When it comes to school homework things have changed over the years.
Gone are the days when pupils simply needed a book and a pen to write with.
Quite often they now need to have their own laptop or device to work on, as well as certain software.
While pupils can usually use the school library or be loaned a device from school if necessary, it obviously helps them to have their own.
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Laptops can be costly though, especially if you have more than one child to buy for.
That's why we've been taking a look at one of the budget ones available from AO. Not only does the HP 14s-dq2007na 14" come with a free 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365, it's also in the retailer's clearance section, reduced to £259.
Billed as a 'no-fuss' laptop, we found it to be exactly that and within 20 minutes of taking it out of the box, we were up and running.
And 'no fuss' doesn't mean no frills either. The HD screen makes for a really clear picture, not only for schoolwork, but for using it to watch movies and shows once that's out of the way.
There's loads of storage, 128GB in fact, and the Intel Pentium Gold processor is powerful enough for what any student would be using it for - in my child's case their homework, emails and internet.
At more than seven hours, the battery life is a dream compared to our old outdated device and it's light enough to carry to and from school if needed.
Of course, you don't just have to take our word for it. The laptop has dozens of five-star reviews on the AO website from parents just as pleased with the product.
"Lightweight, easy to use and excellent features," said one. "I'm not sure it would be for avid gamers or video editors, but for work, homework, watching TV or use in class it is ideally suited.
"Good mic and camera for virtual meetings, reasonable battery life for use in a classroom scenario, decent build quality that feels substantial enough for daily use. Product was reasonably priced and delivered quickly."
Another added: "Great price and everything my daughter needs for college. Happy dad."
For more details, visit the website here.
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