Setting up laptop for college bound son

gsxrken · gsxrken's Garage

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

masraum · 08-21-2018, 04:57 PM

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).

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

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

Soterik · Soterik's Garage

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"

stomachmonkey · 08-21-2018, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxrken

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

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

Because it's practically free that way.

masraum · 08-21-2018, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

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.

Jims5543 · 08-21-2018, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxrken

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

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.

SoCal911T · 08-21-2018, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soterik

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"

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

mattdavis11 · 08-21-2018, 07:02 PM

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.

JavaBrewer · JavaBrewer's Garage

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.

mepstein · 08-22-2018, 07:03 PM

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.