Need a new laptop.... advise please?

[750XL]

Hi all,

Long story short, I'm ditching my job and heading for something brand new that involves 3 years worth of study away from home, and I'm in the market for a new laptop to replace my 9 year old dying Dell Inspiron that's served me well over the years.

I used to be well up on the latest specs and price ranges of computing equipment, but these days I haven't got a clue where to start, what I'm looking at, or what budget :E

I don't need anything fancy, just something that'll operate Microsoft Office, browse the net, play videos/movies, stream TV shows and that sort of stuff.

I have absolute no idea what I should be spending on the laptop. I'm inclined to get another Dell as this one has served me so well over the years but I'm aware laptops are probably all pretty much the same these days.

Any bits of advice etc would be appreciated!

[cdtaylor_nats]

Try out a chromebook if you will always be near a good internet connection. Possibly invest in a chromecast.

[Saab Dastard]

There was a thread recently with some useful info: http://www.pprune.org/computer-internet-issues-troubleshooting/593831-recommendations-home-desktop-laptop.html

[G0ULI]

Any of the brand name laptops should be fine, Dell, HP, Acer, etc. Depending on where you will be travelling or working, opting for a cheaper, less desirable model might be a good choice. Most computers are pretty reliable from an electrical point of view if treated with a bit of care and consideration, so really it is only worth paying for the features you need. Ruggedised laptops are too heavy and expensive. Much better to go with a cheaper option and spend a bit on a decent padded carrying case. It really is possible to do everything on one of the larger screen mobile phones too, in case you really want to travel light.

[750XL]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dell-Inspiron-Laptop-Intel-Windows/dp/B01N5MBZD9/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I was thinking about the Dell Inspiron 15 3000, seems to be a good all-rounder

[olympus]

Just gone through all this myself. In the end its all fairly subjective but Dell are currently offering £100 off some laptops bought off their site (although this may end tonight 31 May) and a web search (look for dmxdimension.com) will find a site offering codes for a 5% discount off HP laptops, bought off HP's own site.

For what it's worth, I went for an HP machine; ordered today, they are threatening to deliver it tomorrow!

[FlightlessParrot]

Will you be travelling with it a lot? 15.6" screened machines seem to be cheaper here in NZ than 14" but they're bigger to shlep around.

If you will be studying, you're probably going to be writing a lot, so keyboard could be important. But if the machine will spend all its time sitting on a desk, a separate keyboard will be cheaper and more satisfactory than choosing the laptop with the best keyboard.

I think it possible that a Chromebook wouldn't really be a good choice for Office.

My sense is that laptop specs haven't changed in ways that matter to the average user for years, except that a solid-state hard disk really makes a difference.

For what it's worth, the biggest tech dealer here regularly has off-lease Thinkpads and Dell Latitudes at very good prices. I've had good luck with a couple of Lenovo Thinkpads, and I got a Latitude from a different source which is also nice, and well up to non-gaming needs despite being a couple of years old (choose the machines that weren't used much). May not be right for you, but worth thinking about if your machine is going to travel a lot.

[750XL]

I've ended up with this from PC World, price seemed reasonable and the quality seems good.

HP Pavilion 15-au076sa 15.6" Laptop - White Deals | PC World (http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-pavilion-15-au076sa-15-6-laptop-white-10146648-pdt.html?istCompanyId=9a35962d-802d-4e67-9721-0a3328ca1f02&istItemId=xtmmpiqtam&istBid=tztx&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~0000+%28PLA%29+All+Products~All+Products~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&kwid=GOOGLE&device=c&ds_kids=92700014254440487&PLA=1&gclid=CMKpgayXndQCFYc-GwodgH4MiQ&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CPGElKyXndQCFcviGwodlxIP_g)

But Windows 10 is bloody horrific! Plus all the ****e that comes pre-loaded onto the laptop from HP / PC World.

Is there any way to factory restore it to just bare bones W10 without all the HP/PC World crap?

[crablab]

Look at eBay - you can generally get last year's model for 1/3rd of the price! I personally recommend ThinkPads and you can get something like a T450s for £400.

Re, removing bloatware. The best way is to completely re install the operating system from new, using Microsoft's disk image NOT your manufacturers.

[Bushfiva]

If you've liked your old Dell for 9 years, why not stick with them? I've a cheap-as-chips 2-in-1 Dell which works just fine. You just want to run Office, so any computer will spend its entire life just waiting for you to hit the next key.

[wowzz]

Another vote for Dell. Have used them at work and for personal use for 20 years, and never had a problem.

[Biggles78]

But Windows 10 is bloody horrific!
Download and install ClassicShell (http://www.classicshell.net/downloads/) (click the name) onto your Windows 10 headache. This will give you a Windows 7 type menu and help find you way round Windog 10. I have installed this on every laptop that has passed my hands that was running Windows 8.1 and that Dog 10.