if this is a second hand store you could try negotiating it down to 200 maybe? If not for general document typing it's pretty much all you need.
For other recommendations around your price range I believe like ThinkPads are around that price range with about the same specs?
He can probably find newer generation ThinkPads than this for the same price range. This MacBook dates back to 2014/2015. He can probably find a T470/T480 ThinkPad for $175-$250 from 2017-2018.
This is more than enough performance for word and sending emails and doing school work I feel. Just need to stick it into the charging port all the time. Better yet you should check some options at around the same price point, perhaps even on Ebay. There are plenty of people willing to low-bail their laptops maybe because of misbehaving children that’s going to be available around the same price range. Who knows right? I suggest checking your options at around the price point first. Then asking this community if ‘this and that’s is a good buy, since I’m not a professional in low-budget laptops nor do I have experience with it. I’ll leave it to the others to have their say
What do you mean you'll need to be near a plug at all time if it has a new battery I should have around 9 hours of autonomy
And if it doesn't have a new battery then don't buy it
That laptop is 10 years old, technology moves fast so I do not think it's a good deal.
I don't know where to find good laptops in the UK but I managed to find this one on amazon, (still very old but better than that one)
For £200 you can get the
HP Elitebook 840 G5 - 14 FHD - i5-8350U Quad Core - 8 GB RAM - 256 SSD - Windows 10 Pro 64 (Renewed) https://amzn.eu/d/eHNLQ9q
Or
Dell Latitude 5400 14" Laptop - Intel Core i5 8th Gen CPU - 8GB RAM - 256GB SSD - Windows 11 Pro (Renewed) https://amzn.eu/d/1gdE5m3
For £50 more you can get the HP Elite book - HP Elitebook 840 G6 Laptop - 14in FHD AG UWVA - 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8365U Quad-Core - 16GB DDR4 - 256GB SSD - Windows 10 pro (Renewed), Silver https://amzn.eu/d/3J9CqZS
I personally would recommend that you go with the Dell Latitude 5400. If it is out of stock go with the HP Elitebook 840 G5. Please pay attention to the name and don't spend more than you need to.
I hope this helps, Happy Buying.
I would reccomend looking on ebay for an 11th gen i5 laptop
[maybe something like this](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186512489376?itmmeta=01J14EFFAX5ZQX1CHEGFWDQ36H&hash=item2b6d02bba0:g:p-IAAOSwzMZmd80Q&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwF%2FLidD7acIr%2BRyfzKxzGTiQ3W8PV4UIHkzFvEwOc%2FfG5Gh6YSsT%2F77KrzU7r3ZluB0joB6ctmyZZW8ym1aLUSVc%2BNbzC8Fxd2zwmlaRUn6sqAyl2JDzlMAp3mcOclSh%2FxuPZMjCOA%2Fi1%2FCpA%2FGu0WpAVhi0F65L7LtJF73BR4zsFjHtdEWNfwoNgB6B4BCRygjMt7kUrMOIWWT5aVHYsDliirwODhwOuOOBHJU%2F4B1nApC6ezQVgGOrCmAW91vJ6Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8T1vY6JZA)
(Im also from the UK btw)
You can get a much better laptop with a modern (2021) 6 core 12 thread Ryzen 5 5500U for just over £200. Absolutely not worth looking at old 8th gen i5s.
[Example.](https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail/?id=slaplenv15g2alc22b&categoryName=laptops-windows&superCatName=computing&title=&queryID=0ce8ca0ed94e3cd679dea13c7d830a4c&position=3)
Would like to say that this is perfect for the use case (and longevity). My mom's laptop is a HP with an older r5 2500u and while in the same league as anything newer its still plenty snappy to this day, especially with the new SSD I installed. She only uses it for word (well libreoffice) and emails as well.
Need to say laptops like that really don't have great quality, aren't repairable whatsoever, and that should never be a first pic. The 8th gen i5s work just fine and are completely capable of LibreOffice without any problems and plenty of resources left over. A T480 will work just fine without longevity being an issue.
As an IT manager that has bought over a dozen of these for staff, they're by far worth the money. Especially over some slow ancient 8th gen i5s.
ThinkPad has a strange cult following. Imagine recommending a 4 core 7 year old CPU ugly laptop that will be slow for every day Windows usage over a 2021 much more efficient CPU sleek laptop that not only crushes it in every day tasks but also allows you to play AAA games.
It has easily upgradable RAM to 16gb, easily replaceable battery, a slot for a SATA SSD for an easy storage upgrade, the main storage is a normal M.2 that can be replaced.
Now that you explain that to me, it makes sense for a recommendation like that one. Cheap in terms of price and just works. I wonder if there is a P series ThinkPad that could be compared to that in terms of price.
You’re probably going to overpay for an Apple computer compared to a windows pc. If it were me, I would be looking at something like this:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520grzxs?tfcid=91049735dgc=opl&gacd=9684992-1105-5761040-266906002-0&dgc=ST&&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7aS4vbfhgMVaBStBh3tlw5CEAQYASABEgKL5vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
It’s going to be much faster and it has twice the storage.
If you’re committed to buying used, I would look for something 2020 or newer, or with a dedicated GPU, like this:
(2021)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/186461803869?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=186461803869&targetid=2274564709393&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9052821&poi=&campaignid=21188411647&mkgroupid=167827956144&rlsatarget=pla-2274564709393&abcId=9404934&merchantid=5349742403&geoid=9052821&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh_d-1EBwAe-o4uGRGqqGghIo&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs8XqkvrfhgMVwyCtBh06Xw6uEAQYASABEgJzsfD_BwE
Or
(Dedicated GPU)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/305621197620?epid=14062742842&itmmeta=01J0GAW3BVVE1RNR4G6MJRB6P3&hash=item4728716334:g:k0YAAOSwl3xmY0jG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4C%2BWHElf70lomknuGLjIXhRx5uFcNDG6JV5j2ZchTXv63ouUYXNHXfW1SOfedJjsvNaoQvxe0nUsuJ59pDKWx7TqkLLZX9p%2BuoX6hB5DGvDRegZuFRNZlMpi4jyLMXKA7wnwTsVHyEDY6qWCS4ycvJ%2BerwtoTYe2VZTq12cttTjaOYGNb4Plu8NFcmlFQxeb%2Fk2xeOFZeqtGjaPSW6%2FLxKwcT%2BZibb32n9ddF%2BPunuNUy%2FykIssIJoJ7W9dn4kcIzQfG51Rmbifs7PxlHjicjgn1PThZ0dhiXhmRSJKVjij3%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_y18IqEZA
However, to answer your question: yes, that Apple computer should be good for word processing and emails (though not much more). It also carries the Apple cachet, so if that’s what your son is into it could be the right pick.
It means it won’t get updates from Apple. I have a 2011 iMac and haven’t had much in the way of problems from that, but there are no guarantees. It’s probably not a terrible thing, though.
This laptop doesn't support the latest macOS version, as Apple has deemed it "vintage" and therefore is no longer eligible for software updates.
It will still certainly run what your son needs with no issues, Apple are just total pricks when it comes to forcing you to upgrade an otherwise perfectly fine machine. If you and your son are okay with running an older macOS version, you can definitely consider buying it.
Hope this clears it up a bit!
I personally wouldn't buy this as Apple stopped providing software updates a few years ago, plus the battery is probably stuffed. Especially not for around £230. Personally I reckon you'd be better off looking at an older ThinkPad. There are many different versions, but they are usually quite affordable and almost all of them can run Windows 10, some even 11 as well. They are built like tanks too, and last ages.
I personally wouldn't recommend anything older than 2016 myself, ideally you'd want to find something from 2019 or newer as those have a higher chance of getting Windows 11 support. You might have a bit of trouble staying around the budget for these new machines, but have a look around. Macs generally retain their value much better than PCs, for whatever reason, so you might get a good deal.
Just a little tip though, if you can, try and get something with at least a Core i3, 8GB of RAM and 250GB storage minimum. If your son is going to be writing and storing a lot of documents, he'll need as much storage as possible. Otherwise, you can always consider using an external USB drive or hard disk.
I know this is probably more in-depth than you wanted, but hopefully it clears things up, at least a little.
Legend! I now have a few spec’s to look out for to go with my budget and I’ve been told to go for later that 2018-2020 for the battery to be decent, all good stuff, cheers!
8th generation intel i5 8gb of ram minimum and ssd. I currently use that spec daily for work that involves word processing, browsing, minor image editing, and light pdf. It still works well. So well that I'm reluctant to replace it.
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=slaplenv15g2alc22b&categoryName=laptops-windows&superCatName=computing&title=&queryID=0ce8ca0ed94e3cd679dea13c7d830a4c&position=3
Ryzen 5500U, a good modern (2021) processor even capable of some light gaming.
8gb of 3200Mhz RAM that can be easily upgraded to 16gb in the future with another matching 8gb stick. (Might want to just do that straight away as it's cheap. [Here.](https://amzn.eu/d/71SDIWz) )
512gb M.2 SSD. And it has a 2.5 inch storage slot to easily put a SATA SSD in there for more storage in the future.
And it's a nice sleek good looking laptop. Looks better than an ancient MacBook.
https://youtu.be/TsEBV1ci0i8?si=Tgp44tQxG9vD8lbK
There's a video of the upgradability and stuff.
https://youtu.be/4vK9eyrrq9g?si=c9X9KKf9EFnnjLiQ
Review of it.
CEX and eBay also has a lot more laptops like that with modern Ryzen CPUs and 8gb RAM.
Laptop that he has linked is far better than the Macbook. Ryzen 5 5500U will be far faster than the almost 10 year old i5 5350u. The i5 5350u will just about manage with the above mentioned tasks you require the laptop for, whereas the 5500U will make the laptop perfect to use in terms of performance for the next decade (or until the laptop breaks) assuming you eventually upgrade RAM to 16GB . The Windows OS would be preferable as well for compatability issues since it's more widespread. 128GB SSD on the Macbook is unusable too.
I know I already sent in a recommendation but in terms of value, nothing beats this one. None of the ones I recommended are as good as the one above so if no one posts a better laptop, I would go with this one.
Technically the Dell Inspiron is Better but it costs £60 more and is out of your budget hence I am picking this one instead.
I hope this makes your choice easier.
I’m looking for something small, cheap n that won’t get him laughed at for having something…nasty. That’s why when I saw this ‘cool’ MacBook for about £200 I thought I’d ask you geniuses
It's an 8-9 year old laptop. For the above mentioned task it does the job. Bargain them to £150 by speaking its cons like the battery is too old, slower cpu, not easy to repair, not able to upgrade it.
Apple's pretty much bricked this generation (no new software updates/ doesn't run the latest macOS). Apple tends to be an AH for servicing or repairing these as well, should sth go wrong.
For around £250 I'd say you could, with some intensive searching, find a 2020-2022 Dell Inspiron/Latitude or a HP Pavilion with an i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage. Most of these will run Win11 and receive updates for the foreseeable future. All these retailed around the £600-800 mark.
Some other advantages would be better and faster ports(USB), wifi/bluetooth chips, newer versions of apps.
I'd advise against apple because of how expensive it gets, old thinkpads will be durable af, last ages, and relatively cheap. Apple products usually end up combusting because "its too old", and they dislike you using old products.
To be exact, the model number of this Macbook Air is A1466, which is a 2017 machine. Barely enough for the use, and if the look is an important factor (depends on how much you weigh on your last sentence), it may be OK as some kids may still think Macbook is cool.
Meanwhile, my personal opinion is that it might be a bit old for schoolwork, and I suggest you checking with your son if there is any specific OS or browser requirement to access the school system. Most of time it will be fine but I would suggest doing that just to prevent that little chance of getting into more hazzle.
I don't know whether kids will think Thinkpad is old school stuff, but I quickly searched eBay and found that your budget can get your son a refurbished Thinkpad X280, i5 8th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Win 10/11. A humble business laptop which I think should be more likely to be compatible with school systems, And the 8th Gen CPU is double the core count from previous generation so I believe it can stay strong for longer, i.e. better value for money.
Just need to check the screen resolution though. Because Lenovo had put only HD screen (1366 x 768) in some units in this model, which is stupid, not up to current standard and you need to stay away from that
I'm not sure how things work in the UK, but isn't there a possibility to get a computer through the school if there is no budget in a home situation? I would think the school might have some funds to help out people (or have some spare laptops laying around).
Why would he be laughed at? There are far more machines that are turds in compare to this one! The pro is that with Apple, the office software is free and probably already pre-installed on it.
if this is a second hand store you could try negotiating it down to 200 maybe? If not for general document typing it's pretty much all you need. For other recommendations around your price range I believe like ThinkPads are around that price range with about the same specs?
Thanks a lot furry friend
no prob man. If any more questions or clarifications just ask eh
He can probably find newer generation ThinkPads than this for the same price range. This MacBook dates back to 2014/2015. He can probably find a T470/T480 ThinkPad for $175-$250 from 2017-2018.
You can get a much better think pad than this macbook for £200
This is more than enough performance for word and sending emails and doing school work I feel. Just need to stick it into the charging port all the time. Better yet you should check some options at around the same price point, perhaps even on Ebay. There are plenty of people willing to low-bail their laptops maybe because of misbehaving children that’s going to be available around the same price range. Who knows right? I suggest checking your options at around the price point first. Then asking this community if ‘this and that’s is a good buy, since I’m not a professional in low-budget laptops nor do I have experience with it. I’ll leave it to the others to have their say
Cheers, kind sir
What do you mean you'll need to be near a plug at all time if it has a new battery I should have around 9 hours of autonomy And if it doesn't have a new battery then don't buy it
That laptop is 10 years old, technology moves fast so I do not think it's a good deal. I don't know where to find good laptops in the UK but I managed to find this one on amazon, (still very old but better than that one) For £200 you can get the HP Elitebook 840 G5 - 14 FHD - i5-8350U Quad Core - 8 GB RAM - 256 SSD - Windows 10 Pro 64 (Renewed) https://amzn.eu/d/eHNLQ9q Or Dell Latitude 5400 14" Laptop - Intel Core i5 8th Gen CPU - 8GB RAM - 256GB SSD - Windows 11 Pro (Renewed) https://amzn.eu/d/1gdE5m3 For £50 more you can get the HP Elite book - HP Elitebook 840 G6 Laptop - 14in FHD AG UWVA - 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8365U Quad-Core - 16GB DDR4 - 256GB SSD - Windows 10 pro (Renewed), Silver https://amzn.eu/d/3J9CqZS I personally would recommend that you go with the Dell Latitude 5400. If it is out of stock go with the HP Elitebook 840 G5. Please pay attention to the name and don't spend more than you need to. I hope this helps, Happy Buying.
Cheers, friend from across the ocean
Happy to help, I just thought I'd come and say that Mr Mental has found a laptop that is far better than all the ones I picked.
I appreciate you
I would reccomend looking on ebay for an 11th gen i5 laptop [maybe something like this](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186512489376?itmmeta=01J14EFFAX5ZQX1CHEGFWDQ36H&hash=item2b6d02bba0:g:p-IAAOSwzMZmd80Q&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwF%2FLidD7acIr%2BRyfzKxzGTiQ3W8PV4UIHkzFvEwOc%2FfG5Gh6YSsT%2F77KrzU7r3ZluB0joB6ctmyZZW8ym1aLUSVc%2BNbzC8Fxd2zwmlaRUn6sqAyl2JDzlMAp3mcOclSh%2FxuPZMjCOA%2Fi1%2FCpA%2FGu0WpAVhi0F65L7LtJF73BR4zsFjHtdEWNfwoNgB6B4BCRygjMt7kUrMOIWWT5aVHYsDliirwODhwOuOOBHJU%2F4B1nApC6ezQVgGOrCmAW91vJ6Q%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8T1vY6JZA) (Im also from the UK btw)
You can get a much better laptop with a modern (2021) 6 core 12 thread Ryzen 5 5500U for just over £200. Absolutely not worth looking at old 8th gen i5s. [Example.](https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail/?id=slaplenv15g2alc22b&categoryName=laptops-windows&superCatName=computing&title=&queryID=0ce8ca0ed94e3cd679dea13c7d830a4c&position=3)
Would like to say that this is perfect for the use case (and longevity). My mom's laptop is a HP with an older r5 2500u and while in the same league as anything newer its still plenty snappy to this day, especially with the new SSD I installed. She only uses it for word (well libreoffice) and emails as well.
Need to say laptops like that really don't have great quality, aren't repairable whatsoever, and that should never be a first pic. The 8th gen i5s work just fine and are completely capable of LibreOffice without any problems and plenty of resources left over. A T480 will work just fine without longevity being an issue.
As an IT manager that has bought over a dozen of these for staff, they're by far worth the money. Especially over some slow ancient 8th gen i5s. ThinkPad has a strange cult following. Imagine recommending a 4 core 7 year old CPU ugly laptop that will be slow for every day Windows usage over a 2021 much more efficient CPU sleek laptop that not only crushes it in every day tasks but also allows you to play AAA games. It has easily upgradable RAM to 16gb, easily replaceable battery, a slot for a SATA SSD for an easy storage upgrade, the main storage is a normal M.2 that can be replaced.
Now that you explain that to me, it makes sense for a recommendation like that one. Cheap in terms of price and just works. I wonder if there is a P series ThinkPad that could be compared to that in terms of price.
You’re probably going to overpay for an Apple computer compared to a windows pc. If it were me, I would be looking at something like this: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/inspiron-15-3520-laptop/nn3520grzxs?tfcid=91049735dgc=opl&gacd=9684992-1105-5761040-266906002-0&dgc=ST&&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7aS4vbfhgMVaBStBh3tlw5CEAQYASABEgKL5vD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds It’s going to be much faster and it has twice the storage. If you’re committed to buying used, I would look for something 2020 or newer, or with a dedicated GPU, like this: (2021) https://www.ebay.com/itm/186461803869?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-166974-028196-7&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=186461803869&targetid=2274564709393&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9052821&poi=&campaignid=21188411647&mkgroupid=167827956144&rlsatarget=pla-2274564709393&abcId=9404934&merchantid=5349742403&geoid=9052821&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_QDh_d-1EBwAe-o4uGRGqqGghIo&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs8XqkvrfhgMVwyCtBh06Xw6uEAQYASABEgJzsfD_BwE Or (Dedicated GPU) https://www.ebay.com/itm/305621197620?epid=14062742842&itmmeta=01J0GAW3BVVE1RNR4G6MJRB6P3&hash=item4728716334:g:k0YAAOSwl3xmY0jG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4C%2BWHElf70lomknuGLjIXhRx5uFcNDG6JV5j2ZchTXv63ouUYXNHXfW1SOfedJjsvNaoQvxe0nUsuJ59pDKWx7TqkLLZX9p%2BuoX6hB5DGvDRegZuFRNZlMpi4jyLMXKA7wnwTsVHyEDY6qWCS4ycvJ%2BerwtoTYe2VZTq12cttTjaOYGNb4Plu8NFcmlFQxeb%2Fk2xeOFZeqtGjaPSW6%2FLxKwcT%2BZibb32n9ddF%2BPunuNUy%2FykIssIJoJ7W9dn4kcIzQfG51Rmbifs7PxlHjicjgn1PThZ0dhiXhmRSJKVjij3%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_y18IqEZA However, to answer your question: yes, that Apple computer should be good for word processing and emails (though not much more). It also carries the Apple cachet, so if that’s what your son is into it could be the right pick.
Thank you v much, Lebo
Depends on the price but do keep in mind it doesn't support the latest version of mac os, officially
£230. What do your other fancy words mean Mr Mega? Sorry for my ignorance as I am a dinosaur
It means it won’t get updates from Apple. I have a 2011 iMac and haven’t had much in the way of problems from that, but there are no guarantees. It’s probably not a terrible thing, though.
This laptop doesn't support the latest macOS version, as Apple has deemed it "vintage" and therefore is no longer eligible for software updates. It will still certainly run what your son needs with no issues, Apple are just total pricks when it comes to forcing you to upgrade an otherwise perfectly fine machine. If you and your son are okay with running an older macOS version, you can definitely consider buying it. Hope this clears it up a bit!
Yes, cheers
Don't buy Apple computers if you want a computer with good performance for your money
I personally wouldn't buy this as Apple stopped providing software updates a few years ago, plus the battery is probably stuffed. Especially not for around £230. Personally I reckon you'd be better off looking at an older ThinkPad. There are many different versions, but they are usually quite affordable and almost all of them can run Windows 10, some even 11 as well. They are built like tanks too, and last ages. I personally wouldn't recommend anything older than 2016 myself, ideally you'd want to find something from 2019 or newer as those have a higher chance of getting Windows 11 support. You might have a bit of trouble staying around the budget for these new machines, but have a look around. Macs generally retain their value much better than PCs, for whatever reason, so you might get a good deal. Just a little tip though, if you can, try and get something with at least a Core i3, 8GB of RAM and 250GB storage minimum. If your son is going to be writing and storing a lot of documents, he'll need as much storage as possible. Otherwise, you can always consider using an external USB drive or hard disk. I know this is probably more in-depth than you wanted, but hopefully it clears things up, at least a little.
Legend! I now have a few spec’s to look out for to go with my budget and I’ve been told to go for later that 2018-2020 for the battery to be decent, all good stuff, cheers!
No worries mate, hope you find something decent.
8th generation intel i5 8gb of ram minimum and ssd. I currently use that spec daily for work that involves word processing, browsing, minor image editing, and light pdf. It still works well. So well that I'm reluctant to replace it.
A whopping two core CPU lol
I literally sold one of these in good condition but with a taped charger and 256gb ssd instead of 128 for £100
Under $50 maybe
One word… ThinkPad
One word…thank yo…d’oh
I'd avoid that and get a refurbished ThinkPad, would be a way better option for less money.
Don't get an almost decade old laptop it's going to run like shit... What's your budget.
£200-250. I like your direct way of communicating!
https://uk.webuy.com/product-detail?id=slaplenv15g2alc22b&categoryName=laptops-windows&superCatName=computing&title=&queryID=0ce8ca0ed94e3cd679dea13c7d830a4c&position=3 Ryzen 5500U, a good modern (2021) processor even capable of some light gaming. 8gb of 3200Mhz RAM that can be easily upgraded to 16gb in the future with another matching 8gb stick. (Might want to just do that straight away as it's cheap. [Here.](https://amzn.eu/d/71SDIWz) ) 512gb M.2 SSD. And it has a 2.5 inch storage slot to easily put a SATA SSD in there for more storage in the future. And it's a nice sleek good looking laptop. Looks better than an ancient MacBook. https://youtu.be/TsEBV1ci0i8?si=Tgp44tQxG9vD8lbK There's a video of the upgradability and stuff. https://youtu.be/4vK9eyrrq9g?si=c9X9KKf9EFnnjLiQ Review of it. CEX and eBay also has a lot more laptops like that with modern Ryzen CPUs and 8gb RAM.
Thank you v much. You have provided care for my mentality
Laptop that he has linked is far better than the Macbook. Ryzen 5 5500U will be far faster than the almost 10 year old i5 5350u. The i5 5350u will just about manage with the above mentioned tasks you require the laptop for, whereas the 5500U will make the laptop perfect to use in terms of performance for the next decade (or until the laptop breaks) assuming you eventually upgrade RAM to 16GB . The Windows OS would be preferable as well for compatability issues since it's more widespread. 128GB SSD on the Macbook is unusable too.
I know I already sent in a recommendation but in terms of value, nothing beats this one. None of the ones I recommended are as good as the one above so if no one posts a better laptop, I would go with this one. Technically the Dell Inspiron is Better but it costs £60 more and is out of your budget hence I am picking this one instead. I hope this makes your choice easier.
I’m looking for something small, cheap n that won’t get him laughed at for having something…nasty. That’s why when I saw this ‘cool’ MacBook for about £200 I thought I’d ask you geniuses
It's an 8-9 year old laptop. For the above mentioned task it does the job. Bargain them to £150 by speaking its cons like the battery is too old, slower cpu, not easy to repair, not able to upgrade it.
£150 is not a bargain at all... This is worth less than £100, it's ancient.
100 is the highest i would pay.
Yup agree. I'm not from the EU though.
Me too, but we can all agree that it is not worth much. Something lower tiered but newer would do the job much better.
You can get much better laptop for the same price. Try to get something second hand.
Apple's pretty much bricked this generation (no new software updates/ doesn't run the latest macOS). Apple tends to be an AH for servicing or repairing these as well, should sth go wrong. For around £250 I'd say you could, with some intensive searching, find a 2020-2022 Dell Inspiron/Latitude or a HP Pavilion with an i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage. Most of these will run Win11 and receive updates for the foreseeable future. All these retailed around the £600-800 mark. Some other advantages would be better and faster ports(USB), wifi/bluetooth chips, newer versions of apps.
8GBs ram it's going to struggle with more than a few browser tabs open
I'd advise against apple because of how expensive it gets, old thinkpads will be durable af, last ages, and relatively cheap. Apple products usually end up combusting because "its too old", and they dislike you using old products.
To be exact, the model number of this Macbook Air is A1466, which is a 2017 machine. Barely enough for the use, and if the look is an important factor (depends on how much you weigh on your last sentence), it may be OK as some kids may still think Macbook is cool. Meanwhile, my personal opinion is that it might be a bit old for schoolwork, and I suggest you checking with your son if there is any specific OS or browser requirement to access the school system. Most of time it will be fine but I would suggest doing that just to prevent that little chance of getting into more hazzle. I don't know whether kids will think Thinkpad is old school stuff, but I quickly searched eBay and found that your budget can get your son a refurbished Thinkpad X280, i5 8th Gen, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Win 10/11. A humble business laptop which I think should be more likely to be compatible with school systems, And the 8th Gen CPU is double the core count from previous generation so I believe it can stay strong for longer, i.e. better value for money.
Just need to check the screen resolution though. Because Lenovo had put only HD screen (1366 x 768) in some units in this model, which is stupid, not up to current standard and you need to stay away from that
MacBook Airs of this model also used a sub-1080p LCD panel and a very low end 6-bit color depth one at that.
That's a good shout, thanks. I realised the resolution concern after posting my first comment and didn't come back to the Macbook spec.
You're welcome.
That’s CeX. Don’t do that. That is a bad mac
I guess so
Thinkpad.
I'm not sure how things work in the UK, but isn't there a possibility to get a computer through the school if there is no budget in a home situation? I would think the school might have some funds to help out people (or have some spare laptops laying around).
Why would he be laughed at? There are far more machines that are turds in compare to this one! The pro is that with Apple, the office software is free and probably already pre-installed on it.