# Laptop £250 budget **URL:** \ **Category:** General Chat\ **Created:** [1 September 2019 15:44 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405 "2019-09-01T15:44:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Dope](https://community.monzo.com/u/Dope)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 15:44 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/1 "2019-09-01T15:44:18Z")
I’m after a laptop for my son. Will be mainly used for homework but he likes to play the odd game on it (although generally uses Xbox for that). Any recommendations? Most likely an xmas present… will laptops change much between now and then? 2nd hand vs new? Any help appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![TTJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@TTJJ](https://community.monzo.com/u/TTJJ)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:00 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/2 "2019-09-01T16:00:46Z")
You can get a basic laptop for that price easily - I bought one in an emergency when mine broke for £190. To be fair they function fine for stuff like office and browsing, even streaming is fine but probably not for gaming. Second hand your money will go a lot further if on eBay but then you don’t get the warranty or extra support if needed so keep that in mind. I bought mine from eBuyer last time - they have decent prices. ---
**Author:** ![kolok](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/kolok/32/46634_2.png) [@kolok](https://community.monzo.com/u/kolok)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:05 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/3 "2019-09-01T16:05:58Z")
I would look at a refurbished ex business machine from a business seller on eBay. Something like a Lenovo ThinkPad or dell latitude. It’s often luck of the draw as these sellers have lots of stock and you could get a pristine one or sometimes one with cosmetic damage. These machines are better imo than the £200 new ones , but look at Currys and Argos’s eBay accounts and you can get some laptops there cheap but bear in mind that these usually have tiny internal memory. ---
**Author:** ![o99](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/o99/32/83033_2.png) [@o99](https://community.monzo.com/u/o99)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:14 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/4 "2019-09-01T16:14:30Z")
Do you have an OS requirement? I have a need for Windows and a mid-to-high spec laptop. But if I didn’t and had a £250 budget I’d be tempted to take a look at Chromebooks. ---
**Author:** ![TTJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@TTJJ](https://community.monzo.com/u/TTJJ)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:19 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/5 "2019-09-01T16:19:05Z")
I was just thinking that as an afterthought - Chromebooks are insanely good value. They’re really well priced and specs don’t matter as much as they do on Windows as Chrome OS is very good at managing on low specs. ---
**Author:** ![anon70107404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon70107404](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon70107404)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:25 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/6 "2019-09-01T16:25:40Z")
I use a Chromebook. Much under rated. They’d be the perfect machine for most people for most things (not IT nerds, designers or pro photographers). They’re bloody good machines. People think they need MS Word or Adobe Photoshop mainly because that’s why they’ve heard of, not because they really need it. I would consider a Chromebook if I were you. ---
**Author:** ![Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Dope](https://community.monzo.com/u/Dope)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:29 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/7 "2019-09-01T16:29:16Z")
Chromebook is definitely on the consideration list. There seems to be so many of them. I’ve completely lost track with specs now. No idea what is and isn’t good. Is there a particular make of Chromebook worth going for? I think the O/S is fine for my son as it’s generally office like apps he’ll need so Google’s own version is fine… and internet browsing. ---
**Author:** ![TTJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@TTJJ](https://community.monzo.com/u/TTJJ)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:31 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/8 "2019-09-01T16:31:41Z")
Asus and HP are well known for their chromebooks. I think you’d be safe with other brands too though because they’re all certified and tested by Google to be able to run Chrome OS. I wouldn’t worry. Obviously the better the specs are the smoother it will run though. Even if people do need Word and the likes, there’s an excellent Word web app that functions much the same as the Windows version now. Plus it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![krr13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d26b3c/32.png) [@krr13](https://community.monzo.com/u/krr13)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:34 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/9 "2019-09-01T16:34:54Z")
Defo a Chromebook. I would never go back to a PC if I dont need to download software. ---
**Author:** ![Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Dope](https://community.monzo.com/u/Dope)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:35 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/10 "2019-09-01T16:35:28Z")
Do Chromebooks require anti virus like most Windows machines? I reckon the only games he’d want to play on a laptop are Minecraft and Roblox…nothing extreme or needy of a super graphics processor. ---
**Author:** ![anon70107404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon70107404](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon70107404)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:40 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/11 "2019-09-01T16:40:17Z")
> [@Dope](#): > > Do Chromebooks require anti virus like most Windows machines? No. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/original/3X/b/5/b5190d4047510275c7b63e4a572dd9a845071cfe.jpeg "If you’re tired of viruses, You Chromebook") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-WPIZcTGpI) They’re doing a massive advertising campaign, at the moment, that makes a point of this. (Dig at MS Windows) ---
**Author:** ![anon70107404](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@anon70107404](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon70107404)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:41 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/12 "2019-09-01T16:41:22Z")
> [@Dope](#): > > Is there a particular make of Chromebook worth going for? Have a browse of: > **[Reviews | Chrome Unboxed](https://chromeunboxed.com/reviews/)** > > This is where it all began for Chrome Unboxed. Years ago, we existed simply as a Chrome OS device review channel on YouTube. After expanding our reach, we still remain dedicated to offering timely and thorough reviews of the latest Chrome OS... and > **[Chromebooks | Chrome Unboxed](https://chromeunboxed.com/chromebooks/)** > > Chromebooks are the heart of the Chrome OS experience. At their core, Chromebooks are the purest expression of Google's operating system. Here, you'll find only articles and stories about Chromebooks, their features, and what makes them great. I’m currently using a Google Chromebook Pixel 2015. I love this laptop. Extremely capable still at four years old. Always found PCs to be quite sluggish after very little use. [![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/original/3X/9/0/906a46e4d67e69c1fd461089e7c0be257714ad42.jpeg "Review: the new Chromebook Pixel packs a big punch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XieZIC6XnCw) It’s was silly expensive when I bought it. You can pick them up at sensible prices now - around your budget - and the (touchscreen) display is magnificent. Superb quality. ---
**Author:** ![krr13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d26b3c/32.png) [@krr13](https://community.monzo.com/u/krr13)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:43 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/13 "2019-09-01T16:43:38Z")
Lenovo IdeaPad S330 14 Inch 4GB 32GB Chromebook - Black is what I’ve got. Cost me £169.99 at Argos. ---
**Author:** ![Dope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@Dope](https://community.monzo.com/u/Dope)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:44 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/14 "2019-09-01T16:44:45Z")
Thanks for all replies. Super helpful. Another possibility is getting a PC tower for £250 as we already have a TV (for his Xbox) and an existing keyboard and mouse. ---
**Author:** ![TTJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@TTJJ](https://community.monzo.com/u/TTJJ)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:50 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/15 "2019-09-01T16:50:10Z")
Again can easily pick those up for around £200. I got a Lenovo one for my grandad and it’s still running fine after a few years. Not blazing fast or anything but more than suits what he uses it for. Take [this](https://www.ebuyer.com/909097-hp-pavilion-590-a0020na-intel-celeron-4gb-1tb-win-10-home-desktop-pc-4rt69ea) as an example for a HP one, nothing amazing but specs are more than enough for browsing, streaming etc. ---
**Author:** ![anon24692559](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@anon24692559](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon24692559)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:54 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/16 "2019-09-01T16:54:33Z")
I love my Chromebook, not suitable for work as we need a secure VPN, but when not working I’m always on my Chromebook, does everything I need it to. Near instant start up and shut down, excellent battery life, it annoys me when using my windows laptop how long I have to wait for it to start and its got decent specs. ---
**Author:** ![TTJJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@TTJJ](https://community.monzo.com/u/TTJJ)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 16:55 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/17 "2019-09-01T16:55:50Z")
> [@anon24692559](#): > > it annoys me when using my windows laptop how long I have to wait for it to start Are you running Windows 10? You should check if you’ve got Fast Boot disabled for some reason - Windows 10 is very fast to boot up now even on not great hardware. ---
**Author:** ![anon24692559](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@anon24692559](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon24692559)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 17:00 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/18 "2019-09-01T17:00:49Z")
Yep its turned on still substantially slower than near instant start up on a Chromebook ---
**Author:** ![kolok](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/monzo/user_avatar/community.monzo.com/kolok/32/46634_2.png) [@kolok](https://community.monzo.com/u/kolok)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 17:20 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/19 "2019-09-01T17:20:53Z")
Which VPN protocols aren’t supported on Chromebooks? ---
**Author:** ![anon24692559](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@anon24692559](https://community.monzo.com/u/anon24692559)\ **Post date:** [1 September 2019 17:33 UTC](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405/20 "2019-09-01T17:33:08Z")
I never mentioned a protocol not working on a Chromebook. My fault for not specifically saying my work VPN will not work on a Chromebook. [Next page](https://community.monzo.com/t/laptop-250-budget/78405.md?page=2)