Re: Please recommend the best computer for a fcps student
Posted by:
utNTX
()
Date: November 24, 2014 11:26AM
Sidburgess Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd like to get my grand kids computers for
> Christmas. Currently they're sharing an old a Dell
> laptop. For those of you with kids in the fcps
> system, can you recommend an appropriate computer
> for student use?
>
> Apple? PC? Laptop? Desktop?
>
> Any specs that are a must?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Does fcps issue laptops to highschool students?
> My grand kids are 11 and 13.
Geesssee,
Get the Apple ideas out of your head and do not listen to any of the Apple fanboys.
The last thing 11/13 year old kids need is a over priced Apple that will limit them in the real world. Due to the slick marketing, all the kids want Apple. IT IS A BAD IDEA BOTH FINANCIALLY AND TECHNICALLY.
Yes the new Intel based Apple machines can run Windows, but at a BIG cost.
You walk into the Apple store, you will not walk out for under $1500 per machine, you can buy 3 decent Windows based laptops for this price.
FFX is now using Online Textbooks and having a Windows based computer that supports Flash and Java is essential. FFX current does not provide computers or tablets and they SHOULD NOT, but who knows what the idiots will decide in the future.
I would recommend Windows 7 laptop, you can still get these with an Intel I5 processor. You do not need an Intel I7 processor, too expensive and does not do much that the I5 will not. You just have to look carefully. MicroCenter in Merrifield is a good option, you can also search machine online as well via their website. Sometimes you can find deals at the Office Supply stores, Costco/BJ's or, Best Buy, but know what you are looking for.
I hate the 15.6" displays, prefer the 14" displays but they sometimes cost more than the 15.6" machines.
Have the kids get Microsoft Office 2010 Student/Teacher version if it is still available, usually it is a multi license copy of software. FFX used to give out licenses for FREE if you knew how to figure it out, but they changed this recently as Microsoft is moving to Office 365 and I think FFX may be moving to Office 365, but not sure what changed.
Here is what I will tell you, many of today's colleges and businesses only use Windows based machines. If you start a young kid out on Apple/Mac you handicap them. ALL the FCPS machines are Windows based, currently ALL Windows 7.
Your kids will rotate out of these machines before they go off to college, so not worth spending a BUNCH of cash now. Computers are good for 4 years at most before the technology improves, Operation Systems are updated or they get so infested with malware and trashware due to back user behavior. The Malware/Trashware can be addressed, but smart web surfing and no ready/click/aim helps.
I have friends that have kids going off to college and MANY of the colleges say if you have a Mac/Apple, get rid of it as many of their programs are not going to support/use them. Very true with most Business and Engineering schools.
In the "real" world, you walk into any large corporation or even small business 90+% of them will all be Windows based.
You can easily learn Mac/Apple if you need to later on or if you choose to move to this platform, however, it does not work so well the other way around.
$500 is tops I would spend on any laptop or even a desktop with a decent monitor.
I only pay $300 for the desktops I have been deploying for the past few years and these are only the G2020 processors and they are better/faster the the Intel I3's.
Stay away from Toshiba and Sony machines if Sony still makes them. Look for HP, Asus or Dell machines.
For a printing YOU WANT a Brother HL-2270DW, $99 if you find them on sale, they do what they are supposed to do and just work. I do also like HP printers, but HP cannot touch this Brother HL-2270DW for the price, reliability and features.