New Laptop Recommendations

[TornadoShaunUK]

Hello guys,

Right recently I've been thinking of getting myself a Laptop. My PC has started encountering a few problems, (sometimes it doesn't even switch on!) and I figure it's about time for a newer system. I've had the PC about 4 years now so it's had a pretty good run.

This time I think I'd prefer to get a Laptop, rather than a desktop. Not only because it would be portible but also, probably a bit cheaper, take up less room. Would mean I can get rid of a few of the wires clogging up the back of my desk!

I was thinking of getting a Dell Studio laptop.

My basic requirements are:

17" screen
atleast 2GB Memory
atleast 250 GB Hard Drive
must have Microsoft Office (excel, word etc) and not Microsoft Works

and that's about it. So are there any recommendations as to what I should go for? Any bargains around of let, is it worth looking at another system other than Dell? I know something quite useful might be Play.com as I have a lot of Playfunds to use on there if they have anything worthwhile on offer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/7747080/S ... pr=196428#

also I found this on play.com, you can get Microsoft Office 2007 half price when bought at the same time as any laptop which sounds handy for me, not 100% what I wanted but seems like a good deal. Can anyone tell me about the Sony Vaio, are they meant to be any good? Better manufacturer than Dell?

 

[SJN-Fox]

Microsoft don't bundle Office, just Works. It's cheap enough from PCWorld though.

 

[spionfox]

This time I think I'd prefer to get a Laptop, rather than a desktop. Not only because it would be portible but also, probably a bit cheaper

Really? I picked up a fairly well specified desktop from Dabs a few months ago for £199+VAT, can't see many laptops at that price.

(Admittedly it didn't include a screen like the laptop would!)

 

[Matt_B]

Desktops are generally cheaper. Are you a student Shaun? If so you can get Office dirt cheap from PC World anyway.

I am currently typing on a Toshiba satelite, about £400 from PC World, dual core processor, 3GB ram and 160GB HDD, you could get your spec for not much more.

 

[Graz]

I got a new PC a couple of months back from pcspecialist.co.uk

Lets you select the bits you want, but they build it all for you. Works out pretty cheap and you can get a pretty top notch machine out of it.

Think mine was about £400, but that was with 4GB RAM, Quad Core Processor, 500GB hard drive, pretty good graphics card... aka, pretty top spec.

Think they do laptops as well, so worth a look at least. But yeah, desktops usually work out cheaper anyway I think...

 

[Spanky Fox]

My basic requirements are:

17" screen
atleast 2GB Memory
atleast 250 GB Hard Drive
must have Microsoft Office (excel, word etc) and not Microsoft Works

I am looking for something very similar but i need to have HDMI output as i will be connecting the laptop to my TV to watch football, movies and surf the net

 

[Matt_B]

I am looking for something very similar but i need to have HDMI output as i will be connecting the laptop to my TV to watch football, movies and surf the net

Does it need to be HDMI? Most TV's have a VGA in port nowadays so you can connect your laptop with a basic monitor cable.

 

[Durham Fox]

Does it need to be HDMI? Most TV's have a VGA in port nowadays so you can connect your laptop with a basic monitor cable.

Or if you are that bothered just buy a VGA to HDMI cable.

 

[spionfox]

Are you a student Shaun? If so you can get Office dirt cheap from PC World anyway.

Or OpenOffice even cheaper :icon_bigg

 

[TornadoShaunUK]

I'm not a student... (fortunately/ unfortunately?)

But the MS Office thing isn't a big deal, a mate at work said he can give me that if I wanted it, I assume he has an ever-so-slightly illegal copy.

 

[SJN-Fox]

I'm not a student... (fortunately/ unfortunately?)

But the MS Office thing isn't a big deal, a mate at work said he can give me that if I wanted it, I assume he has an ever-so-slightly illegal copy.

I don't think you need to be anymore. 3 user licence £49.60 from Amazon

 

[The Major]

My daughter would like a laptop to do her homework own but I think they're a bit dear.

Are those notebook, half size, laptops any good?

 

[Matt_B]

My daughter would like a laptop to do her homework own but I think they're a bit dear.

Are those notebook, half size, laptops any good?

They should be OK power wise for what she needs, but I find the keys too small for my manly fingers!

 

[SJN-Fox]

My daughter would like a laptop to do her homework own but I think they're a bit dear.

Are those notebook, half size, laptops any good?

Don't get the Asus Eee pc, they run Linux and whilst they have Open Office etc. It may turn out that the files they produce will not be compatible with the school system.

I have an Advent notebook from PC World. got a 10" screen, 140G hard drive 2G of RAM and a DVD writer. Runs Vista Home Premium (with media centre) and I preferthat to my normal laptop. Great for watching movies on as well as running all the usual suspects in terms of major applications.

 

[Macky]

Don't get the Asus Eee pc, they run Linux and whilst they have Open Office etc. It may turn out that the files they produce will not be compatible with the school system.

OpenOffice has no problem reading and creating documents compatible with MS Office.

 

[spionfox]

OpenOffice has no problem reading and creating documents compatible with MS Office.

Have they resolved the macro incompatibility problem yet?

 

[Macky]

Have they resolved the macro incompatibility problem yet?

Okay, so it does have some minor issues :icon_wink

 

[SJN-Fox]

OpenOffice has no problem reading and creating documents compatible with MS Office.

Granted, it doesn't. The average school student, however, does!

 

[The Major]

Don't get the Asus Eee pc, they run Linux and whilst they have Open Office etc. It may turn out that the files they produce will not be compatible with the school system.

I have an Advent notebook from PC World. got a 10" screen, 140G hard drive 2G of RAM and a DVD writer. Runs Vista Home Premium (with media centre) and I preferthat to my normal laptop. Great for watching movies on as well as running all the usual suspects in terms of major applications.

I've only just spotted these replies, thanks guys. I was thinking of getting that one.
A lot of people recommend Linux, you're not keen?

 

[Matt_B]

I've only just spotted these replies, thanks guys. I was thinking of getting that one.
A lot of people recommend Linux, you're not keen?

Various Linux distros are good but the main concern would be compatability with files for school. Whilst I'm sure it could deal with Word, Excel files etc it might come up against problems with something like Powerpoint or any other bespoke software that the school might use.