Laptop Recommendation for 10 Year Old for School

[lobsterboy_47]

1. What is your budget? $300-$400

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering? 11"-14"

3. What screen resolution do you want? 1920 x 1080 (1080p)

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop? portable

5. How much battery life do you need? ~8 hours+

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)? no games

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.) microsoft office (word, excel, powerpoint), prezi-type presentation software, movie maker, photoshop possibly but not necessary.

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need? 250gb should be fine

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links. n/a

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop? 3-5 years

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ?n/a

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons. n/a

13. What country do you live in? Canada

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed. it should be fairly durable

 

[GreyCatz]

A Windows-based laptop with a 2K panel priced at $400? To be used by a 10-year-old?? Something has to give...

Unless this 10-year-old happens to be a tech-prodigy, I shall insist that a full-blown Windows device is going to be a massive waste of resources. And at $400 practically impossible to find, as well.

How about a 10.1" Samsung Galaxy Tab A running Android 6.0 with 16GBs of storage for CAD330:
http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/samsung-samsung-galaxy-tab-a-10-1-16gb-android-6-0-tablet-black-sm-t580nzkaxac/10450218.aspx?

This is really an oversized smartphone - and that's the good news. The kid is likely to recognize the layout and the features within minutes. Google Play store will provide all office-type apps needed.

And here's a 13.3" Windows device for CAD355:
https/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIACBD5CN6467

From a totally unknown manufacturer, but you get Windows 10 and a 768p screen. But I have to say it looks very dinky.

Are you absolutely sure a 10-year-old needs 1080p? How about a compromise: You can insist on a Windows-based device but you have to accept 768p and go refurbished. Then there are lots of used business laptops to choose from, e.g. this 12.5" ThinkPad X220:
http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/lenovo-lenovo-x220-intel-core-i5-2-5-ghz-8-gb-ddr3-memory-320-gb-sata-hard-drive-windows-7-pro-64-bit-1yw-refurb-x220/10432607.aspx?

This is a proper Windows-based computer running Windows 7 Pro on a 350GB HDD. The integrated GPU will effectively discourage any attempt at gaming at any level. All this for CAD319. Yes, it's only 768p but being a ThinkPad, this X220 will also cope with any and all 'punishment' typically administered by your average 10-year-old Canadian school-kid (such as drops and spills).

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

 

[lobsterboy_47]

A Windows-based laptop with a 2K panel priced at $400? To be used by a 10-year-old?? Something has to give...

Unless this 10-year-old happens to be a tech-prodigy, I shall insist that a full-blown Windows device is going to be a massive waste of resources. And at $400 practically impossible to find, as well.

How about a 10.1" Samsung Galaxy Tab A running Android 6.0 with 16GBs of storage for CAD330:
http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/samsung-samsung-galaxy-tab-a-10-1-16gb-android-6-0-tablet-black-sm-t580nzkaxac/10450218.aspx?

This is really an oversized smartphone - and that's the good news. The kid is likely to recognize the layout and the features within minutes. Google Play store will provide all office-type apps needed.

And here's a 13.3" Windows device for CAD355:
https/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIACBD5CN6467

From a totally unknown manufacturer, but you get Windows 10 and a 768p screen. But I have to say it looks very dinky.

Are you absolutely sure a 10-year-old needs 1080p? How about a compromise: You can insist on a Windows-based device but you have to accept 768p and go refurbished. Then there are lots of used business laptops to choose from, e.g. this 12.5" ThinkPad X220:
http/www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/lenovo-lenovo-x220-intel-core-i5-2-5-ghz-8-gb-ddr3-memory-320-gb-sata-hard-drive-windows-7-pro-64-bit-1yw-refurb-x220/10432607.aspx?

This is a proper Windows-based computer running Windows 7 Pro on a 350GB HDD. The integrated GPU will effectively discourage any attempt at gaming at any level. All this for CAD319. Yes, it's only 768p but being a ThinkPad, this X220 will also cope with any and all 'punishment' typically administered by your average 10-year-old Canadian school-kid (such as drops and spills).

Best of luck,
GreyCatz.

Thanks so much for your detailed reply. The resolution is indeed negotiable. I hadn't done a lot of research yet, so I wasn't considering that I was asking for too much for our budget. It is an advanced grade 5 program she is going into and is required to bring laptop with Microsoft Office and Windows Movie Maker, neither of have very high system requirements. I like the Lenovo refurb idea.