School Laptop Recommendation - Budget under $500

Yeah OK on 01/03/2024 - 13:20
Last edited 01/03/2024 - 14:45 by 1 other user

Looking for a robust long life battery laptop for high school.

This school uses laptops for 90% of the subjects. My son is in year 8 and tends to be quite rough with his school bags and laptops.

I'm looking for something no bigger than 14". (The bigger the screen, the more fragile it gets.) It needs to last at least 8 hours, without having to recharge. This is why a 2nd hand laptop, may not be the best. I'm also on a budget, as it's looking like I'm going to be getting a new laptop every year. He broke his Lenovo Duet 3, yesterday. It lasted just over a year.

Thanks in advance 😊

Computing Computer Laptop

Comments

  • holdenmg on 01/03/2024 - 13:27
    +2

    Look for a Laptop Bag or Case that is padded.

  • CrispyChrispy on 01/03/2024 - 13:30
    +2

    He broke his Lenovo Duet 3, yesterday.

    How?

    Have him foot the bill each time he goes through a laptop. A single laptop should be able to survive all of high school.

  • Yeah OK on 01/03/2024 - 13:33
    +2

    Ah, he has certain disabilities. And he is also struggling with a broken ankle.
    He hadn't closed his bag properly, and it fell out. Even with a folio cover, it fell on a corner and the screen is all messed up.
    I have to say, the Duet has copped a lot of rough handling and has still been going strong all this time. I'm genuinely surprised it lasted this long

    • CrispyChrispy on 01/03/2024 - 13:39
      +1

      Fair enough then

      If most accidents are happening when taking in/out of the bag, then definitely get a thick, padded laptop case. Better protection than those thin folio ones like you mentioned. Good luck OP

  • jv on 01/03/2024 - 13:41
    +4

    This is why a 2nd hand laptop, may not be the best

    Buy a new battery… They're a lot cheaper than getting a new laptop…

    https://www.betterbatt.com.au/s/laptop-battery/

    https://www.ebay.com.au/str/australiancomputertraders/Laptop…

  • brendanm on 01/03/2024 - 15:06
    +1

    Refurb thinkpad

  • Piddyy on 02/03/2024 - 13:34
    +1

    I just got a refurb Lenovo ThinkPad T480 for $300 and I cannot fault it. Very solid, sturdy and fast

  • Yeah OK on 18/03/2024 - 21:12

    Thanks everyone. Ended up getting a refurbished HP EliteBook X360. Seems OK, just trying to get rid of that bloody Bing nonsense.

  • Browsers on 30/05/2024 - 00:14

    Anyone have tips on the specs to aim for at around the $400-500 mark? Same as OP, just looking for a sturdy, light 14" refurb laptop with potential to see out three years of school, web browsing, bit of video streaming, no gaming. I'll replace batteries. Is 8gb RAM and 8th Gen processor plenty enough or just ok? Better to aim for more RAM or newer processor if I can't get both?

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