Bargain laptop required

mahlersmusicfan

Looking on the Argos ebay outlet for another bargain laptop Primarily to be used for general browsing, i-player, youtube & wordprocessing, spreadsheets etc it must also be capable of using music notation software with the following recommended specification: Intel Core 2 Duo (or equivalent) or better, 4 GB+ total physical RAM, 40 GB total hard disk space (7200 rpm or faster drive recommended; SSD preferable), ASIO-compatible soundcard. If your computer doesn't meet the recommended requirements, you may find that you cannot use as many sounds simultaneously, and that sounds take a long time to load.

SSD & Asio-compatible soundcards are not essential so on that basis our granddaughter likes the £200 pink Asus K53e but will it struggle? ASUS K SERIES 15.6 INCH 1.6GHZ 500GB LAPTOP - PINK
Sorry, as a new user I can't post the link.

Will this £250 Toshiba be more suitable. TOSHIBA SATELLITE C660-26H LAPTOP 640GB 15.6 INCH 4GB DDR3 RAM - REFURB (I can't post the link)

Any other recommendations?
Thanks for reading

TakeThis

Generally HP laptops have 7200 rpm HDDs....as does the ASUS. Yesterday's Core 2 Duo is todays Dual Core Celeron, so you won't have too many problem using most modern processors.

There is only one of the pink ASUS machines, so if you are happy with pink, then order it now. If you are happy with the condition, give it a test run with the notation software.
If it performs well, then keep it. If not, return it within seven working days of delivery for a full refund.
You can't ask more than that.

mahlersmusicfan

Thanks for replying. We missed the pink Asus Now trying to quickly decide between the other K53e's available (in more expensive colours) or go for the £250 version of the HP Pavillion G6 750GB hard drive. The HP has more storage and faster processor but I've never owned/used one so have no experience of the brand.

I would welcome your thoughts

mahlersmusicfan

Decided against the HP because it doesn't have a number pad.

Cisco001

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACER-ASPIRE-5749-LAPTOP-750GB-15-6-INCH-INTEL-CORE-I3-4GB-DDR3-RAM-REFURB-/360474960333?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item53edfb61cd

Not sure what spec with the toshiba, but this £250 refurb acer with i3 2330 4GB RAM 750GB HDD look good for the price

prowla

mahlersmusicfan wrote: »

Decided against the HP because it doesn't have a number pad.

I've never used the numeric pad - to me it is just something that makes the keyboard too big.

John_Gray

prowla wrote: »

I've never used the numeric pad - to me it is just something that makes the keyboard too big.

Quickest way I know to enter international and special characters like ½ and ! - that was e-acute, but MSE apparently considers it offensive...

mahlersmusicfan

Quickest way I know to enter international and special characters like ½ and ! - that was e-acute

Agreed, that is one of the reasons she required a number pad.

Speaking personally the number pad is faster and easier to use all round not just for Alt key numeric codes. I find it much slower and more fiddly to use the numbers at the top of the keyboard. But i am old and set in my ways :eek:

mahlersmusicfan

Cisco001 wrote: »

Not sure what spec with the toshiba, but this £250 refurb acer with i3 2330 4GB RAM 750GB HDD look good for the price

Thanks for the suggestion Cisco. After much deliberation she chose the Asus. It will be delivered before wednesday. If it is as good as the other laptops I've ordered from Argos Outlet she will be well pleased.