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We now need to send our accounts to our accountant digitally.
So we need a laptop with a big screen and be able to use excel.
It won't be used for anything else so doesn't need to be super flash.
I know nothing about computers so no tech terms please.
Thanks.
Do you need the portability of a laptop? "Big screen" would suggest that a desktop may be a better choice.
Screen resolution would be more important than absolute physical screen size, I'd hazard.
What do you mean by "use Excel"? Any old crap from Cash Converters will run Excel, but if you're dealing with huge formula-laden behemoths of spreadsheets then that changes your requirements somewhat.
Our accountant said it just needs to run the most basic of Excel.
It doesn't need to be mobile and we have decided a touch screen would be good.
Something from John Lewis would be easy for us to get.
It doesn’t need to be mobile and we have decided a touch screen would be good.
For excel and data entry keyboard and mouse are way better.
Ok. So I'd be looking at a branded desktop rather than a laptop, you'll get more for your money and have more flexibility with screen size. Something with an SSD, not for the usual performance reasons but because it's less likely to randomly go pop than a conventional mechanical hard drive.
Consider LibreOffice rather than MS Office, it's free and for "basic" use is as close to Excel as makes no odds.
Also factor in some sort of backup solution, either online storage or a USB hard disk (or better yet, both - a USB drive is great for convenience but of no use if it's plugged in to the PC and you have a fire / burglary).
I have to ask - don't you already have a PC?
We have a mac book but the system the HMRC want us to use (VT Transaction ) isn't compatible with apple.
It will be backed up by us emailing the accountant and it goes in their system.
Would prefer a laptop purely for space saving.
Chrome book with the online version of office would be my first choice. We've got a macbook, trad laptop and chrome book and the latter seems like the future for the the homeless user.
Your Macbook will run Excel.
Will you be entering data into VT transaction directly or will you be inputting into Excel & your accountant doing the rest?
We have a mac book
In that case, rather than buying a laptop/PC you could do any of the following;
- Buy Office for Mac (includes Excel)
- Buy/rent Office 365 for Mac (Includes Excel and is more modern, everything stored in cloud, so auto-backup)
- Use LibraOffice for Mac (Free, and has a spreadsheet package that's compatible with Excel)
- Use Google Docs (Free, cloud-based, compatible with Excel) - I'd probably do this unless you need especially advanced features of Excel
We will be inputting directly into VT Transaction.
Basically we need the most idiot friendly way of doing it.
Cheap laptop, big screen, mouse and keyboard. Any Laptop you find over £300 will easily do what you want
Big laptops are generally more money for not much else and unless you get a high res screen (more ££) you don't get much more
Another need is for the buttons and mouse to be as nice to use as those on our MacBook.
Would prefer a laptop purely for space saving.
What about an all-in-one, then? Full-sized keyboard and mouse, and takes up a lot less space than a desktop.
Another need is for the buttons and mouse to be as nice to use as those on our MacBook.
Given that you only want a PC to run two applications, one of which is readily available on the Mac, I'm increasingly thinking that what you really need here is Parallels.
https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/trial/
Either that or do all your Excel work on the Mac and then copy it to whatever bottom-feeder Windows netbook you can pick up from Cash Converters purely to do the VT Transaction upload. Spunking a load of money and desk space on a huge-screen PC if all you really need it for is a monthly upload seems crazy to me (disclaimer, I know nothing about VT Transaction).
I was not aware that you could put windows on a mac book. Parallels looks like a winner.
I'm assuming that once parallel is installed we then have to buy a lifetime excel subscription. Could we transfer excel to another computer if we later decide to go with a different laptop?
https://www.libreoffice.org/get-help/install-howto/os-x/
Might not work out for you, but is certainly worth trying before spending money on Office.
Alternatively, is your Mac on't Internet? Excel for free:
https://products.office.com/en-gb/office-online/documents-spreadsheets-presentations-office-online
If we go with parallel do we need to buy windows and then add excel on top?
Theoretically. I can sort you out with Windows.
I've done the mac and parallels thing and it's a total ball ache. I just removed parallels and used MS Office for Mac stuff. You can buy a version on amazon for about £10 for a year which will give you a suite of MS Office stuff. I used to pay £8 a month for it until I bought it and installed it from Amazon.
I'm selling an iMac Mid 2014 model (bought 2015) for £425 by the way 😉