Need laptop urgent: Dell or Acer?

Nikiya

I need to buy a laptop for my daughter who's just started University. I thought I would take advantage of Dell "Inspiron" which are apparently on offer until the 23th. The 15.6 screen is less than 300 pounds. However, after adding a couple of things (like Word students and teachers, since it comes only with Work) it climbed up to more than 600!!!
Then I looked at Acer and they seem to have similar prices.
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5536G_LX.PAZ0X.092/version.asp
I know other makes are better but they are more expensive too.
Now I have the Word students and teachers software which I bought several years ago but I understood you could only install it in ONE PC. Is that so or can it be used again? Also, the last laptop I bought from Dell came with Word, etc. Have they now discovered new ways of making money, a bit like the budget airlines?
They also offer to add blue bluetooth. I know that is to connect to Wi Fi, but again, my old laptop came already with the ability to connect to WiFi. The Dell website has become less clear. Any advice welcome.
Thanks!

bellrooster

Hi

I'm not sure about the Acer Laptop, but I have had the Dell inspiron for over a year now and it's been absoluley fantastic but it didn't come with word, but it does have 'works' which isn't as usefull.

HTH!

daphne_descends

You can use your old version of Word again, yes.

Bluetooth is not the same as wireless for e.g. internet, my laptop has bluetooth and I use it to get photo's from my mobile phone or to send files, but wireless networking e.g. for the internet is different (and should be standard)

welshgasman

If you buy from the Dell site, only ever buy the advertised package. all the add ons are vastly inflated in price.

Dells are fine. I have an Acer due to it being a managers special in Comet, that was missing a battery, but at a very good price.

Office for students is only about £95 if you have to buy again.

I think you will get better value with an Acer, but compare like for like.

Nikiya wrote: »

I need to buy a laptop for my daughter who's just started University. I thought I would take advantage of Dell "Inspiron" which are apparently on offer until the 23th. The 15.6 screen is less than 300 pounds. However, after adding a couple of things (like Word students and teachers, since it comes only with Work) it climbed up to more than 600!!!
Then I looked at Acer and they seem to have similar prices.
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5536G_LX.PAZ0X.092/version.asp
I know other makes are better but they are more expensive too.
Now I have the Word students and teachers software which I bought several years ago but I understood you could only install it in ONE PC. Is that so or can it be used again? Also, the last laptop I bought from Dell came with Word, etc. Have they now discovered new ways of making money, a bit like the budget airlines?
They also offer to add blue bluetooth. I know that is to connect to Wi Fi, but again, my old laptop came already with the ability to connect to WiFi. The Dell website has become less clear. Any advice welcome.
Thanks!

prowla

Not an Acer - when it goes wrong you'll have real trouble trying to fix it and/or shops will charge you to do it for you.

welshgasman

Really.?

When my Acer had a problem (and I always get problems, story of my life :-) ), they sorted it straightaway, even though it was a managers special.

When my mates Dell DVD drive stopped working, they just shipped him a new one out and he had to change it himself, despite supposedly paying for 1 year engineer cover in the price.??

Sadly you only get to know how good a company is when something goes wrong.

prowla wrote: »

Not an Acer - when it goes wrong you'll have real trouble trying to fix it and/or shops will charge you to do it for you.

bigifsh

First thing is bluetooth is not wifi.
You dont need bluetooth, its highly likely your daughter will never use bluetooth. wifi will be pre-isnstalled on any laptop now so dont worry about that.

As someone else already said dont buy word and stuff from them you can get student versions cheap. Or just download openoffice its a free alternative and just as good.

Ive had a few laptops including a dell and an acer and i can tell you i will buy a dell again but never an acer.

Millionaire

welshgasman wrote: »

When my mates Dell DVD drive stopped working, they just shipped him a new one out and he had to change it himself, despite supposedly paying for 1 year engineer cover in the price.??

Dell did the right thing, Swapping DVD drives on most Dell's doesn't require an 'engineer' visit.

Normally its one screw and it pulls right out and the new one slots straight in. Takes less than a minute.

elvch01

I have one of each and am happy with both of them. I am on my 3rd Dell laptop in the last 8 years and after being pleasantly surprised by my wife's old Acer laptop, bought a "his 'n' hers" pair when I renewed my wife's Acer earlier this year

martin8_2

Nikiya wrote: »

I need to buy a laptop for my daughter who's just started University. I thought I would take advantage of Dell "Inspiron" which are apparently on offer until the 23th. The 15.6 screen is less than 300 pounds. However, after adding a couple of things (like Word students and teachers, since it comes only with Work) it climbed up to more than 600!!!
Then I looked at Acer and they seem to have similar prices.
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5536G_LX.PAZ0X.092/version.asp
I know other makes are better but they are more expensive too.
Now I have the Word students and teachers software which I bought several years ago but I understood you could only install it in ONE PC. Is that so or can it be used again? Also, the last laptop I bought from Dell came with Word, etc. Have they now discovered new ways of making money, a bit like the budget airlines?
They also offer to add blue bluetooth. I know that is to connect to Wi Fi, but again, my old laptop came already with the ability to connect to WiFi. The Dell website has become less clear. Any advice welcome.
Thanks!

Like most pepople here have already mentioned, wifi should be included aswell but Dell calls their bluetooth "wireless" and in a way it is but not in the way you were thinking.

I currently use both acer and dell laptops and (touch wood) both have been fine for me but obviously your mileage will vary. If you are worried then obviously Dell may be the safer option out of the two.

If you do go for the Dell, then you can use a cashback site e.g. quidco which typically offer around 5% off (ex VAT) which will save you a few bob. Also, my current Dell is a refurb and places like the Dell Outlet offer these and most of the time the laptops are in practically new condition at a substantial lower price...

As for getting MS Office for the laptop, MS often do special offers for students at substantial price reductions... e.g. last week they were offering Office 2007 Ultimate for around 40 GBP but it seems to have disappeared.... but they do this regularly so I would look around online for special offers tbh.

GunJack

..and if she's a student, software4students.co.uk have twin-lisence Office 2007 for about £50-ish..