The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

ErodedPebble

Gueld wrote: »

Does anyone have any opinions on the Dell Studio 1737 or the 1545?
I'm just looking for an affordable laptop for Uni that's able to also play a couple of games and be decent for playing DVDs. I like the looks of these dells too (especially the pink one! :P).
I was also wondering if anyone knows if there's any chance that currys or pcworld will be getting the pink ones back in stock, they've been gone since Christmas. I'd buy from Dell but I prefer the payment plans from PCW and Currys.
Thanks.

Have you looked at Dell Outlet?

I recently bought a Studio 1735 from Dell Outlet for about £480.
Spec is
2.1 Ghz processor
4gb ram
2 HDrives at 7200 spindle speed.

Pros...
Solidly built
Great value for money

Cons
Touch pad is to the left takes time to get used to
The Graphics card occassionally crashes when I use the VGA port to connect to an LG lcd monitor
Colour of laptop is not to everyones taste.

One thing to add, Dell's customer service can be slow

Hope this helps

firebird1

Joe_Millionaire wrote: »

Yeah it looks ok but would like to get them a 17inch screen and can not bring myself to buy a machine with 1Mb of ram.

I am liking this one

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-1729.aspx

but unsure what the cache is used for?

.
.
At £100 more, the post previous about the Comet for £318 is much better value.

L-Jay

Hello there, can anyone recommend me a laptop?

I want-

Under £400
Reasonable battery life
Uses - Word Processing, Powerpoint, Internet, Burning CDs/DVDs, just general home use.

Thanks in advance.

chocolateteddy

Now I have cancelled my order with Bennetts!!! I am on the look out for a decent laptop at a decent price.

What do you think about the Toshiba L300 1AP (spec below) at £370 delivered is it a good price or could I do better

Processor type : Intel® Pentium® dual-core processor T3200
clock speed : 2.00 GHz
Front Side Bus : 667 MHz
2nd level cache : 1 MB
Operating system Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition (pre-installed, Toshiba-HDD recovery)

System memory standard : 2,048 (1,024 + 1,024) MB
maximum expandability : 4,096 MB
technology : DDR2 RAM (800 MHz)
Hard disk (Copy) capacity : 160 GB
certification : S.M.A.R.T.
DVD Super Multi drive (Double Layer) compatibility : CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-R(DL), DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R(DL), DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
maximum speed : Read: 24x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM/ Write: 24x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 10x HS CD-RW, 24x US CD-RW, 8x DVD-R, 6x DVD-R (Double Layer), 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R, 6x DVD+R (Double Layer), 8x DVD+RW, 5x DVD-RAM
type : DVD Super Multi (Double Layer) drive
Display size : 15.4 "
type : Toshiba TruBrite® WXGA TFT High Brightness display
internal resolution : 1,280 x 800
Graphics adapter manufacturer : Intel®
type : Mobile Intel® GMA 4500M
memory : up to 1,340 MB total available graphics memory with 3 GB system memory
memory type : shared
Internal video modes Max External Video Modes Max Resolution : 2,048 x 1,536
Max Refresh Rate : 85 Hz
Non-interlaced resolution with max refresh rate : 1,600 x 1,200
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)
3 (Left 2, Right 1) x USB 2.0
1 x integrated VGA Web Camera with built-in microphone
Expansion 2 x memory slots (1 to configure)
1 x ExpressCard slot
Wireless communication Compliancy : Wi-Fi®
Network Support : 802.11b/g
Wireless Technology : Wireless LAN
Wired communication topology : Fast Ethernet LAN
speed : 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX
topology : international V.90 modem (V.92 ready)
speed : 56 Kbps data and 14.4 Kbps fax
Sound system supported audio format : 24-bit stereo
speakers : built-in stereo speaker
manufacturer : Toshiba Bass Enhanced Sound System
Keyboard keys : 87
Windows keys : Yes
Pointing device type : Touch Pad
Battery technology : lithium-ion
maximum life : up to 2h30min (Mobile Mark™ 2007)
AC adaptor input voltage : autosensing AC adapter (100/240 V) for worldwide usage
Physical dimensions W x D x H : 362 x 267 x 33.0 (front) / 37.7 (rear) mm
weight : starting at 2.49 kg
Warranty 1-year international warranty. Upgrade your standard warranty with Toshiba warranty extension, uplift and all-risks insurance packs.
Bundled hardware AC adaptor
Bundled software Toshiba Disc Creator
Toshiba User's Manual
Supervisor Password Utility
Toshiba Assist
Chicony Camera Assistant Software
Toshiba DVD Player
Ulead® DVD MovieFactory® for TOSHIBA
Toshiba Face Recognition
McAfee® Internet Security Suite - Toshiba Edition (includes free Internet updates for 30 days)
Toshiba Recovery Disc Creator
Microsoft® Works, Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 (free 60-day trial)
Toshiba Value Added Package (Toshiba Power Saver, Toshiba Zooming Utility, Toshiba PC Diagnostic Tool, Toshiba Flash Cards, Toshiba Components Common Driver, Toshiba Accessibility, Toshiba Button Support)
Google Software (Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Google Desktop, Picasa)
Connectivity Doctor
ConfigFree™
Toshiba utilities and drivers
Toshiba EasyMedia Google Software (Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, Google Desktop, Picasa)
Toshiba TEMPRO Performance Tuning Service
McAfee® Internet Security Suite - Toshiba Edition
Toshiba Face Recognition
Smart Display Support
Toshiba Flash Cards
Built-in camera & microphone
Diversity Antenna
Toshiba ConfigFree™
Internal HD 720p support
Security features main battery pack (by sliding latch)
main memory (by screw)
HDD password on request
supervisor password
slot for Kensington Cable Lock
user password
main hard disk (by screw)
wireless LAN switch
Special features SM BIOS compliant
HD Audio support
integrated VGA Web Camera for Video over IP
Enhanced Intel® SpeedStep® Technology
integrated microphone for Voice over IP

chloe_87_87

Like L-Jay i am also looking for some laptop recommendations around the £400 mark. It will be for basic home use, such as photo storage and editing, storing and listening to music, playing DVD's on the go, Surfing the net and bits and bobs on Word, Excel etc.

I have been looking into Dell Inspirion 1525's. The best price i have got so far after adding/upgrading things is £408.01 inc the VAT. This includes the below.


BaseIntel® Celeron™ Dual-Core Processor T1500 (1.86GHz, 512K, 533MHz)Microsoft Operating SystemGenuine Windows Vista® Home Premium SP1 - EnglishMemory2048MB 667MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024]KeyboardInternal Keyboard Uk/Irish (QWERTY)Video CardIntegrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X3100Hard Drive120GB (5400rpm) SATA Hard DriveModem56.6k V.92 Capable Internal Modem & Adapter - UKOptical DevicesDVD +/- RW Drive (read/write CD & DVD)Wireless NetworkingDell™ Wireless 1395 802.11b/g Mini-Card - Europe - Celeron Dual Core ProcessorsCablesPower Cord UK 1meterShipping DocumentsEnglish EMEA 1 (EN, AR, DU, FR, GE, IT, CR,SP) DocumentationGedis Bundle ReferenceN0152516Microsoft Application SoftwareMicrosoft® Works 9.0 / English - (Does not include Microsoft® Word)Standard Warranty1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & ReturnService1 Year Limited Warranty - Collect & ReturnProtect your new PCNo Security/Anti-Virus Protection - EnglishPower Supply65W AC AdapterIntegrated Mobile BroadbandNo Mobile Broadband SelectedOrder InformationInspiron Order - UKPrimary Battery6-cell batteryCarrying CasesNo Carry CaseDell System Media KitResource DVD Inspiron 1525 - (Diagnostics & Drivers)Camera2.0 Mega pixel web cameraColour ChoiceJet Black Colour with Matte FinishAccidental Damage SupportNo Accidental Damage SupportOnline BackupDataSafe Online Backup 2GBOnline Promotion Option for GEDIS ConfigsDell Internet OrderLCD15.4" Wide Screen WXGA (1280 x 800) Display with TrueLife™

Can i better it for the price i am willing to pay? Obviously the more storage it has will be better because my music and photo collection is rapidly expanding. Also the speed at which it runs is obviously another area i dont want to get wrong as i tend to have things like Internet, Word and Itunes running at the same time!

Another thing i was wondering is, Do i HAVE to get the 'Microsoft Application Software'? To be honest i can't stand Works and it comes on this laptop included in the price as standard, but what if i dont want it on there wasting space?! I'd rather them not put it on at all and reduce the price slightly. I know i can get Office Student & Home much cheaper than they offer it for.

The Laptop doesnt have to be specifically a Dell but the Desktop i currently have at home is a Dell and i've not had any major issues with it yet that i couldnt repair myself!

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Sorry if i've posted this in the wrong place!

Chloe_87_87

Thunderbird_2

chocolateteddy wrote: »

Now I have cancelled my order with Bennetts!!! I am on the look out for a decent laptop at a decent price.

What do you think about the Toshiba L300 1AP (spec below) at £370 delivered is it a good price or could I do better

Check the Toshiba L300-1AS Staples in store, I don't seem to be able to find it opn their website anymore.
It has slightly better processor ( 2MB Cache)
It has got more RAM ( 4G )
It has got more storage ( 250G )
and it is for £398 in our local store! ( for extra £18, not bad at all!)

Good luck

Gordon861

Chloe

You will save very little if the PC doesn't have MS Works on it, it's just something they bundle on all Windows PCs. Once the PC arrives there is nothing to stop you just going into the 'Control Panel' and 'Remove Software' to get rid of it.

Also, if you really want to save money on the Office programs go to http://www.openoffice.org/ and download that suite of programs. It will read and save MS Office files and best of all it's free.

gemmacarolyn

Hello all!

I would be most grateful if someone would give me some advice! I would like to buy a new laptop for internet use and word processing. It will be used primarily at home, although I do go to the US a few times a year and will take it there with me. Ideally, I would like to be able to play Warhammer on it (:o ) but don't know which of the cheap laptops will play this (If any.)


MINIMUM PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

For Windows XP

• 2.5 GHz P4 (single core) processor or equivalent
• 1 Gigabyte RAM
• A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
• At least 15 GB of hard drive space

For Windows VISTA

• 2.5 GHz P4 processor or equivalent
• 2 Gigabyte RAM
• A 128 MB Video Card, with support for Pixel Shader 2.0
• At least 15 GB of hard drive space

I don't really want to pay more than £500, but again am not sure if this is possible. If anyone could give me some suggestions I would be very grateful!

chloe_87_87

Gordon861 wrote: »

Chloe

You will save very little if the PC doesn't have MS Works on it, it's just something they bundle on all Windows PCs. Once the PC arrives there is nothing to stop you just going into the 'Control Panel' and 'Remove Software' to get rid of it.

Also, if you really want to save money on the Office programs go to http://www.openoffice.org/ and download that suite of programs. It will read and save MS Office files and best of all it's free.

Thanks for that Gordon861. That looks pretty good. I'll deffo give that a try once i find a laptop!

MiM

The Toshiba L300-1AQ mentioned earlier from Bennetts is £339.99 on the Staples site.

How does that compare with the £398 L300-1AS offer outlined by Thunderbird above?

Site says...

The L300 is an affordable laptop that comes with the reassurance of Toshiba’s well known quality. Everyday computing tasks are no problem at all with an Intel Celeron Core 2 Duo processor, a SuperMulti DVD drive and 15.4” TruBrite widescreen. Built in WiFi wireless technology, modem and Ethernet port provide a wide range of connection options to the internet or home network.



Features
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5800
Operating system: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Edition (pre-installed, Toshiba-HDD recovery)
System memory (standard): 2GB DDR2 RAM (800 MHz). Maximum expandability: 8
GB
Hard disk: 250GB S.M.A.R.T.
Optical Drive: DVD Super Multi drive (Double Layer) - CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-R(DL), DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R(DL), DVD+RW, DVD-RAM
Maximum speed (Read): 24x CD-ROM, 8x DVD-ROM
Maximum Speed (Write): 24x CD-R, 4x CD-RW, 10x HS CD-RW, 24x US CD-RW, 8x DVD-R, 6x DVD-R (Double Layer), 6x DVD-RW, 8x DVD+R, 6x DVD+R (Double Layer), 8x DVD+RW, 5x DVD-RAM
Display: 15.4" Toshiba TruBrite WXGA TFT High Brightness display
Graphics Adapter: Mobile Intel GMA 4500M

Interfaces

1 x DC-in
1 x external monitor
1 x RJ-11
1 x RJ-45
li>1 x external microphone
1 x headphone (stereo)
3 (Left 2, Right 1) x USB 2.0
Please note, this product is not covered by our 30-day returns policy unless damaged or faulty. Special conditions apply in the event of returns