[Archived] Laptops - Prices, Suppliers, Best Models Etc

[SamTheShrew]

I have recently been left some cash in a will so I want to put some of this towards a new laptop, ready for my PGCE in September.

I know very little about computers really, so I would like your help if possible.

I have been told to get a laptop that has a dual core processor, and at least 2gb harddrive.

Is this possible at a top price of say £400-500?

Does anybody know any good models, or the cheapest places to buy them?

thanks in advance

Sam )

[Shabani]

You'll probably be looking at a Dell Inspiron for that price

Don't

Mines rubbish and i'm never buying another dell again

[Cocker]

I know you said you can only goto £500 but I have recently picked this up and I think its great - Click. You wont be gaming on it or anything but will do for what you have stated below (it will run football manager fine though )

If you want to drop the price down a bit this should do the trick though - Click

[LeChuck]

Had a quick scan and these seem the best couple of deals around at the moment (probably won't last long so don't take too long deciding):

This Samsung from Argos is excellent value at £399, plus you can add a free case and mouse worth £40: http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5082432/Trail/searchtext%3ESAMSUNG+R519.htm

If portability is important then this HP from Amazon is excellent at £449, the specs match up to any larger laptop: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002P8M9TA/ref=nosim/?tag=hotukdeals-21

That second Toshiba Cocker linked to looks excellent value if that £50 cashback is straightforward, I haven't looked in to it though.

Finally just a quick point...the 2gb you mentioned will be for RAM, not hard drive! Just worth noting when you're choosing. To be honest in the price range you're looking, those minimum specs you've listed are going to be exceeded by almost everything, that's the kind of criteria you'd put on sub £300 laptops really.

[MeanGreenMachine]

www.ebuyer.com

These guys usually do really good deals on laptops.

Have a look at what takes your fancy then put it in on amazon and read some reviews.

[Hughesy]

I got a Vaio for £360...

[SamTheShrew]

thanks for your quick replies guys. Ideally I want a laptop with a 15"+ screen as opposed to a notebook.

Le Chuck - Yes I mean 2gb ram! you can see how little I know about computers!

Hughesy - where did you get that deal?

[LeChuck]

No problem.

Sorry to be pedantic but I wouldn't want you getting confused by this when you're browsing websites...

Notebooks are the same as laptops. I think notebook might the American term? Either way they're the same thing. Netbooks are the small ones. It wasn't the greatest idea to give them such similar names.

[Hughesy]

Hughesy - where did you get that deal?

It was on Very.co.uk for £500

However I found a 20 off voucher (£100) - and then got 10% cashback, using top cash back (£40)

If you check the net there is usually a 20-30% voucher knocking around for very

[Harry Balls]

Toshiba is a good brand - they use good quality hardware compared to other manufacturers like Sony.

However, if you're willing to pay a bit more then I would definitely recommend a Mac. The problem at the moment with most PC's on the market is that they are running the new Microsoft OS, Windows 7. Now if history's anything to go by then it will probably be at least a couple of years (if ever) until Microsoft fix most of the bugs. The advantage of the Mac OS X is that it's based on Unix which, by default, makes it much more stable and efficient than an equivalent Windows machine.

Apple have recently released a new style Macbook, so if you shop around I'm sure you'll be able to find one in the old style at a bargain price.

[SamTheShrew]

The thing with a mac is that I really should be using programmes at home that I shall be using in University or on placement, and this is definitely going to be MS Office, and likely to be Windows 7.

I went into comet briefly earlier just for some ideas, and I came across a couple that I think are suitable for me. Your opinions would be most grateful!

HP Pavilion dv6-2112sa

Pavilion 2114sa

looking at the above two, I think the latter one is more for entertainment and is maybe not such a professional laptop?

Sony VAIO EB1E0E

Are LED screens better than LCD?

thanks again!

[Hughesy]

LED is the new tech.

1st plasma, then LCD, now LED.

[LeChuck]

I went into comet briefly earlier just for some ideas, and I came across a couple that I think are suitable for me.

You'll have to give us a better idea of what it'll be used for.

If it is just for your PGCE (i.e. Office applications) then you don't need to spend anywhere near that amount, anything you buy at that price will overkill. Battery life would probably be the main differentiator since any combination of processor/ram/graphics would be more than adequate for that kind of use.

[Harry Balls]

The thing with a mac is that I really should be using programmes at home that I shall be using in University or on placement, and this is definitely going to be MS Office, and likely to be Windows 7.

I went into comet briefly earlier just for some ideas, and I came across a couple that I think are suitable for me. Your opinions would be most grateful!

HP Pavilion dv6-2112sa

Pavilion 2114sa

looking at the above two, I think the latter one is more for entertainment and is maybe not such a professional laptop?

Sony VAIO EB1E0E

Are LED screens better than LCD?

thanks again!

Well you can run most Microsoft applications on a Mac these days and you also have the option of running Windows alongside the OS X if you really needed to. But I guess if you're more comfortable with a Windows machine then here's a good one:

Toshiba Satellite A500

Toshiba make really good laptops mainly because they don't cut costs as much as their competitors when putting them together. Also, I wouldn't worry about it being a refurbished machine - I've both three laptops like this in the past and they're pretty much sparkling new when you get them. You also get a one year guarantee as well.

If I can still bend your arm about a Mac, then here's a good, ridiculously cheap option:

Apple MacBook 13

On paper the Toshiba looks a better machine, but in practice there's likely to be very little difference since Unix based operating systems don't hog anywhere near as much memory as any Windows. Also, Mac's are much less prone to virus's, freezing, crashes, hackers, etc.

Regarding LED vs LCD; I may be wrong but I think there is no difference in the display panel, it's just that the former uses a different back-lighting technology to save power.

[Iceman]

You'll probably be looking at a Dell Inspiron for that price

Don't

Mines rubbish and i'm never buying another dell again

A bit harsh on Dell. I have an Inspiron 1525, with 4GB ram. Ive not had any problems with it, and its working quite well. Its mainly used for light work, no gaming. I upgraded from 2 to 4GB ram, and bought a terabyte external hard drive. The only problem i have, is that despite it being a core 2 duo, its only 1.66ghz processor. I would say, that these days, people are going for quad core pc's with more than a 2.0ghz processor. Dell are a good brand, and in terms of support are easier to deal with than Toshiba.

[Billy Castell]

Acer are OK. They're not that superb in terms of performance, and have the odd moment, but they chug along for the basic stuff alright. HP are pretty good though.

[grizfoot]

Anybody got any advice on which laptop I should buy? Only really need it for internet usage and little bits of work (mainly excel and word). Alhough it would ideally be powerful enough to run Football Manager and the ocassional video I may want to watch. I do like the look of the Sony's Vaio range of laptops but not sure which one in the range would be best or indeed if there's better alternatives out there. Any suggestitons would greatly appreciate, ideally I'd like to spend around £500 on one but willing to spend a little more than that if there's a good reliable sort that would last a good number of years.