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Buying a laptop advise please?

hamster

By hamster
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hamster

hamster

Posted
Posted

Hi folki,

End of next week (pay day) I need to buy a laptop for Mrs h (it is to be a little surprise for being my princess).

 

I know it's a very tight budget, but due to other unavoidable outgoings I have to stick to a buget of only £300 (yeah, laugh it up).

 

I know there are deals to be had just by Googling, but I am aware of the amazing wealth of expertise on here, so please go do your stuff SWF'ers.

 

For that money I am fully aware that I am not going to get her a state of the art box of tricks, but if you can for a monent put yourself in her shoes (Size 3, before anyone asks) and stick to this brief.

 

She does a lots of general surfing, e-baying and e-mailing

She downloads and plays silly little games, definitely not into modern resource sapping ones though.

I reckon she's currently got about 10GB of music that I'd like to transfer onto the new one.

We use free security software so no requirement for bundles

I have *cough* MS Office so no need for that either.

 

REQUIRED:

webcam built in

Wifi

SD Card slot

Very good battery life (spare would be nice)

OS - Toughy this. Although I am willing to learn to use that Linux one, I would prefer to have Vista onit for her. Main factor here is if the cost saving.

 

DESIRED:

Largish screen

Pink (only joking)

 

I have seen refurbs on offer (cheers stevo) but I really do want a decent warranty.

 

Thanks in advance, I have every faith in you.

 

One final thing, if you reckon that certain specs are more important than others please explain why as although I work in IT I am pretty thick when it comes to what's inside the things.

 

Final, final note. I will be paying CASH and will not be taking out finance EVER again (been there, done that).

 

xx

hamster

Crab Lungs

Crab Lungs

Posted
Posted

Dell. Dell. Dell. Especially if you want 'pink'... but they are reasonably priced for laptops with good specs. Plus there are plenty of online voucher codes to make your purchase even more reasonable. ;)

hamster

hamster

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/\

I like it, hoiwever it is not PINK, nor can I see a webcam and that screen is a tad small. Than ks all the same, but

F

A

I

L

hamster

hamster

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My mistake Hamster. But not bad for £265 tho! ;)

 

Glad you said that, as I had initially read it as £229 (didn't see the +VAT price). I did secretly have it down as a fave choice (thinking £70 in beer tokens).

 

Right techy question coming up:

What does 'dual core processor' mean and should I care? In answering please assume that you are talking to a middle aged half-wit.

 

While I am at it, is it noticeable if you have a 1.66, 2 or 3 Ghz thingybob?

Edited by hamster
saint_stevo

saint_stevo

Posted
Posted (edited)
Glad you said that, as I had initially read it as £229 (didn't see the +VAT price). I did secretly have it down as a fave choice (thinking £70 in beer tokens).

 

Right techy question coming up:

What does 'dual core processor' mean and should I care? In answering please assume that you are talking to a middle aged half-wit.

 

While I am at it, is it noticeable if you have a 1.66, 2 or 3 Ghz thingybob?

 

Dual core means it has 2 processors, thus providing more processor speed and meaning your machine will cope better with multiple applications running etc. Only netbooks these days will be single core

 

The NC10 S13 has listed is probably the best netbook around, and has about 7hrs battery life, but i wouldnt want to use it for longer than about 2 or 3 hrs due to its size etc

Edited by saint_stevo
saint_stevo

saint_stevo

Posted
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My main laptop blew up the other day so im getting this as the replacement, Size isn't really an issue for me as all I will be using it for is Internet and Downloading music (And trying to get girls to strip on webcam)

 

Tested one for the day at work last week and awesome machines. All I would suggest is upgrade to 2gb RAM

 

I was thinking for hamster's mrs, if she wants to be on the thing for 4hrs+ a day then a netbook would become very uncomfortable.

 

I have a netbook for d/ling and surfing (and enticing young females into my abode) but i also have a 'work' laptop if i need to spend a while doing stuff.

 

I hope the RAM upgrade isnt like the Acer A150 though, that was a mission!

hamster

hamster

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So you know - what you're asking for in a 1545 is cost price for me. £1.84 profit lol.

 

Argh, this is gonna be hard, I just know it. And I have another days before I can make a final choice. I hate choice!

 

I just checked them people out and was led to a 12" netbook for only £269 (no OS though), now I am tempted to go down that route,again. must resist.

 

Already had a 'chat' with Baj about refurbs, and I'll concede that one (ie will consider a refurb) so can you 'sell' me that the 1545 one ie tell me why it is sooo good please?

 

/\

Hope that makes sense?

thesaint sfc

thesaint sfc

Posted
Posted
Argh, this is gonna be hard, I just know it. And I have another days before I can make a final choice. I hate choice!

 

I just checked them people out and was led to a 12" netbook for only £269 (no OS though), now I am tempted to go down that route,again. must resist.

 

Already had a 'chat' with Baj about refurbs, and I'll concede that one (ie will consider a refurb) so can you 'sell' me that the 1545 one ie tell me why it is sooo good please?

 

/\

Hope that makes sense?

 

Dell are a fantastic company who make really good quality stuff. The Dell Inspiron 1545 is there best selling Inspiron at the moment. The Inspiron series is aimed at the home user, so they will have sold a lot of them. Better to spend a bit extra and buy something that is reliable and will last you a long time than buy a Packard Bell or an Acer which won't be as reliable. Having said that, the last few Acer's I have worked with have been pretty good, but horrifically ugly. I personally wouldn't buy anything other than a Dell.

 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/review/2009/02/20/Dell-Inspiron-1545/p1

 

Well worth contacting E-computers to see what they can do also - you'd be a fool not to.

hamster

hamster

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Hi all,

 

 

Just waiting for a 'best offer' from AC computers, they said they cannot do the recommended 1545 for less than £300 and reckon that e-computers processors are not as good as the ones they sell.

 

Also, e-computers are on holiday and cannot dispatch until next week and me being impatient when I eventually make up my mind, I want to order as soon as I have made up my mind.

 

Therefore I have a shortlist of:

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159081

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164881

 

http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=NBA-X58LAP020A (very nice price)

 

Should i ask for a poll (mods), bearing in mind I want it for this weekend and prob need to order by 5 today?

 

I will post the offer from AC when it arrives.

 

 

I would like to stress how genuinely appreciative I am for ALL of the messages and advice I have had on here. Thanks

 

Andy

hamster

hamster

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Don't buy windows is my advice, get a refurbished Macbook...once you go Mac you don't go back.

 

Don't do this to me Blakee.

 

Okay then, 3 questions:

Why?

Where?

How much?

SOTONS EAST SIDE

SOTONS EAST SIDE

Posted
Posted (edited)
Hi all,

 

 

Just waiting for a 'best offer' from AC computers, they said they cannot do the recommended 1545 for less than £300 and reckon that e-computers processors are not as good as the ones they sell.

 

Also, e-computers are on holiday and cannot dispatch until next week and me being impatient when I eventually make up my mind, I want to order as soon as I have made up my mind.

 

Therefore I have a shortlist of:

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159081

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164881

 

http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=NBA-X58LAP020A (very nice price)

 

Should i ask for a poll (mods), bearing in mind I want it for this weekend and prob need to order by 5 today?

 

I will post the offer from AC when it arrives.

 

 

I would like to stress how genuinely appreciative I am for ALL of the messages and advice I have had on here. Thanks

 

Andy

Hi Andy as Saint Stevo said get the ASUS, they invented netbook . And they proberly make the best motherboards around! And at £269.24 inc delivery its a bargain! ;) Edited by SOTONS EAST SIDE
hamster

hamster

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Hi Andy as Saint Stevo said get the ASUS, they invented netbook . And they proberly make the best motherboards around! And at £269.24 inc delivery its a bargain! ;)

 

Really?

 

Tell you wht, if satevo syas yeah, I will buy it.

 

And you can alll **** yourselves off in ht eknowledge that youj have played a part in making mrs hamsyer's life more bearable.

 

and yep, we habe been to the pub toniught.

 

xx's

hamster

SOTONS EAST SIDE

SOTONS EAST SIDE

Posted
Posted
Really?

 

Tell you wht, if satevo syas yeah, I will buy it.

 

And you can alll **** yourselves off in ht eknowledge that youj have played a part in making mrs hamsyer's life more bearable.

 

and yep, we habe been to the pub toniught.

 

xx's

hamster

Check out Stevos post No30 on this thread! ;)
hamster

hamster

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Thank you all everso much, I am eternally grateful.

 

Wesley, at Ac Computers did me a deal (£320) whereby I am getting this:

http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/Dell-Inspiron-1545-T3400-3GB-RAM-250-GB-HDD-Vista-Home-premium

 

I negotiated over the phone and got free delivery and a (Pink) laptop bag thrown in, so in a roundabout way I kept to budget (I will keep telling myself this).

 

I'm really pleased and Mrs h will be over the moon I am sure.

 

Thanks all

 

Andy

hamster

hamster

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Although the Pink case is only £14......

 

Web cam?

 

Webcam built in, though he did say that they are not as good as plu in's due to having to move the whole screen to get in shot, that'll be fine though.

 

Pink laptop bag will look filthy soon I reckon, but it will stop me borrowing it, or carrying it for that matter.

 

Oh yeah, it also comes with Vista Home PREMIUM which the others didn't so I am well chuffed tbh.

 

Please, no-one find it cheaper or I will cry.

hamster

hamster

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Pink case is only £14......

 

 

stevo, I ain't gonna kid myself too much, I never wanted a bag for it anyway, but the free delivery (was £10.95), and the £7.50 off the quoted price must adds up to about 6% off, which ain't too bad considering the good initila price. The bag was just a nice gesture. He was really nice and although obviously a salesman with targets to meet, I felt that he was genuinely trying to help. he even found me these alternatives to stay wthin budget:

 

http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/Fujitsu-Siemens-Amilo-Li-2727-Dual-core-T1400-2GB-RAM-100-GB-HDD-DVDRw-Drive

 

http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/IBM-T60-IBM-Thinkpad-T60-Intel-core-2-duo-T2500-2-GB-RAM-60-GB-HDD-Combo-drive-XP-Pro

 

which convinced me even more that i was getting a good deal.

saint_stevo

saint_stevo

Posted
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stevo, I ain't gonna kid myself too much, I never wanted a bag for it anyway, but the free delivery (was £10.95), and the £7.50 off the quoted price must adds up to about 6% off, which ain't too bad considering the good initila price. The bag was just a nice gesture. He was really nice and although obviously a salesman with targets to meet, I felt that he was genuinely trying to help. he even found me these alternatives to stay wthin budget:

 

http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/Fujitsu-Siemens-Amilo-Li-2727-Dual-core-T1400-2GB-RAM-100-GB-HDD-DVDRw-Drive

 

http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/product-info/IBM-T60-IBM-Thinkpad-T60-Intel-core-2-duo-T2500-2-GB-RAM-60-GB-HDD-Combo-drive-XP-Pro

 

which convinced me even more that i was getting a good deal.

 

I was only pulling ya leg mate, you have bought a very nice laptop, and probably worth the extra as well.

 

Hope it is well received and that the mrs is happy and recovers comfortably with her new toy.

hamster

hamster

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I was only pulling ya leg mate, you have bought a very nice laptop, and probably worth the extra as well.

 

Hope it is well received and that the mrs is happy and recovers comfortably with her new toy.

 

Blimey! That Ann Summers thread was months ago, you have a good memory mate.

hamster

hamster

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EDIT- If it has to be pink, laptop skins in Poundland at the moment....for a pound

laptops.gif

 

And I bet there's a wee profit in those on e-bay, so may take a trip tomorrow and buy a case.

 

thanks for the tip

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