The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

slojo

coolforcash wrote:

This is pretty much the same one I ordered last night after getting a lot of advise from an IT expert at work. I went for the basic screen because he said it wasn't worth upgrading because it's such a (comparatively) small screen anyway it would be hard to tell the difference.

Thanks. Did your IT guy have any thoughts re the graphics card (for games/DVDs)?

coolforcash

slojo wrote:

Thanks. Did your IT guy have any thoughts re the graphics card (for games/DVDs)?

No probs. I didn't ask him specifically about that but he say I need to upgrade the graphics card when I showed him the specs overall. I did tell him my multimedia requirements extended to DVDs/music rather than games though so I'm not really sure about the games requirement.

I've searched through a lot of Dell's over the last week and it seems that if you start bolting on loads of extras you're probably better off looking at the next machine up in the range where these are included as standard anyway.

I also discovered that by paying with my Capital One card entitled me to an extra year warranty so might be worth checking out if you pay by CC!

Don't forget the Quidco cashback too.

codetown

Hillfly wrote:

In todays press you can get the Latitude 1300 for £299 delivered:
E-Value code is NPUK5-N02135.

It doesn't come up at thi sproce on the website so is worth calling about.
The cheapest new branded wireless dvd burning lappy you'll get i reckon.


Celeron M 370 1.5.ghz
256mb
8xdvdrw
wireless 1370 802.11b/g

Hi, I tried this on the Dell web site.
Even reducing support to 90 days it still sums up to 339 inc vat (i.e. 289+VAT). So it is not at the advertised price. Where was it printed 299?

Brodel

codetown wrote:

Hi, I tried this on the Dell web site.
Even reducing support to 90 days it still sums up to 339 inc vat (i.e. 289+VAT). So it is not at the advertised price. Where was it printed 299?

In The Sun newspaper. People are having a hard time actually getting them though as the code shows up as 339 on the order system even when you call up customer services.

fossicker_2

hutchie wrote:

Tesco have Acer Aspire widescreen wireless laptop today @£383.20.or 20% off all laptops

Just bought one of the 3613WLMi for my son. Seems good value at £383.20, used my cashback card and my Tesco club card so a bit more off that. Laytops direct, Misco and others are quoting over £450 for the same machine. The problem with getting better and better specified machines is that they will still be out of date in 3 years time and cost 50% more than this one. This still has a 15.4" screen, DVD burner, 60Gb hard disk and the 256Mb memory isn't too dear to fix.

And the other advantage is that I could carry it home and not worry about when it would be delivered which has been a problem with Dell in the past.

I know that a Centrino is a better machine but I cannot justify the extra money.

Hillfly

codetown wrote:

Hi, I tried this on the Dell web site.
Even reducing support to 90 days it still sums up to 339 inc vat (i.e. 289+VAT). So it is not at the advertised price. Where was it printed 299?

Check this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1605722#post1605722

It's a biggie!

dws_3

Toptech Laptop https://www.Play.com £399.00
Processor - Via C3 1.2GHz Mobile Processor
Memory - 256MB DDR RAM Memory
Hard Drive - 40GB
Optical Drive - CDRW/DVD Combo- Copy CDs, Play CDs and DVDs
Graphics - Integrated AGP
Screen - 14" XGA TFT Screen (1024 x 768)
Sound - Built-in audio and Speakers
Ports - USB 2.0 x 4, 10/100 LAN, 56k Modem
VGA monitor out port
External Speaker Port
External Microphone Port
LPT Parallel Printer Port
Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Hillfly

dws wrote:

Toptech Laptop https://www.Play.com £399.00
Processor - Via C3 1.2GHz Mobile Processor
Memory - 256MB DDR RAM Memory
Hard Drive - 40GB
Optical Drive - CDRW/DVD Combo- Copy CDs, Play CDs and DVDs
Graphics - Integrated AGP
Screen - 14" XGA TFT Screen (1024 x 768)
Sound - Built-in audio and Speakers
Ports - USB 2.0 x 4, 10/100 LAN, 56k Modem
VGA monitor out port
External Speaker Port
External Microphone Port
LPT Parallel Printer Port
Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

The Dell 1300 machines are better value. Faster processors, dvd writers and built in wireless.

rach

do you know which tescos have them? mine didn;t seem to when i looked yesterday! though they're doing works so its hard to tell. i live in Bournemouth but will also be in croydon at the weekend!

fossicker wrote:

Just bought one of the 3613WLMi for my son. Seems good value at £383.20, used my cashback card and my Tesco club card so a bit more off that. Laytops direct, Misco and others are quoting over £450 for the same machine. The problem with getting better and better specified machines is that they will still be out of date in 3 years time and cost 50% more than this one. This still has a 15.4" screen, DVD burner, 60Gb hard disk and the 256Mb memory isn't too dear to fix.

And the other advantage is that I could carry it home and not worry about when it would be delivered which has been a problem with Dell in the past.

I know that a Centrino is a better machine but I cannot justify the extra money.

fossicker_2

rach wrote:

do you know which tescos have them? mine didn;t seem to when i looked yesterday! though they're doing works so its hard to tell. i live in Bournemouth but will also be in croydon at the weekend!

Sorry, just checked my local one in Abingdon and they have sold out.
You cannot get it on the internet.
Try ringing Croydon if you want one.