New Laptop Lightweight and Long Battery Life

socrates · 6 March 2013 at 11:33PM

Thanks to all those who helped me get a laptop for my son

I am now on the look out for a laptop for myself:

Long battery life (as possible)

I am looking at 14" maximum screen size

Windows 7

As light as possible - I travel a fair bit

Thinness would also be nice

Back-lit keyboard

Decent graphics/display for watching movies

500GB HDD minimum

Decent warranty or upgradeable

i5 or i7

not sure about ssd - do not know enough to be sure what I need or if it will fit into a thin laptop

Thanks in advance

jaydeeuk1 · 7 March 2013 at 12:03AM

Budget? Id imagine you'd struggle to get all of that for under £500. Acer timeline series is closest if you're on a budget (ssd, win 7 10 hour+ battery), but no backlit keyboard and screen isn't up to Macbook standards. Surprisingly well screwed together compared to budget acers

Even comes with a hillarious 10gb ram!

And upgradeable on a laptop means you can change hard drive, memory and sometimes battery, thats about your lot.

socrates · 7 March 2013 at 12:04AM

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Budget? Id imagine you'd struggle to get all of that for under £500. Acer timeline series is closest if you're on a budget, but no backlit keyboard and screen isn't up to Macbook standards.

Even comes with a hillarious 10gb ram!

I was thinking around £600 or so...

jaydeeuk1 · 7 March 2013 at 12:08AM

How essential is a backlit keyboard?

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/products/keywords/timeline/ex/clearance%2cdummy%2ctradepack%2cdummy-warranty%2cdummy-peripherals%2cacc-PSU~A~Battery

The bargain in that list is probably the i3 version with SSD, 500gb hd and geforce 640 for under £400

socrates · 7 March 2013 at 12:08AM

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

How essential is a backlit keyboard?

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/products/keywords/timeline/ex/clearance%2cdummy%2ctradepack%2cdummy-warranty%2cdummy-peripherals%2cacc-PSU~A~Battery

Unfortunately its a must have

jaydeeuk1 · 7 March 2013 at 12:15AM

I think there are some dell ranges that come with backlit keyboards. Might be pushing your budget though... Will have a look

socrates · 7 March 2013 at 9:33AM

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

I think there are some dell ranges that come with backlit keyboards. Might be pushing your budget though... Will have a look

What do you think of Dell Outlet?

jaydeeuk1 · 7 March 2013 at 10:35AM

Never bought from there myself, but I'd imagine it would be no different to purchasing an apple refurb direct from apple. Keep an eye out for voucher codes, often there are 10/11% discounts available for dell which might make it cheaper than the outlet store.

socrates · 7 March 2013 at 10:37AM

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Never bought from there myself, but I'd imagine it would be no different to purchasing an apple refurb direct from apple. Keep an eye out for voucher codes, often there are 10/11% discounts available for dell which might make it cheaper than the outlet store.

I am starting to think I might get better value buying off eBay - perhaps a slightly older model (which does not matter to me)

Or even Gumtree - but need to tread carefully on there