Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: omegod on 12 January 2011, 18:55:22

Title: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: omegod on 12 January 2011, 18:55:22
Basically I need a laptop for genearal browsing, word processing and the like but I haven't the faintest idea what to look for :-[.

Budget is as little as possible and I am not in the least bothered if it is not the latest snazziest one out so I would welcome suggestions from whats is available or if anyone spots a goodun in the sales give me a pointer please :y
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 12 January 2011, 19:09:37
Now isn't a good time to buy...

For a lappy, Intel still rule. Pentium is long in tooth, so looking at Core2 (last generation) or Core i3 (current generation) as the low costs. Unless a Celery will suffice - that would be really light use.

Win7 starter needs 1Gb, anything else needs 2Gb really. No point going more than 3Gb on 32bit, unless you get multichannel speed advantages.

Thats around £500 if you shop around :(

Netbooks? I have one, don't think they are up to any kind of work to be honest. They have a niche use, no more.
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Mysteryman on 12 January 2011, 19:09:58
Nick one from one of your neighbours. I'm sure you'll find an open window if you look carefully. I would advise you to do it between 2 am and 4am.

Good luck :y
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Plomien on 12 January 2011, 20:38:43
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-6889.aspx
this one is a fairly good model for the price, my eighbour bought it for christmas for his daughter and not had an issue with it once a decent antivirus was installed :y
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 13 January 2011, 12:59:19
Bought an MSi one before xmas for 300 quid.

4Gb of ram, windows 7 64bit, AMD dual core micro and its working pretty well. Runs office etc without any issues at all, browsing is good.

Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 13 January 2011, 13:54:55
Quote
Nick one from one of your neighbours. I'm sure you'll find an open window if you look carefully. I would advise you to do it between 2 am and 4am.

Good luck :y

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 13 January 2011, 14:57:45
Asda have an amd v140 lappy for 267 currently...
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: omegod on 13 January 2011, 18:59:16
Cheers for the advice chaps and sorry Ste my neighbours are middle class as am I! theft would upset the croquet club ;D

How does this one look ?

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5083321/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%2C+PCs+and+phones%7C14418968/c_2/2%7C14418968%7CLaptops+and+Netbooks%7C16164797/c_3/3%7Ccat_16164797%7CLaptops%7C16164800.htm
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: notacarbuff on 13 January 2011, 19:22:18
Take a look at this. It looks very good for the price and a better bargain than the one you have posted above.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-g56-130sa-laptop-07908263-pdt.html?srcid=369&xtor=AL-11
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Entwood on 13 January 2011, 19:48:55
May I suggest "novatech" ?? Used them lots in the past when I had a computor company, very good quality, excelent after sales service and competitive prices

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/laptop/
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Webby the Bear on 13 January 2011, 22:51:48
hi mate,

dont know  what prices are like now but all i wanted was fast internet and microsoft office.

i got a packard bell package from comet..... 350 quid in may last year.

also has windows 7 :)

ps  i too hadnt got a clue. just tell the bloke what u want and what you want to spend and youll get something
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 13 January 2011, 23:23:16
Quote
May I suggest "novatech" ?? Used them lots in the past when I had a computor company, very good quality, excelent after sales service and competitive prices

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/laptop/

Seconded. I've built a couple of machines using bits from them in the last couple of months and no problems at all.

Kevin
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 January 2011, 09:28:52
Quote
hi mate,

dont know  what prices are like now but all i wanted was fast internet and microsoft office.

i got a packard bell package from comet..... 350 quid in may last year.

also has windows 7 :)

ps  i too hadnt got a clue. just tell the bloke what u want and what you want to spend and youll get something
All new PCs will have some varient of Windows 7.  Most 'big brand' will come with Office 2010 Starter Edition (a free, usable version of Word and Excel (only), with some of the more advanced functions disabled).  Sadly, Office 2010 Starter is only available with new PCs.


I was in PC World the other day, saw a nice, small (I don't like massive laptops) i5 based HP for 'only' £614...  ...I was nearly tempted, but then there is nothing wrong with my old laptop (hardware wise - Win7 has spat its dummy out AGAIN on it, so needs another rebuild)
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 January 2011, 09:33:59
Obviously, if anyone is buying a PC from PC World (occasionally their web prices are competitive, but need to do your homework), do a reserve online via a cashback site such as Topcashback, and you will get some cash back after a few weeks :y

If you are not a member of a cashback site, feel free to sign up via my link (as I then (currently) get a fiver (:D) once you've saved a certain amount. Topcashback is free and is probably the best of all the free ones, so costs you nothing to try :y.  Quidco is another good one, but they charge £5 per year.

http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/theboy
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 January 2011, 09:35:11
Quote
I was in PC World the other day, saw a nice, small .....

 :o

I hope you weren't spotted. ;)

Kevin
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 January 2011, 09:41:54
Quote
Quote
I was in PC World the other day, saw a nice, small .....

 :o

I hope you weren't spotted. ;)

Kevin
One of the guys at work was looking for one of those overpriced Dell Netbooks with the swivel screen so it doubles as a tablet, but wanted to see on in the flesh. Hence the visit, though they didn't have one, and the stupid sales staff were, errr, stupid.


I do buy bits and bobs from there (always via the order online, pick up in store (and via cashback site ;)), as occasionally very competitive, and you can walk away with it in your hand.


Just don't ask the staff any technical questions (unless you want a laugh).


(That last statement is slightly unfair - I was in there before xmas waiting for one of them to get my reserved item, listening to a young lad explaining some details to a customer, and he did know his stuff. Guess he won't be there long.)
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 January 2011, 09:46:04
OK. I suppose playing the "wanted to see one in the flesh" card is acceptable. ;)

They have shot themselves in the foot with the cheaper prices online. Even if I see something in there I fancy (and I'm playing the "hobbycraft is next door and Mrs. KW spends hours in there" card :y) I will never buy it, there and then, knowing I will get fleeced.

Kevin
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 January 2011, 09:51:08
Quote
OK. I suppose playing the "wanted to see one in the flesh" card is acceptable. ;)

They have shot themselves in the foot with the cheaper prices online. Even if I see something in there I fancy (and I'm playing the "hobbycraft is next door and Mrs. KW spends hours in there" card :y) I will never buy it, there and then, knowing I will get fleeced.

Kevin
Thats the advantage of tinterweb on the phone. See it in store, back to car, research, decide, cashback site > reserved online, walk back in, buy at web price + cashback ::)

The Research part is the important part :y



Hobbeycraft - how come the only 2 shops near ours is Matalan and Wickes.  I have to bloody well suffer :(.  I suspect its one place where Mrs TheBoy can give Mrs KW a run for here money ;D
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 14 January 2011, 10:03:17
Quote
  I suspect its one place where Mrs TheBoy can give Mrs KW a run for here money ;D

You're probably right there. I wouldn't mind if the millions of beads, bits of string, etc. actually got turned into something occasionally. They just seem to get stockpiled, though.

It's as ridiculous as me buying loads of components from Farnell and then moving onto the next project before I've soldered them together. Oh, hang on... ::)  :-[

Kevin
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 14 January 2011, 10:11:03
Quote
Quote
  I suspect its one place where Mrs TheBoy can give Mrs KW a run for here money ;D

You're probably right there. I wouldn't mind if the millions of beads, bits of string, etc. actually got turned into something occasionally. They just seem to get stockpiled, though.

It's as ridiculous as me buying loads of components from Farnell and then moving onto the next project before I've soldered them together. Oh, hang on... ::)  :-[

Kevin
:-X

 ;D
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: yatesDELTA on 15 January 2011, 13:31:51
I bought this just before that VAT rise, not realising they would hold the price.
http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-ACER-ASPIRE-5742-I5-Laptop/688932
There is also an i3 version, which is the same but has a smaller hard drive for £380:
http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-ACER-ASPIRE-5742-I3-Laptop/688410
Oh, it has gone up £40. Exactly why I am not sure.
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: TheBoy on 15 January 2011, 13:44:01
Quote
I bought this just before that VAT rise, not realising they would hold the price.
http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-ACER-ASPIRE-5742-I5-Laptop/688932
There is also an i3 version, which is the same but has a smaller hard drive for £380:
http://www.comet.co.uk/p/Laptops/buy-ACER-ASPIRE-5742-I3-Laptop/688410
Oh, it has gone up £40. Exactly why I am not sure.
Yeah, it seems the big laptops are much cheaper than the more portable ones (the ultra portable (not netbook) ones have always been dear).


As you've just bought an Acer, I'm guessing I should keep my well known views on Acer (and Asus as well) to myself  :-X
Title: Re: Laptops..I aint got a clue?
Post by: Mysteryman on 15 January 2011, 13:59:22
Quote
OK. I suppose playing the "wanted to see one in the flesh" card is acceptable. ;)

They have shot themselves in the foot with the cheaper prices online. Even if I see something in there I fancy (and I'm playing the "hobbycraft is next door and Mrs. KW spends hours in there" card :y) I will never buy it, there and then, knowing I will get fleeced.

Kevin


I bought a pc at PCWORLD on Thusday. Think I got a good price. Easy to set up and does what I want. My only problem was that my old asdl modem wasn't compatable with windows 7 and that meant a call to BT Mumbai. After 20 mins talking to a rather idiot who knew exactly eff all, it took the shine off my purchase. I ended up ringing sales (in the uk) and the young lady knew exactly what I needed. eg, a bt home hub.