Sub-£350 powerful laptops discussion

JDPower

lee7421 wrote: »

Hi could anyone advise me on the best buy between these two?
http://m.sainsburys.co.uk/mt/www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/technology/computing/laptops_and_netbooks/122607311_samsung_rv520a07uk_intel_core_i3_22ghz_4gb_500gb_156_laptop.html?hnav=4294960188
http://m.sainsburys.co.uk/mt/www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/technology/computing/laptops_and_netbooks/122885257_dell_inspiron_15_core_i3_4gb500gb_black_notebook.html?hnav=4294960188
Many thanks

There's really not much in it to be honest, they are so similar. Samsung have a marginally better reputation for reliability.

jem16

JDPower wrote: »

I disagree, £336 for a FIRST gen i3 laptop is not a good price. There are more than enough second gen i3 laptops around for that price.

So any thoughts on the few I linked to or a better choice?

JDPower

jem16 wrote: »

Looking for a new laptop for my elderly parents - old one just about dead.

Now it's basic stuff - internet browsing and emails only so don't need anything too fancy. Would just like it to be reasonably speedy and troublesome - means I don't need to keep helping them sort something!

Probably around the £300 mark but could stretch to £350 if really much better.

I had read about Lenovo but long time since I bought a laptop so not too up on specs now.

Which of these might be best?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lenovo-essential-g575-15-6-laptop-11358336-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lenovo-g570-15-6-laptop-black-12377715-pdt.html

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/lenovo-g575-15-6-laptop-black-12377741-pdt.html

Also saw this in Amazon;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-RV520-15-6-inch-Laptop/dp/B005TIT7FC/ref=pd_ybh_11

Or is there anything else to be recommended?

Of the three Lenovos the second is markedly better. The Samsung at Amazon has a better processor, and also has a a much better webcam (if that is of importance - 1.3mp vs 0.3mp of the Lenovos). It has slightly less RAM but that is easily upgradable yourself if you find it necessary in future (between £15-30 to max out at 8gb depending on whether the laptop has one 4gb chip and one free slot, or two 2gb chips and therefore no free slot)

jem16

JDPower wrote: »

Of the three Lenovos the second is markedly better. The Samsung at Amazon has a better processor, and also has a a much better webcam

Anything else I should consider instead?

NiftyDigits

jem16 wrote: »

Anything else I should consider instead?

Spend only what you need to spend on a machine that will be adequate for their needs, such as this Toshiba Satellite C660-2E1 £203.98 and stick a 4GB RAM stick inside.
Will be more than enough for their basic usage.

or

step up to this Inspiron N5040 for £253.98.

or

a bigger screen with this Toshiba Satellite C670-14N for £271.48

or

just move all the way to second generation i3 ACER 5749 for £320.

JDPower

jem16 wrote: »

Anything else I should consider instead?

Possibly, I'm not following laptop deals at the mo though as I've just spent months following them and have finally bought a new one. Anything under £350 with a second gen Intel i3 or i5 (if you find an i5 for that price from a decent laptop band grab it). Second gen ones have a 4 digit code beginning with 2, eg i3-2330 (first gen ones aren't near as good and have a 3 digit code, eg i3-330). Second gen Intel processors bargains are gonna keep popping as the 3rd gen processors have just started to come out in laptops, but they are well above this price bracket at the mo.

JDPower

Here's an i3 laptop for under £300:

http://www.ebuyer.com/392936-medion-akoya-e6221-laptop-med-e6221-dvd

It has been on sale for £229!!! in Sainsburys recently but is out of stock online so worth checking your local store to see if they've any stock there as it's a major bargain at that price (its cheap even at the £289 ebuyer are charging)

NiftyDigits

If you go for the ACER...

Acer AcerAdvantage extended service agreement - 3 years - pick-up and return Accidental damage included** £31.99


Type - Extended service agreement
Service Included - Parts and labour
Location - Pick-up and return
Full Contract Period - 3 years ( from original purchase date )
Repair Time - 5 business days

** Accidental damage to the screen will require a 100 Euro plus VAT excess charge.

stinky_daddy

Hi Guys

could I get peoples opinions on the following please:

Sony Vaio (2nd gen)

or

Acer Aspire (2nd gen) + extended warranty (thanks to niftydigits for the warranty info)

TIA

s_d

JDPower

stinky_daddy wrote: »

Hi Guys

could I get peoples opinions on the following please:

Sony Vaio (2nd gen)

or

Acer Aspire (2nd gen) + extended warranty (thanks to niftydigits for the warranty info)

TIA

s_d

Although the Acer has the marginally better processor it's not enough that you'd notice so on reliability I'd go for the Vaio, unless you really need the slightly bigger HD of the Acer.