The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

tulipthecat

Hi,

Please can anyone advise me if this is a good deal at £320? If not, what would you recommend with a similar spec at that price or less?

Fujitsu-Siemens Esprimo Mobile V5505 Notebook Core 2 Duo T5450 1.66GHz 2048MB (2x1024MB)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo (T5450) 1660MHz 2048KB (L2 Cache)
Hard Disk: 160GB (1 x 160GB) 5400RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drive
Monitor: 15.4ins Anti-glare Active Matrix TFT Colour WXGA
Network Interface: Realtek 8111B-GR Ethernet 10/100/1000Mbps Integrated
Modem: 56Kbps (Integrated)
Graphics Device: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100 with 128MB VRAM
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

http://www.portableuniverse.co.uk/All+Laptop+Stock/FUJITSU+V5505.html

Thanks

debjay

Total technophobe here but looking for some advice. I want to buy my daughter a laptop for her birthday. She has just started secondary and will be 12. It will be mainly for school work, surfing and the odd game esp The Sims.
As like everyone looking for the best spec for the cheapest price and bit worried about whether her Sims will work on it.
I understand from earlier posts I should look for Intel Core™ 2 Duo but apart form that I dont know where to start.

Help

Manx_Cat

OK. We need a laptop for my daughter - but I will occasionally use it for studenty stuff (I teach at the OU and can't use my work laptop for it).

We would like the screen to be big enought to watch a DVD on occasionally, but we don't need gaming quality.

So.... what do people think between..

The Acer Aspire 5720 T7500 2GB 15.4" Laptop at Tesco for £349 (Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7500 processor. 2048MB RAM. 160Gb Hard Disk Drive) at http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.204-6256.aspx

or the Acer Aspire 7720Z Gemstone Laptop - LX.ALJ0X.028 at laptops direct (http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_7720Z_Laptop_LX.ALJ0X.028/version.asp?tref=fpg-Acer%20Aspire%207720Z) for £379.97 (Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 / 1.46 GHz. RAM - 2 GB. 160 GB Hard Drive):cool:

And if it's the second one, what do people think about the doubling the Ram offer?

Plus - for software (I need office) is it better to go for theultimatesteal at £38.95 (http://www.microsoft.com/student/discounts/theultimatesteal-uk/default.aspx - but it's download plus £8.95 for a backup disk) or something like Amazon at £54.98 (or even cheaper if bought with something else....)

jaydeeuk1

The Acer Aspire 5720 is fine, in fact it will be quicker than the 2nd one. Depends which you prefer, the 15.4" screen in the first laptop or a 17" in the second. The larger laptop will be heavier and not something you'd want to lug about regularly!

Don't bother with the double your memory option, waste of money for your needs, plus you can only use about 3gb in Vista 32bit anyway!

Jake'sGran

Manx Cat, Have you ever looked at Open Office? It's very good and it's free. Just a thought. I am looking for the same sort of laptop as you. This one is upstairs and I sleep downstairs for health reason (bathroom is downstairs).
Might have a look at the Tesco site. I think they are cheaper on line. Don't know why I am dithering about really. Been looking at the AOL packages with free laptop but they are not really cheap when you work it out.

Patrick20

I'm searching for a laptop with a good graphics card. If anyone spots any decent laptops with around 2gb memory, 120gb+ fast hard drive and NO shared graphics please pm me. I have officially given up looking my brain hurts.

Luis-FlightManWithAPlan

Patrick20 wrote: »

I'm searching for a laptop with a good graphics card. If anyone spots any decent laptops with around 2gb memory, 120gb+ fast hard drive and NO shared graphics please pm me. I have officially given up looking my brain hurts.

I am too! Ive seen a few but like a true bargain hunter the specs have really got to have refelct the price!

debjay

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?page=Product&sku=816726&camp_id=ppc_model_numbers_laptops_google&source_id=esearchvision&esvt=GOUKP106459747&esvadt=999999-0-1114341-1&esvid=104173


What does everyone think of this? Its £399 instore. Its for my 12 year old to do homework etc and must be able to run the Sims too.

Am thinking between this and the ACER at Tesco mentioned before

MissPop

debjay wrote: »

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?page=Product&sku=816726&camp_id=ppc_model_numbers_laptops_google&source_id=esearchvision&esvt=GOUKP106459747&esvadt=999999-0-1114341-1&esvid=104173


What does everyone think of this? Its £399 instore. Its for my 12 year old to do homework etc and must be able to run the Sims too.

Am thinking between this and the ACER at Tesco mentioned before

Homework and The Sims do not go well together

To be honest, I think the specs on that are above and beyond what will be needed for school homework and The Sims! My laptop has 1GB RAM and an 80GB HD, and I have lots of college work and several Sims games on here no probs. However, if you plan on having it a LONG time, it would probably be good in the long run as you shouldn't need to upgrade it. But 12 year olds aren't always the carefullest (is that even a word?) so maybe a second hand/refurbished one may be a safer bet.

debjay

MissPop wrote: »

Homework and The Sims do not go well together

Lol good point.

How do you think the laptops compare?