Laptop advice

photodgm

I'm looking for a new 15.6" laptop with an anti glare screen. Use for email, web browsing, office type applications, watching video, no games or video encoding. I would run with multiple applications, email, messenger, a web browser and an office application. So far I think the best I've found is this Dell Vostro 3500 for £492 details below. This is a little more than I really want to pay, any comments?
Operating System : English Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (32Bit)
Processor : V3500 i3-330M (2.13GHz, 3MB)
Software : Microsoft Works 9.0 with Recovery CD
AntiVirus : Trend 16.6 (15 month subscription)
1Yr Collect & Return Warranty

Memory : 3072MB 1333MHz DDR3
15.6” High Definition (1366 x 768) Wide LED Anti-Glare Display
Hard Drive : 250GB Serial ATA (7200 RPM)
Graphics : Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator HD
Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Wireless : Dell Wireless 1397 (802.11 b/g) Mini Card
Camera : Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Camera
Battery : Primary 6-cell 56W/HR LI-ION

Gallstones

Its a good spec laptop but overpriced for what you need to use it for, I would personally go for a core2 model rather than a I3, should save you a hundred or so. 3gb is fine for multitasking.

Vuze

Repeating a recommendation from another post here and while I'm not sure about the anti-glare screen, I think this is a decent choice of laptop:

ACER Aspire 5740-333G25Mn
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-5740-333g25mn-04153088-pdt.html

Generally Acer have good quality build laptops and everything is usually laid out in the right places so they are nice to work and live with on a day to day basis.

photodgm

Vuze wrote: »

Repeating a recommendation from another post here and while I'm not sure about the anti-glare screen, I think this is a decent choice of laptop:

ACER Aspire 5740-333G25Mn
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-5740-333g25mn-04153088-pdt.html

Generally Acer have good quality build laptops and everything is usually laid out in the right places so they are nice to work and live with on a day to day basis.

Thanks for taking the time - I've had a look at various sites and it seems to be a gloss screen and for me for this machine that is a deal breaker.

photodgm

Gallstones wrote: »

Its a good spec laptop but overpriced for what you need to use it for, I would personally go for a core2 model rather than a I3, should save you a hundred or so. 3gb is fine for multitasking.

You make a good point - but I have found in the past that as time goes on I start using new or updated software that needs higher and higer spec hardware. So I was looking for a machine that I could reasonably expect to comfortably use for at least 3/4 years, without being totaly over the top in terms of spec and cost. Wanting an anti glare screen seems to have made my choice very limited.

Vuze

Your requirement for an anti-glare screen for the laptop, I would agree is why you have limited choices and may end up paying more for. Did you manage to find any other deals?

Having decent amount memory (RAM 4GB+) and a multi core processor will go a long way to keep your laptop from becoming obsolete too quickly, but in my experience you will be lucky to have a laptop survive 3 or 4 years without mechanical problems - I seem to need to buy a new one every 12-18 months while the old ones still work (just about) but have significant problems like the battery not holding charge or hard drives failing and power supplies not connecting properly.