Which Desktop Replacement Laptop - advice appreciated

silverbeetle

I am looking to buy a desktop replacement laptop but have no idea where to start.

I currently have a 10 year old Compaq laptop which is so slow that I need to upgrade.

I use the computer for business and leisure purposes. We run a small business from home and I need to type word documents from a dictaphone. I also need to use excel for our accounts.

We use the internet extensively mainly for personal purposes rather than business - I am a keen competition enterer.

I would like a 17 inch screen as I would find this easier when typing my Word documents. I am planning to spend around £500.

I have seen the Dell Inspiron 17R which looks as if it could fit the bill but would like any suggestions or advice as to other good models.

Any suggestions/advice appreciated - I don't want to go to PC World and be bombarded with salesman speak that I don't understand!

dixiebb

given that it is gonna be a desktop replacement laptop then u might wanna opt for a separate keypad number layout residing within the chassis -- makes life easier when punching in numbers etc. -- by and large that would be the case for a 17 inch screen laptop anyhow. also, try and go for high as resolution as possible -- def. more than 1024 * 768.

stilltheone

This Samsung NP-R730-JB09UK has a 3 year warranty and comes in at £450. Use it for a comparison.

silverbeetle

Is Samsung a good brand for laptops or is Dell better?

Many thanks for advice

stilltheone

silverbeetle wrote: »

I am looking to buy a desktop replacement laptop but have no idea where to start.

I currently have a 10 year old Compaq laptop which is so slow that I need to upgrade.

I use the computer for business and leisure purposes. We run a small business from home and I need to type word documents from a dictaphone. I also need to use excel for our accounts.

We use the internet extensively mainly for personal purposes rather than business - I am a keen competition enterer.

I would like a 17 inch screen as I would find this easier when typing my Word documents. I am planning to spend around £500.

I have seen the Dell Inspiron 17R which looks as if it could fit the bill but would like any suggestions or advice as to other good models.

Any suggestions/advice appreciated - I don't want to go to PC World and be bombarded with salesman speak that I don't understand!

It probably a good idea to optimise your current laptop, so if ever your new laptop is offline, you'll have a machine with which to run the regular backs that you make of your business and leisure data.

closed

10 year old laptops dont have to be slow, it will just need a tidy up, excel and word aren't at all tasking

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2436849

post a hijackthis log, installed ram, and commit charge

backup your data if you haven't already

silverbeetle

My old computer is a desktop - I am looking to replace it with a laptop so that I can use it when I am away.

I know the 17inch screen laptops are heavy but I am not too worried about this - more interested in getting something suitable to replace a desktop.

I am not very technical and am worried about going into PC World and being bombarded by salesman speak.

I just need something which will allow me to comfortably type the files which I download from my dictaphone into Word documents to produce my reports. The reports are usually quite long (approx 3 hours typing time).

Many thanks for any advice and help

Poppy9

I'm a trained typist and I find it much harder typing for long periods on a laptop than on a proper keyboard with a desktop computer. You can usually plug in your keyboard to your laptop though.

You could consider spending less on a laptop, I bought a new one recently for under £270 http://direct.tesco.com/product/default.aspx?R=210-6793

and it does the job. It runs excel and word. You can buy new MS office software from here http://www.software4students.co.uk/Microsoft_Office_Download_2010_Pro_Plus-details.aspx?gclid=CPzB9JTI26kCFQEf4Qod3FQ8Vw if you want the latest version for under £40 and also buy a new desktop so you have both.

DCodd

silverbeetle wrote: »

My old computer is a desktop - I am looking to replace it with a laptop so that I can use it when I am away.

I know the 17inch screen laptops are heavy but I am not too worried about this - more interested in getting something suitable to replace a desktop.

I am not very technical and am worried about going into PC World and being bombarded by salesman speak.

I just need something which will allow me to comfortably type the files which I download from my dictaphone into Word documents to produce my reports. The reports are usually quite long (approx 3 hours typing time).

Many thanks for any advice and help

May I make a suggestion, ignore it if you like but I would spend your budget on a smaller laptop (15.6) with a better spec and utilise the keyboard, mouse and screen from your desktop (if they are still working) for your intensive typing needs as laptop keyboards are not the best for such typing jobs, especially if the touchpad is located just where your palms or thumbs may catch it. you still get the portability of the laptop but with a desktop's comfort for when you are doing your 3 hour typing stints.

OOOPS sorry Poppy9

closed

the original post said a compaq laptop? desktop or laptop - if it's slow, it can be cured by pruning startup items and posting a hijackthis log.

go into the shop, find one you like the look of, especially the keyboard and mouse (which vary significantly on laptops), and then buy online www.dmxdimension.com has most of the dells listed, there are also a lot of samsungs on offer atm. looking for coupon codes for your preferred retailer can also knock upto around 10% off the price - there's a thread all about laptops above.

They don't often come with excel, just a trial if you are lucky