davieG Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Anyone got any free SENSIBLE (Please note TPH, golden gordon, Disco Bob Knighton Matt and all other bright spart comedians ) advice they can give me on a spec to aim for, where to buy from and any other useful titbits? Thanks.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Anyone got any free SENSIBLE (Please note TPH, golden gordon, Disco Bob Knighton Matt and all other bright spart comedians ) advice they can give me on a spec to aim for, where to buy from and any other useful titbits? Thanks. What do you want to do with it?
Leicfox Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Im also looking to get one, can some one please tell me will i be able to access the internet from my car at the other side of town? Cheers.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Im also looking to get one, can some one please tell me will i be able to access the internet from my car at the other side of town? Cheers. If you have a wireless card and you park near someone that hasn't encrypted their network you can access the net for free. Half of our street have unencrypted networks!
davieG Posted 5 September 2006 Author Posted 5 September 2006 What do you want to do with it? Put it on my lap Surf the web, some graphics now and again including photography, run MS office and other bespoke software, the Mrs will want to use it on occasion for producing music using Cool edit Pro with Keybooard/micophone etc. I guess a general all around utility. I've currently got and old desktop PC which I want to replace and 2 year old one, 3.0Ghz, Pentium Processor FSB800, 512mb, 80gb HDD, 16dvd, 52cd-rw which I want to use along side of it. I've also got a LInksy Broadband Router using NTL as my internet provider. I would also like to be able to take it on holidays with me and still have web access, but that's beyond my knowledge base / capability at the moment.
lookwhaticando Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Anyone got any free SENSIBLE (Please note TPH, golden gordon, Disco Bob Knighton Matt and all other bright spart comedians ) advice they can give me on a spec to aim for, where to buy from and any other useful titbits? Thanks. You just had to play right into their hands, didn't you? :laugh: You're going to have to ellaborate a little more - what are you looking to do with your laptop? Did you have a particular budget in mind? Everything depends on these two questions, really. A few general pointers, though. 512MB RAM as a minimum. And as for hard drive, you're aiming for 60GB or more. Processor is difficult to provide guidance for - different chips have different speeds, identifying needs and/or budget help here.
Head Honcho Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 My best advice would be to always buy a good brand like a sony VIAO and to get as much HD and RAM as your budget allows. I use a laptop and have a Sony VGN-B1VP with 40GB HD and 512 RAM and to be honest I wish I'd spent a little more and got 80GB HD with more RAM. The reason for getting a reliable brand I'm told is because of the high standard of components they use and therefore less chance of them malfunctioning, but this is just hearsay. I don't know how much truth there is in it
lookwhaticando Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Put it on my lap Surf the web, some graphics now and again including photography, run MS office and other bespoke software, the Mrs will want to use it on occasion for producing music using Cool edit Pro with Keybooard/micophone etc. I guess a general all around utility. I've currently got and old desktop PC which I want to replace and 2 year old one, 3.0Ghz, Pentium Processor FSB800, 512mb, 80gb HDD, 16dvd, 52cd-rw which I want to use along side of it. I've also got a LInksy Broadband Router using NTL as my internet provider. I would also like to be able to take it on holidays with me and still have web access, but that's beyond my knowledge base / capability at the moment. Now we're getting somewhere. hehe I buy all my computers from Dell - never had a problem with them, so I recommend them. Dell Inspiron 640m - the base processor (1.83GHz) is sufficient I'd think, though upgrading if you've the money for it is always a sensible move 80GB is a fair amount as standard, again you can add more if you'd rather. There's 512MB as standard, and 1024MB would be a smart move (again, if within budget). I chose the left hand option (the slightly pricier model) as a start
lookwhaticando Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 My best advice would be to always buy a good brand like a sony VIAO and to get as much HD and RAM as your budget allows. I use a laptop and have a Sony VGN-B1VP with 40GB HD and 512 RAM and to be honest I wish I'd spent a little more and got 80GB HD with more RAM. The reason for getting a reliable brand I'm told is because of the high standard of components they use and therefore less chance of them malfunctioning, but this is just hearsay. I don't know how much truth there is in it That's a large factor in my purchase decision, too. When I buy a laptop from Dell, I select the 'complete care' warranty they offer. It's quite a pricey option to add, but it's a great warranty - they cover accidental damage, which is nice.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 None of that sounds very processor intensive so I would reckon you could make use of any deals for the £500-range of laptops from your preferred supplier. I find that the thumb pad on my Mesh is incredibly annoying because I can't turn it off while typing ~ you may want something that has that option like my old Toshiba. I have had three Toshiba's and each one put in sterling service without any glitches. You will want an inbuilt wireless card (standard on most machines now I believe) but you really don't have any need for dual processors or a dedicated graphics card. I have a decent graphics card on this laptop but it is my main machine that I play games on. As you already have a 3Ghz machine I don't think that you need to match it with the laptop...but with all these things, buy them if you have the budget. The one area I think is essential on a laptop is RAM ~ to have less than a gig nowadays doesn't seem to be worthwhile. If I were to buy a new laptop now I would want a DVD-CD burner, 1 or 2 gig RAM, and a wireless card. Stuff thrown in as part of package deals are invariably crap...thumb drives are ten-a-penny anyway and printers are rarely worth it. I would suggest buying the things you need/want separately. Places you could check out online include: Computer Shopper Reviews Mesh Computers Dell UK Evesham Ebuyer Hope that helps
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 The reason for getting a reliable brand I'm told is because of the high standard of components they use and therefore less chance of them malfunctioning, but this is just hearsay. I don't know how much truth there is in it I think you're spot on Allen, the trouble is that some people think that some brands are reliable because they are stocked by PC World. Packard Bell listed among the most unreliable manufacturers for years in feedback charts ~ and my laptop was crap, really crap. I've never bought one since. The piece of advice I always stick by is go with the brand that most people tell you is good: For me that is Toshiba and Mesh The quality of my Mesh is second to none - but it is build to order to a specification I dictated. I love it (apart from the thumbpad)
andrewsnaith Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 The new macbook's are lovely if you don't mind being set free from windows. Regardless of type though be sure to check hotukdeals.com before ordering to see if there is a money off voucher you can use.
The People's Hero Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Toshiba laptops are fantastic. If you can afford it, go for Toshiba or Sony. If not, go for Dell as they definitely offer the best value. As originally suggested, if buying from dell consider looking at the 'extra' warranty/cover you can get on it. Believe Dell are doing free delivery till end of September too.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 If you can afford it, go for Toshiba or Sony. The top of the range Sony's are sex ~ I'd like to take one for a test drive. Does anyone have one?
Rincewind Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I'm another one who'd like a laptop. My uses would mainly to be able have access when at work. I would not be able to connect to the place where I am IP so I would have to use that wireless thing and hope theres a PC nearby I can log into (I never said that) Cant afford too much. Waiting for my bank balance to go up but my earnings just about cover the months expenses leaving my BB stable. I will want access to my poker site beer forum and maybe Foxestalk and maybe one or two games. I want to try and avoid clogging it up like this PC. Waste of time using at home because I have the main one. When I eventually get one I want reasonable specs on it to save adding later. Seen them in Dixons from about £500 but I would not know what to ask for when going to buy one so they could sell me any old junk. Anyway I've put one on my Xmas list. You never know.
Bluefoxtim Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Put it on my lap Surf the web, some graphics now and again including photography, run MS office and other bespoke software, the Mrs will want to use it on occasion for producing music using Cool edit Pro with Keybooard/micophone etc. I guess a general all around utility. I've currently got and old desktop PC which I want to replace and 2 year old one, 3.0Ghz, Pentium Processor FSB800, 512mb, 80gb HDD, 16dvd, 52cd-rw which I want to use along side of it. I've also got a LInksy Broadband Router using NTL as my internet provider. I would also like to be able to take it on holidays with me and still have web access, but that's beyond my knowledge base / capability at the moment. Your better pc is a VERY good laptop. if you get me?
Nationwider Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I've always used Evesham PCs and I've never had a problem with my PC or laptop in 9 years. Their support is reputedly very good, should you need it (never have done, personally). Don't know what your budget is, but for £700, you can get THIS. AMD Turion processor 1024mb Ram 100mb hard disk 15" screen Warranty 1st year onsite, 2nd + 3rd return-to-base. Personally, I'd go with Evesham, Dell, Mesh and avoid the high street.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 15" screen Does it come with a magnifying glass?
Nationwider Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 Does it come with a magnifying glass? I thought 15" was quite good for a laptop? I know you can get 17" TFTs for laptops, but they lose their portability at that size, and the battery takes a hammering too, I would imagine.
lookwhaticando Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I thought 15" was quite good for a laptop? I know you can get 17" TFTs for laptops, but they lose their portability at that size, and the battery takes a hammering too, I would imagine. I hate 15 inchers - too big for my liking. My old laptop was 14, and that's now considered huge now that I have my dinky little 12er You can get a 20" laptop (!!!) from Dell over here in North America. The screen is held to the base by what can only be described as scaffolding!
Rincewind Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I dont want too big a screen. I have to be transported to work and with not having a permanent site I have to carry quite a bit to and fro work. Sometimes the driver asks if I'm moving home. Sometimes bunging them all in one or two bags looks worse.
Daggers Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I thought 15" was quite good for a laptop? I know you can get 17" TFTs for laptops, but they lose their portability at that size, and the battery takes a hammering too, I would imagine. Yup, you're right, size is not important
cisono Posted 5 September 2006 Posted 5 September 2006 I hate 15 inchers - too big for my liking. Indeed I'd rather have a tiny laptop but an external display... something holographic perhaps
lookwhaticando Posted 6 September 2006 Posted 6 September 2006 Indeed I'd rather have a tiny laptop but an external display... something holographic perhaps I hope you didn't read anything into that statement other than my preference for smaller laptops. Becuase I know what you're like...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.