Would you mind checking out this laptop spec for me?

vtmil

Hi
After trawling the web I'm totally confused over what laptop to go for. I'm a student so need something that I can write essays on and surf the web with. I'll be taking it to Uni so want it to be pretty portable too. I'd like it to be fairly speedy 'cause my current laptop is oh so slooooooow!

I noticed that lots of people reccomend the dell outlet and the argos clearence shop on ebay. I find dell rather confusing so have been looking at argos and came across this sony viao refurb - would anybody mind telling me if it's worth the £360 - that's pretty much my max budget!

Sony VAIO NS30EW 15.4in Laptop.



REFURBISHED
12 MONTH GUARANTEE


Item Description

Intel� Pentium� Processor T4200 with Enhanced Intel SpeedStep� Technology processor.
2.0GHz processor speed.
1MB cache.
3GB RAM.
15.4in screen size.
Resolution 1280 x 800 pixels.
Widescreen.
250GB hard drive.
DVD+-RW/+-R DL/RAM optical drive.
Mobile Intel� Graphics Media Accelerator 4500M graphics.
Total available graphics memory of approximately 1320MB graphics memory.
Media card reader - compatible with SD, Memory Stick� Std / Duo, Memory Stick� PRO Std / Duo, high speed data transfer and 34mm Express Card Slot.
4 x USB ports.
10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet ports.
1 FireWire ports.
3D Surround sound.
1.3Mp webcam.
802.11b/g Draft n wireless enabled.
Genuine Windows Vista� Home Premium operating system installed.
Software included: McAfee� Internet Security Suite trial version (with 60 days free virus update), Google software package, Adobe� Reader� 9, Microsoft� Office Home and Student (60 days Try and Buy).
4 hours battery life.
Size (H)3.1-3.8, (W) 3.6, (D) 2.7cm.
Weight 2.9kg.

Also how much is office going to cost me?

Thank you in advance:)

vtmil

closed

You could probably speed up your existing one without spending anything.

http://www.software4students.co.uk/ or openoffice which is free

vtmil

Thank you for the link - very useful and much more reasonable than i imagined! Maybe I could speed this laptop up but I'm not very techie, plus the mouse pad no longer works and I've lost 3 keys!

Thank you again

closed

2.9KG isn't very portable, all depends on what you want to use it for over and above what you said, any laptop will surf and handle office easily, and there are brand new windows7 ones around in your price bracket.

vtmil

Thanks closed, I'll have a nosey for a lighter windows7 laptops then. Really appreciate your advice.

closed

Have a look in the shops/supermarkets first, it's not easy to get an idea of the size and keyboard layout from a photo, and then research the web for cheaper prices.

http://www.dmxdimension.com/

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops-703-c.html

vtmil

What a great tip, thank you again!!

closed

Which model, spec (ram), and operating system have you got now?

The touchpad could be drivers or a loose ribbon cable, and if you've broken or lost the keys, you may be able to get replacements from ebay, easiest fix to speed problems is to reinstall windows from the restore partition or windows disc

vtmil

It's an Acer Aspire 5630 BL50, Vista, 1014mb... took me a while to find that info!

Are all Acer keys the same? And it's the left hand mouse key that doesn't work, it doesn't click, do you think I might be able to get that fixed?

Thanks for your time x

closed

How old is it?

You can use the touchpad to click instead, and/or an external mouse.

What happened to the keys, how did they fall off, do you still have them, are they broken?

http://www.laptopbits.co.uk/database_files/Acer_Aspire_Keyboards.htm £39

Unless you have wiped it, it will have a restore partition (erecovery), backup your data, reinstall windows from recovery partition, then uninstall all the preinstall bloat, and it should be fast again.

installing another 1GB of ram will also help, much cheaper than a new laptop

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire%205630

links are to give you an idea of prices, probably cheaper elsewhere.

vtmil

3 years old, I've been using the touchpad and will get a mouse, thank you. Have 2 of the keys can't find the 'W' anywhere though!! And the metal bit to hold it on has broken off the other two so have nothing to reconnect them to! Would the link you gave me have the metal bits as well? I'm so technical aren't I!! Thanks again for your help, very kind of you!