Can you recommend me a lap top?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

And it's not Windows

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

Originally Posted by Scrawf

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!).

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]

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.

ASUS as above ^

dont get a dell