New laptop

paddypaws101

My 8 year old HP Pavilion is struggling and I think it is time to get a replacement.
Prices seem to have come down a lot since I bought this machine so reckon I should be able to get something for under £500 although I am flexible.
I am completely NON techy, so please keep info basic!
I think I want to stick with Windows, but people say to go for 7 not 8, is that right? Do regular high st stores offer a choice?

NiftyDigits

Budget: Toshiba C850-19Z £213.98 or Toshiba Satellite C855-1GR(Red) £229.99

paddypaws101

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Budget: Toshiba C850-19Z £213.98 or Toshiba Satellite C855-1GR(Red) £229.99

Gosh, they are so cheap! I would never have thought of going for a refurbished machine, I presume they are a safe option?
What about the windows 7 versus 8 question???

NiftyDigits

paddypaws101 wrote: »

Gosh, they are so cheap! I would never have thought of going for a refurbished machine, I presume they are a safe option?
What about the windows 7 versus 8 question???

They aren't refurbished in the way you might imagine. It's likely just an an unwanted machine that can't be resold as new.
Both Windows 7 and Windows 8 work. It's just a matter of taste.
You can pay a bit more if you need a more powerful machine, but do you? My mum uses the same spec as the £229.99 machine for streaming video, Flash games, Office and general web-surfing.
Still using a Toshiba laptop I bought from them. Nearly fours years ago now.
If you don't get on with Windows 8, I'll show you how to downgrade to Windows 7.

paddypaws101

What is the difference between windows 7 and 8?? No point in trying to show me how to downgrade, I really am NON TECHY!!!
Is Samsung a good brand for laptops then?

marvin

W7 Designed for normal computers W8 for touch screens but both are really W7 with a different graphical layouts.

When on a desktop it operates very much like W7 with the exception of where the start button (which is the bit most have problems with) is and how you access programmes.

Personally, now I have got used to it, I still find W8 a pain on a desktop as the "charms" keep getting in the way and I have to have a load of shortcuts either on the desktop or in a folder on the desktop to access programmes easily and quickly.

Live mail is really Rubbish on W8 so if this matters stick with W7 or use a copy of Outlook and download the bridge from MS site which gets this to work with Hotmail.

Microsoft seem determined to destroy anything that was good which can be the only reason for the deliberate vandalism of the old Hotmail app for Android being replaced with the new Outlook app which I have now deleted and gone back to K9.

paddypaws101

Marvin, I think I understand about 30% of your post ( me being dumb, not you! ) But I agree totally about Hotmail....I was quite happy with it before but hate it with a vengeance since the change.
I have seen some touchscreen laptops....are they worth the extra money or is it just another thing to go wrong?

closed

struggling with what

reinstall windows

marvin

Everything is a matter of taste I think touch screens are wonderful on a tablet or a mobile (I have a cheap Chinese note copy and touch screen is wonderful on that) but if you have a full keyboard what is the point in a touch screen? Just means more cleaning more chance of damage to the screen.

Basicly I was trying to say the main difference is how you access programmes and close down the system on 8.

Here is a page that demonstrates windows 8 I think you can see 7 there too.

WINDOWS 8 Demo page

grumpycrab

paddypaws101 wrote: »

My 8 year old HP Pavilion is struggling...

They don't make 'em like they used to. You'll be lucky if a budget HP lasts 3 years these days. If that surprises you consider getting one with a decent warranty. Should be good for £500. e.g.
http://www.businessdirect.bt.com/articles/promotionsandpressreleases/products/free-5-year-warranty-with-samsung-business-laptops-10456.html
(note prices listed above don't include VAT)

If you're a complete non-techie stick with Windows 7. Unless you like trying the latest stuff (Windows8 has a new interface - running in parallel with the old one) Windows8 will cause you grief. See my sig. for W8 hints.

paddypaws101

Ok, so I think I am clear that I want to stick with Windows 7.
I went into PC world to look at a few but they only had windows 8 systems in the shop. They told me to look for an Intel 3 processor....but after looking at their web site I can only see that on machines with windows 8!
Brand wise I like HP, maybe Toshiba or Samsung....are they all on a par?