witch Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I know the question has been asked before but due to budgets I am hoping that lots of you have RECENTLY bought some laptops and can give me your impressions. The new Head has decided to upgrade the teacher's laptops and has tasked me with choosing. He wants new ones around the £300-£350 mark? I have been disappointed with the build quality of new Tosh laptops (the old head bought some for £455 just before he left - very plasticky and clicky) so I dont think I want those. I could get HPs with cashback but I am wary of this sort of offer. Thoughts??
chrbb Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 After much searching I choose HP620 as both a staff laptop and for laptop trolleys. With the money saved from the cashback we bought 3 year accidental damage warranties, one trolley laptop has already been damaged and has tested the accidental damage warranty - couldn't fault HP. 1
featured_spectre Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 as above, although we bought a diff model, the money back was more than enough to buy 3 year global any incident insurance and warranties 1
witch Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 We are looking at the HP620s - what's the build quality like?
Haptic Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Hello Witch, Why are you wary of the cashback offer? Value for money-wise, if you don't like the Toshibas now then HP are whatyou need to be looking at really. Unless you like the look of any of the Acers at all? Chris
witch Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Why wary? Probably because I never got my cashback for some Toshibas I purchased a while ago from a well known supplier..... Don't like Acers much
K.C.Leblanc Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 We've done both the Tosh & HP cashback in the past. Not had problems with either of them you just have to jump through the hoops (and wait).
Haptic Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I would go for the HP.......I haven't heard of any customers having problems with the cashback with HP. I suppose there will always be one with a problem but if you purchase it through a reseller and a problem arises with the cashback, I am sure the reseller will be happy to help you out. Good luck. Chris
pantscat Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 we bought 3 year accidental damage warranties, Is that an HP warranty? I know Acer do this sort of thing, wasn't aware that HP did...
bossman Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 We don't do teachers laptops anymore as they became to expensive an acquisition, besides the laptop for teachers scheme died around 5 years ago. We have issued laptops to teachers which we gained from the laptop for students scheme which ran around 3 years ago but these are now beginning to dry up. Once they have gone we have already informed the teaching staff they will have to supply their own if they want a laptop which most are quite happy to do as it gives them the freedom to spend as little or as much as they can afford. Besides they all have remote access to Sims and their work areas so really no need to carry laptops backwards and forwards to work which in itself is a security issue waiting to happen (Oooerrr Iv'e lost me laptop with lots of information on) "don't worry dear its encrypted" (Esure advertisement) but what about the cost of replacement (insurance is always expensive which some schools cannot afford) this is why it is always an ongoing expense which we can do without so we have! Desktop computer in every room hardwired into the IWB and no messing around with keyboard shortcuts as you would on laptops. Sorry just a Monday morning rant ;D
witch Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Desktop computer in every room hardwired into the IWB and no messing around with keyboard shortcuts as you would on laptops. Yes, this would be my preferred solution - but the boss pointed out that all teachers may not have computers at home (I think we can safely say that they have, don't you?). We are going away from paper registration too, and so a permanent computer in each room would be far more sensible so that there isn't an issue when a teacher is away and there is no laptop in the classroom. But I was overruled *sigh*
john Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I use exclusivly HP Laptops when we had them for staff and I still buy HP Laptops as I need them. Netbooks I use Samsung. Both are very good and reliable. HP Cashback offers are fine as well, used them quite often and get a great deal so cannot complain. It was lovely the last one I did was on Server hardware so the bursar was pleased with a credit for over £1K in the bank account!!
chrbb Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Yes accidental warranty is from HP, also covers chargers.
featured_spectre Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Bossman, could you pm me as to how you broached the desktops to the classrooms, and you were able to persuade the people at the top to go ahead.
mac_shinobi Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 HP Pro Books look good - build quality could probably be better on them but HP's warranty is rock solid
ihaveaproblem Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Got HP Probooks here. Only had them for a short time, however they seem good and had no problems so far. Only thing you have to watch out for is the touch sensitive wireless on/off switch. Staff and students like to come to you saying that the 'internet is broken' when all they've done is press that button.
glennda Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Normally Go HP - Although I just purchased a lenovo laptop from Bt Business Direct for £310 Intel core I3 with 2gb ram. EDIT: Just looked any they havn't got them anymore! I only ordered on friday so must of only been a couple left. They where reduced to clear
witch Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Thanks for all your information - very useful
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