Help me buy a new laptop!

Prinzessilein

I [STRIKE]want[/STRIKE] need to buy a new laptop.

I am currently using an old Medion, and it runs Windows Xp and Internet Explorer. The keys are coming off the keyboard and it's getting increasingly difficult to push them back on! I have no idea about what size of memory I have or anything like that.

(To my shame I have an Honours BSc and yet know nothing about computers!)

So, let's see. I write fan-fiction and post on-line. I chat in various forums/fora. I e-mail friends and family across the world.

I do not listen to music or watch TV/Movies. (Apart from the very occasional Youtube snippet).

I used to enjoy playing games like The Sims2 and Age of Empires...but my laptop is just so slow that I can't play them anymore.

I live in a dreadful area for a signal. (Hey, we don't get Channel 5 on Terrestrial TV here!) I rely on a dongle as I don't have a phone line (this might change, when I move soon)

Oh and I live on Benefits (IB and DLA) so money is tight....but I am housebound and a computer is my lifeline.

So, suggestions please. What do I want to buy? (If I go to PC World I worry that the sales assistant will offer me the most expensive machine in the shop - and I have Asperger's...I'll believe him and buy a machine that is totally wrong for me).

And what about the extras/ Do I need to buy an antivirus package or can I download one free? Are they equally as good?

What about Windows - I'm used to it...do I want Vista?

Please be gentle with me, and try and use simple English....I don't speak 'Computer'!

Donnie

This Asus X5DIJ for £264 will comfortably cover your simple needs....though I don't know about the games that you mention.

But it's cheap and of decent quality.

Donnie

If you really like Medion and would like to continue to play those games, this Medion Akoya P6613 for £344 fits the bill.

No need to spend a lot.

gonzo127

in my mind you should be looking at a maximum budget of £400 for those needs

go for windows 7 home premium and not vista
minimum of 2gb of RAM

as for extras, you really dont need any in my mind, everything you are likely to need can be gotten free
Anti virus - one of either Microsoft security essentials, Avast or Antivir all as good and in a lot of cases better than the paid for programs
fire wall - one of either the windows firewall (comes with windows) comodo or the latest zone alarm (which has improved a lot over the last few they have created)
office program - open office totally free office suite

since you mention possible games here is a link to the graphics chips performance http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Graphics-Media-Accelerator-GMA-4500M.20379.0.html this is linked to the most common graphics chip used in the sub £400 laptops and as you can see will play Sims 3 on low settings so should have no problems with sims 2 and AoE

macman

And don't go near PCW for your laptop or any other computing requirements.

[Deleted User]

Does it have to be a laptop? if you go for a desktop, you'll be able to upgrade it more cheaply in the future.. problems like a broken keyboard will only cost small amounts to fix.

Plus, they're cheaper to start with.. you could get something sub 300 quid

Donnie

If you averse to an Argos return, you may be able to buy it new for £299.

Though it may be that there are none left, as it already been voted Hot on hotukdeals since June.

Donnie

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Does it have to be a laptop? if you go for a desktop, you'll be able to upgrade it more cheaply in the future.. problems like a broken keyboard will only cost small amounts to fix.

Plus, they're cheaper to start with.. you could get something sub 300 quid

She ask for recommendations for a new laptop, not conjecture. Put together a system that may convince and let us see.

gaming_guy

....................

cranford

I too have been looking and have found this web site of assistance for information. - www.laptopsdirect.co.uk. Each laptop has a Q&A from prospective customers including questions about playing games, a write up and a link to Reevoo showing the score. It may not be the cheapest site butgin many case it is. If you are tempted by Currys, PCW remember that Dixons on-line sell the same products and often cheaper.

An example at £389 Samsung R530 JADDUK

• Screen size - 15.6 in - 1366 x 768
• Processor - Intel Pentium T4400 - 2.2 GHz
• RAM - 2 GB
  Hard Drive - 320 GB
• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Optical Drive - DVD±RW (+R double layer) / DVD-RAM
• Graphics - Intel GMA X4500
• Webcam - Integrated
• Warranty - 1 year warranty

If you are playing games a dedicated graphics card is normally better than an integrated one and 3GB or 4GB would be preffered but its all down to money. Then is battery life important to you, do you need bluetooth (you can buy a dongle for about £5).

The other point is that most come with part of the hard drive set up as a recovery partion and CD/DVD's with the operation system on are not available or are an extra. You have to create you own recovery DVD set when the laptop first arrives just ion case you looses the hard disk copy.

I have read that Acer come with an extended warranty and for that reason I think I will go for an Acer but will check this first.

Donnie

cranford wrote: »

I too have been looking and have found this web site of assistance for information. - www.laptopsdirect.co.uk. Each laptop has a Q&A from prospective customers including questions about playing games, a write up and a link to Reevoo showing the score. It may not be the cheapest site butgin many case it is. If you are tempted by Currys, PCW remember that Dixons on-line sell the same products and often cheaper.

An example at £389 Samsung R530 JADDUK

• Screen size - 15.6 in - 1366 x 768
• Processor - Intel Pentium T4400 - 2.2 GHz
• RAM - 2 GB
  Hard Drive - 320 GB
• Operating System - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
• Optical Drive - DVD±RW (+R double layer) / DVD-RAM
• Graphics - Intel GMA X4500
• Webcam - Integrated
• Warranty - 1 year warranty

If you are playing games a dedicated graphics card is normally better than an integrated one and 3GB or 4GB would be preffered but its all down to money. Then is battery life important to you, do you need bluetooth (you can buy a dongle for about £5).

The other point is that most come with part of the hard drive set up as a recovery partion and CD/DVD's with the operation system on are not available or are an extra. You have to create you own recovery DVD set when the laptop first arrives just ion case you looses the hard disk copy.

I have read that Acer come with an extended warranty and for that reason I think I will go for an Acer but will check this first.

Sorry, your post is just scary. None of them would be my retailer of preference and no, ACERs don't come with an extended warranty. You have to pay for it.