In the coffee room, discussions have recently erupted several times about the strengths and weaknesses of different phone and computer models and their operating systems. Many seem to have extensive views on the matter, but at some point, those craving a more relaxed, investment-oriented discussion have started to wish for the topic to be dropped. So, perhaps it would be appropriate for this to have its own thread? The existence of such a thread could probably be justified in much the same way as the car thread, i.e., making suitable IT choices can have a positive impact on one’s personal finances.
As a basis for discussion, I could cautiously state that, on the one hand, both Android and iOS on the phone side, and on the other hand, both Windows, MacOS, and Linux on the laptop and desktop side, have very diverse user bases, from beginners to top experts. Therefore, I would not label any user of an operating system or device based on this choice, nor would I put them into any box.
If such a thread already exists or there is no need for one, the thread can certainly be deleted; I won’t be offended
I bought a device like this for the same purposes as you from an online store offer for €749. I’m quite satisfied with my choice, but the sound quality of the device is worse than my first Sony Walkman cassette player in 1998. Just treble.
I’ve used Asus Vivo and Zenbooks before and have only had good user experiences. My previous Zenbook is 5 years old and still works, but the battery dies in under an hour if I watch videos.
A few days ago, there was a discussion here about computers and phones.
Please recommend a reasonably good laptop for university studies (health sciences).
~95% of studies are remote, so it will be used quite a lot. On the other hand, the use will not be very demanding, mainly PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc. So it doesn’t need to be able to run any heavy software or games.
Plus points for battery life, quietness, and lightweight size. Preferably a 14-inch screen or larger.
Price range about 600-700€, a small overrun is fine if there are good reasons.
A much cheaper laptop is perfectly sufficient for studying. Those who are more familiar with models can give more specific recommendations, but that price range is blatantly overkill.
I’d go with a lightweight Chromebook for that. For example, the Asus Chromebook CX1400.
But most of them are pretty much the same, so go to a store and pick the one that catches your eye. 300-400 euros should be enough.
Macbooks are 5/5 for school use, especially if you own an iPhone.
According to hearsay, these Macbooks remain quite good for years. For example, I currently have a 2-year-old Asus laptop that is screaming and only has a couple of hours of battery life left. My partner has a Macbook, and it’s excellent to use with good battery life; it takes a while to get used to the operating system. All the laptops I’ve owned have stayed good for a maximum of 3 years, then it starts going downhill.
Having bought an HP plastic junker for my studies, I offer one piece of advice: don’t buy an HP plastic junker. The most annoying feature was the circular saw that came with the laptop; some people also called it a fan.
You can probably get a good enough laptop for about 400€ (Intel i3, FHD, 14", SSD, etc.) depending on offers, but I would personally invest 500-600€ in a slightly better laptop.
Can I/am I able to claim tax deductions for a computer in a degree-granting education, even though it’s in the same field as my current profession where I continue my studies? I don’t really need a computer in my current position, except of course for self-directed study in the field, etc…
If you genuinely need native Microsoft software, then PCs definitely beat Macs and Chromebooks. However, if you just used those to indicate the usage, and Google’s equivalents, for example, would suffice, then Chromebooks are good in terms of price/lightness/battery (as long as you don’t buy the cheapest one). But you can’t install regular software on them.
New MacBooks don’t fit into the price range, maybe used ones. They do hold their value well, though.
On the PC side, Lenovo is highly valued by many companies. Used business devices (e.g., X1 series, T14 series) or new premium consumer devices (e.g., Yoga Slim series) fit into the price range. The Dell XPS series is also on the lighter side (unlikely to fit into the price range when new). Lenovo’s own online store often offers student discounts if you have a school email address.
But as mentioned above, whatever you do, don’t buy any plastic, so-called market machine; they are designed to be bad at everything and force you to buy a new one within a couple of years.
