Choosing Laptop...Tonight (i hope!) - Advice? :)

Spend

asbokid wrote: »

asus don't have that brilliant a reputation on build quality, but who knows.. maybe the people who buy asus tend to be younger people who are saving a bit of cash, living a wilder life, but end up smashing their laptop in the process!

I think you should get the highest resolution screen you can find... if you can get a 14" screen with a decent pixel resolution then that's all the better. for that reason, i will buy a 17" screen next time!

SPOT ON!

My earlier comment about "whether it was my fault or the machines" was a clear abuse of the above and as for the ubuntu that drove me nuts- lets just say things didn't end up well for it... Haha

Ideally 13.3" or 14" would be ideal for me. It's just the 15.6" that I'm having trouble with...

asbokid

Spend wrote: »

SPOT ON!

My earlier comment about "whether it was my fault or the machines" was a clear abuse of the above and as for the ubuntu that drove me nuts- lets just say things didn't end up well for it... Haha

Poor old Ubuntu!

Ideally 13.3" or 14" would be ideal for me. It's just the 15.6" that I'm having trouble with...

If you go for 13" or 14" you are going to have to compromise on screen resolution...

The Thin Film Transistor LCD panel used in a 13" laptop will be made in the same plant, using the same production line as is used to make lcd panels for 15" and 17" laptops. In the Active Matrix TFT LCD manufacturing process, the transistors are printed onto a sheet of substrate. Loads of TFT panels can be printed across the width of one sheet. The sheet is literally chopped down to the dimensions of the required screen panel. So you get lots of panels to the sheet.

The limitations of the production process mean that the number of transistors (i.e. the number of pixels) that can be printed per square inch is the same whether the TFT substrate is destined for use in a 10", 13.3", 15", 17" or even a 19" laptop panel.

The compromise with small screens is therefore one of screen resolution. I would always go for the higher resolution screen, and that means a physically bigger LCD panel.

Spend

asbokid wrote: »

Poor old Ubuntu!

If you go for 13" or 14" you are going to have to compromise on screen resolution...

The Thin Film Transistor LCD panel used in a 13" laptop will be made in the same plant, using the same production line as is used to make lcd panels for 15" and 17" laptops. In the Active Matrix TFT LCD manufacturing process, the transistors are printed onto a sheet of substrate. Loads of TFT panels can be printed across the width of one sheet. The sheet is literally chopped down to the dimensions of the required screen panel. So you get lots of panels to the sheet.

The limitations of the production process mean that the number of transistors (i.e. the number pixels) that can be printed per square inch is the same whether the TFT substrate is destined for use in a 10", 13.3", 15", 17" or even a 19" laptop panel.

The compromise with small screens is therefore one of screen resolution. I would always go for the higher resolution screen.

To be honest I think I could live with that and that I would probably not notice the difference, so that's ok. What I probably would notice (given that it will rarely be used in a stationary position e.g. desk for prolonged period of time) and the fact that I would be moving it around quite a bit is those extra couple of inches in size..

So I think with ur help I've come close to a decision. If I can't find a decent 13.3" or 14" then I will most probably go for that asus you linked to earlier.

So now just need to find a proper 13.3" or 14" and compare pros and cons against the asus.

Any suggestions?

asbokid

if you don't mind a Certified Refurb (From Dell Outlet)... this is quite a nice one..

• Inspiron N5010
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
• Intel i5-480M(2.66GHz) Mobile CPU
• Hard Drive : 640GB Serial ATA (5400RPM)
• 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
• Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software
• Display 15.6in HD (1366X768) WLED with TrueLife
• LCD Back Cover : Peacock Blue

Price........ £277.57
Price Incl. VAT and excl. delivery... £333.08
Delivery........ £22.00 Incl. VAT
Total Incl. VAT and delivery..... £355.08

http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?rn=3540&SC=highToLow&c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh

Spend

asbokid wrote: »

if you don't mind a Certified Refurb (From Dell Outlet)... this is quite a nice one..

• Inspiron N5010
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64 BIT)
• Intel i5-480M(2.66GHz) Mobile CPU
• Hard Drive : 640GB Serial ATA (5400RPM)
• 4096MB (2x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
• Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive including software
• Display 15.6in HD (1366X768) WLED with TrueLife
• LCD Back Cover : Peacock Blue

Price........ £277.57
Price Incl. VAT and excl. delivery... £333.08
Delivery........ £22.00 Incl. VAT
Total Incl. VAT and delivery..... £355.08

http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/SecondaryInventorySearch.aspx?rn=3540&SC=highToLow&c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&l=en&s=dfh

The link you sent isn't working, but from the spec it looks very good for the money.. I don't mind a refurb myself, but sibling who will also be using (and spending) has some qualms with that..

Don't spoil customers for choice. So true!

EDIT: this is also a 15.6" though... So between this and the asus I'd probably choose the latter tbh

asbokid

Spend wrote: »

To be honest I think I could live with that and that I would probably not notice the difference, so that's ok. What I probably would notice (given that it will rarely be used in a stationary position e.g. desk for prolonged period of time) and the fact that I would be moving it around quite a bit is those extra couple of inches in size..

So I think with ur help I've come close to a decision. If I can't find a decent 13.3" or 14" then I will most probably go for that asus you linked to earlier.

So now just need to find a proper 13.3" or 14" and compare pros and cons against the asus.

Any suggestions?

Don't take my advice! It's your money not mine! Wait until the morning when more sensible people are around!

No suggestions on 13.3 or 14" laptops, sorry. At a guess, smaller screen laptops are specialist.. not so popular.. and too big to be a netbook, hence a premium on the price..

asbokid

Spend wrote: »

The link you sent isn't working, but from the spec it looks very good for the money.. I don't mind a refurb myself, but sibling who will also be using (and spending) has some qualms with that..

Don't spoil customers for choice. So true!

here's all the dell outlet laptops as of now...

http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?brandId=7&c=uk&cs=ukdfh1&fid=1212&l=en&s=dfh

the link should work.. there's no session data in it..

asbokid

Spend wrote: »

Hahahaha love the Microsoft refund link!

Looks like Dell has gone tight-arsed on refunding unwanted preloaded Microsoft Windows rubbish..

Dell has told a Linux-loving Reg reader that he can't receive a refund on the copy of Windows 7 that shipped with his new Dell netbook because it was bundled with the machine for "free".

In October, another Reg reader succeeded in gaining a $115 (£70.34) refund from the computer maker after he rejected the licence for Microsoft's OS and installed Linux instead. Microsoft's EULA, you see, provides for such a refund.

"By using the software, you accept these terms," it reads. "If you do not accept them, do not use the software. Instead, return it to the retailer for a refund or credit."

UK-based school teacher Adam Drake recently tried the same Windows rejection trick. But his effort to secure a refund was in turn rejected by Dell.

"I hope you understand that this isn't going to go away," Drake told Dell. "My plan is to pursue this as long as it takes, and maybe write a book or film script along the way. I'd be played by Harrison Ford or Liam Neeson." But the Dell rep would not back down.

In full at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/18/dell_windows_7_free/

asbokid

The Dell Vostro 3300 is a 13".. quite good spec on the machines.

The Vostro is in Dell's "Business & Education" category of laptop..

http://outlet.euro.dell.com/Online/InventorySearch.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdfb1&l=en&s=dfb&brandid=3&fid=3226


Vostro 3300 - Certified Refurbished

• English Windows 7 Professional (32 BIT/64 BIT) COA
• Processor : I5-430M(2.26GHz)
• 320GB Serial ATA (7200RPM)
• 3072MB (1x1024 + 1x2048) 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel
• Optical Drive : 8X DVD+/-RW Drive
• Display : 13.3in Widescreen High Definition (1366x768) WLED Anti-Glare
• LCD Back Cover : Red WLAN with Camera

Price........ £352.69
Price Incl. VAT and excl. delivery... £423.23
Total Incl. VAT and Incl. delivery... £445.23

EDIT:

The Core i5 430M in that Dell Vostro 3300 has a Passmark CPU rating of 2360

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5+430M+%40+2.27GHz

Spend

asbokid wrote: »

Don't take my advice! It's your money not mine! Wait until the morning when more sensible people are around!

No suggestions on 13.3 or 14" laptops, sorry. At a guess, smaller screen laptops are specialist.. not so popular.. and too big to be a netbook, hence a premium on the price..

I'm happy to take your advice, because it makes sense, not just because you are suggesting it, not to worry! And its been the best advice I've received so far so thanks!

I'll look around a bit longer, see what other have to say, if anything and hopefully I can buy it tomorrow. I've been putting it for a while now, but time is of the essence!

thanks again for your help mate

I thought they were much more popular, given portability etc. Thats what some salespeople like to say aswell... Stange? Maybe...