Buying my first laptop - Advice please.

jayme1

I would not say it is leagues ahead as it is pretty widely viewed that win7 is very slightly ahead of OSX (or at least on par) at the moment as an OS, and win7 is a very stable OS.
and as you say the OP says he isnt very 'techy' so is it really appropriate to try and introduce a whole new OS to him, which by most respects is a pretty different environment to windows.

jayme1

well most here won't like me posting a link from pcworld but how does this laptop look? http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/sony-vaio-vpceb2zoe-bk-06559673-pdt.html
2.26 i3 CPU, dedicated ATI 5470 GPU, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, and a combo DVD and bluray player just incase you fancy some high def movie action, if you have an HD TV (with HDMI) you will be able to hook the laptop to the TV and watch the bluray on there too.

you will most likely be able to find it from another suplier if you don't want to get it from there.

MentalDesigner

Thats why I asked what Crimson uses currently. XP to 7 is quite a leap in regards to the interface so good to know these things.

busenbust

MentalDesigner wrote: »

Thats why I asked what Crimson uses currently. XP to 7 is quite a leap in regards to the interface so good to know these things.

I'm not so sure really -- the usability is very much identical imo. and yes, it's a great OS -- certainly compared to dreaded Vista, which I deliberately eschewed.

MentalDesigner

I've found especially with 'mature' people small changes to an interface can throw them. Back to the hardware I like the HP Envy series of laptops so they are worth a look

busenbust

MentalDesigner wrote: »

I've found especially with 'mature' people small changes to an interface can throw them. Back to the hardware I like the HP Envy series of laptops so they are worth a look

The Envy series I actually dislike lol; i prefer the HP I mentioned above :cool:

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the helpful replies/information. I've retired so won't qualify for any student discounts! (I didn't know about free Open Office or Google Doc's - thank you for that helpful information.) I have Vista Home Premium on my present desktop. I have a Netgear router and although it has wireless potential I don't need to use it - I'm afraid I've always had to have help setting things up.

If I could have everything under £800 I'd be well satisfied. Thank you, once again, for all the helpful information/replies.

Crimson

[Deleted User]

jayme1 - Thank you very much. This Sony Vaio looks like a good laptop for me but I'll keep looking because I appreciate all advice given.

Many thanks

Crimson

closed

You could cut your £800 budget in half, and end up with a fast laptop. Unless you have some specific need to do gaming, cad etc, £800 is OTT. Openoffice is free.

http://www.dmxdimension.com/

Sony aren't particularly reliable

Donnie

My philosophy is somewhat different in that I would spend half that price on a laptop that actually fits you needs, rather than buying to a price.

You can get a decent laptop with a three year warranty for half your budget. Why spend more?


The £400 that you save will buy you an even better laptop in three years time if you so choose. Whereas your £800 laptop with be worth next to nothing.

This 17.3" screen Toshiba Satellite L670D-10N for £351.48 is a good place at which to begin.

Full specs here.