I and A Mag Oct19

Technology for The New Term
You don’t need to pay full price for your child’s computing
If your child needs a computer for schoolwork, don’t get
downhearted by the high prices you’ll see in your local
Apple Store or electronics emporium. You don’t need to
spend a lot to get a good computer.
There are three main types of computer. Windows
ones, which run Windows 10 (don’t get ones with older
versions; that usually means the hardware’s really old
too); Chromebooks, which run Google’s Chrome operating
system; and Apple ones. For most places the choice is
entirely up to you, but some specialist courses at college
or university may require specialist software.
If you’re looking for a Windows or Chromebook laptop,
there’s good news: those kinds of laptops are almost always
on sale, so you can expect a wide range of bargains. Sites
such as Techradar.com have monthly round-ups of the best
deals, organised into price bands: at the time of writing
there’s a really nice Asus laptop for just £159, while more
expensive laptops are available with discounts ranging
from £175 to over £400. Sites often provide reviews of the
products, so you can be sure you’re not buying something
that won’t be up to the job.
Another way to save cash is to buy a refurbished computer.
This means it’s been used by somebody else and then
returned to as-new condition. A number of firms specialise
in such computers and the discounts can be enormous: for
example, Laptops Direct currently has a perfectly decent
Windows 10 laptop for just £109.
If your child wants Apple kit, you’ll know it’s often very
expensive. Shopping around doesn’t usually uncover much
in the way of discounts but you can still save money if you
know where to look. Apple has a refurbished Mac store
on Apple.com. and at the time of writing it’s offering Mac
minis with a typical saving of £140, alongside MacBooks,
MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros and iMacs with £160 to
£190 off. Third party refurbished sellers can offer even
bigger discounts but check the age of the product: may
third-party computers are a few years old, which isn’t
necessarily a problem but does affect how big a bargain
you’re getting: don’t compare the price of a three-year-old
Mac with what Apple’s charging for a new one.
End of line stock can be good too. Every time Apple
updates its product range, the previous models are often
sold at a discount. Keep an eye on eBay and you can save
stacks – we’re writing this on an iMac we got brand new for
two-thirds of the list price by looking for end of line stock
– but make sure you stick to business sellers with solid,
positive feedback going back years.
Last but not least, there are second-hand computers.
Many ‘power users’ replace their computers regularly, and
those computers are still more than powerful enough for
the rest of us. eBay and classified advertising sites such
as Gumtree can be great sources of good second-hand
computers, but be wary. If something seems too good to
be true, it usually is.
Images (top to bottom):
Google Chromebook
Apple MacBook
Microsoft Windows PCs
Apple Refurbished Store
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