Student teacher laptop, need a push

[Simsterelli]

Hello there

I am about to embark upon a PGCE so need something suitable for study and also being a primary school teacher. Nothing too demanding but want it to last and be able to cope with Word, powerpoint, browsing, video playing and enough room to save the odd photo or vid.

I have a tiny budget but can just about stretch to the below. I LOVE the look of the Gemini chassis and lack of logo. In fact, this build looks miles ahead of anything I have seen in the shops.

Will it be OK?

Yours hopefully (and if you help me, you're kind of helping the youth of tomorrow so you can feel very smug and happy with yourself!)
Simi

Chassis & Display
Gemini Series: Aluminium Chassis: 14.1" Full HD IPS LED (1920 x 1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Celeron® Dual Core Processor N4000 (2 x 1.10GHz, 2.60GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
4GB LPDDR4 2133MHz LOW PROFILE SOLDERED
Graphics Card
INTEL® HD GRAPHICS (CPU Dependant) - 1.7GB Max DDR4 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
1st M.2 SSD Drive
32GB Hard Drive Onboard (eMMC)
2nd M.2 SSD Drive
1TB INTEL® 660p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (upto 1800MB/sR | 1800MB/sW)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated Micro-SD Memory Card Reader
AC Adaptor
1 x 24W AC Adaptor
Battery
Gemini Series Lithium Ion Battery (5000mAh)
Power Cable
1 x 1 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-3165 M.2 (433Mbps, 802.11AC) + BT
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 x USB 3.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
Keyboard Language
GEMINI SERIES UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Home 64 Bit - inc. Single Licence
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
Windows 10 Multi-Language Recovery Image - Unlimited Downloads from Online Account
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365 (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
BullGuard™ Internet Security - Free 90 Day License inc. Gamer Mode
Browser
Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
Chassis
Akstron G1417 (Celeron N4000, 4GB/32GB, FHD IPS, UMA)
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 3 to 5 working days

 

[Oussebon]

What's the budget and how much does that come to?

Does your institution provide free Windows licences / do you access Win 10 Education? iI you're unsure, may be worth finding out.

 

[Simsterelli]

This spec comes to £446 and my budget is no more than £500.

I will check re the windows licenses and Win 10 Education, thanks so much for the tip!

 

[Oussebon]

I'm not sure I'd bother with the 2 year warranty.

You're paying £69 to guard against your £*300 laptop (disregarding Windows price, since you can likely tie the Windows licence to your MS account, or get it for free anyway) dying in months 13-24 of its life.

And fundamentally, the Gemini isn't really the right chassis for you. What it does best is offer a super basic laptop with Windows for £200. Once you start adding extra storage to it, you push it into the price range where it doesn't compete so well again other laptops.

The Gemini with no Windows licence, a 1TB SSD, and a 1 year warranty costs £300.

The Ultranote with the same sort of thing is ~£400 https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/saved-configurations/ultraNoteIV-14/uDgnWKakyy/ sporting twice as many cores on the CPU, and twice as much RAM, in dual channel. Which will improve the experience especially if you end up with a lot of chrome tabs open.

And in this price range, the extent that either competes against certain off the shelf laptops from other stores is highly debatable. So do make sure to shop around online before pulling the trigger.

 

[Simsterelli]

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts, really appreciate it. Will have a good look online. So far I have not found one comparable with 1TB and a nice sleek exterior that I feel I can love! The Gemini reminds of my macbook in my (richer less altruistic) past!

 

[Simsterelli]

How do I delete this thread?

 

[Oussebon]

We (forum mods) can delete the thread, though leaving it visible could help others in a similar position / shopping for a similar product, unless you're very keen for the thread to be removed from public view?

 

[leof240]

can you connect to an external monitor?

 

[AccidentalDenz]

We (forum mods) can delete the thread, though leaving it visible could help others in a similar position / shopping for a similar product, unless you're very keen for the thread to be removed from public view?

I actually posted a question earlier about the Ultranote for my brother who is about to start uni. The advice/feedback given here pretty much answers the question I put in the other thread. Thanks.