Looking for a basic student laptop - simple usage

[kanucks25]

Hello,

I'm looking for a laptop for a friend. I would appreciate any suggestions. Here are the details:

Usage:
Very simple: Microsoft Office and Web-browsing (for homework and social media).

Budget:
$300-$550 Canadian

Size:
11-14 inch screen. Lighter the better, for a girl to carry around the city.

Additional Info:
- would like it to last as long as possible; usage requirements will never change
- longer battery life would be nice, but not a top priority
- HD doesn't matter
- screen resolution doesn't matter
- company doesn't matter (just looking for quality)
- color doesn't matter
- touch-screen not needed
- drives not needed



Thanks!

 

[corroded]

Is your "student" already enrolled somewhere? you can get the "Academic" version of MS Office for about 50% of retail...

I've been able to get it at College Bookstores for about $100 US.

As to the laptop itself... Toshiba has some nice simple laptops in the price range (AMD APU's) I just look at Dell and did not like what was there...

 

[kanucks25]

Is your "student" already enrolled somewhere? you can get the "Academic" version of MS Office for about 50% of retail...

I've been able to get it at College Bookstores for about $100 US.

As to the laptop itself... Toshiba has some nice simple laptops in the price range (AMD APU's) I just look at Dell and did not like what was there...

Software isn't a problem


She actually already bought a Dell and didn't like it, returned it after a few weeks.



I did look at Toshiba, this one kind works, but it says only 4 hours of battery life

http/www.toshiba.ca/productdetailpage.aspx?id=2147498203




Looking for more suggestions

 

[kanucks25]

Don't buy Toshiba anything. They make the worst laptops on the market and any laptop repair technician will tell you to turn and run any time that name comes up.

AMD APU's are also very weak compared to Intel Haswell CPU's. They also consume more energy and therefore generate more heat and limit battery life.

The best budget laptop on the market right now for quality and specs is the Lenovo G510.

If you need a smaller size, check out the ASUS X200LA.

Yeah, I was also looking at that Lenovo. Might be a bit big but I'll keep it in mind.


Is there a huge drop-off from the Intel Core i3-4010U (1.7GHz) to the Intel Pentium 2117U? I found an ASUS similar to the one you linked except the downgrade in processor and it's like $150 cheaper: here



Also, how is ACER for laptop quality?

 

[kanucks25]

^

Oh okay, I won't go with Acer. How about HP?

Chromebook won't work, she wants to use the actual office software instead of the cloud thing.

 

[kanucks25]

Okay, good to know


How are these compared to the one you posted? Seem similar but popular:

http/www.amazon.com/VivoBook-X202E-DH31T-11-6-Inch-Touch-Laptop/dp/B009F1I1C4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_pc_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1GA1C1AK4DBE563X4063

http/www.amazon.com/Q200E-BSI3T08-11-6-Inch-Touchscreen-Laptop-Slate/dp/B00BKRMMUS/ref=psdc1_t1_B009F1I1C4_B00BKRMMUS

2nd one looks like it has the same specs but cheaper?

 

[kanucks25]

Okay. I guess that ASUS you originally linked seems like a good fit. Is there any you would recommend that is like one grade lower in price?

With tax and Canadian exchange, that one ends up being about $600

 

[kanucks25]

Is there anything missing from the RT version that you think is essential? I googled the differences and to me it seems like my friend wouldn't really notice anything was different considering her extremely simple needs.

Also are you sure it runs RT? I saw a couple reviews that says it's the full version, and some says it is the RT.

Here's the one I'm looking at: http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231431&AID=10657534&PID=749547&SID=rfdcb-d725&nm_mc=AFC-C8junctionCA

I can get it for $320 US / $360 CAN

 

[kanucks25]

Is there anything missing from the RT version that you think is essential? I googled the differences and to me it seems like my friend wouldn't really notice anything was different considering her extremely simple needs.

Also are you sure it runs RT? I saw a couple reviews that says it's the full version, and some says it is the RT.

Here's the one I'm looking at: http/www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231431&AID=10657534&PID=749547&SID=rfdcb-d725&nm_mc=AFC-C8junctionCA

I can get it for $320 US / $360 CAN

I think the T300 runs a full version of windows but the T100 runs RT.

Yeah, the one you linked and the one I linked were different. I found the one you linked on BestBuy for $350 US, I might just go with that.

Thanks dude great help