The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

The_JinJ

bfsog wrote: »

My girlfriend has moved away for Uni and I am thinking of getting her a laptop.

Im more of a software type of guy, when I am reading specs for laptops what am I looking for if I want that laptop to be wireless (for Internet, as in connecting to routers wirelessly) is it just 802.11b/g ?

Cheers

Yep!Yepyepyepyep

Scarlet_Fever

i am looking for a reasonably fast machine - MUST have excel, word etc all 2007 included in the price (am instructor and need to learn them pdq)

budget upto £800 max - would like a 'known' brand - i would really like a viao or vaio or however you spell it, and in pink!!

anonemoney

Cashback Offer!

Order this month and receive £50! - Click here for full details! http://www.toshibacashback.com/

Makes this notebook a fantastic £349.97 after Cashback!

Product Description - Toshiba Satellite Pro L40-12T - Pentium Dual Core T2130 1.86 GHz - 15.4" TFT
Weight - 2.7 kg
Processor - Intel Pentium Dual Core T2130 / 1.86 GHz ( Dual-Core )
RAM - 512 MB (installed)
Hard Drive - 60 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM
Display - 15.4" TFT active matrix 1280 x 800
Graphics Controller - Intel GMA 900
Battery - Lithium Ion
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
Manufacturer Warranty - 1 year warranty

from www.laptopsdirect.co.uk:dance:

anonemoney

Only issue with this is the limited Hard-drive and 512RAM, but if you could upgrade this then its a good spec!! Im actually going to inspect this laptop this weekend, going to give them a call or pop round....

john-306

anonemoney wrote: »

Cashback Offer!

Order this month and receive £50! - Click here for full details! http://www.toshibacashback.com/

Makes this notebook a fantastic £349.97 after Cashback!

Product Description - Toshiba Satellite Pro L40-12T - Pentium Dual Core T2130 1.86 GHz - 15.4" TFT
Weight - 2.7 kg
Processor - Intel Pentium Dual Core T2130 / 1.86 GHz ( Dual-Core )
RAM - 512 MB (installed)
Hard Drive - 60 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM
Display - 15.4" TFT active matrix 1280 x 800
Graphics Controller - Intel GMA 900
Battery - Lithium Ion
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic
Manufacturer Warranty - 1 year warranty

from www.laptopsdirect.co.uk:dance:

Works out £339.99 from same place but no cashback on this one, but you do get a free 512mb upgrade in the bundles section.

• Toshiba Satellite L30-10V Laptop
• Processor: Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor T2080
• RAM: 512MB DDR2 533MHz Maximum expandability: 2048MB
• Hard Drive: 60GB Certification S.M.A.R.T
• Display: 15.4" WXGA TFT (1280x800)
• Optical Drive: DVD±RW Super Multi Double Layer
• Wireless LAN: 802.11a/b/g integrated
• Warranty: 1-year international warranty. (Upgrade your standard warranty with Toshiba warranty extension, uplift and all-risks insurance packs.)
• Battery life: Up to 2:30 (Mobile Mark™) hours
• Dimensions: (W x D x H) 358 x 262 x 37mm
• Weight: Starting at 2.74kg
• Expansion slots: 2 x memory slots (1 to configure), PC Card slot for 1x Type II card
• Interfaces: 1 x DC-in, 1 x external monitor, 1 x RJ-11, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x external microphone, 1 x headphone (stereo), 2 (Left 1, Right 1) x USB 2.0
• Security: main battery pack (by sliding latch), system password security, wireless LAN switch, user password, supervisor password, main hard disk (by screw), keyboard lock, main memory (by screw), slot for Kensington Cable Lock
• Operating System: Windows® Vista™ Home Basic Edition

Monkeeboy

Just phoned Dell. I am looking at the following machine

Dell Inspiron 6400 (NO9642XP) it has
Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2080 (1.73Ghz)
Windows XP Professional
1024mb DDR2 533Mhz memory
shared Intel Media Accelerator 950 graphics
120gb HDD (5400rpm)
integrated sound
wireless enabled
6 cell battery (2.5 - 3.5 hours)
upgraded screen

the price per machine is £423 incl delivery - I have asked about purchasing two machines (price should be £846) and have so far managed to get them to reduce it by £60 (1/2 price delivery) to £786. I have tried a bit further to get it down to £750 (using gentle persuasion). So far they have said they cannot do it but have taken my number to call me back later - so ball is in their court. He did seem optimistic that they might move further so hopefully I may buy today at 12% discount.

I did suggest that if they couldnt move further on the price that they perhaps included some freebies - mice, bag etc but so far they only wanted to sell an extended warranty and if I bought they would include a further £60 of goodies.

I will let you know how I get on. fingers crossed.

The_JinJ

Monkeeboy wrote: »

Just phoned Dell. I am looking at the following machine

Dell Inspiron 6400 (NO9642XP) it has
Intel Pentium Dual-Core T2080 (1.73Ghz)
Windows XP Professional
1024mb DDR2 533Mhz memory
shared Intel Media Accelerator 950 graphics
120gb HDD (5400rpm)
integrated sound
wireless enabled
6 cell battery (2.5 - 3.5 hours)
upgraded screen

the price per machine is £423 incl delivery - I have asked about purchasing two machines (price should be £846) and have so far managed to get them to reduce it by £60 (1/2 price delivery) to £786. I have tried a bit further to get it down to £750 (using gentle persuasion). So far they have said they cannot do it but have taken my number to call me back later - so ball is in their court. He did seem optimistic that they might move further so hopefully I may buy today at 12% discount.

I did suggest that if they couldnt move further on the price that they perhaps included some freebies - mice, bag etc but so far they only wanted to sell an extended warranty and if I bought they would include a further £60 of goodies.

I will let you know how I get on. fingers crossed.

Price up a Vostro 1000 before you buy that

Monkeeboy

The_JinJ wrote: »

Price up a Vostro 1000 before you buy that

Cheers Neil

I have just had a quick look at the Vostro and note these are AMD and the cheaper one is single core. Is there a particular one with the same spec I am looking for that you have noticed.

cheers for your help

boots1_2

hiya
I am wondering if someone could advise me, what is a decent laptop to buy ?We dont generally download ,only really used for browsing ,however i have recently taken a new job working from home, and need certain things ,although the spec seems very basic.

Everything i need is :
1GHz processor
256MB RAM
Minumum graphic resolution of 1024 x 768
At least one USB
Sound card
Speakers
Cd rom drive

I believe everything i need is on EI System 3103,I read earlier on in the thread re E systems not having manual, are these the same thing ?

Anyway to cut a long story short we have been to look today and my OH is a bit of a brand snob and does not want to purchase the EI as he knows nothing about them.

From reading the poll its saying Sonys are the best, is that right ?I have found this one ,and any advice would be greatly appreciated .

I have found a sony VAIO VGN-N38 or Compaq C555EA,wondering if anyone had any opinions on them or could point out any others that are good deal,with required stuff

Thanks in advance
boots

savenotspendsid

I've been looking for ages for a laptop between 400 and 500 ish, was looking at a Sony vaio n38.

But have recently been tempted by a Toshiba a200-15i.

It has 2gb ram and 160gb mem, get it online at dixons for £499.
use a discount code to get price down even further.