New Laptop, Windows - shock horror

[AndyP]

The day I have been dreading is fast approaching, we need to get a laptop for my eldest daughter. Costs dictate that a Macbook is out of the question. One of the lower end HP laptops will suffice for a few years I hope. 4gb Ram and 500gb hard disk will do.
My question is about which version of windows, 8 or 10?
They seem to come shipped with either pre-installed and as I have not used windows for more than 8 years I am confused as to which is best.
I have read horror stories as to how bad 8 was compared to 7 and that 10 is an improvement. I'd welcome some comments from any 8 or 10 users.
I am not too bothered about parental controls but I do think it would be wise to have some kind of Admin access for me to prevent the installation of unwanted apps and by an errant child. Is this possible.
I also would welcome any thoughts on anti virus/malware to run on windows as I have never had anything on the iMAc.

 

[old]

10 no question it works very well.There are lots of controls/switches for privacy and its worth reading into the subject if its a concern .

 

[Rod]

8 was/is fearful and to be avoided.
I went from 7 to 10 and apart from a slight hiccup upgrading (for free) it works perfectly well and all my old software works which was a great relief.

Rod

 

[Rod]

I have been using Microsoft's own protection for a few years now and so far so good!
It doesn't interfere or muck up your system like some of the paid for ones do?

Rod

 

[AndyP]

10 no question it works very well.There are lots of controls/switches for privacy and its worth reading into the subject if its a concern .

Thanks Chris, I will invest in a Dummies book. The Mac when I have is very good and I expect will cover all I need to know.

 

[AndyP]

I have been using Microsoft's own protection for a few years now and so far so good!
It doesn't interfere or muck up your system like some of the paid for ones do?

Rod

Thanks Rod. Is there a protection app within win10 or is it an paid for add on?

One more thing.
Do we have to have a Microsoft account I order to access yahoo mail in the Mail app. Is it still Outlook?

 

[RogerS]

Why not get a good secondhand Mac laptop? Reasonably priced.

Can you have Admin accounts on Windows to lock them down? So your youngster has just a basic user level account without admin privileges ? Essential I'd have thought for a laptop for a youngster....to stop them loading stuff they shouldn't.

 

[AndyP]

That was my first thought. With the >£300 price tag it is not possible to find a Mac with the spec I listed above and there would be next to no guarantee.

I've been reading about the admin rights on win10 and what you suggest seems to possible and as yo say a necessity.

And the MS defender anti virus does not seem too bad if sensible precautions are taken.

 

[chippy1970]

Windows 10 just had an update this week. Lots of new things added. I had 8.1 on my cheap laptop and upgraded to win 10 when it came out. 10 is much better

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[podengo]

I bought 2 pcs for the office with windows 8 absolutely dreadful software, took me ages to find out how to switch off.

Ive now upgraded to windows 10 and installed classic shell, this makes it look and work like windows 7 -very easy to use.

 

[AndyP]

Thanks for your comments. It seems if I go for a windows laptop it will have either win10 installed or will be upgradeable.
I also have my eyes out for 2nd hand and refurb macbooks but probably too expensive.

At the moment I am trying to get my head around which is the best combination of processor speed (all appear to be dual core) cached memory and ram. I know that there is no simple answer and for a machine that will not used for gaming nor multitasking, other that web and word processing, I doubt she, nor I would notice any difference. Even so I would like it to last at least untill she gets to uni ( no guarntee of that either).

 

[9fingers]

Andy, does it have to be that new a machine for word processing and web? my newest machine is over 10 years old, dual core etc and is just fine for those tasks and sketchup ( not sure how hungry that is) playing video etc
Lithium batteries still holding up although mainly mains use tbh
laptops are 1.8GHz and desktops 3GHz - all go faster than I can :lol:
I'd have thought that it would be similar in the apple world or do they prevent older machines running new OS like they do on their iphones - b'stds

Bob

 

[RogerS]

.....
I'd have thought that it would be similar in the apple world or do they prevent older machines running new OS like they do on their iphones - b'stds

Bob

I think it is more a case of fundamental changes in the CPU architecture that means they won't run more modern versions of the OS.

 

[9fingers]

.....
I'd have thought that it would be similar in the apple world or do they prevent older machines running new OS like they do on their iphones - b'stds

Bob

I think it is more a case of fundamental changes in the CPU architecture that means they won't run more modern versions of the OS.

Ah Ok is that the computers or the phones, or both?

I find it annoying on the phones as more and more apps need the newer OS and the phone won't take the newer OS even though it still works perfectly and does all I want and the battery is holding up. (iphone 3GS)

Grrr!

Bob

 

[RogerS]

It's both. Have the same issue with iPods I have a MacBook that will only go as far as Lion. Moore's Law must have a downside!

 

[9fingers]

It's both. Have the same issue with iPods I have a MacBook that will only go as far as Lion. Moore's Law must have a downside!

Very True - it just seems like PCs have managed to avoid hardware blockages like that apart from 32 or 64 bit choice for a good few years. Maybe due to the greater diversity of manufacturers.

I've not been inside Macs since they stopped using the 68000 processor - a rather long time ago
After that they made some big changes that heavily restricted the range of applications that would run and at work we made the switch to PC possibly sometime in the 90s when apple fell from favour professionally in all but with the Graphic Artists.
I've not really looked at them since as I have all I need from PCs.

Bob

 

[AndyP]

Andy, does it have to be that new a machine for word processing and web?

Bob, Of course not. But... If I buy new it might last 10 years, if I buy a 5 yr old it might only last another five and it is supposed to be a present.

The missus thinks we ought to go for a windows machine, in order to give the the kids experience of the type of IT they would meet if they ever find work. I also have twin girls who will also need equipping in 3 years time. If I can gain familiarity with windows by then it might not be a bad thing either. When they have their own money they can make their own choices.

decisions, decisions.

 

[Rod]

I use a PC desktop running 10 and a 2009 MacBook Pro.
The PC was bought for family use as both of us used Microsoft software at work.
I bought the Mac for travelling abroad for work as I like the Mac per se and I could use Microsoft stuff on a ghost drive.
My advice for your kids is to go for Win 10 as that's what they are most likely to encounter in their school life.
Switching from one to the other is not difficult especially for youngsters!
If you go down the Mac route you could ghost the software but it can be a bit clunky at times, can slow things down and takes up a lot of storage.
Since retiring fully, I've ditched the Microsoft stuff on it so it's now running all Mac stuff again.
The 2009 model is still upgradeable to El Capitan and I've recently upgraded the RAM to 8Gbs (£42) and the HD to 1Tb (£72).
For any purchase I would always buy the best and most powerful system you can afford.

Rod