Looking for laptop for my daughter

[milehigh hitman]

Hello guru's. I am looking for a laptop for my 13 year old. Most of her schoolwork is done on google docs etc and I need to get her a laptop. I am debating between two of them (for price) but I do not know if Win 8 is good or not. So here are my choices (one Win 7 and one Win 8).

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black+Licorice/5769054.p?id=1218692957261&skuId=5769054

http/www.walmart.com/ip/HP-15.6-2000-2b49WM-Laptop-PC-with-AMD-E-300-Accelerated-Processor-and-Windows-8/21666192

or

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7004371&type=product&id=1218820832399&AID=10597222&PID=806314&SID=32856-2013-02-04-19-10-p-121210-email-9837229&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Folspage.jsp%3FskuId%3D7004371%26type%3Dproduct%26id%3D1218820832399&ref=39&CJPID=806314&loc=01

Any other suggestions for around the same price would be appreciated as well. I look forward to your thoughts. I should add that this will be used only for the web, docs and maybe the Sims.

 

[Soda-88]

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+15.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+320GB+Hard+Drive+-+Black+Licorice/5769054.p?id=1218692957261&skuId=5769054#tab=specifications

or

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7004371&type=product&id=1218820832399&AID=10597222&PID=806314&SID=32856-2013-02-04-19-10-p-121210-email-9837229&URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestbuy.com%2Fsite%2Folspage.jsp%3FskuId%3D7004371%26type%3Dproduct%26id%3D1218820832399&ref=39&CJPID=806314&loc=01

2GB of RAM is nothing but frustration to work with. Some of it will be used by IGP too, making things worse. I'd get the more expensive version since it's got more powerful CPU, GPU and bigger HDD.
Also, Windows 8 is good. If you (she) won't like Modern UI, there's a simple solution to disable it and it's called Classic Shell:
http/www.classicshell.net/

 

[Brett928S2]

Hi

I am a school Governor...

Her school will NOT be using 8...get a 7 laptop for her...

All the best Brett

 

[milehigh hitman]

I appreciate both replies. Will the operating system dictate what she can and cannot do at school? I was under the assumption it would not since she has been using either xp or Win 7 starter on a netbook.

 

[Brett928S2]

I appreciate both replies. Will the operating system dictate what she can and cannot do at school? I was under the assumption it would not since she has been using either xp or Win 7 starter on a netbook.

Hi

Its slightly more complicated than that....

The problem occurs when her teacher says... click start button and do so and so...

8 hasn't got a start button...

All the best Brett

 

[milehigh hitman]

Good point. Thanks again

 

[milehigh hitman]

How would these two compare for my needs? I like the Samsung and it appears to be faster to me but I have heard good things about the Toshiba.


http/www.officemax.com/technology/computers/laptop-computers/product-prod4000083 $311

http/www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung---15.6%26%2334%3B-Laptop---4GB-Memory---500GB-Hard-Drive---Black/7117152.p?skuId=7117152&productCategoryId=pcmcat247400050000&id=1218830172884 $369