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Is an HP 255 G9 laptop - 15.6", Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD laptop from DSA worth it?

I have just had a new laptop confirmed from DSA however I am seriously considering paying the upgrade costs to get a new mac book.

Is this HP laptop they’ve offered me worth it or should I just upgrade? I’d like some reviews on the model itself.

Many thanks
Reply 1
Original post by ailishewhite
I have just had a new laptop confirmed from DSA however I am seriously considering paying the upgrade costs to get a new mac book.
Is this HP laptop they’ve offered me worth it or should I just upgrade? I’d like some reviews on the model itself.
Many thanks

Do you know what the exact model of Ryzen 5 it is? It should be a four digit number after the 5, followed by a letter like U or H.

How much are they charging for an upgrade to a MacBook? Which MacBook is it? What will you be using the laptop for? What course will you be studying?
(edited 2 months ago)
Reply 2
HP 255 G9 laptop - 15.6", Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD (WKH Notebook) is the name of the laptop they’ve given me.

Upgrading to Mac book would be anywhere between £600-£3,000. I am doing a BA Hons Photography degree which is 4 years with a placement year.

Thanks for your answer :-)
Reply 3
DSA are also offering me a Lenovo V15 G4 AMN laptop. With 8GB RAM and windows 11 home.
Reply 4
Original post by ailishewhite
DSA are also offering me a Lenovo V15 G4 AMN laptop. With 8GB RAM and windows 11 home.

Have they got a list of the MacBook models available at each price point? It's impossible to know how good the value of any upgrade is without knowing the specifications, it could be a great move or it could be a literal downgrade for more money.

From what I can find of the HP and Lenovo, the Lenovo is newer and a bit more powerful. Is that a free or paid option?
Reply 5
Original post by TNGFR
Have they got a list of the MacBook models available at each price point? It's impossible to know how good the value of any upgrade is without knowing the specifications, it could be a great move or it could be a literal downgrade for more money.
From what I can find of the HP and Lenovo, the Lenovo is newer and a bit more powerful. Is that a free or paid option?


Yes I have the list - it’s all good options for the Mac book. The Lenovo also sounds good.
Reply 6
Original post by ailishewhite
Yes I have the list - it’s all good options for the Mac book. The Lenovo also sounds good.

Can you share the list?
Don't pay the £600 to £3000 for a Macbook. Use the money for something else. Such as lenses for your camera. Or a Wacom type tablet for photo editing.

I'd take the HP 255 G9, as I hate soldered RAM with a vengeance!
Lenovo don't deserve your custom for taking the stupid decision to have soldered RAM only in the V15 G4.
The RAM in the 255 G9 is easily and fairly cheaply upgradeable. How much RAM you need will depend on how many mega pixels your RAW photo files are, and how disciplined you are in having multiple application tabs open at the same time.
Reply 8
Original post by Dunnig Kruger
Don't pay the £600 to £3000 for a Macbook. Use the money for something else. Such as lenses for your camera. Or a Wacom type tablet for photo editing.
I'd take the HP 255 G9, as I hate soldered RAM with a vengeance!
Lenovo don't deserve your custom for taking the stupid decision to have soldered RAM only in the V15 G4.
The RAM in the 255 G9 is easily and fairly cheaply upgradeable. How much RAM you need will depend on how many mega pixels your RAW photo files are, and how disciplined you are in having multiple application tabs open at the same time.


That’s a really valid point - thank you
Reply 9
Original post by TNGFR
Can you share the list?


I think I know what I want to go for - it’s also a long list :-)

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