computer search - homeschool edition

Make sure the laptop comes with a CD, some computers don't these days. If it's Win10 you can legally download and burn your own.

GameboyRMH wrote: Imaging or cloning the partition across is easier but not an ideal technique - usually that software doesn't handle differently sized partitions well, especially if the target drive is smaller. The cloning tool's boot CD also needs to support all the hardware you're using in the operation. And it won't save you from any of the post-cloning work you might have to do - I don't think there would be any in Win7+ though. On that note, with Linux filesystems, cloning could create two partitions with the same UUID! So it's worth a try but it's not a sure thing and you might end up with a bit of unallocated hard drive space.

I've used Acronis a number of times with no issues, absolutely no work "post-cloning," and no unallocated space. There's also no boot CD, it installs under Windows, does its thing, then shuts down and you swap the drives and it's working.

It's light-years beyond what I used to have to do as a computer tech with xcopy and MBR editing. If this tool was out there when I was doing this E36 M3 for a living I would have been so much happier!

I this Acronis software is real stuff that you have to buy...

I don't see that Dell's come with the CD.

Do they come with a product key? What was that comment about it all being in the BIOS? I can flash drive Windows 10 into it, right?

Just curious - what uses are there for homeschool computers that drive the performance requirements up so much?

99% of what most public school students do could be done on a Linux compute-stick of some sort, especially since it is mostly web based stuff these days (which is why I am shocked to hear of problems affording "computer labs").

failboat wrote: I actually did not notice a huge difference when they got me upgraded to an SSD. We had some network improvements around that time so sometimes I attribute the speed to that but it may have something to do with my hard drive too.

I recently took the optical drive out of my Macbook Pro, moved the hard drive to that spot for bulk storage and installed an SSD for the boot and application drive. Good lord, did it ever make a speed difference.

Although if I was only running one of them, I'd probably stick with a big hard drive over a smaller SSD for the same money.

tuna55 wrote: I this Acronis software is real stuff that you have to buy... I don't see that Dell's come with the CD. Do they come with a product key? What was that comment about it all being in the BIOS? I can flash drive Windows 10 into it, right?

I don't know about the product key. But the Acronis software is licensed with a lot of hard drives and SSD's. It came free (well, a download key and license did) with the Crucial SSD I bought earlier this year. I know Western Digital drives also used to come with an Acronis license included, "free."

ProDarwin wrote: Just curious - what uses are there for homeschool computers that drive the performance requirements up so much? 99% of what most public school students do could be done on a Linux compute-stick of some sort, especially since it is mostly web based stuff these days (which is why I am shocked to hear of problems affording "computer labs").

There are lots of things, it's a big long boring list. Many of their online and computer based lessons have graphics involvement. Some of the stuff is on CD and will likely stay that way for the future. Our current laptop is a cheapie, but probably matches the lower spec units out there now, and it's not adequate for normal use really.

dculberson wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I this Acronis software is real stuff that you have to buy... I don't see that Dell's come with the CD. Do they come with a product key? What was that comment about it all being in the BIOS? I can flash drive Windows 10 into it, right?

I don't know about the product key. But the Acronis software is licensed with a lot of hard drives and SSD's. It came free (well, a download key and license did) with the Crucial SSD I bought earlier this year. I know Western Digital drives also used to come with an Acronis license included, "free."

Cool.

Dell also agrees that if I buy from their website, I keep the warranty. I hope they'll honor that.

tuna55 wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Just curious - what uses are there for homeschool computers that drive the performance requirements up so much? 99% of what most public school students do could be done on a Linux compute-stick of some sort, especially since it is mostly web based stuff these days (which is why I am shocked to hear of problems affording "computer labs").

There are lots of things, it's a big long boring list. Many of their online and computer based lessons have graphics involvement. Some of the stuff is on CD and will likely stay that way for the future. Our current laptop is a cheapie, but probably matches the lower spec units out there now, and it's not adequate for normal use really.

When you say graphics involvement... you mean 3D accelerated stuff?

My son is only 1 right now. I don't intend to home school, but I'd love to supplement with "fun" educational material on a computer (or just have it boot straight to Wikipedia ). I'm hoping by the time he reaches the age where he is using one, a RaspberryPi 7 or similar $25 computer stuck to the back of an old monitor is more than adequate. Hell, the Pi3 is already significantly faster than anything I had in high school.

ProDarwin wrote:

tuna55 wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Just curious - what uses are there for homeschool computers that drive the performance requirements up so much? 99% of what most public school students do could be done on a Linux compute-stick of some sort, especially since it is mostly web based stuff these days (which is why I am shocked to hear of problems affording "computer labs").

There are lots of things, it's a big long boring list. Many of their online and computer based lessons have graphics involvement. Some of the stuff is on CD and will likely stay that way for the future. Our current laptop is a cheapie, but probably matches the lower spec units out there now, and it's not adequate for normal use really.

When you say graphics involvement... you mean 3D accelerated stuff? My son is only 1 right now. I don't intend to home school, but I'd love to supplement with "fun" educational material on a computer (or just have it boot straight to Wikipedia ). I'm hoping by the time he reaches the age where he is using one, a RaspberryPi 7 or similar $25 computer stuck to the back of an old monitor is more than adequate. Hell, the Pi3 is already *significantly* faster than anything I had in high school.

not 3D... yet. My oldest is 8. Mom is trying out a new Math curriculum that's heavily PC based, and our PC is not very good at it.

I'm looking for something which will not be spec limited for a good number of years.

I do not like HP.

Dell and Lenovo have been decent. SSD is definitely something you'll want.

Keith Tanner wrote:

failboat wrote: I actually did not notice a huge difference when they got me upgraded to an SSD. We had some network improvements around that time so sometimes I attribute the speed to that but it may have something to do with my hard drive too.

I recently took the optical drive out of my Macbook Pro, moved the hard drive to that spot for bulk storage and installed an SSD for the boot and application drive. Good lord, did it ever make a speed difference. Although if I was only running one of them, I'd probably stick with a big hard drive over a smaller SSD for the same money.

SSD's are worth it. I am planning to do the same with my Macbook Pro. It already has an SSD boot drive (250GB is enough for my laptop, my desktop on the other hand... not so much) I plan to take the optical drive out and put in another SSD for bootcamp Windows 10.

P.S. If anyone wants a Macbook Pro I have 2 left for sale. 2010, 15"