Can you recommend me a lap top? [Archive] - SV650.org

Tim in Belgium

11-12-10, 08:37 AM

I need a new lap top.

Main duties will be 'net surfing, but being able to watch DVDs, run my i-tunes, recording GPS plots, keeping pgotos on, and the odd bit of basic video editing would be appreciated (the odd track day etc, nothing high quality).

So not being into computers what should/could I get in the 4-500 quid mark?

It doesn't have to be super small or light, it'll be used mainly at home on my lap! And a reasonable size screen would be good.

B1k3R

11-12-10, 10:06 AM

I have a Packard Bell Easynote. No problems except a battery replaced under recall.

Big wide screen. Has been dragged around the Country. Never gone wrong in 3 years. Still looks new. Runs most things including some heavy duty Autocad software.

Does me.

Tim in Belgium

11-12-10, 10:08 AM

Is the latest version of Windows generally ok, should I be looking for this on any prospective purchase?

So Packard Bell sounds like a reliable brand, any others? Any to avoid?

B1k3R

11-12-10, 10:15 AM

Don't go for Vista. It is not very good. Window 7 is OK I have it on 2 laptops and main main PC. I really think it is a tweeked XP.

Jabba

11-12-10, 10:58 AM

Can you run to a Macbook? Comes with the software to do what you want pre-installed.

And it's not Windows :-)

Scrawf

11-12-10, 12:15 PM

Get a MacBook! 100% reliable and also you don't tend to fiddle with them like a Windows machine. Might be a bit out of your budget though.

Si

Durbs

11-12-10, 01:41 PM

Get a MacBook! 100% reliable and also you don't tend to fiddle with them like a Windows machine. Might be a bit out of your budget though.

Si

They are indeed superb, just got myself a shiny new Macbook Pro but cost me £1500 rather than the £500 budget stated!

£500 would only get one a few years old or a 'spares or repair' model. Apple kit, whilst being very slick doesn't provide very good bang-per-buck. My £1500 Macbook has hardware comparable with a £500 PC laptop (although its in a much sexier alu chassis!).

ChrisSV

11-12-10, 04:02 PM

I've got an Acer6930G does almost everything. I drag it everywhere, its been rained on, droped and generally abused but its still going. Only downside is it comes with a **** of unwanted software, but I just uninstalled it out of the box.

P.S Windows 7 is better than Vista, Vista has loads of niggles and takes an age to start up, Windows 7 is faster, easier to use, very similar to XP.

anna

11-12-10, 05:25 PM

Mac book will be out of price range, and for your budget what you can get in the Mac range will be rubbish.

If you get a laptop that runs windows 7 as has been said it is far more stable then Vista.

ASUS is a great make and you will be able to pick one up for your budget, and would be where I would start to look.

barwel1992

11-12-10, 05:33 PM

ASUS as above ^

dont get a dell

Sir Trev

11-12-10, 05:47 PM

dont get a dell

Why?

They ship a PC every two seconds so there can't be too much wrong with them.

An Inspiron 15R can be had in your price range with a variety of memory/HD options or if you want a bigger screen an Inspiron 17R.

yorkie_chris

11-12-10, 06:05 PM

I'm pretty happy with the dells we've had. My inspiron 1300 (1600? dunno) was on average in use 8 hours a day for over 2 years. Battery is knackered but otherwise fine.

barwel1992

11-12-10, 06:05 PM

Why?

They ship a PC every two seconds so there can't be too much wrong with them.

An Inspiron 15R can be had in your price range with a variety of memory/HD options or if you want a bigger screen an Inspiron 17R.

because every dell i have encountered is cr&p in more than one way or another.

i wont go in to a debate again but the chassis are poor, and they like to over heat... specially there lap tops

monkey

11-12-10, 06:08 PM

I've got an Acer 4810TZ and can highly recommend this range. I did LOADS of shopping around and this came out top for me.

The battery life is superb (genuinely 8 hours). Small, light, very well built, doesn't get hot at all and mine lives on my lap which was a problem for other laptops during those.. er.. naked leg moments.

Have fun shopping.

barwel1992

11-12-10, 06:17 PM

I'm pretty happy with the dells we've had. My inspiron 1300 (1600? dunno) was on average in use 8 hours a day for over 2 years. Battery is knackered but otherwise fine.

before the GF got a mac pro she had the inspiron 1525 and after 2 months started to over heat then got replaced over warranty then the same happened again

yorkie_chris

11-12-10, 06:20 PM

before the GF got a mac pro she had the inspiron 1525 and after 2 months started to over heat then got replaced over warranty then the same happened again

So we both have experiences of 2 dell laptops, MYC has one too.

We have not had this issue... does not seem worth slating entire brand over?

BBadger

11-12-10, 07:02 PM

Acer are good. got the aspire TZG for £350. powerful fast and an 8 hour battery life its absolutely brilliant.

Owenski

11-12-10, 07:08 PM

got this toshiba (sorry I dont know the model) about 3yrs ago, other than poor battery life (about 2.5hrs) its mint.

the misses has an ASUS she got free with her mobile, its running windows 7 which does seem better than vista but not by very much, both cane XP but tbh no point buying vista as its already out of date - go with windows 7.

orose

11-12-10, 07:19 PM

So we both have experiences of 2 dell laptops, MYC has one too.

We have not had this issue... does not seem worth slating entire brand over?

Especially as I've got a 1555 on my lap right now which was in the bracket Tim is talking about, and certainly hasn't baked anything precious to me so far

grimey121uk

11-12-10, 07:24 PM

I used to work at pcworld, and I can tell you the entry level dell laptops had by far the highest rate of faults give it 12 months and your battery will last less than an hour and you will be on your 4th charger, I would buy a HP if i were buying a windows system, although do not touch the G range, they are crap go for a DV range.

However id buy a mac everytime, I have a a macbook and a macbook pro, my macbook is over 3 years old and has never missed a beat, plus the battery still lasts 5+ hours,

In terms of performance, my 3 year old macbook boots faster and it more responsive than my mates Core I7 gaming rig with windows 7, and it comes with tonnes of software that is easy to use out of the box, where as my mate has to spend a fortune on software just to edit his movies from his HD camcorder

Bluefish

11-12-10, 07:44 PM

for £399 you can get a 4gb, 500gig hard drive, hd screen, 1.3 megapixel webcam, running windows 7, choice of acer or packard bell, we just got the packard bell that one is 350gig hard drive, but comes with photoshop complete, and looks sexier lol,where from i hear you say, Currys hth.

suzukigt380paul

11-12-10, 08:54 PM

Bluefish

11-12-10, 10:21 PM

I'm running Vista, no problems, but they all come with windows 7 now.

Fruity-ya-ya

11-12-10, 11:01 PM

I'm running Vista, no problems, but they all come with windows 7 now.
Ubuntu, fight the power.

barwel1992

12-12-10, 12:02 AM

So we both have experiences of 2 dell laptops, MYC has one too.

We have not had this issue... does not seem worth slating entire brand over?

i have owned a dell desk top (2 of the 4 dim sockets bricked it) and worked on dell desktops in school and collage for the last 4 years i much prefer Packard bell and acer

also they destroyed alien ware as a brand ......

Tim in Belgium

12-12-10, 01:46 PM

Cheers for all the advice, I'll do some searching for offers.

Better to buy from a shop or straight from the 'Net?

Owenski

12-12-10, 02:02 PM

Cheers for all the advice, I'll do some searching for offers.

Better to buy from a shop or straight from the 'Net?

makes no odds today, you'll get people that would rather not buy from the internet but honestly it makes no odds. highstreeet shops will be obserlete before long, genuinely cant remember the last time I went shopping for anything on a highstreet.

Dave20046

12-12-10, 02:10 PM

Personally I'd go for a toshiba or maybe HP for general build quality vs. value for money. These days they're all pretty much a much of a muchness. Acer were t'urrible back in the day but have apparently sorted themselves out, dell are a bit meh, can be a bit overpriced (the again can be cheap) if you ring them up as opposed to order online you can often knock down the price.
Buy online or from an independant highstreet shop. I say that as if you buy from a big useless company (i.e Dixons group..pc world etc.) they just send it off to the manufacturer for the warranty, same as you could if you bought it online. An independent shop's more likely to look after you a bit more, but they're few & far between.

Are you in the netherlands at the mo?

ChrisSV

12-12-10, 04:40 PM

It doesn't make much difference where you buy from, shop or internet. Personally I'd atleast go into a shop and have a look at what you considering.

Sir Trev

14-12-10, 12:56 PM

well ive got a dell inspiron 1545 had it 18 months the battery is still good still on the original charger never gets hot and its used about 20+ hours a weak,i know several people with them and no problems,and i think they were well under £400,windows 7 may be good but vista works well and not to slow

My Dell lappie is on 10+ hours a day and the charger is never unplugged from the dock station. Neither have blown up or overheated, none of the Dell's I had at EDS ever went wrong (compared to the HP replacements we started to get after they took us over) and in this building right now I can see several hundred Dell's all happily working.

Barwell - I'm no knocking your experience but the volume suggests your's is not the normal experience.

One thing to consider is the range you chose from. My mum has an Inspiron (consumer range) and is very happy. For those of you who want to do a bit more consider the Vostro range (small/medium business). If you can get one then go for the Lattitude (corporate) or if you want to really crank up the power the Precision (developer range). If you drive thousands of miles a week you don't buy a Kia Picanto...

Tim in Belgium

14-12-10, 10:30 PM

Cheers all, I've ordered an Acer jobbie.

MrMessy

15-12-10, 09:41 AM

My daughters bought us a Dell Inspiron 1545 last xmas. We have hardly used it and the hard drive failed, replaced under warranty. Went to use it last week and screen black or just coloured lines. Apparently video card failed, just out of warranty so I have had to purchase extended warranty. Call centre abroad so would not repair it even though it failed the same way when they replaced the hard drive. At least they send somebody to your home to repair it with the extended warranty package. Best thing he asked me if the keys where worn, only used it a dozen times! Both daughters have Toshiba laptops and they have been great.

hindle8907

15-12-10, 10:31 AM

Its swings and roundabouts really,

all manufactures **** up sometimes, and every now and again release model(s) that become to have known faults across the board.
I have got a HP sat here next to me from one of my customers, its just over a year old and has a GPU fault, I have been on-line and there are 100's upon 100's of people all with the same fault but as its out of warranty HP have basically said Tuff luck, or pay us £160 for a new motherboard replacement despite there being 100's of users with the same fault.
Toshiba laptops on their old ranges 2007-2008 are known for using Crappy inverters that control the LCD and can cause screen/LCD issues I myself have come across at least 5-6 of these but not sure about more modern models haven't seen many up to now.
I own Two Dell Laptops one HP and a Samsung Net book and ill not mention the other device haha.
the Dells are getting on for 3 years now i did have to replace the screen on the Dell D820 after 2 years but the others have been fine.
Anything that's costing more than £400 should be pretty well put together imo.

BigBaddad

15-12-10, 11:07 AM

Anything that's costing more than £400 should be pretty well put together imo.

You'd think so.

You missed out on this puppy http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-r540-ja04-i3-laptop-3-year-/812600

I bought 2 portable DVD's on this deal all wrapped up in a Harrods box so it was genuine, code has expired and the 10% off too.

ThEGr33k

16-12-10, 12:28 AM

Acer seem to be pretty ok for laptops. :)

Im wondering what people use laptops for mostly? My brothers Asus running a propper OS (Ubuntu) is used for the net pretty much entirely and is BANG on for it. Ubuntu is SO fast its crazy, though that is compared with Vista that was on it which is unsurprising. ha.