which lap top

tootles_2

My friend has asked me to help her to get a lap top computer, she is not particulary well off and I am at a bit of a loss as to what to recommend for her, she is just starting to use a computer and wants it for email and surfing the web, playing cd's and dvd's and printing stuff from quilting sites.

Also can any one recommend a broad band supplier, she wants to be able to use it from her telephone via a router, I am looking for one with wireless conectivity for her, so she does not have to use it in one place, i.e. the kitchen, but can move around with it.

Reccys for a suitable router too please.

nickmack

Most laptops would be fine for her purpose. Nothing fancy required.

Does she have a budget in mind? You can pick up a basic machine for £300 in supermarkets although it might be worth spending a bit extra for a better known brand. If you are planning on using Wireless, then ensure it has it built in, it should be fairly obvious from the spec, but if in doubt, ask.

For bargain laptops from a decent manufacturer, check the Dell Outlet. If you go to the Dell site, there is a link to the outlet. It's basically PCs and Laptops that have been ordered then cancelled for whatever reason. They are still new, but at reduced prices.

ADSL Guide is a great independent review site for Broadband suppliers. You can see recommendations and price comparisons. For use in this case, I would say you can probably get a service with a bandwidth cap, meaning you have an allowance of upload and download each month. A couple of Gb should be sufficient. This is usually cheaper than unlimited services. You should be paying less than £20 a month.