Chromebook or Windows laptop - not for school, for home use

[Ditto]

Looking for suggestions for a neighbour with a Y3 child. The child uses a Chromebook at school. Budget is around £300 - £350. Usage will be general, but most definitely include watching youtube videos! Anticipating the device needs to last for 3 to 5 years.

Would be interested to here recommendations for both a laptop and a Chromebook and then which of these you'd plump for.

[Steve21]

Out of those two, Laptop for sure imho

 

Home usage, as in no real need to move it about so weights not really a factor, nor battery life. Windows will give them a lot more options for future proofing/programs etc, especially if you're expecting to use it over a few years. You can be pretty sure it'll soon be "lets install XYZ games etc"

 

In reality though, for a Y3 student which is what 7/8? Any reason a cheaper tablet isn't being considered? Obviously depends on how techy they're expecting the kid to be, but if you're only talking a few Googles/YTs/Games could be a big cost saving

 

Steve

[Ditto]

Child currently has a Kindle or similar tablet. Parent is looking for something that can also be used for educational purposes/homework. I think as it's expected to take them to Y6, so something with a keyboard is preferred.

[6Foot2]

Although my brother is not in the Y3 age bracket, I am (again) recommending that he buys himself a Chromebook. He has ignored me twice in the past.

 

Everything he does, including looking for work, is browser based. He has a Gmail address. Most importantly, it will require little to no support from me.

 

[dhicks]

Looking for suggestions for a neighbour with a Y3 child.

 

I'd go for a Chromebook - if buying new, John Lewis is generally pretty good, you can go along and try devices out and you get decent service / warrenty. If you're buying a new Chromebook, I'd go for one with a 360-degree hinge and both front-and-back cameras so it can be used as a tablet and for taking pictures - we've bought Chromebook Flips for the school over the past few years, and they've worked well. £350 might just about get you one with both 360-degree hinges, twin cameras and a stylus.

 

If you want more of a budget option, you could go for a second-hand laptop with the (free) home version of CloudReady installed to make it into a Chromebook. CloudReady will install on some pretty old hardware, so you might be able to source an otherwise un-used laptop for free.

[6Foot2]

@Ditto: Suggestion for this thread: Add a poll, if you can, including the options you are interested in and including any new options that crop up in the thread.

 

[Ditto]

@Ditto: Suggestion for this thread: Add a poll, if you can, including the options you are interested in and including any new options that crop up in the thread.

 

I have considered putting a poll into a thread, although I hadn't for this one. However, I couldn't find instructions on how to set one up - any pointers?

[6Foot2]

I have considered putting a poll into a thread, although I hadn't for this one. However, I couldn't find instructions on how to set one up - any pointers?

At this point it might not be possible to edit the original thread so your options are to ask the Mods if they might be able to add the poll, or create a new thread and link it back here.

 

If you are creating a new thread, proceed with thread creation as normal, including the reference back to this one but before clicking 'Submit new Thread' scroll down to 'Advanced options':

 

 

When you have finished the 'normal' part of your thread, click the 'Submit new Thread' button and before the thread is posted you will be taken you through the options you want for your poll.

 

HTH.

[keyboards]

Look at Argos refurb can pick one up for £100-200 everything has looked brand new that we've recieved

[HTCPCP]

I'm old school, and would go laptop (probably something like a used thinkpad or similar), simply because, they can then mix work and pleasure. I'm always a fan of having the option to be able to do more, e.g. games, desktop versions of software etc, and a used thinkpad will take a fair few knocks without breaking too!

[ZeroHour]

Added a poll.