Sub-£350 powerful laptops discussion

luminated

luminated wrote: »

Now here's a challenge :T

Can I get a 17" size screen on a new laptop under or near to £350.

I have seen this one at the Co-Op and with my wifes ex employee discount brings it to £350.

http://www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk/Toshiba-Satellite-C870-156-Laptop-Pentium-B950-4GB-320GB/id-TOS-LAP-C870_156-BK

Back in stock so anyone able to advise me if it is any good. Please :beer:

sammonp

Hi, Thanks for the heads up on Argos outlet ....comments invited on the Samsung 300V5 - I cannot post the link - not enough privilege
The laptop is NOT required for anything specific ... just kids homework, internet access etc

Cheers
paul

.
The striking Samsung 300V5 is an attractive and powerful laptop perfect for home use. The 15.6 inch screen has high definition display for an exceptional multimedia experience. 6GB RAM allows for seamless use of multiple programmes while the 750GB hard drive can easily store files for you and all your family.

CPU and Memory:
Intel Pentium dual core.
1.6GHz processor speed.
6GB DDR3 RAM memory.
750GB SATA hard drive.

Display features:
15.6 inch widescreen display.
High definition display.

DVD optical drives:
DVD+RW/DVD-RW(read/write).
Dual layer.

Graphics:
Shared graphics.
Intel HD Graphics 3000.

Interfaces and connectivity:
3 USB ports.
1 Ethernet port.
1 HDMI port.
Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi enabled.

Multi-media features:
Operating system and software:
Microsoft Windows 7 Premium.

Software included:
General features:
Up to 7 hours battery life.

NiftyDigits

Thriftygifty wrote: »

Hi, I'm not sure if i'm posting in the right place but would really appreciate your help.... My dad is in his 60's and uses his current laptop alot he loves youtube and surfing the net he stores photos on there, and maybe types the odd letter but apart from that doesnt use anything else. He doesnt play games on it either just youtube!

My mum and I would like to buy him a laptop for Christmas but only have a small budget less than £250 really. Is there anything out there for that price that is reliable and good? I know i'm asking alot!

Also I'm not overly keen on refurbished ones. Thanks in advance

Not every 'refurb' is alike. Some are 'as good as new' with a full warranty.

Something like this Toshiba Satellite C850-101 for £203.98 is a good place to begin.
Simple to add a 2 or 4GB RAM module for less than £9 or £15 respectively.
Specs here

My next choice would be this Toshiba Satellite L750 16L @ £233.98
Specs here

At the top of your budget, this Toshiba Satellite C855 is ok @ £253.98

NiftyDigits

sammonp wrote: »

Hi, Thanks for the heads up on Argos outlet ....comments invited on the Samsung 300V5 - I cannot post the link - not enough privilege
The laptop is NOT required for anything specific ... just kids homework, internet access etc

Cheers
paul

.
The striking Samsung 300V5 is an attractive and powerful laptop perfect for home use. The 15.6 inch screen has high definition display for an exceptional multimedia experience. 6GB RAM allows for seamless use of multiple programmes while the 750GB hard drive can easily store files for you and all your family.

CPU and Memory:
Intel Pentium dual core.
1.6GHz processor speed.
6GB DDR3 RAM memory.
750GB SATA hard drive.

Display features:
15.6 inch widescreen display.
High definition display.

DVD optical drives:
DVD+RW/DVD-RW(read/write).
Dual layer.

Graphics:
Shared graphics.
Intel HD Graphics 3000.

Interfaces and connectivity:
3 USB ports.
1 Ethernet port.
1 HDMI port.
Bluetooth.
Wi-Fi enabled.

Multi-media features:
Operating system and software:
Microsoft Windows 7 Premium.

Software included:
General features:
Up to 7 hours battery life.

It doesn't offer you anything over the Toshiba C855 above, which is £50 less.
I would be looking for a second gen i3 with HD3000 Graphics at that price.

Doctor_Reg

I've not used one myself, but the recent Chromebooks are getting some decent reviews and they start at £199.

They are certainly different from a PC but perhaps sufficient for your requirements. Maybe worth investigating.

sammonp

Doctor_Reg wrote: »

I've not used one myself, but the recent Chromebooks are getting some decent reviews and they start at £199.

They are certainly different from a PC but perhaps sufficient for your requirements. Maybe worth investigating.

Hi, The Chromebooks do look interesting ......however the local storage is (relatively) small and who knows what Google will ask for their CLOUD storage after the FREE two year period?
Cheers
Paul

loulou2702

My son who is third year at University has just smashed his laptop and needs a new one quickly. He can hook this one up to a TV but not portable ! I am willing to buy him one and get the old one fixed and use it myself ( as Mother's do!) This is the one he has broken
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Lenovo_G570_Windows_7_Laptop_in_Black_M516FUK/version.asp

Have you any suggestions - I dont mind refurbished - I looked at Argos outlet but it is all dutch to me I am sorry!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOSHIBA-C855-LAPTOP-750GB-15-6-INCH-INTEL-DUAL-CORE-6GB-DDR3-RAM-RED-REFURB-/350643492473?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item51a3fb1679

NiftyDigits

loulou2702 wrote: »

My son who is third year at University has just smashed his laptop and needs a new one quickly. He can hook this one up to a TV but not portable ! I am willing to buy him one and get the old one fixed and use it myself ( as Mother's do!) This is the one he has broken
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Lenovo_G570_Windows_7_Laptop_in_Black_M516FUK/version.asp

Have you any suggestions - I dont mind refurbished - I looked at Argos outlet but it is all dutch to me I am sorry!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOSHIBA-C855-LAPTOP-750GB-15-6-INCH-INTEL-DUAL-CORE-6GB-DDR3-RAM-RED-REFURB-/350643492473?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item51a3fb1679

The one to which you have linked is fine, though they have put the price up by £20 over the last couple of days.
If he would like a bigger screen, there is this Satellite C870 or for a better all round performace, there is this DELL. But it's a DELL.

loulou2702

Sorry - is that good or bad when you point out - But its a Dell ?

JDPower

loulou2702 wrote: »

Sorry - is that good or bad when you point out - But its a Dell ?

Lower end consumer Dells have a (in my opinion slightly unwarranted) reputation for poor build/reliability. My last laptop was a (cheap) business model Dell and served me well completely problem free for six years, still works fine now with the exception of a couple of dead pixels in the screen. I replaced it with an XPS model about 6 months ago I couldn't be happier with it.