laptop

yorkie007_2

considering buying a secondhand laptop, just for internet (broadband) and word processing, could anyone recommend minimum spec required to give adequate performance, wireless would be good, many thanks

skr00ge

I'm using a compaq armarda M700. pentium III 800mhz, 392MB memory, 12GB hard disk 14" screen at a resolution of 1024*768. It is capable of running Windows 98 (not recommended but have a look at this week's Computer Active for how to), Windows 2000. It would struggle with XP and it will never see Vista. I run Linux Ubuntu 6.10 because I have worked with Linux for years. It has a Netgear PCMCIA Wireless adapter WG511T. Laptop cost £130 Wifi £15.

Minimum would be a little above this 1Ghz processor, 512MB memory and 20+GB disk. If you can get Wifi built in, do so. For example: IBM T41 laptop, Toshiba Tecra 8200/9000. I guess about £200-250. Run Win 2000 or Ubuntu.

Second hand laptops have a problem in that the batteries hold less and less charge. You can expect that the battery will run the laptop, if you're lucky for more than an hour, if you're unlucky for less than 10 minutes. If you want to factor in a new battery, CHECK that they can still be bought.(I got burned with a fancy ultra small laptop) Ebay is a good place to check. Guess about £50. Then you need software, (Abi word, firefox and open office)

So that's £250-300 for a laptop that's already out of date that may or may not include an operating system. For £150 more you could find a brand new higher spec laptop with a warranty and new operating system.

Cheers

dj9928

I bought a Celeron 1.7GHZ, 512 Ram for £180 on ebay just last week, excellent buy, and the battery lasts 30mins anyway, Ebay would be your best bet, if its just for the net etc, the bare minimum would be a Celeron 300MHZ, 256 Ram, I have one of these also and it even runs XP

dj9928

I bought a Celeron 1.7GHZ, 512 Ram for £180 on ebay just last week, excellent buy, and the battery lasts 30mins anyway, Ebay would be your best bet, if its just for the net etc, the bare minimum would be a Celeron 300MHZ, 256 Ram, I have one of these also and it even runs XP

dj9928

I bought a Celeron 1.7GHZ, 512 Ram for £180 on ebay just last week, excellent buy, and the battery lasts 30mins anyway, Ebay would be your best bet, if its just for the net etc, the bare minimum would be a Celeron 300MHZ, 256 Ram, I have one of these also and it even runs XP