I thought this could stop in JB for a day as it gets more reads than the computery one.... but mods feel free to move it if it must be moved...

If I was after a cheap laptop, just to check emails from and basic word/excel stuff would you be willing to pay £350 for this spec:

Toshiba satellite S3000-X11
Pentium 3 1Ghz processor
20 Gb hard drive
256 Mb ram
DVD player
floppy drive
modem
14.1 TFT screen
Carry case
battery/charger
6 months warranty..


OR where would you go for a cheap laptop?

Ta in advance

Personally, no. That must be a pretty old machine to have a P3 1gig. You may get a 'warranty' but how about the battery and weight?

Dell are doing some cracking deals (yes I know they have their detractors, but I've been delighted with mine). Bought my kids an entry-level Dell laptop each earlier this year and they have a massive spec compared to the one you describe, TC. They were about £650 each, have had loads of use (and probably abuse) and have run faultlessly. Think they are the best part of £100 cheaper now.

Just because you don't want to do much with it, don't (IMHO) settle for an old machine at quite a high price.

Just my thoughts.

TC I bought something similar on eBay some time ago.Check if any O.S. is installed. These things seem to come from companies doing surveys etc. and as such had specialised software, now removed. Got it up and running finally, after lots of problems. Check your local paper, shops like Lidl sometimes have laptops at good prices.

Look for places like Morgan Computers, they often have good deals on end of run, bankrupt and refurbished machines. Generally a better bet than buying some ratty old machine on eBay.

TC 450 My colleague has just bought a brand new Packard Bell laptop from an Indian sounding store(that was devious wasn't it!!) with a 2.8 Ghz AMD processor 40Gb hard drive 256Mb and all the usual stuff for £550.
So no I wouldn't buy the Tosh.

Go to the Dell.com website and look that their refurbished machines.

I have had 5 dells. Never had a problem with any of them. Excellent support when i did something stupid.

The refurbished machines are a product of their satisfaction guarnteed no questions asked return policy I believe. What they do is completely dismantle and then reassemble any returns and they come with the full warntee and a nice discount.

Got me a most excellent inspiron 300m laptop loaded to the eyeballs for about 1500 dollars. Thats the new generation extra light and small laptop. Huge drive etc....

Cheers,
Wino

The laptop spec is ok for what you say you're going to use it for, but i think that £350 is a bit expensive.