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son wants a laptop for his birthday

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hi my son is twelve in two weeks and starts high school tueday wants a laptop for his birthday but can only afford a reconditioned one or one off ebay what is the things i should be looking for on it sorry a bit of a techno phobe he just wants to do his homework on it go on the internet and do music for his mp3 and pics thaqnks in advance
:confused::confused::confused:

Comments

  • tradetime
    tradetime Posts: 3,200 Forumite
    Roughly what sort of budget are you thinking of?
    PC world does reconditioned laptops.
    I'd be thinking of 1GB RAM unless it's Vista then 2GB
    >1.6 Ghz Processor wouldn't worry about dual core
    70+ GB Hard drive.
    Hope for the best.....Plan for the worst!

    "Never in the history of the world has there been a situation so bad that the government can't make it worse." Unknown
  • globalds
    globalds Posts: 9,431 Forumite
    If you tell us how much you can afford to spend ,you may be surprised by what people here can find .
    You would be far better off buying new .Laptops tend to be treated differently to desktops and second hand ones can be a bit of a gamble ..Things like batteries not holding charge .
  • bluepricey
    bluepricey Posts: 809 Forumite
    around £150 to £200
    :confused::confused::confused:
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    this is just over budget at £228 new, it's via Dell business but you just enter a name for business (you may be starting a home business ;) ) and they never even ring to check 99% of the time

    http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/235761/dell-vostro-1000-laptop-amd-sempron

    quote:-

    Great if you dont want to spend too much on a laptop and still be able use it for every day tasks. Apply the 10% voucher i've uploaded to get this price (GLTV1QH8DCMLWF). Dont forget use quidco to get £7.76 cashback bringing it down to just £220.31

    Remember Voucher expires at the end of AUG 31st

    Detailed specifications -

    Catalog Number: 202 N0910003

    Base AMD® Sempron Mobile Technology 3600+

    Microsoft Operating System Genuine Windows® Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1 - English

    Memory 1024 MB 667MHz Dual-Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x 512 MB)

    Video Card ATI Radeon® Xpress 1150 HyperMemory (integrated)

    Hard Drive 80GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard Drive

    Modem 56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - UK

    Optical Devices Fixed Internal 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including Software

    Wireless Networking Dell Wireless 1395 Mini-Card (802.11 b/g)

    Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English

    Standard Warranty 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day
    Enhanced Service Packs 1Yr Basic Warranty - Next Business Day Onsite

    Power Supply 65W AC Adapter

    Primary Battery 4 cell Lithium-Ion Battery (29 Whr)

    Dell System Media Kit Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)

    LCD 15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display
    Ex forum ambassador

    Long term forum member
  • johnmc
    johnmc Posts: 1,265 Forumite
    I'd have to ask why he specifically wants a laptop. I wouldn't be happy sending mine to school with a decent mobile, let alone a laptop.

    I would suggest a desktop which is going to be bigger storage, more memory, better graphics etc. But then it's HIS birthday.

    Needless to say, if it's on Ebay it's old.

    Take a look on Currys.co.uk for refurbished laptops.

    If it's running on Vista I suggest that you need 2Gb of RAM, minimum.
  • globalds
    globalds Posts: 9,431 Forumite
    Just a quick search returns this
    http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/235761/dell-vostro-1000-laptop-amd-sempron/

    Hotukdeals is a good site to bookmark as it gets new offers listed daily .
    Could you not persuade him to get a desktop ?



    EDIT*Damn My slow typing (again)**
  • bluepricey
    bluepricey Posts: 809 Forumite
    thanks browntoa that sounds great didn't think i could afford dell
    :confused::confused::confused:
  • tradetime
    tradetime Posts: 3,200 Forumite
    I think PC worlds refurbs start around £229, the advantage of a refurb from here is you have an easy point of contact if it goes wrong, I would be hesitant about a refurb laptop off ebay myself.
    Hope for the best.....Plan for the worst!

    "Never in the history of the world has there been a situation so bad that the government can't make it worse." Unknown
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,602 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    my daughters both have basic Dells, ample for what they do
    Ex forum ambassador

    Long term forum member
  • tradetime
    tradetime Posts: 3,200 Forumite
    Hope for the best.....Plan for the worst!

    "Never in the history of the world has there been a situation so bad that the government can't make it worse." Unknown
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