New Laptop Purchase Advice
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: France
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New Laptop Purchase Advice
Fellow Ppruners, yet again I have come to this forum for good advice. I am about to purchase my first laptop from a uk based supplier and would like to here your coments or reviews about your experience.
I will be starting a new job soon which will mean a lot of work away from home. What I would like the laptop to be able to do is the following
Be suitable for for a skype webcam connection so I can see my family.
be ablle to cope with DVD play back to watch movies with some sort of TV out so as I can attach it to a TV when in a hotel.
Be able to cope with Live feed TV. I subscribe to a website that gives live scottish football if you are outside the UK.
Play the odd game IE FIFA type football, Rugby, Civ etc
I also need it to run an office suite but would expect that even the cheapest model would cope with MS or Abillity office.
I am looking at the sub £700 models from companies such as Dell, Acer, Hp etc. Hard disk size is not too important as I would keep my office files off the PC but I would think that memory as usual would be important so I have been thinking about something with 1024m. At the lower end of the market I guess i wont be getting the fastest processor.
The big question is am I asking too much from a budget machine.
cheers
FTF
I will be starting a new job soon which will mean a lot of work away from home. What I would like the laptop to be able to do is the following
Be suitable for for a skype webcam connection so I can see my family.
be ablle to cope with DVD play back to watch movies with some sort of TV out so as I can attach it to a TV when in a hotel.
Be able to cope with Live feed TV. I subscribe to a website that gives live scottish football if you are outside the UK.
Play the odd game IE FIFA type football, Rugby, Civ etc
I also need it to run an office suite but would expect that even the cheapest model would cope with MS or Abillity office.
I am looking at the sub £700 models from companies such as Dell, Acer, Hp etc. Hard disk size is not too important as I would keep my office files off the PC but I would think that memory as usual would be important so I have been thinking about something with 1024m. At the lower end of the market I guess i wont be getting the fastest processor.
The big question is am I asking too much from a budget machine.
cheers
FTF
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SA, Australia
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Go for a better brand...
Howdy, as a Computer tech and repair shop, my advice would be to look at either a toshiba or an Asus brand. I have setup and worked on many different models and they seem to be a cut above the rest.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Combine Operations
Join Date: May 2005
Location: U.K.
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My advice - avoid Toshiba, unless you can manage without any manufacturer support. In my experience, no internet support, and unable to call 0870 numbers from abroad.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: SA, Australia
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
True Farmer but...
They normally go for years with minimal hardware issues. I saw an article recently 'promising to improve service' Who knows. I have an Asus at the moment, one of the decisions to buy was the two year international warranty.
CH3CH2OH
Currently prooning on an HP Compaq laptop (nc6120), have used various models of theirs over the years as well as Dell and Toshiba. Personally on experience I would go Tosh or HP, don't know Acer (did they used to be Texas Instruments at one point?).
Do not make the mistake of buying a comedy brand from PC world or somewhere as a friend did.... piece of junk. He's got rid of it now and bought a Sony Vaio, expensive but nice.
Do not make the mistake of buying a comedy brand from PC world or somewhere as a friend did.... piece of junk. He's got rid of it now and bought a Sony Vaio, expensive but nice.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm a software developer so don't know a great deal about hardware but may as well throw in my opinion! I've had a few MESH PC's... www.meshcomputers.co.uk They let you "build your own" so you can spend more on whats important and less on what you don't need. They also have a customisation option on each standard model so you can add bits.
I've always bought towards the top end of price range as I need a lot of power for the type of work I do. However, I'd say a budget to middle machine will very easily do what you need it to do. All the cheaper models will easily handle office, DVDs and TV out (as long as you get a TV out connection!). With regard to gaming, this is where the faster processors and higher quality graphics cards come in. With a cheaper machine, the gaming performance will not be fantastic, but it will be ok.
Hope that's of some help
I've always bought towards the top end of price range as I need a lot of power for the type of work I do. However, I'd say a budget to middle machine will very easily do what you need it to do. All the cheaper models will easily handle office, DVDs and TV out (as long as you get a TV out connection!). With regard to gaming, this is where the faster processors and higher quality graphics cards come in. With a cheaper machine, the gaming performance will not be fantastic, but it will be ok.
Hope that's of some help
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: France
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the replys guys. I have looked at the mags and Acer are certainly high on the best buy lists.
I would also consider Dell as a friend just got an amazing deal but when I go on their website the price manages to increase between the initial page and the configure page. I have looked to see any default upgrades but just cant figure it out.
I would love to go for Sony but price is a major consideration. £700 is the upper limit and the Sony spec is too low for me in that range.
I have also toyed with a Mac but just dont have the time to play with a new OS and all the possible probs linking files to the home PC.
With my wish list of what I want the machine to do do you think Iit will be possible to achieve on my budget
I would also consider Dell as a friend just got an amazing deal but when I go on their website the price manages to increase between the initial page and the configure page. I have looked to see any default upgrades but just cant figure it out.
I would love to go for Sony but price is a major consideration. £700 is the upper limit and the Sony spec is too low for me in that range.
I have also toyed with a Mac but just dont have the time to play with a new OS and all the possible probs linking files to the home PC.
With my wish list of what I want the machine to do do you think Iit will be possible to achieve on my budget
Another vote for Acer here. Have tried their after sales, new screen, no problem. Wouldn't go anywhere else.
In fact so's you know, this is being typed on my first Acer (with the replaced screen) and it's about 5 years old.
I build my normal pcs myself, so enjoy a hassle free laptop!
In fact so's you know, this is being typed on my first Acer (with the replaced screen) and it's about 5 years old.
I build my normal pcs myself, so enjoy a hassle free laptop!
N4790P
And yet another vote for ACER – Current laptop TravelMate 660. Now almost 3 years old. It gets bounced around Asia weekly and has survived well.
After sales service good also. Worn out keyboard (characters rubbed off) replaced in BKK for less than £10 while I waited.
After sales service good also. Worn out keyboard (characters rubbed off) replaced in BKK for less than £10 while I waited.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Deepest Europe...
Age: 39
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm voting for Asus. My laptop is an Asus A6712U/LH - Sempron 3000+, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD, 15.4" widescreen, DVD-Rw, currently £549. Been absolutely top notch so far, no problems at all and doesn't overheat to stupidly high temperatures like my girlfriend's Toshiba with Pentium 4 (90C at times) - my Sempron sits stably at about 48. If you're going to want to watch DVDs, you can't beat a widescreen. Generally I'd recommend Asus though - it just has a feeling of quality to it.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Snoreway :(
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An IBM, or Lenovo as it is called now. GOD i hate that name.
-Anyway, these machines are the best. BEST! shure, the design is a little black, but they are sturdy.
Lenovo is the way to go if you want a laptop that doesnt break the day after the warranty has gone to hell.
-Anyway, these machines are the best. BEST! shure, the design is a little black, but they are sturdy.
Lenovo is the way to go if you want a laptop that doesnt break the day after the warranty has gone to hell.
TheVillagePhotographer.co.uk
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Cotswolds UK
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another vote for Acer, though oddly, I have just flogged mine tonight. (Another lustful creation, this time by Messrs. Nikon, has taken my eye.)
Conan
Conan
If you fancy a Compaq or HP try e-bay. HP off load their discontinued models at auction prices. You can get a high spec machine at least £200 cheaper. You need to look for their shop.
I know it wont be the latest model but I've purchased from the high street before and found the latest model at the same price the very next week.
I know it wont be the latest model but I've purchased from the high street before and found the latest model at the same price the very next week.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: chances are, not at home
Posts: 334
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the price jump of the Dell when you go to configure your choice is because it puts the default dell support package up to the 3 year option, whereas it starts off as a one year package.
I find their products quite good and reliable, but their customer support a bit lacking. I am told they do crew discounts, but that maybe just for BA.
I find their products quite good and reliable, but their customer support a bit lacking. I am told they do crew discounts, but that maybe just for BA.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Norwich, UK
Posts: 496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a Dell Inspiron 9100 which is an awesome laptop - except for the recently discovered design fault causing it to overheat and melt.
I didn't realise all these problems i'd been having were due to a fault until the Gods of Proon pointed it out!
I was on to a techie last night for a while and I have a new Dell Inspiron 9400, guarenteed to at least meet and in some ways exceed my current set up. The customer service has been very very good (once you find a way to it via their awful website), very quick, very knowledgable.
I haven't had experience with any other companies but I would recommend Dell until I find someone better.
The Dell XPS M170 laptop looks brilliant FWIW.
Other than that, possibly a Sony Vaio (sp?) one?
I didn't realise all these problems i'd been having were due to a fault until the Gods of Proon pointed it out!
I was on to a techie last night for a while and I have a new Dell Inspiron 9400, guarenteed to at least meet and in some ways exceed my current set up. The customer service has been very very good (once you find a way to it via their awful website), very quick, very knowledgable.
I haven't had experience with any other companies but I would recommend Dell until I find someone better.
The Dell XPS M170 laptop looks brilliant FWIW.
Other than that, possibly a Sony Vaio (sp?) one?
