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Original poster

What laptop for teenager?

15 replies

hosnav · 29/08/2020 07:05

My 15 and 14 year olds both need new laptops. Up until now they've had Lenovo but we've found them quite fragile. Both managed to crack their screens not long after getting them (slipping off the bed or something like that), and keys on the keyboard often stop working. They also seem very sensitive to any moisture/tiny amounts of water.
So, I am looking for something more robust. I did an internet search and found Panasonic Toughbooks but they are way out of budget. I was hoping for something around the 500 pounds mark. Any advice?

OP posts:
ALLIS0N · 29/08/2020 10:14

No specific advice but battery life is a big issue for my teens.

WaxOnFeckOff · 29/08/2020 12:37

I wouldn't have thought lenovo were particularly fragile, they are standard fare for work issue laptops.

My DC both had Dell, it took dyspraxic DS2 about 5 years to crack his screen, I suspect he left it open on the floor and then piled clothes on top and then stood on it. Ds1 still has the one he's had for 7 years but to be honest rarely uses it. They are both adults now.

Try the dell outlet for a bargain?

I think some of your problem is user rather than product but they should be old enough now to be able to care for an expensive item or do without.

Original poster
hosnav · 29/08/2020 12:57

I think part of the issue is they have to take it to and from school every day, and while at school their bag is sometimes on the floor and other times in a locker. My son is also naturally quite clumsy but my daughter isn't and takes good care of her things, but hers is cracked too with certain keys not working. As for them doing without, it is compulsory for them to bring one to school and it needs to be in good working order - unfortunatly!

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 29/08/2020 13:07

I take it you are not UK? Or maybe private? Do they have decent padded bags etc?

They certainly won't last as long with that amount of carrying about though, prior to lock down I took mine to and from work every day with no issue. But I'm an adult and whilst at work it's on the desk with a separate keyboard. I presume attaching a separate keyboard isn't going to be possible whilst at school?

Dell seems to have quite a few in the outlet and there is extra discount too. I don't work for them. Both DSs laptops came as refurbs from there and lasted well but were mainly used at home or on holiday. They had desktops after a couple of years so not used every day.

WeAllHaveWings · 29/08/2020 13:10

Most laptops are not going to like being dropped or any water. Do they have a proper bag with sufficient laptop padding in it? After that they are old enough to take better care of them. Can you get insurance for them?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/08/2020 13:15

Lenovo laptops are generally fairly robust. Make sure they have proper laptop bags and sleeves for them.

Form what you say it sounds like your kids aren't looking after them at all. Laptops "slipping of the bed" isn't some sort of unavoidable event, and there is no reason for a laptop to be coming into contact with water.

MintyCedric · 29/08/2020 13:18

We've been very happy (me and teen DD) with our HP laptops, having previously had Toshiba ones which were bloody awful (they jo longer seem to make laptops which says it all!).

Make sure you get something with an SSD (solid state hard drive) as they're much more durable than a standard one, albeit less memory space.

Lidlfix · 29/08/2020 13:52

Schools are filling out Chromebooks like sweeties at the moment, have they sold their souls to Google or does that mean Chromebooks are a good bet for teens.

I had one during lockdown and hated it but it had been in use in school for many years .

Original poster
hosnav · 29/08/2020 14:09

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Lenovo laptops are generally fairly robust. Make sure they have proper laptop bags and sleeves for them.

Form what you say it sounds like your kids aren't looking after them at all. Laptops "slipping of the bed" isn't some sort of unavoidable event, and there is no reason for a laptop to be coming into contact with water.

I think the water is simply residue on their hands from washing (which if course is happening very regularly at the moment), or from like drinking from a glass with condensation and then touching the keyboard - that's why I'm saying they seem very sensitive. I had a Samsung phone and if I had in on the kitchen counter and it got the slightest bit of spray from the sink on it, it would stop working and then come back to life a day or two later! I now have a Huawei and pretty sure I could drop it in the bath and it would be fine. I do think different brands have a different level of protection to such things.
OP posts:
Original poster
hosnav · 29/08/2020 14:10

@MintyCedric

We've been very happy (me and teen DD) with our HP laptops, having previously had Toshiba ones which were bloody awful (they jo longer seem to make laptops which says it all!).

Make sure you get something with an SSD (solid state hard drive) as they're much more durable than a standard one, albeit less memory space.

Thanks, I was thinking HP may be a better brand to go with.
OP posts:
Original poster
hosnav · 29/08/2020 14:15

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine

Lenovo laptops are generally fairly robust. Make sure they have proper laptop bags and sleeves for them.

Form what you say it sounds like your kids aren't looking after them at all. Laptops "slipping of the bed" isn't some sort of unavoidable event, and there is no reason for a laptop to be coming into contact with water.

They do have bags. Apparently my son's brekage happened at school. The zip on his bag 'came open' and it fell on the stairs. The screen is still perfectly useable, even though cracked. The main issue is the keyboard as of course that is quite frustrating when a particular key doesn't work, and that seems to be related to the hyper sensitivity to 'moisture' (noone is pouring glasses of water on these things - that I know of anyway!).

@WaxOnFeckOff both private and overseas. They are coming to school in Scotland though at the end of this year and I had hoped to wait until then to buy them a new laptop so the insurance etc. is local. And they then won't have to cart it to school and back every day, which will be a bonus!

OP posts:
WooliesPickNMix · 29/08/2020 14:26

I love my Lenovo IdeaPad S145, it was only £299. I replaced an ageing HP one mid-lockdown as it wasn’t coping well with me using it to WFH (would freeze up with Teams and downloading PDFs). My Lenovo is super fast, the battery seems fine to me, and it does absolutely everything I need it to.

WaxOnFeckOff · 29/08/2020 14:42

the keyboard issue is easily solved with just plugging in a small portable keyboard (or a wireless one if that's supported) if that helps eek it out a bit longer? That would be under £20, means that they are typing further away from the screen though and would need enough space on the desk.

Original poster
hosnav · 29/08/2020 15:07

@WaxOnFeckOff

the keyboard issue is easily solved with just plugging in a small portable keyboard (or a wireless one if that's supported) if that helps eek it out a bit longer? That would be under £20, means that they are typing further away from the screen though and would need enough space on the desk.
That's a very good idea, that I hadn't thought of. Thank you very much!
OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 29/08/2020 15:12

No worries hope that helps get a bit more use out of them. DS2 who has burst his screen attaches a stand alone screen and keyboard to his to use when he is home from uni on the odd weekend as he took his desktop with him.

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