Laptop recommendations
26-09-2009, 04:46 PM
#1
Laptop recommendations
Looks like i might still be heading off to the congo so will be buying a decentish laptop to take and use.
I'm thinking 17" screen so it's decent for watching films. Good battery would be handy.
I was wondering about a dell?
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...=uk&l=en&s=dhs
The one at £629.
What about samsung?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167261
Card reader on there is handy.
Needs wifi too.
I'm thinking 17" screen so it's decent for watching films. Good battery would be handy.
I was wondering about a dell?
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...=uk&l=en&s=dhs
The one at £629.
What about samsung?
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167261
Card reader on there is handy.
Needs wifi too.
26-09-2009, 04:51 PM
#3
Professional Waffler
Samsung is awesome value for money, pretty good spec and as you say has a card reader and also a webcam, built in webcams on a laptop are very very handy especially with wireless aswell. 
Id be looking at Ebuyer to buy from aswell, ive bought many things from them and i would in the future.
Id be looking at Ebuyer to buy from aswell, ive bought many things from them and i would in the future.
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26-09-2009, 05:08 PM
#8
Professional Waffler
Ahh i clicked on the wrong thing on the Dell laptop, it was taking me to a £349 one 
So yes your right the one your looking at for £629 does have a better processor and bigger hard drive, so it should be faster, but the Ebuyer one would still do the job.
If you've got the cash the Dell would be the one to go for in short.
So yes your right the one your looking at for £629 does have a better processor and bigger hard drive, so it should be faster, but the Ebuyer one would still do the job.
If you've got the cash the Dell would be the one to go for in short.
27-09-2009, 09:11 AM
#10
Ahh i clicked on the wrong thing on the Dell laptop, it was taking me to a £349 one
So yes your right the one your looking at for £629 does have a better processor and bigger hard drive, so it should be faster, but the Ebuyer one would still do the job.
If you've got the cash the Dell would be the one to go for in short.
So yes your right the one your looking at for £629 does have a better processor and bigger hard drive, so it should be faster, but the Ebuyer one would still do the job.
If you've got the cash the Dell would be the one to go for in short.
Doh
Fair chance i'll get the dell like.
27-09-2009, 10:28 AM
#11
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When do you need it for? Free delivery on the Dell finishes on the 30/9 so add another £50 to the price.
Whats your budget? Add a Blu-Ray to the Dell for another £99. Wait for Windows7, saves you an upgrade from Vista Home Premium.
Whats your budget? Add a Blu-Ray to the Dell for another £99. Wait for Windows7, saves you an upgrade from Vista Home Premium.
27-09-2009, 12:05 PM
#12
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Buy Dell. Excellent laptops and extremely reliable. I have quite a lot of them now.
Most Dells come with free upgrade to Windows 7 now, my last two have.
*Stu on Nics login*
Most Dells come with free upgrade to Windows 7 now, my last two have.
*Stu on Nics login*
27-09-2009, 03:09 PM
#13
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Hey chop.
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
27-09-2009, 03:54 PM
#14
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Avoid Dell IMHO... We have had so many problems with them, Hardrives and Motherboards packing up.
Acer Are very good value I rate them very highly, but not so keen on their bundled software
Toshiba are the dogs bollocks
Acer Are very good value I rate them very highly, but not so keen on their bundled software
Toshiba are the dogs bollocks
27-09-2009, 04:35 PM
#15
Professional Waffler
Hey chop.
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
Thumbs up for the 2 year warranty though
27-09-2009, 04:57 PM
#16
Redumbdancy
Seconded - ive seen some of my mates Dell computers with really poor build quality. We have 3 Acer's in the house and have never had a problem with any of them- even after 6 years with one of them.
27-09-2009, 05:03 PM
#17
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I recommend Dell. All mine have been brilliant and I love the fact I can get exactly what I want by building on their website. Never had a single problem with them(other than the courier muppets delivering the thing!).
27-09-2009, 05:13 PM
#18
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I've got an Acer Travelmate at the moment and a Dell laptop also, this Acer cost me £450 2 years ago and the Dell cost £650 5 months ago.
Both very good laptops, neither "TOUCH WOOD" have had any problems yet.
I had a compaq before this Acer and it was horrific, it taught me a lesson never to buy anything Compaq/HP related ever again.
Stick with trusted brands in my opinion, what with being overseas if it breaks you have more chance of getting parts/getting it fixed.
Both very good laptops, neither "TOUCH WOOD" have had any problems yet.
I had a compaq before this Acer and it was horrific, it taught me a lesson never to buy anything Compaq/HP related ever again.
Stick with trusted brands in my opinion, what with being overseas if it breaks you have more chance of getting parts/getting it fixed.
27-09-2009, 05:19 PM
#19
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Chop I use a Toshiba Satellite A300
http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptop...77-Notebook/p1
Not quite the one in that review but close enough, buy-able for under 600, I'm a software developer and mines gets hammered for work & uni running a fairly heavy load at most times, looks good, has all the toys (wireless, HD, webcam, card readers, USB 3, bluetooth that you will never use), I carry mines about and bash it into things, I'm also running vista and linux usually at the same time. Doesnt even complain when I have some torrents running away while I'm working. the screen (big enough to support a whole post by Ginge!!!) is great and the sound is brilliant for a laptop.
Its never so much as crashed after a year of ownership, even if it did fuck up the Toshiba support is brilliant for new drivers and patches.
Plus its got an HDMI socket so all your mucky videos can be displayed on the big telly.
If you are really wanting a good laptop I cant recommend it enough.
Pete
http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptop...77-Notebook/p1
Not quite the one in that review but close enough, buy-able for under 600, I'm a software developer and mines gets hammered for work & uni running a fairly heavy load at most times, looks good, has all the toys (wireless, HD, webcam, card readers, USB 3, bluetooth that you will never use), I carry mines about and bash it into things, I'm also running vista and linux usually at the same time. Doesnt even complain when I have some torrents running away while I'm working. the screen (big enough to support a whole post by Ginge!!!) is great and the sound is brilliant for a laptop.
Its never so much as crashed after a year of ownership, even if it did fuck up the Toshiba support is brilliant for new drivers and patches.
Plus its got an HDMI socket so all your mucky videos can be displayed on the big telly.
If you are really wanting a good laptop I cant recommend it enough.
Pete
27-09-2009, 05:45 PM
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27-09-2009, 06:33 PM
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the textbook UGC option
i got an acer few month ago...
http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/rf/...95834928629015
was £400
it came bundled with 32 bit vista! bit dumb as its a dual core machine imo so first thing i did was format it and put on windows 7 rc 64 bit
i tend to download and watch a lot of tv shows but i stream them to the plasma via my ps3 using either tversity or vuze so the 16" screen didnt bother me. i would have got bigger screen if i watched stuff on the lappy.
top banana for the cash imo
i got an acer few month ago...
http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/rf/...95834928629015
was £400
it came bundled with 32 bit vista! bit dumb as its a dual core machine imo so first thing i did was format it and put on windows 7 rc 64 bit
i tend to download and watch a lot of tv shows but i stream them to the plasma via my ps3 using either tversity or vuze so the 16" screen didnt bother me. i would have got bigger screen if i watched stuff on the lappy.
top banana for the cash imo
28-09-2009, 11:59 AM
#23
It's a pain having to upgrade from vista but c'est la vie.
Hey chop.
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
I always recommend HP to my customers. Mid-range upwards there very well built machines and usually good to look at with excellent screens.
John Lewis is a good place to start as they have excellent customer care and you will get a 2 year warranty instead of the usual 1 from the likes of pc world/dixons etc.
They will also price match if you find their kit cheaper elsewhere in other stores (not online).
For 600 nicker you can get a really good peice of kit.
ie.
http://www.johnlewis.com/230574621/Product.aspx
the textbook UGC option
i got an acer few month ago...
http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/rf/...95834928629015
was £400
it came bundled with 32 bit vista! bit dumb as its a dual core machine imo so first thing i did was format it and put on windows 7 rc 64 bit
i tend to download and watch a lot of tv shows but i stream them to the plasma via my ps3 using either tversity or vuze so the 16" screen didnt bother me. i would have got bigger screen if i watched stuff on the lappy.
top banana for the cash imo
i got an acer few month ago...
http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/rf/...95834928629015
was £400
it came bundled with 32 bit vista! bit dumb as its a dual core machine imo so first thing i did was format it and put on windows 7 rc 64 bit
i tend to download and watch a lot of tv shows but i stream them to the plasma via my ps3 using either tversity or vuze so the 16" screen didnt bother me. i would have got bigger screen if i watched stuff on the lappy.
top banana for the cash imo
rah@ugc
i have a quite a lot to buy if im heading away so thought i'd square this up later. It's just that i'll really need a laptop for heading away.
So wondows 7 rips are available now are they?
28-09-2009, 12:23 PM
#25
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After years of working in IT support, seeing plenty laptops fail, the only brand I would recommend is Toshiba.
A laptop needs to be reliable as they are difficult and expensive to repair. Reliable is what you want to buy not buy on price.
A laptop needs to be reliable as they are difficult and expensive to repair. Reliable is what you want to buy not buy on price.
28-09-2009, 02:11 PM
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28-09-2009, 05:03 PM
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dont worry to much about size of the hdd
you should not be using the laptop itself for storing files, music, pictures anyway
id always advise using a portable disk
laptop hdd are prone to failure at anytime
admitantly not as much as an issue as it used to be
a good amount of memory is what you want
at least 3-4 gb
a good local comapny is everest technology on holburn street next to the royal china if you wanna go somewhere and have a look, they can build to your own spec if need be
they will sort you with windows 7 and give you a 2 year warranty also
tell them stonehaven computer solutions recommended you if you do go
you should not be using the laptop itself for storing files, music, pictures anyway
id always advise using a portable disk
laptop hdd are prone to failure at anytime
admitantly not as much as an issue as it used to be
a good amount of memory is what you want
at least 3-4 gb
a good local comapny is everest technology on holburn street next to the royal china if you wanna go somewhere and have a look, they can build to your own spec if need be
they will sort you with windows 7 and give you a 2 year warranty also
tell them stonehaven computer solutions recommended you if you do go
28-09-2009, 05:55 PM
#28
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Im IT support in the local secondary school and I see some funny stuff when it comes to laptops. Dont go anywhere near Sony, they are very pretty but not robust.
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
28-09-2009, 08:04 PM
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Im IT support in the local secondary school and I see some funny stuff when it comes to laptops. Dont go anywhere near Sony, they are very pretty but not robust.
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
28-09-2009, 08:05 PM
#32
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go dell i have recently bought the new latitude e6500 it is the sleekest thing i have seen and the build quality is that of a merc, i've had two laptops so far and both dell there the best.
29-09-2009, 12:06 PM
#33
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aye sleeve you'll be able to get w7 from the torrent sites. if you cant find i can post you a copy of mine out nae bother pm yer addy if so
eh?
my fan works and has none of the bundled software at all on it
pm yer addy if somy fan works and has none of the bundled software at all on it
29-09-2009, 12:36 PM
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29-09-2009, 12:58 PM
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How about Packard Bell, have had my laptop coming on 5 years now, never ever had any problems, not 1 dead pixel on screen or anything. Cost me £700 when i bought it so would say it has been good value for money.
Last edited by Captain500rs; 29-09-2009 at 03:34 PM.
29-09-2009, 01:38 PM
#38
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Im IT support in the local secondary school and I see some funny stuff when it comes to laptops. Dont go anywhere near Sony, they are very pretty but not robust.
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
We got a bulk load of the Viglen Futura Duras and they quote they are super durable, yet the kids managed to break them quicker than anything else we have.
Dell are a fair choice.
HP are very good machines, and probably my preference.
Toshiba's are not that great in all honesty.
IBM think pads are plain weird!
Fujistu Siemens are fairly good.
Lenovo are interesting but I wouldnt buy one.
Acer are average machines, but their bundled software (as mentioned before) is shocking, for instance the fan wont operate unless their software is installed..
hope this helps
I agree,
Go for HP
29-09-2009, 04:28 PM
#39
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Agreed as well, HP the way forward i'd say. Interesting to see mixed opinions on the makes. Personally wouldnt touch a Dell laptop, we have over 3000 Dell laptops at work and they are forever being replaced under warranty, faulty HDD, motherboards and overheating issues are the common issues.
Ive had a Sony Vaio (my own one) for nearly 7 years and hasnt missed a beat, had plenty of use in garages and workshops that are open to dust, being thrown about a bit and its been spot on. The DVD writer has just packed up though (can't write anymore) but not bad for 7 years of daily use!!
HP though for me next time!
Chris
Ive had a Sony Vaio (my own one) for nearly 7 years and hasnt missed a beat, had plenty of use in garages and workshops that are open to dust, being thrown about a bit and its been spot on. The DVD writer has just packed up though (can't write anymore) but not bad for 7 years of daily use!!
HP though for me next time!
Chris
29-09-2009, 04:49 PM
#40
Professional Waffler
Agreed as well, HP the way forward i'd say. Interesting to see mixed opinions on the makes. Personally wouldnt touch a Dell laptop, we have over 3000 Dell laptops at work and they are forever being replaced under warranty, faulty HDD, motherboards and overheating issues are the common issues.
Ive had a Sony Vaio (my own one) for nearly 7 years and hasnt missed a beat, had plenty of use in garages and workshops that are open to dust, being thrown about a bit and its been spot on. The DVD writer has just packed up though (can't write anymore) but not bad for 7 years of daily use!!
HP though for me next time!
Chris
Ive had a Sony Vaio (my own one) for nearly 7 years and hasnt missed a beat, had plenty of use in garages and workshops that are open to dust, being thrown about a bit and its been spot on. The DVD writer has just packed up though (can't write anymore) but not bad for 7 years of daily use!!
HP though for me next time!
Chris