What to buy - portable of

TakeThis

lonestarfan wrote: »

Brilliant thnx. But r u saying I need 5gb if I'm going to have a laptop? U also answered another Qu I forgot to pose. What's the up to date windows I should be looking for so I guess windows 7 is modern. I bought a toshiba satellite pro in jan 2008 for my nephew. Paid £399. We were so happy with it altho did have to go back to Toshiba twice in the first 2 momths but once it was ok its worked fab for 4 yrs now and he's happy to keep it even when I asked him should I be looking at getting you something more modern! Anyway, it's a very heavy machine. Too heavy now for my friend so I imagine tho that they've got lighter in 4 years? finally, what comes with windows 7 as I got vista home premium but not sure what modern is. I'm erring towards a laptop I think.

What model number is your nephew running?

lonestarfan

It's a satellite pro. it'll take me a few days to get what model but I'll let u know. I noticed laptop was 2.5 kg and that should be fine for my friend especially as I'm not certain they'll take it out the house often. I agree with you that the more expensive one is probably a bit too much for their need. Did u mean to say I'd need 5gb by adding 4gb ?

TakeThis

lonestarfan wrote: »

It's a satellite pro. it'll take me a few days to get what model but I'll let u know. I noticed laptop was 2.5 kg and that should be fine for my friend especially as I'm not certain they'll take it out the house often. I agree with you that the more expensive one is probably a bit too much for their need. Did u mean to say I'd need 5gb by adding 4gb ?

He may not need 5GB, but 1GB RAM is not enough. DDR3 is cheap, so a 4GB module is cost effective. He certainly won't need to upgrade RAM in the near future.

lonestarfan

TakeThis wrote: »

1GB is fine for Netbooks running Windows 7 Starter. Though you can usually upgraded to at least 2GB RAM.

For laptops, this Toshiba Satellite C660-2E1 together with this RAM upgrade would make a very good starter machine for under £220.

I have confused you sorry. It was just idle chatter that my nephew has a toshiba. Your link to a Toshiba C660 would definitely be an option for the friend who I need to help learn to use a computer - this is not my nephew but just my friend. What you've suggested the C660 is a contender but are you saying that I should add 4gb and make it 5gb as the upgrade link you posted with it is to add 4gb to the laptop. I like the sound of £220 as i think they could stretch to that. Any other contenders? Also how easy is it to put RAM in a laptop. I installed some to a desktop recently but I'm not sure how you open up a laptop I assume it's on the bottom. Need to investigate a bit! Thanks a lot.

lonestarfan

Sony Samsung and Lenovo are posted on another board saying they are a good make and reliable. Can anyone suggest anything made by them that meets the requirements in my op? TIA.

Figment

Both of the above are good reliable makes, but come at a premium.

What is your budget?

TakeThis

lonestarfan wrote: »

I have confused you sorry. It was just idle chatter that my nephew has a toshiba. Your link to a Toshiba C660 would definitely be an option for the friend who I need to help learn to use a computer - this is not my nephew but just my friend. What you've suggested the C660 is a contender but are you saying that I should add 4gb and make it 5gb as the upgrade link you posted with it is to add 4gb to the laptop. I like the sound of £220 as i think they could stretch to that. Any other contenders? Also how easy is it to put RAM in a laptop. I installed some to a desktop recently but I'm not sure how you open up a laptop I assume it's on the bottom. Need to investigate a bit! Thanks a lot.

I'm not confused.

The RAM upgrade will be easier than your PC upgrade. There is a dedicated hatch at the bottom of the laptop.

lonestarfan

Take this:- the nephews laptop is a Toshiba Satelite Pro A210 if that's helpful. Thnx a lot.

TakeThis

lonestarfan wrote: »

Take this:- the nephews laptop is a Toshiba Satelite Pro A210 if that's helpful. Thnx a lot.

That's not the full model number(another three characters or a part number: Part Number : PSA***-0*****), but he should update the BIOS at some point.

One of these set of instructions will be valid.

Download and save the file, un-zip the contents to a newly created folder and run the 32bit version as Administrator(making sure that you close down as many running applications as you can beforehand).

getmore4less

Just to go back to a couple of points.

Laptop & netbook will both be able to take an external mouse monitor and keyboards.

I would check the keyboards carefully, a lot of netbooks a layout which may not be ideal for someone needing to learn skills so they can work with a regular keyboard later.

eg my HP has no "home", "end", "pgup", "pgdown" keys(pain for web pages) and the spacings are different to my regular and laptop keyboard.

A lightweight laptop would be better option than a netbook and if it will be transported out of the house get a case.