The Great 'Cheapest Decent Laptop' Hunt

yeeble1

Hi
Missed out on the Tesco deal too. Was all set to compromise on the specs given the price. Thanks to this site I may have found a laptop on the laptopsdirect website that could be the one for me.

Acer Aspire 1642WLMi

It's priced £534.95 and comes with:
-Pentium M Centrino 1.73 GHz
-512MB RAM
-80Gig Hard disk
-DVDRW Dual Layer
-15.4" screen 1280 x 800
-Wireless networking
-1 Year collect + return

It has the things that I am looking for i.e 15.4" screen, DVD writer, Centrino CPU. Is this a good price ? And is the quality of Acer laptops similar to Dell?

Any advice/comments appreciated. Thanks.

Tharweb

yeeble1 wrote:

Hi
Missed out on the Tesco deal too. Was all set to compromise on the specs given the price. Thanks to this site I may have found a laptop on the laptopsdirect website that could be the one for me.

Acer Aspire 1642WLMi

It's priced £534.95 and comes with:
-Pentium M Centrino 1.73 GHz
-512MB RAM
-80Gig Hard disk
-DVDRW Dual Layer
-15.4" screen 1280 x 800
-Wireless networking
-1 Year collect + return

It has the things that I am looking for i.e 15.4" screen, DVD writer, Centrino CPU. Is this a good price ? And is the quality of Acer laptops similar to Dell?

Any advice/comments appreciated. Thanks.

That seems very reasonable for the spec. Ebuyer are selling it for £543.67 inc shipping, Quick code 99088, I don't know if laptopsdirect charge shipping on top so it may be worth checking out (unless you have a problem with Ebuyer).

I have an Acer Centrino which has been fine since I bought it 12 months or so ago. Acer support isn't supposed to be that great but I've never tested it.

FWIW you can buy 3 year Acer extended warranties from around £60, Ebuyer sell these too, Quick code 66436. You don't need to buy them at the same time as the laptop so you can shop around.

Hillfly

The price of the acer 5020 series has just plummeted.
I was about to order one on Monday when thanks to Savastore price alert (yes that was Savastore doing something correctly!) I noticed the price dropped £140. :money:
I spoke to someopne at shop acer and apparently Acer are trying to shift the stock of these before the new dual processor models become the norm.

http://www.shopacer.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=1543ff21cf42b07/shopdata/Notebooks/Aspire/Aspire+5020/product_overview.shopscript

I ordered this one:
http://www.shopacer.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=1543ff21cf42b07/shopdata/0130_Notebooks/0033_Aspire/0100_Aspire+5020/product_details.shopscript?article=0035_Acer%2BAspire%2B5024WLMi%2B%3D3Cfont%2Bcolor%3D3D%3D22%3D23FF0000%3D22%3D3EPRICE%2BDROP%3D21%3D3C%3D26slash%3D3Bfont%3D3E%2B%3D28LX%3D252EAA505%3D252E002%3D252EVOD%3D29

for £637.90 which has an amazing 256mb graphics card and 100gb hard drive.

Anyone want support or reviews then check this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=17907

Full Spec:

Product Description Acer Aspire 5024WLMi - Turion 64 mobile technology ML-34 1.8 GHz - 15.4" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH) 36.3 cm x 27.8 cm x 3.3 cm
Weight 3.1 kg
Localisation United Kingdom
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial
Processor AMD Turion 64 mobile technology ML-34 1.8 GHz - 64-bit
Cache Memory 1 MB - L2 Cache
RAM 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR SDRAM ( 2 x 512 MB )
Card Reader 6 in 1
Hard Drive 100 GB
Optical Storage DVD±RW (+R double layer) - integrated
Display 15.4" TFT active matrix WXGA (1280 x 800) - 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Graphics Controller ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 - 256 MB
Audio Output Sound card
Telecom Fax / modem - 56 Kbps
Networking Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Input Device Keyboard, touchpad, 4-way scroll button
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery Lithium Ion
Run Time (Up To) 3 hour(s)
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Manufacturer Warranty 1 year warranty
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial
Width 36.3 cm
Depth 27.8 cm
Height 3.3 cm
Weight 3.1 kg
Localisation United Kingdom
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x memory
1 ( 1 ) x PC Card - type II
1 ( 1 ) x SmartMedia Card
1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
1 ( 1 ) x Memory Stick
1 ( 1 ) x xD-Picture Card
Interfaces 4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A
1 x infrared - IrDA
1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
1 x display / video - S-video output
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire)
1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11
1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
1 x audio - line-out/headphones - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
1 x audio - line-in/microphone - mini-phone 3.5mm
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Traveller warranty - 1 year
Processor
Processor AMD Turion 64 mobile technology ML-34 1.8 GHz - 64-bit
Features PowerNow! technology, HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection
Chipset Type ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M
RAM
Installed Size 1 GB / 2 GB (max)
Technology DDR SDRAM
Configuration Features 2 x 512 MB
Storage
Hard Drive 100 GB
Networking
Networking Network adapter
Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Remote Management Protocol DMI 2.0
Features Acer SignalUp
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Miscellaneous
Features Locking device keyhole (cable lock), administrator password, system password, wake on LAN
Compliant Standards ACPI 1.0b
Power
Power Device External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Storage Controller
Type IDE
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor ATI MOBILITY RADEON X700 - PCI Express
Video Memory 256 MB
Audio
Audio Output Sound card
Audio Input Microphone
Display
Display Type 15.4" TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1280 x 800 / 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Features CrystalBrite
Cache Memory
Type L2 Cache
Installed Size 1 MB
Optical Storage
Type DVD±RW (+R double layer) - integrated
Input Device(s)
Type Keyboard, touchpad, 4-way scroll button
Telecom
Modem Fax / modem
Max Transfer Rate 56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications ITU V.92
Features Wake on Ring
Battery
Technology Lithium Ion
Installed Qty 1
Capacity 60 Wh
Run Time (Up To) 3 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Software Microsoft Works, Acer System Recovery, Acer Launch Manager, NTI CD-Maker, Norton AntiVirus (OEM), CyberLink PowerProducer, Acer eManager, Acer GridVista, Acer Arcade, Adobe Reader
Card Reader
Type 6 in 1 card reader
Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia Card, xD-Picture Card


Now that's bang for your buck! :j

yeeble1

Thanks Tharweb & Hillfly for the feedback and extra info. LaptopDirect does not seem to charge for delivery and I can get another 2% back through Quidco. The £60 warranty from ebuyer is tempting (especially if I can sell the bundled Vodafone 3G Data card for a similar price on ebay).

Thanks again.

katepnlor

Needing a little help,'hussband has decided our business (small) should have a laptop, big yay for me, ive been dying to get one, but never been able to afford it....but the business is paying...soooooooooooooo as a strictly desk top pc person, can anyone tell me what spec i should go for? and any amazing deals this weekend?
He is willilng to spend a fair amount....gotta be under 1k though...in the shop he was uming and r'ing at one that cost 900.00 so maybe less if possible.
Now for business we use ms office, publisher,, its all documents so no huge software. need to have at least 4 usb ports,. i want it wireless enabled so i can just install it and get on with things.
On the non business side i use it for internet and camera, loadsssssss of photos.
what spec should i go for? i dont want to spend more than i have to and idealy from a high street store.....coz i want it today while he is still in the mood for buying one lol!!! but if there is an amazing online deal i may be able to do that if i can pesuade him its a great deal lol.
i like the sony ones, he likes a hP ONE HE SAW in pc world.
really hope you can help
kate

Kettle_2

Hillfly wrote:

The price of the acer 5020 series has just plummeted.

Thanks for the tip-off!

I'm on the verge of ordering the 5024WLMi - LX.A4605.174 for £560
Does anyone know how that one differes from the 5024WLMi - LX.A4605.048?

The latter is some £270 more and the specs seem the same to my dim eyes.

Also, this "FREE Vodafone 3G Card": the Vodafone T&Cs state that it only applies to Intel processors, whereas these are of course AMDs.

Kettle

belfastgal

Tharweb wrote:

That seems very reasonable for the spec. Ebuyer are selling it for £543.67 inc shipping, Quick code 99088, I don't know if laptopsdirect charge shipping on top so it may be worth checking out (unless you have a problem with Ebuyer).

I have an Acer Centrino which has been fine since I bought it 12 months or so ago. Acer support isn't supposed to be that great but I've never tested it.

FWIW you can buy 3 year Acer extended warranties from around £60, Ebuyer sell these too, Quick code 66436. You don't need to buy them at the same time as the laptop so you can shop around.

HAS ANYONE HAD APROBLEM WITH EBUYER WAS THINKING OF THE ACER ASPIRE 1641WLMI AT £539.95

Malestrom

Well I ordered a laptop from Ebuyer (a Fujitsu Siemens) but when it arrived they'd sent the right model but wrong spec. Shortly after ringing to complain they altered the webpage to show what i'd been sent, luckily I had printed it out! I had to return it for a refund and while this wasn't too much of a pain it still took several phone calls and some wrong information on their part before it was sorted. I was actually told to send it back at my cost by recorded delivery! It was over £500 worth of laptop, why would I send it back with a postage service that only pays out £30 in the event of loss or damage! They actually sent a courier to collect it in the end and the refund was processed about 10 days later. So, not great service but better than some have experienced with Ebuyer. Just to note, i've been buying components from Ebuyer for a long time and this was the first problem i've ever had.

Hillfly

belfastgal wrote:

HAS ANYONE HAD APROBLEM WITH EBUYER WAS THINKING OF THE ACER ASPIRE 1641WLMI AT £539.95

Do you mean the 1642wlmi ?? Can't see a 1641 on ebuyer.

If so the 1642wlmi is £ 551.65 including VAT at shop acer. They have good sales service:

http://www.shopacer.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=154404cc14d4f49/shopdata/0130_Notebooks/0033_Aspire/0010_Aspire+1640/product_details.shopscript?article=0100_Acer%2BAspire%2B1642WLMi%2B%3D3Cfont%2Bcolor%3D3D%3D22%3D23FF0000%3D22%3D3EPRICE%2BDROP%3D21%3D3C%3D26slash%3D3Bfont%3D3E%2B%3D28LX%3D252EA8605%3D252E181%3D252EVOD%3D29

A lot cheaper i think. :money:

Kettle_2

Ordered an Acer Aspire 5024WLMi from shopacer this afternoon!

Kettle