OMO: Laptop Opinion Poll With Slight Difference

[Owenski]

I've been today to compare the Acer and Samsung shown below but I cant decided between the two. So instead of you all telling me reasons why I should go Acer or reasons why I should go for the Samsung I thought you'd all maybe be able to help by telling me why the Acer is poop or why the Samsung is poop.

Acer:
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_V3-571G_Windows_8_Core_i5_Laptop_-_Black_NX.RZJEK.010/version.asp
Samsung: http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Samsung_355V_AMD_A10_Quad_Core_Windows_7_Laptop__N P355V5C-S01UK/version.asp

The easiest thing for me to use as an example is the Samsung as that comes with a 1TB hard drive, making it 25% bigger than the Acer.
Samsung 1 - 0 Acer.

This is my plan, Im going to score them on which is the better and then by midweek I'll be placing my order for collection next weekend.

So please all you tech bods, have a flitter through and highlight the reasons why I wouldnt want that perticular model, comparisons to the other model may help highlight those faults.

Also BOTH will have Win8 despite what the advert says.

[orose]

That makes it a little more difficult - I'd select the Samsung purely on not having Windows 8, going from the people using it at work. I suspect some of that is the alien nature of the OS compared to the previous versions, and getting used to it will resolve that.

The real question is what it would be used for - for my next machine, I'm still trying to work out whether another laptop is the right choice, or to spend money on a desktop upgrade when working is the aim and a tablet for when it isn't.

[Paul the 6th]

We've used a few acer laptops at work and when I lived at home as a yoof we had 2 acer tower desktops = in my experience all acer equipment is utter shhit and components seem to break rather quickly. Mainly power supplies. On events it's always the Acer laptops which cause problems either crashing or loading slowly or often not working at all, for no apparent reason.

Had samsung laptops since 2006 - the motherboard went on the first one after 5 years of getting absolutely battered on events, got another samsung, still going strong and excellent build quality.. Just look for reviews for acers and see how many of them complain about reliability.

Good luck dude!

[Tomor]

I am with Orose, Samsung as it has Windows 7. Windows 8 is designed for tablets and will not be simple to work on a desktop/laptop.

+1 Samsung

[Bri w]

Wot PT6 sez. Acer fall over, Samsung is like the Duracell bunny...

[SoulKiss]

Acer - has an Intel CPU

End of.

I would however, look for another brand with an Intel CPU

[yorkie_chris]

For that price you could get something with >i5 processor.
However I wouldn't have an Acer, they feel horribly cheap.

Don't stress about the hard drive, storage costs next to nothing and I wouldn't trust a laptop HDD with large amounts of data long term TBH.

[DJ123]

Why either of those?
What are you looking for in a laptop, what do you want it to do?
What is your spend level, what are your minimum specs?
Asus are a very good make which i would recommend along with the newer Toshiba laptops.

[NTECUK]

4 people i know off had there acer smoke were the hinged is weak near the power socket.
Acer no thanks
Our Samsung is a year older been on holiday and still going strong

[Owenski]

Needs:
8 Ram
Large HDD
HDMI
Bluetooth
Full keypad keyboard

Other than that I think it's a case of as fast as it can be for no more than £550

Decided on windows 8 because those who are using it tell me its windows 7 with a fancy start menu, switch the view to normal desktop and you wouldn't know it was anything more than an update. You're not compelled to use the tablet interface but its there if you choose to.
For those who are familiar it's the ribbon panel concept once more, ie start getting used to it now and at your own pace or stick to your current ways and await the day it all changes and you're forced to get familiar with it.

[flymo]

Windows 8 is designed for tablets and will not be simple to work on a desktop/laptop.

+1 Samsung

Not true. It takes a few days to re-familiarise, but after that you'll be just as productive. I have been using Windows 8 as my main OS for the past 4 weeks.

[flymo]

Decided on windows 8 because those who are using it tell me its windows 7 with a fancy start menu, switch the view to normal desktop and you wouldn't know it was anything more than an update. You're not compelled to use the tablet interface but its there if you choose to.
For those who are familiar it's the ribbon panel concept once more, ie start getting used to it now and at your own pace or stick to your current ways and await the day it all changes and you're forced to get familiar with it.

Its not a straight choice between Windows 8 'Modern UI' and desktop mode, this is entirely dictated by the application that you are using. If its a desktop mode app then it runs in the desktop.

The start screen isn't ideal for a keyboard/mouse arrangement but it isn't a total disaster either. I've used it in anger, on a laptop, a desktop, a Windows To Go USB drive image and with a Microsoft Surface RT tablet.

[Owenski]

I've not known of the acer complaints, and every Samsung phone I've owned died before the contract expired or limped to the finish so I really don't know what to think of that.
You all seem consistent on your thoughts about reliability so I'm inclined to believe you.

[DJ123]

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5755G_1270023.html

I'm also going Windows 8 around Xmas time. Building up a PC and tempted to go for a multi touch monitor to make the best of both worlds.