what laptop for a computer science degree?

[laptophelp]

Looking to buy a 2nd hand/refurbished laptop under £500. Any recommendations to hopefully see them through the degree. Thank you

First decision is windows or mac - check the course requirements to see if they have specific software that might only work on one or the other.

Second decision is screen size - 14in 3:2 ratio is the sweet spot imo for usability vs portability. 13" more portable, 16" for a proper office machine.

Apple you'll need to go refurbished.

Windows - try looking at the acer swift oled 14 from currys £499 with a unidays code

Thank you. Yes looking at 14" screen. She was considering ms1 gs65 refurbished for gaming design too. Or is that more for actual gaming and not computer science degree with some games design?

Does the university department offer no guidance?

I would ask the uni. The computing department will be able to advise and possibly have refurbished ones to buy cheaply.

Thanks. She is mid degree so knows that whatever basic very old model she had last year was fine and met uni spec last year for the course.

We had offered to upgrade for birthday and xmas for something with higher spec/faster speed and option for gaming design if she selects that module/project.

Surely if someone is doing Computer Science at degree level, they should be able to choose their own computer? I don't think we had any input into our Computer Science-studying dcs' choices of computers. We just gave them a budget, and they added from their own accounts if they wanted something that cost more.

look up uni/course requirement.

dc will also need a proper set up for work at home (separate screen, keyboard, mouse) and additional data storage. a powerful powerbank for on the go.

Thanks. She chose an MS1 GS65 one as I posted above. As I am paying up to £500 for it I am asking for advice in case she has selected more for gaming than for uni work. I wouldnt pay that much if more suited to gaming.