Laptop help needed quickly

[Howmanysleepsnow]

I’ve just realised ds15 needs a main present. I’m thinking a laptop, for schoolwork, internet and possibly some games.
What do I need, and how much will it cost? I’ll need to pick up in store / very fast delivery!
No idea on tech, please can someone point me in the right direction?

Recently asked IT colleague for similar requirements, mainly for schoolwork for a 10yo.
Was pointed in direction of Chromebooks and they recommended Lenovo, min 32gb storage but higher if you can afford it.

John Lewis have a 64gb with good reviews and in stock.
Can't comment on personal experience but hopefully it's a start on your search!

A Chromebook would work apart from games. I've an HP I bought in the sales for £450 that ticks all those boxes but would cost more if there's no sale on right now. I wouldn't recommend PC World, their customer service is terrible but you don't have time on your side so for range and convenience I'd head there

Ok these guys have been great when I've used them in the past. They have a sale on and next day delivery at the moment www.meshcomputers.com/

We ordered a Lenovo direct from their website. Ordered 6pm on the Monday night and delivered Tuesday morning 9.30am. Brilliant service and Chromebook looks great. Haven’t used it yet as it’s my daughters present but so far so good.

Don't get a chromebook, get windows. Chromebooks can make powerpoints and word tricky and don't run full office for school. They also have smaller hard drives and rely on internet so he can't work if the wifi is down.

@katiegoestoaldi the site looks good. Any pointers on what to buy? I’ve never owned a laptop or pc and don’t understand the specs at all!

@negomi90 so, a laptop (not chrome book) with windows. What else do I need to look for?

Don’t want to buy him something that’s useless/ slow, but really need help translating specs.
I asked DH, but was told I should’ve bought him decent presents in the first place, clearly don’t know my son/ care about him and am ruining Christmas. I’ve no one else to ask and definitely need to fix this!

This is a really decent laptop that will be great for games that aren't demanding, ie Minecraft, Age of Empires

It will be lovely for streaming Netflix etc, the screen will be lovely and it's powerful enough to handle any office app you can throw at it www.meshcomputers.com/laptops/asus-laptops/asus-m509/r3/8gb/256gb-ssd/

Just read what your husband said, that wasn't nice or helpful was it! grrr

@katiegoestoaldi

Just read what your husband said, that wasn't nice or helpful was it! grrr

Not especially, no! I’d got his stuff down to wrap, looked at it and panicked. I asked DH if it looked as shit as I thought and basically got told yes, it was worse. He thinks I favour my daughter: I don’t, but she likes clothes, hair stuff, the odd cuddly toy... it’s easy, plus she’s the only one of 4dc who came up with a Christmas wish list. DS isn’t into clothes, hobbies stopped due to covid, too old for toys.... he’s basically got a smart watch, vouchers and bits. DH thinks it unfair, but DS has declined clothes/ trainers etc as he has no interest and the watch was £600! (But, again, not asked for) I do think DS needs something else. A laptop makes sense as he’d get use out of it and like it, but I know zero about tech. God knows what he’ll think of the younger 2 ds’s presents (especially as they’re his, DS15 is his DSS)

@katiegoestoaldi is it definitely next day delivery? I can’t see where it says that?

Maybe this isn't what you want to hear. But a laptop isn't an impulse purchase. You really do need to weigh up the specs and benefits of them, without just going on PC world says is the most expensive best one is.

Also....you've already bought a smart watch for him??? A laptop...a decent one that will actually last.. will set you about another 300 minimum. For comparison, 2 months ago I spend 700 on a Dell...and it was 14% off. I play reasonably demanding games, I got it to keep up for the next 5/6 years...maybe not with the greatest and latest but well enough. With care it will last a long long time, my partner will take it apart and clean it, change heat paste etc.

How much have you spent on the other children? Your partner sound like a spoilt brat through proxy, if you have spent the same or less on your other kids, but he's declaring his son has got a shit pile. Don't get another main present for him. Fill it with the little bits. Send your husband out to get them. Go on menkind, that sort of thing, and pick out a couple of weird and wonderful bits.

Save the laptop for a birthday, when you can a) have a look around and get a good deal b) actually reasonably spend the time weighing up the pros and cons of some models.

It comes up when you first load the site.

Coffee makes some very good points though. It's easy to panic, we're having a quiet Christmas this year but even in years when I spend more, it doesn't matter how much I spend when I come to wrapping I always worry if what I've got is enough. It sounds like you may be having a last minute wobble and your husband has used it to have a dig.

It's hard buying for teenagers, they tend to already have so much and what they do want is small and expensive so it doesn't look like much compared to younger children. My teenager, a few years older than yours, just wants every BTS album ever released (there's a lot!), the albums in each set are all the same just the included artwork differs and they average at £25 each so it quickly adds up. But that's all she wants.

My youngest has been easier to buy for as his interests are wider and I can get lots of things he will like for much less than £25 each and some things the whole family will enjoy. I'm aware and worried that once the presents are under the tree his pile will be bigger than hers as she's sensitive to me favouring him because he has SEN and demands more of my time, but I've done my best and not bought anything for the sake of it. I think!

I would ignore your husband and take him out the equation. Can you afford a laptop? How much does your son use a computer at the moment? Has he ever expressed interest in playing games on a computer or does he already have a games console like an Xbox or a PlayStation? A laptop is a wonderful present for a 15 year old if they actually need it and if you can actually afford it. For what you want you don't need to weigh it up too much because you're not doing heavy gaming or graphics/video work, you just need a solid mid range machine £470-£700 that's going to handle a few simple games and be future proof for a few years. It has to be a considered purchase though as it's a lot of money to waste if it's not going to be used much

@katiegoestoaldi he doesn’t use a computer. We don’t have one!
He did borrow my dads in lockdown, and seemed to use it a lot. He does have a PS4

I'd get one then if you can afford it. Maybe think about whether he will use it for games if he has a PS4, if he's not going to play games on it you can get get a cheaper, less powerful one. Though the one I linked to will be really nice for streaming Netflix etc

@IliveonCoffee DS isn’t his son (biologically at least) so it’s not that. The younger two are.

@katiegoestoaldi he has Netflix on TV. Does that change recommendations?
Thank you so much for all your help and advice by the way, it means so much!

I’m struggling to get round the idea of. £600 watch not being enough!

@BikeRunSki I thought it was... but then saw his presents compared to his siblings and they look a bit of a letdown. At the end of the day, it’s a watch. You wear it. There’s no present that’s something to do/ use/ play with/ whatever. Other bits are books, favourite chocolate etc.
His younger brothers will be excited by their presents, and his sister will by hers (she’s got something she’s wanted for years!)
It’s not about cost or number of presents here, it’s about giving something they’ll get excited about and I don’t think he’s got that thing. I’ll happily take other suggestions for a wow present, but other than this I’m stumped. He has an experience day unused from last year (thanks, 2020!), has no interest in clothes/ trainers... but definitely still deserves a bit of Christmas excitement/ magic.

Sorry I misread with son/stepson!

I get the not having toy to play with and the 'it's a watch' but unfortunately there is a point where its that. Where Christmas presents aren't toys to play with...where they almost feel boring and practical. I'm sure he'd be over the moon with watch if that's what he wanted, even if he cant 'play' on the day.

Plus a laptop still isn't a christmas toy. He will spend all day downloading the games if its capable, and setting it up....or worse browsing the internet.

I get that feeling though...perhaps get some family board games, or games for him. Encourage everyone away from their personal new toys and spending the time enjoying the day together as I can get that he might feel a bit left out if younger siblings are all wrapped in their new toys and he's just fiddling with a watch! I'm assuming he's one of the eldest, perhaps take the opportunity to get a more adult game the younger ones wouldn't get.