Laptop recommendations needed.

Not sure this is the right forum but...I need to purchase a laptop for my high school age daughter, who will be taking a college course/living away for the summer. I don't want to spend a ton of money as she will likely need a different laptop when she graduates from HS next summer, based on the college or her choice requirements.

My goal is something that has wifi capability and can run school related productivity, such as MS office. Once she is done with the 5-week course, this laptop would become my wife's. She is a low end user...primarily using it for internet, email, perhaps ebay listing etc. She is not a gamer or heavy music/video user.

I have seen new Dells and HP's at around $450-$500. I have seen some off brands for about $100 less.

Is there such thing as dependable used laptops or laptop rentals??

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Does she need Microsoft's Office suite? Do you already have this, or is it something you have to purchase? Or will the school provide it? What components of Office would she need? (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, OneNote, etc.) This could be the most expensive component of the laptop depending on what's needed.

 

I already own office and would load the components she would need, primarily word, perhaps powerpoint.

 

And you don't have this installed on any other computer?

 

i do have this installed on another computer, but it is an older version, 97 I think, that does not preclude multiple installations...unless i am wrong. Otherwise, I would be needing to use an open source word processing program or buy office.

 

I don't believe any version of Office allows for multiple installations. OpenOffice (available at www.openoffice.org) is a free alternative, but your daughter's class or school may require Microsoft Office. Most colleges offer this at a substantial discount. Contact the school to find out.

 

okay. Thank you for that information....Assuming that I need to purchase .....how would recommend I move forward?

 

Purchase what? A laptop or Office?

 

You may want to stay away from Acer laptops. Read this post ny another member.
http://forums.techguy.org/reviews/587699-computer-hell.html

 

DoubleHelix...a laptop.
n2gun, thanks for the link.