The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

Tariq_M

Hi,

Can someone help me decide a laptop. I've looked around extensively and I'm choosing between the Sony Vaio NS20Z/S (Tesco £590 but I have 10% discount) or the Toshiba Satelite A300-21H (£500 at Argos).

In terms of brands which is better? And is the 3GB memory on the Toshiba going to make a significant difference compared to the 4GB on the Sony?

Thanks for any help.

Scarlett

karlgr wrote: »

I think you'll find Core 2 Duo Processors are better than Pentium 4 processors

It might help if you say what kind of budget you have for people to help you out?

Thanks for clarifying that - I was really confused!

My budget is £300-£400 absolute max - wish it were more!

Hardware and drivers
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1800 MHz or greater
RAM memory: 512 Mb or above (1Gb recommended)
Audio Card: 16 bit soundcard and speakers or headphones
Graphic Card: 128 Mb Video RAM or above (recommended)


Players
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (recommended)
Internet: Cable/DSL broadband connection to the internet
Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or above
Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 9 or above
Flash Player: Macromedia Flash Player 9f.ocx or above
Document Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 or above (7 recommended)
Microsoft Word 2003

penny-pincher

If it's not out of order, might I throw in a word of caution about buying anything from laptopsdirect.co.uk?

While their prices are very attractive (and the warranty packs doubly so) they have an awful reputation for customer service - as I am finding out.
Briefly, they sold me a DESKTOP warranty, despite all advertising and advice stating its suitability for my Acer LAPTOP, and are now repeating the "very sorry, but they cannot refund me" line.

They soon will be ... (rolls sleeves up for a ding-dong consumer battle..)

Just a warning (which I should have heeded from reviews sites like:
reviewcentre~com reviews61649
ciao~co~uk 6482184
itreviews~co~uk
trustpilot~co~uk

One very cross customer.

john_quigley

Sainsbury are selling TOSHIBA L300 for £299. Great value for money.

sukysue

john_quigley wrote: »

Sainsbury are selling TOSHIBA L300 for £299. Great value for money.

This offer has expired.

Scarlett

Scarlett wrote: »

Thanks for clarifying that - I was really confused!

My budget is £300-£400 absolute max - wish it were more!

Hardware and drivers
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 1800 MHz or greater
RAM memory: 512 Mb or above (1Gb recommended)
Audio Card: 16 bit soundcard and speakers or headphones
Graphic Card: 128 Mb Video RAM or above (recommended)


Players
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (recommended)
Internet: Cable/DSL broadband connection to the internet
Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or above
Media Player: Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 9 or above
Flash Player: Macromedia Flash Player 9f.ocx or above
Document Reader: Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 or above (7 recommended)
Microsoft Word 2003

Sorry to post again, but I really need some advice. Can someone please tell me if the HP 550 on ebuyer will be up to the spec I require: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/164844

What will I need to buy with it?

Sorry I'm a bit clueless...

Smickan

Hiya,
I was wondering if anyone knows a laptop that's sub £400 with a dvd writer decent processer and ram. Don't care about anything else - just not HP or compaq as I'm locked in a battle with them atm over their absolutely appauling customer service.

Needs to be able to withstand heavy use too - and I mean REALLY heavy use. I give my laptops the same use in a year as the average person would in twice that amount of time if not longer.

Thanks

psychopathbabble

Hi guys,
Just looking for some advice....
My laptop fell off the bed last night and decided it couldn't take it any more... so now I have a screen that is half white.
I have been quoted £110 to fix it, but as its 3 years old (Advent 7109b) and the cd burner was broken anyway, I'm wondering whether to get this....
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5070561/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/2|cat_14418968|Laptops+and+mini+laptops|14419039.htm
What do you think? Is it worth fixing the broken one?
Thanks.

moneysavingwannabe

Hi,

I have a work laptop (Toshiba satellite pro A300-10q) But have to hand it in when I go on maternity leave

It is fine apart from screen is bit too reflective and I think I need a bigger HD as have 80gb in my itunes on a seperate HD which I would like to put onto a laptop. Like the widescreen tho.

Mainly for storing music/photos/surfing net and using office software etc. Oh and I have a flip video hd camcorder spose too much to ask for hd dvd burner??

As going on maternity don't want to spend too much max £400 but cheaper would be better.

Any advice appreciated. Thanks

Mandark

psychopathbabble wrote: »

Hi guys,
Just looking for some advice....
My laptop fell off the bed last night and decided it couldn't take it any more... so now I have a screen that is half white.
I have been quoted £110 to fix it, but as its 3 years old (Advent 7109b) and the cd burner was broken anyway, I'm wondering whether to get this....
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5070561/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|14418968/c_2/2|cat_14418968|Laptops+and+mini+laptops|14419039.htm
What do you think? Is it worth fixing the broken one?
Thanks.

The commercial value of an average spec (for the time) three year old laptop is £0-25. I'd only go for repair if money is a very serious issue. Otherwise I'd get a new one. That Acer is ok and it is a hgih street price but I think you could probably get better value if you look aorund online. I'd compare it to the sub £400 Dells, HPs, Lenovos, Toshibas first.