The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

Jaffa.

nzamcdza wrote: »

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-3481.aspx

What do people think, seems like a good deal but as it is a lot better spec than the other ones in that price range i feel like im missing something???!!

It's not bad, just make sure you use your Clubcard

Ifts

Hi, need some advice from any techies in the know. I am thinking about buying a netbook for internet use only and saw this one for sale in Asda:

http://direct.asda.com/Acer-Aspire-One-White-10.1in-Netbook-with-Windows-Operating-System/000586003,default,pd.html

Is this good value for the spec?

Thanks.

ross007

I have been a happy Dell user and was looking at this laptop http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=N0054504&dgc=AF&cid=5212&lid=122756

I think it is a decent spec for the money, but I can decide whether to pay for the 4 year warranty. I guess it will give my 4 years of peace of mind, and by thenit will be time for a upgrade anyway. Just wanted to get peoples thoughts.

helwarren

nzamcdza wrote: »

http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.200-3481.aspx

What do people think, seems like a good deal but as it is a lot better spec than the other ones in that price range i feel like im missing something???!!

i've just gone for this one http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-3315.aspx - i'm not techie but the spec was bit higher and vista premium instead of basic and with 1000 bonus points you make back the extra you will be paying for it. Was delivered next day and has been simple to get going.

chili2001

ross007 wrote: »

I have been a happy Dell user and was looking at this laptop http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=N0054504&dgc=AF&cid=5212&lid=122756

I think it is a decent spec for the money, but I can decide whether to pay for the 4 year warranty. I guess it will give my 4 years of peace of mind, and by thenit will be time for a upgrade anyway. Just wanted to get peoples thoughts.

A happy Dell user eh? I've not met many of those!!
I couldn't really make out the link you added, it just went to a build your own dell laptop thing but if you were talking about one of the standard builds with no added extras and an extended 4 year warranty for just under £500? I think this is a very bad spec for the price. You would be paying most of the money for the warranty alone and Dell can be notoriously difficult in honoring it should something go wrong. This is a better spec and £100 cheaper: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149938
Use a little of it to add accidental damage and loss cover to you home insurance. Much cheaper, and dont forget you will still be covered by the Statutory 12 month warranty should anything else go wrong with it.

Garetha

chili2001 wrote: »

A happy Dell user eh? I've not met many of those!!

I've used Dell for many years now - that's several of my own and about 30 purchased for other users.
They sell good value machines at the basic spec price.
I usually try and wait for discounts and/or free delivery.

I've had a couple of problems over the years - and in each case the warranty procedures were better than expected - including a next day engineer when I'd only got collect and return warranty.

The independent surveys of reliability usually put Dell high upon their lists.
My only gripes relate to the technical support - expensive phone calls to call centres outside the UK - but that's common to many other makes.

mikeouk

ross007 wrote: »

I have been a happy Dell user and was looking at this laptop http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&oc=N0054504&dgc=AF&cid=5212&lid=122756

I think it is a decent spec for the money, but I can decide whether to pay for the 4 year warranty. I guess it will give my 4 years of peace of mind, and by thenit will be time for a upgrade anyway. Just wanted to get peoples thoughts.

not sure how you came up with this spec. when i tried it gave me a free 4gb memory upgrade and colour cover but its works out more expensive, so i just ordered one off the outlet site.they have free delivery on inspirons at the moment, i picked up the following spec for just under £350

Inspiron 1545 Pentium Dual Core T4200 (2.0GHz,800MHz,1MB) Windows Vista® Home Premium;Windows Vista® Home Premium 1 £ 302.32 Inspiron 1545 Pentium Dual Core T4200 (2.0GHz,800MHz,1MB)
Optical Drive 8X DVD + - RW Drive including software
Camera Integrated 1.3 Mega Pixel Camera
4GB (2x2GB Dual Rank DIMMs) 800MHz
Dell Wireless 1397 (802.11 b g)
Windows Vista® Home Premium
LCD Back Cover Cherry Red Custom High Gloss Finish
Battery Inspiron Primary 6-cell 56WHr Li-Ion
Keyboard Internal UK/Irish Qwerty Keyboard
Windows Vista® Home Premium
320GB HD 5400
MS Vista Premium Logo Label NB (small)
Display 15.6in Widescreen WXGA with TrueLife CCFL
Certified Refurbished
Tracking SKU
£ 0.00
1
£ 0.00
Base Warranty-1 yr Collect and Return
£ 0.00
1
£ 0.00
[FONT=arial,helvetica]Total excl. VAT VAT Rate VAT Total incl. VAT Sub-total(s): £ 302.32 15.00% £ 45.35 £ 347.67 Total Price: £ 302.32 £ 45.35 £ 347.67 [/FONT]

chili2001

Garetha wrote: »

I've used Dell for many years now - that's several of my own and about 30 purchased for other users.
They sell good value machines at the basic spec price.
I usually try and wait for discounts and/or free delivery.

I've had a couple of problems over the years - and in each case the warranty procedures were better than expected - including a next day engineer when I'd only got collect and return warranty.

The independent surveys of reliability usually put Dell high upon their lists.
My only gripes relate to the technical support - expensive phone calls to call centres outside the UK - but that's common to many other makes.

Hey thats good to hear. I've nothing personal against them, but you can find a much better spec pc for cheaper these days. If your happy with them then to stick to it. The last time I phoned them on behalf of a customer to buy a laptop they were very agressive and rude because I refused to buy the rip off extended guarentee. Maybe they have improved over the years. I'm just fed up having to repair them all the time, then again... it keeps me in business!

ross007

Sorry should have said it is this spec, which is £378 or £497 with the warranty.

Components Intel® Pentium® Processor T4200 (2.0GHz, 800MHz, 1MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® SP1 Home Premium (64 BIT) - English
Black Colour with Matte Finish
Microsoft® Works 9.0 / English - (Does not include Microsoft® Word)
1 Year Limited Warranty - Collect & Return
15.6" Widescreen WXGA CCFL (1366 x 768) TFT Display with TrueLife™
3072MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1x2048 + 1x1024]
250GB (5,400rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
Intel Integrated GMA 4500MHD
DVD +/- RW Drive (read/write CD & DVD)
4-cell 24WHr Li-Ion primary battery
Dell Wireless 1397 Mini Card (802.11 b/g)
No Bluetooth Upgrade
1.3 Mega pixel Integrated Web Camera
Accessories No Security/Anti-Virus Protection - English
Services & Software No Accidental Damage Support
DataSafe Online Backup 2GB 1 year
Also Includes
N0754504
Inspiron 1545 Order - UK
English - Documentation Inspiron 1545
Inspiron 1545 Resource DVD (Diagnostic & Drivers)
65W AC Adaptor
No Carry Case
1 Meter Power Cord - UK
Internal UK English Qwerty Keyboard
1Yr Limited Warranty - Collect & Return
Wireless Label - Pentium Dual Core
Silver palmrest
Datasafe Local 2.0 Basic

ItchieFeet

For what its worth, I just bought a Compaq CQ60-320SA from Currys.

Looking for my first laptop, need usual windows programs, fast speed processor cos I'm impatient and a decent size hard-drive for my photos, (I'm very snap-happy!). Guy in the store was really patient and helped me understand all the various pieces that make up the spec - best of all the laptop retails I visited by far:

• AMD Turion Dual-Core processor RM72
• (2.10GHz, 1MB cache)
• Genuine Windows Vista (R) Home Premium
• 4GB memory
• 250GB hard drive
• NVidia GeForce 8200M graphics
• 15.6" HD widescreen display
• Webcam
• Wireless enabled

Get free Windows 7 upgrade when its launched in October, I just pay the P&P.

£429.99 for laptop + £108.00 for Windows programs, Norton security and installation. £29.99 for back-up disc. I also took the £7.99 per month Whatever Happens coverage - which for £60 a year is only a tad more than my home insurance excess - and covers all accidental damage, e.g. spilling coffee on it! Good for peace of mind...

Oh and got a free mouse thrown in too!

Was really leaning towards a Dell until got to Currys....small thing really but liked that the Compaq has a proper number pad on the keyboard (unlike the Dell) which is great for all the spreadsheets I have to keep track of my expenditure and SOA...

IMPORTANT NOTE: This might be obvious to you Techs out there, but it wasnt until the 6th shop of the day that someone spelt out that NO LAPTOPS COME WITH SOFTWARE - you have to purchase Word, Excel, etc separately which could add another £60-100 onto the total price.