Advice wanted - need two computers for around £800

JennyLM

After years of faithful service, my laptop has finally died beyond repair (as in it will no longer turn on), and it would be uneconomical to further repair it. My ancient desktop is also coming to the end of its useful life, and so, I've decided that the time has come to invest in some new technology.

I'm looking to buy two new devices - a small and portable one for taking out and about and for travelling and a more powerful machine for use at home. My total budget for the two together is round about £800, although there is some flexibility on this if necessary.

I've been browsing review sites and looking at the pros and cons of different types of computers (tablets vs netbooks etc), but am still undecided as to what to do and am hoping that you smart techie folks on here might be able to offer some ideas as to what combination of computers might suit me best.

I would ideally like the following from them:

Portable device:
- Be light and portable for use when travelling
- Have a decentish battery life (5 hours min)
- Be fast enough not to drive me to rage
- Allow me to browse the internet, use email, stream audio/video and work on written documents and spreadsheets
- Allow me to blog from it when I'm abroad

Home device:
- As fast as I can get within the budget
- Decent hard drive (ideally 500 GB plus)
- Capable of using Photoshop and dealing with the 18MP RAW pictures from my DSLR

I'm used to Windows but would be more than happy to try other operating systems if these would meet my needs within budget. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

CoolHotCold

So Two machines?

Why Not one very fast portable one for the road then plug it into a monitor when at home?

Or do you like having a backup incase everything goes Pete-Tong?

JennyLM

I'm mainly after two because I like going backpacking abroad, and nice as a swanky ultraportable would be, I'd be a bit scared of lugging an £800 machine around in my rucksack.

The backup thing is also an issue as I've had recurrent problems with my current laptop and was really glad to have the desktop to hand while the laptop was being repaired.

Hammyman

Second hand Thinkpad x200s or x61s for the laptop....

stilltheone

JennyLM wrote: »

After years of faithful service, my laptop has finally died beyond repair (as in it will no longer turn on), and it would be uneconomical to further repair it. My ancient desktop is also coming to the end of its useful life, and so, I've decided that the time has come to invest in some new technology.

I'm looking to buy two new devices - a small and portable one for taking out and about and for travelling and a more powerful machine for use at home. My total budget for the two together is round about £800, although there is some flexibility on this if necessary.

I've been browsing review sites and looking at the pros and cons of different types of computers (tablets vs netbooks etc), but am still undecided as to what to do and am hoping that you smart techie folks on here might be able to offer some ideas as to what combination of computers might suit me best.

I would ideally like the following from them:

Portable device:
- Be light and portable for use when travelling
- Have a decentish battery life (5 hours min)
- Be fast enough not to drive me to rage
- Allow me to browse the internet, use email, stream audio/video and work on written documents and spreadsheets
- Allow me to blog from it when I'm abroad

Home device:
- As fast as I can get within the budget
- Decent hard drive (ideally 500 GB plus)
- Capable of using Photoshop and dealing with the 18MP RAW pictures from my DSLR

I'm used to Windows but would be more than happy to try other operating systems if these would meet my needs within budget. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

For the Portable, it would most definitely be a Netbook. Do you fancy working on written documents and Spreadsheets with a Tablet?? Forgedaboudit.

The Samsung N150P would be ok for you, as it has a Matte screen and an up to ten hour battery life. Would definitely upgrade the RAM to 2GB though. The similarly priced (£210) N145P claims up to 13 to 14 hrs of battery life, so you may prefer that model. Make sure they are supplied with the six cell battery.

Are you looking a Desktop or laptop for home?

I would do Desktop with a large display. IPS if within budget.