Sub-£350 powerful laptops discussion

JDPower

Bunny82 wrote: »

I know, that's why I'm trying to get something not totally poo!

I went for a Lenovo B590 in the end. Core i3, 2.4GHz, 500GB HDD, 4GB RAM, should be more than adequate.

Yeah, should be fine

tsoprano

Which one of these is the best one? both at the same price of £379.99!

[FONT=&quot]General Information[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Processor[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Intel® Core™ i3-2348M (2.3 GHz, 3 MB Cache)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Operating System[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Windows 8[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]RAM[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]8 GB[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Graphics card[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Intel HD graphics 3000[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen type[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Toshiba TruBrite® HD TFT High Brightness display[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen resolution[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1366 x 768[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen size[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]15.6"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen features[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Toshiba TruBrite® HD[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Hard drive[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]750 GB[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Optical disk drive[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]DVD SuperMulti[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Memory card reader[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]2-in1 (SD and MMC)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]USB[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- USB 3.0 x 1
- USB 2.0 x 2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]FireWire[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Modem/Ethernet[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]RJ45[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WiFi[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]802.11 bgn[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Bluetooth[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Video interface[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HDMI x 1
VGA x 1[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Audio interface[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]3.5 mm jack for headphones x 1
3.5 mm jack for microphone x 1[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]TV output[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HDMI x 1[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Expansion card slot[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Sound[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Stereo speakers with SRS Premium Sound HD[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Webcam[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1.0 MP[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Keyboard & Mouse[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Black matt keyboard with integrated numeric keypad
- Multi-touch touchpad[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Battery[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Up to 4 hours
- Lithium-ion 6 cell[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Software included[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Intel® AppUp Center
- Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
- McAfee® Internet Security (includes complimentary 30 day subscription)
- McAfee® Security Advisor for Toshiba
- Microsoft® FreshPaint
- Microsoft® Office 365
- Microsoft® Solitair Collection
- SRS Premium Sound HD™
- TOSHIBA Desktop Assist
- TOSHIBA Eco Utility™
- TOSHIBA Function Key
- TOSHIBA Media Player by sMedio TrueLink+
- TOSHIBA PC Health Monitor
- TOSHIBA Places
- TOSHIBA Recovery Media Creator
- TOSHIBA Resolution+ Plug-in for Windows Media Player
- TOSHIBA Service Station
- TOSHIBA System Settings
- TOSHIBA Tempro[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Size[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]380 mm x 242 mm x 33.5 mm (closed) W x D x H
275.52 (height open)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Weight[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]2.3 kg[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]General Information[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Processor[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Intel® Core™ i3-3110M processor (2.4 GHz processor clock speed without TurboBoost, 5 GT/s processor speed and interface, 3 MB L3 cache)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Operating System[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Windows 8[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]RAM[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]6 GB DDR3 (1 x 2 GB, 1 x 4 GB)
- Upgradeable to 8 GB DDR3[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Graphics card[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Intel HD Graphics 4000 (up to 1.65 GB)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen type[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HD BrightView LED[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen resolution[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1366 x 768p (HD Ready)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen size[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]15.6"[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Screen features[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Back-lit[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Hard drive[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]750 GB[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Optical disk drive[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]SuperMulti DVD±R/RW with double layer support[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Memory card reader[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Digital media card reader[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]USB[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- USB 2.0 x 1
- USB 3.0 x 2[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]FireWire[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Modem/Ethernet[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Integrated 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet LAN[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WiFi[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]802.11b/g/n[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Bluetooth[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Video interface[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- VGA x 1
- HDMI x 1
- Display port[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Audio interface[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- 3.5 mm audio out (headphones)
- 3.5 mm audio in (microphone)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Expansion card slot[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]No[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Sound[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Altec Lansing speakers with Dolby Advanced Audio[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Webcam[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated digital microphone[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Keyboard & Mouse[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- Full size textured island-style with numeric keypad
- TouchPad supporting multi-touch gestures and on/off button[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Battery[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]- 6-cell Lithium-ion battery
- Up to 6.5 hours battery life[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Accessories included[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Warranty: 1-year limited hardware, pick-up and return, parts and labour[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Software included[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Symantec Norton Internet Security 2013 (60 days live update); Dolby Advanced Audio; HP Connected Music powered by Universal Music Group; HP
Connected Photo; HP Coolsense; HP ProtectSmart; HP Games powered by WildTangent ; HP Connected ePrint; Cyberlink Power DVD; Windows Live
Essentials, Buy Microsoft Office to activate Office software on this PC[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Size[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]376 x 244 x 363 mm (W x D x H)[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Weight[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]2.48 kg[/FONT]

Ozzy89

if the discussion was regarding desktop I may have suggested a good machine.

grumpycrab

tsoprano wrote: »

Which one of these is the best one? both at the same price of £379.99!...

This HP (similar to above?) comes with a 2 year warranty
http://h20386.www2.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Product.aspx?id=ECC_BUNDLE_3836462&opt=&sel=PCNB

and you can get 10% off with quidco (total 399-40, approx 360?)

tsoprano

yes the other one is a
HP Pavilion g6-2276sa 15.6



Is the one you've mentioned a better hp than this one?

grumpycrab

tsoprano wrote: »

...Is the one you've mentioned a better hp than this one?

I've had a quick look and they appear very similar. The one I pointed to has a bigger disk (1TB versus 750GB). But its got a lower model number (could mean anything!?).

PS the price after quidco I quoted was wrong; the quidco discount is not £40 but (400-VAT)x10% I think. I just saw the 2 year warranty which is always a good idea with laptops. (in my opinion)

mattjimbob

I've been on the hunt for a budget friendly laptop deal to replace a the tired laptop I'm currently using. Although on a day-to-day basis I mainly conduct fairly light tasks, Office, Internet etc. I do want something that can handle the likes of Photoshop/Illustrator and more regular streaming with out having sum sort of heavy breathing attack like the one now.

Anyhow, I have found three possibles I thought seemed good value for the spec. I would appreciate any feedback or opinions on these alongside any other deals found that could be better!

PS- I've removed the 'http and www' to avoid being blocked, please copy and paste

1. amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BQ9HY8U/ref=nosim

2. laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_Pro_C850-1HD_Core_i5_Windows_7_Pro_Laptop_With_Windows_8__PSCBXE-01L00FEN/version.asp#maindesc

3. pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/asus-x501a-xx402h-15-6-laptop-white-20622593-pdt.htm

Kind regards,

Matt

NiftyDigits

mattjimbob wrote: »

I've been on the hunt for a budget friendly laptop deal to replace a the tired laptop I'm currently using. Although on a day-to-day basis I mainly conduct fairly light tasks, Office, Internet etc. I do want something that can handle the likes of Photoshop/Illustrator and more regular streaming with out having sum sort of heavy breathing attack like the one now.

Anyhow, I have found three possibles I thought seemed good value for the spec. I would appreciate any feedback or opinions on these alongside any other deals found that could be better!

PS- I've removed the 'http and www' to avoid being blocked, please copy and paste

1. amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BQ9HY8U/ref=nosim

2. laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_Pro_C850-1HD_Core_i5_Windows_7_Pro_Laptop_With_Windows_8__PSCBXE-01L00FEN/version.asp#maindesc

3. pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/asus-x501a-xx402h-15-6-laptop-white-20622593-pdt.htm

Kind regards,

Matt

If your budget is £300, then forget about the Toshiba. Doubt that you'll actually achieve £100 for your old laptop(unless you've checked and you can).

On the other two, on spec alone, I would go for the Fujitsu. The ASUS doesn't even have an optical disc drive nor any kind of expansion slot, it has a poorer webcam, second Gen CPU and lesser Graphics.

What is the brand name and model number of your old laptop? How much RAM is installed?

mattjimbob

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If your budget is £300, then forget about the Toshiba. Doubt that you'll actually achieve £100 for your old laptop(unless you've checked and you can).

What is the brand name and model number of your old laptop? How much RAM is installed?

Hi, thanks for your input, to be honest I never even seen the 'trade-in' part of the Toshiba deal :embarasse (my current laptop is an Advent and its seen alot better days, so wont be worth anything). My budget isn't strictly £300 so have a bit flexibility if some more goes a long way, I'll continue to look about today

Thanks,

Matt

mattjimbob

Ok so I've had a hunt today and came up with the following by pushing the budget up around £50 although still flexible if there's something I've missed or and unreal bargain

1. w.simplyasus.com/Open_Box_-_ASUS_K55A-SX376H_red_1366871.html

2. w.ebuyer.com/515125-exdisplay-toshiba-satellite-pro-c850-1h8-laptop-intel-core-i5-3230m-2-6ghz-4gb-ram-ebr1-pscbxe-01l00een

3. direct.asda.com/Samsung-NP355V5C-15.6ins-Laptop---AMD-A6---500GB-Hard-Drive/000553434,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=ad-ppc-_-ggle-pla-_-Computers-and-Software-_-000553434&utm_source=ggle-pla&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=000553434&utm_content=Computers-and-Software&utm_campaign=ad

Any help is appreciated. I do have a basic understanding of what to look for but when faced with the whole picture I crumble with uncertainty

Regards,

Matt