Setting up laptop for college bound son
 

Just got a Lenovo t480 thinkpad for my son to use at college. Also bought office suite. Setup went smoothly enough but I do wonder if I should add a virus or malware package of some sort. What’s out there that is worth the money?
TIA

Get him to use Chrome or Firefox for a browser instead of IE. That won't make it invulnerable, but it does cut the attacks a fair amount.

Also, depending upon what version of Windows it's running, there should be some form of free Microsoft virus/malware protection. The last several versions have been excellent (I dare say as good as anything that you have to pay for).

Norton kept causing issues, so I uninstalled and use defender + Malwarebytes

Your kid is texting his friends right now "I had to let dad setup the new laptop, I'll fix his f'ups when I get it from him tomorrow"

Did you buy Office Suite through the campus or on student discount?

Because it's practically free that way.

THis ^^^

LOTS of the expensive software is super cheap with student discounts.

I use Avast on all my office PC's pay version, my receptionist is kind of dull and will fall for click bait.

I am sitting here wondering why a father is setting up a sons laptop for college, not being mean, just seems the script it flipped in this instance.

I go to my 25 year old son when I need computer help because he is way more savy than I am and has been since he was in high school.

My 15 year old will probably be like you son, I just purchased a Asus laptop for him for High School and had to walk him through everything setting it up. I made him do it all though so he would learn. His older bother was building his own gaming PC's by 15.

It is amazing how 2 kids can be so different.

LOL, yes, I'm guessing the son knows ten times more about it than Dad.

Just went through this Saturday. We bought him a HP Pavillion, and he set it up.

Microsoft office 16 with student discount is $79.99 and good for 4 years through Microsoft. I insisted he ask the university if they have a better deal. If it's the same, we will opt to buy at full price $159.99. Who knows what it will cost once expired in 4 years.

I did download the driver for our printer, but that doesn't really count as setting it up.

No idea what your son needs to succeed in college. I fell into the trap of over buying a computer (MacBook Pro...though used) because I am a Software Engineer. Turns out my kids are totally fine with a late model Chrome Book as all their classes are using Google Drive...yep they are not in sciences. New CB laptops in great form factor and 8+ hours of battery are $200 new from store. YMMV.

I bought Mac pros for both my kids when they went into high school. Great purchase. Son just bought a new one himself once he graduated college 8 years and I just bought my daughter a new Mac air now that she’s a junior in college since hers was getting glitchy after 6 years. The new ones are so much lighter and smaller it was a good upgrade. Neither of their computers had any issues. All their friends have macs. For what college cost, I didn’t want them to be limited and I didn’t want computer issues.