The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

AuntyJean

Will this one do?

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_6000?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs&~tab=specstab#tabtop

Could somone please advise whether this is the best bargain offer for my needs or, customise it to suit please.

I want completely wireless internet access (so I can sit in a room without a telephone point), a DVD RW if possible and the best speed & storage for the lowest price. Would probably opt for a mouse as I cannot seem to get used to the 'thing' you use on the laptop.

Cheers everyone

(Edinburghlass, can you help? I am still undecided)

Coldfinger

Dabs have details of these three sub £500 notebooks which don't look too bad

** Referral Removed - only on the referral board please. Edited by Abuse Controller **

Edinburghlass_2

Is there a link to this page that doesn't have a referral link to it?

Aunty Jean I've had a look at the Dell and it seems okay to me.

Regarding the broadband you would probably need a different modem to the one you have as you want wireless and obviously you need one that is particular to cable.

ka7e

I've been looking at the Acer Aspire range. Does any one have any knowledge of them - build quality/reliabilty/after-sales service etc?
Model 1362LC - AMD Sempron 2800+ Processor, 256 MB DDR SDRAM (upgradeable), 40 GB hard drive, CD/DVR RW combo, 15" XGA TFT screen for £448.96 + postage.
Slightly different packages available at £487 to £618.95.
http://www.acernotebooks.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_1360_Laptop/prod.asp

tryingtosave_3

This on Morgan looks quite good for £469.99 incl vat. Slightly higher spec on some things - and includes what I believe is a DVD writer. Details from Morgan:

Intel Celeron D 335 notebook with 256MB/40GB and DVD SuperMulti Drive

* Intel Celeron D 335 (2.80GHz) processor
* 256Mb DDR RAM, 40GB SMART hard drive
* DVD SuperMulti drive (No floppy drive)
* 15" TFT display and Radeon ATI 7000 64Mb graphics (shared)
* 56K modem, 10/100 LAN, 3x USB 2.0, 1 x Firewire and Li-ion battery
Supplied with MS Windows XP Home and MS Office OneNote 2003 - PSA67E-00300C8J-EN


Having looked up "MS Office OneNote" I'm fairly certain this is very different from Office and doesn't include word etc. It loooks interesting though ...

£$&*"($£&(

Acer laptop is now £399 at Comet online.

http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/320_237930.html

Celeron-M 1.3ghz. 256mb RAM (probably will need to be pgraded to 512mb).

gemma1585

Hello everyone!

Aunty Jean I have been reading your posts and I am having the same dilemma as you are.

I am moving to London in a couple of months for 1 year and would like to buy a laptop which I can use whilst there and also when travelling back and forth from home (scotland).

My mum has agreed to give me £500 towards any laptop I wish to buy. I currently have an e-machines pc and am clueless when it comes to laptops really.

I have been looking at all the usual consumer sites, comet, currys etc as well as DELL.

I am unsure of purchasing a laptop from DELL as I can understand most of the terms but not all.

I am ideally looking for an:

• intel pentium processor - not celeron
• at least 512 mb
• probablt more than 40gb hard drive but would like more
• a CD and DVD RW drive
• bluetooth
• plenty of USB ports

But other than that I'm not too sure what I should be looking for. I will be requiring wifi as the flat I'm going to stay in has wireless broadband installed. I will be using the laptop mostly for the internet and e-mail, word processing, downloading pictures from digital camera, compiling music cd's etc.

I'd appreciate any advice what so ever!

Thanks, :j

£$&*"($£&(

gemma1585 wrote:

I am ideally looking for an:

• intel pentium processor - not celeron
• at least 512 mb
• probablt more than 40gb hard drive but would like more
• a CD and DVD RW drive
• bluetooth
• plenty of USB ports

But other than that I'm not too sure what I should be looking for. I will be requiring wifi as the flat I'm going to stay in has wireless broadband installed. I will be using the laptop mostly for the internet and e-mail, word processing, downloading pictures from digital camera, compiling music cd's etc.

I'd appreciate any advice what so ever!

Thanks, :j

If it's going to carried around a lot and used while travelling it's best to get something light and with reasonable battery life. As you also need Wifi you may as well go for a Pentium-M/Centrino laptop as this fulfills all these requirements. Considering the use your going to put it to a Celeron-M (the performance difference between these and Pentium-M isn't great) would be fine, though the battery life isn't as good, but it would be far cheaper.

highlighter

I've been looking around for a laptop, in no hurry tho. I'm after around the same spec as gemma1585. How abot these i've found..any good?

gemma1585

Dell Inspiron 6000

I've been quoted £729 for this laptop, upgrading to bluetooth and also getting all the tools to make my home a wireless environment. Any comments would be appreciated as I am dumb and don't wanna get ripped off. Also if this is a good deal I shall snap it right up!!!

Thanks guys!

Also can anyone give advise on insurances which I could take out to cover for accidental damage etc?