Sub-£350 powerful laptops discussion

Hotspur

icebergx wrote: »

Damn! I missed out on the ASUS X5DIJ!
I'm not in a great hurry buy would like to get a laptop in the next couple of week (sub 300 pounds).
Are any of the other better Laptops available at the moment in this price range, at the Argos eBay store or, do you think it's worth waiting?

Thanks.

I managed to get this ASUS a couple of weeks ago and am really pleased with it. It sold out came back and sold out again so maybe Argos clearance will have some more listed soon.

Donnie

Hotspur wrote: »

I managed to get this ASUS a couple of weeks ago and am really pleased with it. It sold out came back and sold out again so maybe Argos clearance will have some more listed soon.

But they've been putting the price up steadily. From £264 to £289. Still ok though.

InDebted2U_2

Donnie wrote: »

I think that you are wrong about this.
Perhaps you can link us to articles where people have complaining about problems with the CPU or even the laptop.
You can't claim because of a single problem in your case, that there is a problem with all of the laptops.

I think that you may simple misinterpreted the result of the search you ran on "'hyper transport sync flood error".

It is certainly nothing to do with the CPU.

Perhaps updating the BIOS or simply changing the machine would have done the trick.
I think you moved a little too quickly, as you had at least 28 days to investigate the problem. If it persisted after the BIOS update, I would have gone for an exchange. If the same problem reoccurred I would only then have claimed a refund.
Now the same machine is over £50 more.

Those were the results that came up from googling the problem. Feel free to do the same. I don't have 28 days, my son is leaving for uni as I said. Within days a better msi machine was available for the same price. Prices are changing all the time. I didn't say that there was a problem with all laptops. Please don't put words in my mouth. Do you work for Argos clearance by any chance? You seem to be continually directing people there.

It might also interest people to know that five days after returning the laptop I have still not received a refund. This thread, as I understand it, is to help people make an informed choice. Being the 'guru' that tells everyone to buy from Argos clearance and making false accusations when someone experiences and reports a problem seems rather odd to me.

Donnie

InDebted2U wrote: »

Those were the results that came up from googling the problem. Feel free to do the same. I don't have 28 days, my son is leaving for uni as I said. Within days a better msi machine was available for the same price. Prices are changing all the time. I didn't say that there was a problem with all laptops. Please don't put words in my mouth. Do you work for Argos clearance by any chance? You seem to be continually directing people there.

It might also interest people to know that five days after returning the laptop I have still not received a refund. This thread, as I understand it, is to help people make an informed choice. Being the 'guru' that tells everyone to buy from Argos clearance and making false accusations when someone experiences and reports a problem seems rather odd to me.

You seem to have taken this all too personally. I've just told you that from a technical point of view you have misinterpreted the results.
I don't need to 'Google' it, but I'm happy for you to post the link so that I can see if I will come to the same conclusion that you did.
Don't take it to heart. I'm simply saying that you I disagree with your conclusion about the processor/chip.
Try to remember that this is a Technical forum.

Of course it's totally stupid for you to ask as to whether I work for them. If that were the case I wouldn't be complaining about their price rises and telling people to hold on for a better deal.

As to the 'better' machine, I was the first to post when the new machines were available on the website so that people here(like you) could benefit.

That fact is that I couldn't find a single link to the laptop/processor and the problem that you have experienced.
So for you to make pronouncements based on a single sample, is a bit far fetched from a technical point of view.

I also appreciate that you didn't have the time to evaluate or investigate further.

In the end you have a machine with which you are happy. That's the point. Value for money.

Perhaps you would be happier if I trawled the whole of the Internet looking for bargains for everyone. But I like you, have only so much time I can give. So I focus on the places that have consistent bargains and of a quality that I can recommend.

fingerman

If you want a cheap Netbook with a decent spec then go for an MSI Wind U100+

You can still get them from Maplins at £189.99 delivered (with secret10 voucher) and can get an extra £4.26 off via Quidco (which I did) so for about £185 all in !

That's for a white U100+ with a 1024x600 Screen, Win XP, Atom N280 running at 1.66GHz, 160GB HDD, 1GB RAM, WIFI N, Bluetooth, Multi Mem card reader, 1.3MP Camera !!!

It's very easy to upgrade the memory to 2GB and HDD to whatever, it has a turbo over-clock feature and it's well built with about 4-5 hour battery (6 cell)

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=393883

Very happy with mine as I've owned a few netbooks (Samsung NC10, Asus 1008HA) and would recommend to anyone

New_to_this!

Not really a techie question - but thought i could ask it anyway -
Have just dropped my laptop (yet again) so am on the look out for a new one - would rather only spend 350 -
Strange question - but am needing one whos button on the mouse pad (i think thats what its called) doesn't make a clicky sound (i spend most on my day upstairs with a poorly daughter - hense the clicky sound can gets on her nerves when she is trying to rest) - my old laptop is a dell (i know that one didn't click) - and have just used my sons school one to write this (toshiba) and it does... am honest - do not have a clue about laptops/computers - hence was just going to just look on the dell outlet site (as I would then have a spare charger lead from my old one) but thought I might ask on here first.
Any advice would be much appreciated
x

Donnie

New_to_this! wrote: »

Not really a techie question - but thought i could ask it anyway -
Have just dropped my laptop (yet again) so am on the look out for a new one - would rather only spend 350 -
Strange question - but am needing one whos button on the mouse pad (i think thats what its called) doesn't make a clicky sound (i spend most on my day upstairs with a poorly daughter - hense the clicky sound can gets on her nerves when she is trying to rest) - my old laptop is a dell (i know that one didn't click) - and have just used my sons school one to write this (toshiba) and it does... am honest - do not have a clue about laptops/computers - hence was just going to just look on the dell outlet site (as I would then have a spare charger lead from my old one) but thought I might ask on here first.
Any advice would be much appreciated
x

You don't always have to use the clicky part of the touchpad, you can double tap on the touchpad instead. try it on the Toshiba to see if it cuts down on your clickage.

Knarf44

kintheuk wrote: »

Hi all,
I am looking for a laptop around the magical £350 mark. Must be reasonably quick with a good size hard drive for a uni student. Being at Uni means it will be used for all the usual student essentials:
Listening to music
Surfing
Watching films/streaming tv shows etc
Games
DVD player

Oh, and the occasional bit of word processing etc. Which processor should I be going for? I am thinking something with at least 2gb Ram, 160gb HDD, DVD rewriter, wireless and ideally a warranty for at least 12 months. Anything available at the moment?

Thanks

How about this Asus at Argos?

There are so many decent laptops around at the £350-£400 level and most have a similar specification. If you favour a particular brand for whatever reason then go for it. If you have no brand loyalty then browse the often quoted sites, Ebuyer, Argos Clearance, Currys, etc and use a price comparison tool to see who's offering it cheapest.

New_to_this!

Feel a bit of a 'thicko' now lol!

thank you
x

JDPower

New_to_this! wrote: »

Feel a bit of a 'thicko' now lol!

Don't be silly, we all learn by asking