot and the first thing that happens in they slow down the CPU. Desktop will have more, bigger fans, run hotter and can have liquid cooling.

Because she had to take that laptop to lectures as well - and little room in a hall room for a desktop plus it needed to be carried to and from home on either motorbike or train if just coming for a weekend and needing to do some work

 

[IanSuth]

Start with your budget and work back,

You want the fastest processor and best screen you can get for your money.

Ram: 16GB - Ram is cheap, so might was well have 16 over 8
HD: 256GB OK, 512GB ideally - you can store documents online, but you need space for software

Go to somewhere like John Lewis or Currys and look at the different screen sizes. 14-inch laptops are light and easy to carry, but they're small when you're trying to write. 17-inch laptops are nice to use but heavier to carry around. If you go small, maybe get an external screen as well so you've got a proper screen. Once you're happy with the screen size, then see what's the fastest CPU for your money.

If definitely not gaming, you can ignore graphics card specs.

CAUTION

I had an HP pavillion which dies - Costco let me grab the biggest HP they had as a replacement (compo as their concierge support company mashed my old machine instead of fixing it), I got a 17" aluminium one with separate graphics card and Beats Audio - it was so OTT the extra graphics card melted the grease in the CPU fan which ran dry and overheated killing the machine - it had got so hot it also scalded the side of my left hand where it was touching the case. (known heatpipe issue if you google it)

Sometimes the biggest/fasted is not the best, 1 down from max is actually better

Accept this laptop will get used on a bed and left to get dusty and plan accordingly rather than have an overheated broken laptop in 6 mths

 

[hikiwari]

CAUTION

I had an HP pavillion which dies - Costco let me grab the biggest HP they had as a replacement (compo as their concierge support company mashed my old machine instead of fixing it), I got a 17" aluminium one with separate graphics card and Beats Audio - it was so OTT the extra graphics card melted the grease in the CPU fan which ran dry and overheated killing the machine - it had got so hot it also scalded the side of my left hand where it was touching the case. (known heatpipe issue if you google it)

Sometimes the biggest/fasted is not the best, 1 down from max is actually better

Accept this laptop will get used on a bed and left to get dusty and plan accordingly rather than have an overheated broken laptop in 6 mths

I've spoken to a number of IT people who have said that HP are the worst at coming pre-loaded with tons of unwanted software.

Dell are 'apparently' the best but much more expensive. I've had many Dell laptops and desktops and I can vouch for that.

The IT people I've spoke to also say, for a straightforward home computer (not gaming) if you have a decent Intel processor and appropriate SSD memory and RAM there is not a lot of difference between them all.

 

[NickGrogan]

Because she had to take that laptop to lectures as well - and little room in a hall room for a desktop plus it needed to be carried to and from home on either motorbike or train if just coming for a weekend and needing to do some work

Desktop on a motorbike could be a bit awkward.

Most students take laptops to lectures, how many need to? My sons a year in to not using laptop at all

 

[NickGrogan]

CAUTION

I had an HP pavillion which dies - Costco let me grab the biggest HP they had as a replacement (compo as their concierge support company mashed my old machine instead of fixing it), I got a 17" aluminium one with separate graphics card and Beats Audio - it was so OTT the extra graphics card melted the grease in the CPU fan which ran dry and overheated killing the machine - it had got so hot it also scalded the side of my left hand where it was touching the case. (known heatpipe issue if you google it)

Sometimes the biggest/fasted is not the best, 1 down from max is actually better

Accept this laptop will get used on a bed and left to get dusty and plan accordingly rather than have an overheated broken laptop in 6 mths

The OP is talking about a budget of less than £1200, which is unlikely to get anything with a separate graphics card, also they've said no gaming.

So I'd say the fastest CPU within the budget will be unlikely to get very hot unless they go for one of those ultra-small notebooks, but they tend to be underpowered anyway.

 

[IanSuth]

The OP is talking about a budget of less than £1200, which is unlikely to get anything with a separate graphics card, also they've said no gaming.

So I'd say the fastest CPU within the budget will be unlikely to get very hot unless they go for one of those ultra-small notebooks, but they tend to be underpowered anyway.

my rubbish hp that overheated was a free replacement for a £499 machine !!

Daughter first uni laptop was a Dell XPS touchscreen 15" model I got 2nd hand from a company that securely wipes business machines, refurbs and sells on with a warranty. It was c£150 (would have been £108 without Windows)

 

[NickGrogan]

We probably shop at the same place

laptops under £200

- extra £20 off with code 3962c1a80df91143

 

[IanSuth]

We probably shop at the same place

laptops under £200

- extra £20 off with code 3962c1a80df91143

no mine was from a personal contact at Chaterhouse Muller (now moved on), was a cracking machine for the price. Lasted nearly 3 years until a swollen battery that Dell no longer stock (due to the swelling issue) made it unusable

 

[RevoMark]

100% Macbook Air