Laptop suggestions

[BG2015]

I'm currently a teacher and am provided with a laptop to plan lessons etc. It's a Dell and has been a decent laptop.

I'm retiring from teaching in the summer so need to buy a laptop for my own personal use and maybe for future work - tutoring and online learning.

I will also need to buy Microsoft Office and virus software.

After teaching for 30 years I'm totally in the dark, as all of this has been provided for me.

Can anyone recommend a decent laptop. I don't want to spend a fortune £300 or so. I don't want a Mac

Or a Chromebook

Thanks

I really like my Lenovo flex laptop that has a touch screen. My 10 and 7 year old always choose to use it in touch screen mode, like for TTRS and Google search. We can hinge it so it's as a display screen while we are learning at the table. I wouldn't go back to one without touch screen now. A Chromebook is pretty looked down to only Google applications, so it will not be the nest operator of Microsoft office. A laptop is the better too not a Chromebook to run Microsoft office. For a separate tablet I love our Lenovo M11 with pen, if you really do want an android operating system, i.e Chome book type device. Also you don't have to buy anything with a keyboard included so long as you have the option to plug in or Bluetooth connect a keyboard, which is what we do with the M11 tablet. Pretty much like a Chromebook then!

Thanks, I don't want a Chromebook as they're so limiting.

Watching as I need to replace mine soon and I’ve no idea where to start! Last brought one 10+ years ago and everything seems more complex now!

Do not get a HP hinges are rubbish

I've been watching the thread because I'm just starting to look for a new lap top. I've had my old one many years and it badly needs replacing.
It's a Dell Inspiron that I have atm and I was going to probably look for another Inspiron. I don't want to pay too much.
Atm I'm just trying to get my head round the specifications etc to decide which one would be suitable.

I'm just seeing if there are any updates here. I'm in a similar position have only used work laptops and bought for family for school and uni work. Now I'm setting up in private work will need for keeping documents and on line sessions so need a laptop but don't know where to start

I've actually bought an ASUS Vivobook laptop. It cost me £525 plus Curry's we're doing a deal £99 for Microsoft365, McAffee anti virus, Extra Cloud storage and VPN.

I've had it about 10 days now and I'm really pleased with it. They do a buy now pay later scheme so I've got until November to pay it off. Really pleased with the help I got in Curry's. Just told them what I wanted 15" screen, 16mgb and my price range.

I ended up going down the refurbished route with Amazon. A thinkpad t490 which is 5 year old tech running windows 11 for £190. I’m really impressed with it.