Cheap But Decent Laptop Required...

Nemo

I've just got a wireless network up and running, currently using 2 desktop machines with Netgear wireless router and USB adapter.

I'm thinking of getting a laptop now. As it's really just for convenience when using the internet (eg. sat on settee, laid in bed, sat in garden etc.), I don't need any anything more than basic spec. I'm looking for something around £400 and a 'decent' make. ie. not Emachines, Advent, Packard Bell etc.

From a bit of googling obvious candidates I've seen are:-

Acer TM2413LM £399 at Comet

and...

NEC i-select M5210 £399 at Staples

and...

Acer @ Ebuyer £399 + del. - Can add a laptop bag & Netgear PCMCIA card for £24

The specs seem pretty similar. Battery life claims to be nearly twice as good on the NEC. The Acers write DVDs, and I think look better although I think the NEC could grow on me.

The thing the NEC has got though is integrated wireless LAN. It would save me having to use the USB adapter, or having to buy a separate PCMCIA card.

The Ebuyer Acer with the bag and card seems a decent offer, although I'd prefer to buy from a 'real' shop, than have to deal with an internet store on this one. I arranged to buy a laptop for one of my nieces last year, but the CMOS battery was faulty. It was just a case of taking back to Comet and swapping.

Anyone seen any better offers, or have any opinions on the above?

Thanks.

John_Gray

Staples used to do an IBM (=Lenovo) Thinkpad R50e at £399 a couple of months' ago, which has wireless capability. It's only 256 MB memory/30-40 GB hard disk, and it was only available in-store, not visible on their website.

A friend of mine bought one, and is v. pleased with it...

John

zacspeed_2

Go for the Acer!

rogerramjet

John_Gray wrote:

Staples used to do an IBM (=Lenovo) Thinkpad R50e at £399 a couple of months' ago, which has wireless capability. It's only 256 MB memory/30-40 GB hard disk, and it was only available in-store, not visible on their website.

A friend of mine bought one, and is v. pleased with it...

John

Was in the Nottingham store earlier today....and Swansea last week, both still had the IBM for sale in them

stuartw101

I would go with the acer at ebuyer. I am also looking for a cheap laptop and was looking at those aswell, the only downsides of the ebuyer acer is that the battery life is only 1 1/2 hours and not having integrated wireless internet.

Nemo

Got it sorted today. Had a look in Comet, PCW, and Currys, but ended up in Staples. They had the IBM in there, but I spent £100 more than originally intended and got the Fujitsu-Siemens V2040 (1.6 Centrino with onboard WLAN, 512GB, 60GB, DVD RW, battery life 'upto 5hrs'). It's currently charging up, so haven't tried yet.

I tried to persuade the manager to throw me a bag in. She offered me half-price on one, but I asked for and got a flat £15 off and went for the cheapest at £26. It's this one, although it's not as girly looking in the flesh :-

http://www.shoptargus.com/Targus_Messenger_Notebook_Case_TFS201/version.asp

stuartw101

So you paid £500?

intel

At least you didnt get an Acer, Poor Build, Poor Cust Services, Poor Optical Drives
and iffy TFT Screens... All on the Travelmate series of laptops ...

innovate

Nemo wrote:

As it's really just for convenience when using the internet (eg. sat on settee, laid in bed, sat in garden etc.)

settee and bed will work, but don't hold your hopes too high on using whatever you will get in the garden...laptop screens are incredibly bad outdoors

stuartw101

intel wrote:

At least you didnt get an Acer, Poor Build, Poor Cust Services, Poor Optical Drives
and iffy TFT Screens... All on the Travelmate series of laptops ...

Your right about the customer service but im not sure about the rest.

intel

stuartw101 wrote:

Your right about the customer service but im not sure about the rest.

After repairing a Travelmate this afternoon, Trust me... :beer: