I need a new laptop - advice

[strings]

Right, my computer (a desktop) is about to kick the bucket and, as such, I am looking to replace it with a laptop.

I don't want to pay over-the-odds, but I do want something that will not be useless in a years' time.

I need the laptop to:
- Surf the internet
- Use microsoft office packages
- Play DVDs
- Play other media files,
- Have a decent amount of running memory (I would guess 4GB+, but don't really know what to look for).

Most of all, I want one with a decent graphics card - the reason my current 'pooter is dying is because it had all the latest stuff on it (4 years ago), with the exception of a really old and crap graphics card. I don't want to be in the same situation again.

What should I buy? Where can I find the best deals? I turn myself to the knowledge of NSC...

 

[Mendoza]

I got myself one of these bad boys, but not at that price. Its perfect

Sony VGN-FW11M Laptop - Buy cheap Sony laptops including the Sony VGN-FW11M at PC World.

 

[Beach Hut]

I think the best PCs are Dell however both the kids have Toshiba laptops that were £400 from Currys which are very good.

 

[dougdeep]

Acer Ferrari 1100-804G32Mn LX.FR90X.146 - Acer Products | Acer Direct.co.uk

 

[Djmiles]

You won't get a decent laptop for any less than £600 if you want 4GB of RAM I reckon.

Try having a look on http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk where you can customise your laptop.

A 17" multimedia laptop with 4GB of RAM, a fairly decent processor and a 250GB hard drive with a 1 year warranty will set you back £679.

 

[strings]

Thanks for the advice so far - what type of processor should I be looking for? (I know nothing about them!)

 

[Ccider]

Thanks for the advice so far - what type of processor should I be looking for? (I know nothing about them!)

One that you can switch off and on again!

:thud:

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

I'm just making the same switch myself. You will not find a bad review of the Dell Inspiron 1525 - a good all-rounder that they will build to your spec. Being a tight b@stard/w@nker/c*nt (delete as applicable) I've just bought one with the most basic spec at £329 and they currently have deals on their site that expire on 8/10/08 so might be worth a look before then... although I'm sure that some of these 'deals' just run and run.

 

[Robdinho]

I was going to come on here today and ask the same question, although I'm looking at the lower end of the scale as I just want something I can surf the internet and play football manager while I'm away from home. Don't really want to spend much more than £400, not too worried about graphics cards or loads of hard disk space. Plenty of RAM would be nice though. Any recommendations from the great and the good of NSC?

Also, can anyone explain the difference between the different processors to a simpleton like me?

 

[beorhthelm]

I don't want to pay over-the-odds, but I do want something that will not be useless in a years' time.

no computer is usless in a year or two time, it still does the same stuff as it did when you bought it, its just you cant necessrily do the latest and greatest new apps and games. your requirements changed. only thing that on the computer that slows it up is poor maintainance of the OS, but a spring clean (defrag, remove old unused software and downloads, run registry cleaning tool) every few months, like you would service a car, will keep it going.

I need the laptop to:
- Surf the internet
- Use microsoft office packages
- Play DVDs
- Play other media files,
- Have a decent amount of running memory (I would guess 4GB+, but don't really know what to look for).

Most of all, I want one with a decent graphics card - the reason my current 'pooter is dying is because it had all the latest stuff on it (4 years ago), with the exception of a really old and crap graphics card. I don't want to be in the same situation again.

i dont see in your needs why you need 4GB or a "decent" grpahics card. you can do all that on a £300 Acer or Dell. Todays base spec laptop pisses on what you would have brought for over a grand a few years ago. Unless you want to play latest games or do hardcore graphics/video editing you dont need high spec gfx or lots of memory, save the money for beer.

So which one? i dont think it matter much anymore, set a budget and get whatever looks the nicest.

 

[sdmartin1]

This one definetely, I got it and it's immence
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/5809785/Sony-Vaio-AR71-M-Core-2-Duo-T8100-2-1GHz-4GB-300GB-17-Blu-ray-Vista-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html

£250 quid off too!!!

 

[wehatepalace]

I was going to come on here today and ask the same question, although I'm looking at the lower end of the scale as I just want something I can surf the internet and play football manager while I'm away from home. Don't really want to spend much more than £400, not too worried about graphics cards or loads of hard disk space. Plenty of RAM would be nice though. Any recommendations from the great and the good of NSC?

Also, can anyone explain the difference between the different processors to a simpleton like me?

I've got one of these Advent 6301 Laptop. and it does everything my pc does, which i'm quite pleased about. It seems fairly quick too.

 

[itszamora]

I'll get shot down by certain people for saying this, but consider a Mac. A MacBook will probably have the spec you want graphics card aside, a MacBook Pro will definitely do the job but is a bit pricier.

 

[Notters]

I've just got a Dell Studio laptop.

-dual core processor (2Ghz)
-3Gb memory
-19" widescreen with numerical pad
-320Gb hard drive

£800

Very pleased with it.

 

[tedebear]

We're looking at a new one too, I like the Sony CR series but the screen is only 14.1" so we'll probably go for the Dell Inspiron 1525 or something similar - doesn't look as stylish as the Sony, but far better value for money!

 

[smudge]

Macbook baby!

 

[tedebear]

Macbook baby!

I used to love Mac's but everything else in my house and work is PC so I really don't want to have to be converting everything and buying new and duplicate software......

 

[Mustela Furo]

Dell XPS M1530 is the dogs with a GeForce 8600m Gfx card, a T8300 2.4Ghz chip and 4GB RAM.

Just picked one up off ebay - brand new - for £503


For a "office" laptop (i.e. non games playing), then you can pick up refurbished IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad T43's for around £200 from e-bay.

that's what I use for Albion-related stuff (am typing on it now, on wireless, from the ground!) coz being IBM it is very robust - great for lugging up and down the country (away games etc.)


Two laptops overkill? nah ! Not at these prices!

 

[strings]

i dont see in your needs why you need 4GB or a "decent" grpahics card. you can do all that on a £300 Acer or Dell. Todays base spec laptop pisses on what you would have brought for over a grand a few years ago. Unless you want to play latest games or do hardcore graphics/video editing you dont need high spec gfx or lots of memory, save the money for beer.

Thanks.

The reason for the decent graphics card is that I have a pants one in my current PC and it is the reason that it is dying (so the error report responses tell me) and it is too rubbish to update. I think that I will go with a bigger 'chain' store. Last time I went with a PC built to my spec at a local shop, however with hindsight I would guess that they saved money with a pants graphics card - also the screen, keyboard, mouse and speakers prematurely died and have been replaced.

Thanks for the advice to everyone. I think I will set a £600-700ish budget and shop around and see the best I can get.