Need recommendations for a new laptop to run small home based business

WouldLoveToWin

Hi everyone, thanks for all your replies. My old laptop said fatal system error then the screen went black and won't turn back on! Luckily I had everything saved to an external hard drive so I don't need to retrieve anything from it. I need the new laptop mainly for sending out invoices, updating sales, expense and mileage spreadsheets, uploading photos, updating social media and ordering stationery and materials for our business so nothing too complicated!

closed

if you hold down the power button for 10 seconds, does it turn on, any lights on, anything at all on screen at any point, brand and model?

WouldLoveToWin

Doesn't power back on, it's a Compaq Presario

closed

The disk inside is probably ok, £4 for a usb caddy gives you access to your data, and a second backup device.

if you are generally saving only to an external drive, consider what happens when/if that fails one day

HereAgain_2

WouldLoveToWin wrote: »

Hi everyone, thanks for all your replies. My old laptop said fatal system error then the screen went black and won't turn back on! Luckily I had everything saved to an external hard drive so I don't need to retrieve anything from it. I need the new laptop mainly for sending out invoices, updating sales, expense and mileage spreadsheets, uploading photos, updating social media and ordering stationery and materials for our business so nothing too complicated!

As aforementioned, the laptop recommended will do the job comfortably. Would just recommend to uninstall any unnecessary software bundled with the unit. That leaves ample space in your budget for your Office program.

The other thing I would add is that I wouldn't be concerned about processing power, but reliability and an on-site warranty.

Better still to have a redundant machine, even if it is just a cheaper Netbook, on site. What happens if there is a problem with the machine, like now? How do you keep "sending out invoices, updating sales, expense and mileage spreadsheets, uploading photos, updating social media and ordering stationery and materials for the business"?

If you already have a back up plan, then fine, the machine that I recommended will cover your basic needs. But if you don't, you should be looking for a machine that allows you to purchase an on-site warranty alongside.

What model number the Compaq Presario?

Jamie_Carter

HereAgain wrote: »

Little business? Retired at 26. How about you?

As to your poor luck with refurbs, don't buy carp?

Nothing will have been replaced on the Toshiba, as there is and was nothing wrong with it in the first place.

Your post doesn't make any sense. If it does to anyone else reading this thread I would be happy to listen to their explanation. But I rather believe that they have no idea as to what you were on about in post #10 either.

You don't read posts properly before replying do you?? I have never bought a refurb computer. It was a replacement PS3 because my original one had the red light of death fault.

How do you know that nothing was wrong with the Toshiba before it was refurbed? Unless you work for Argos you know nothing about it.

If post 10 was above your level of understanding, then don't worry about it.

Jamie_Carter

HereAgain wrote: »

I haven't made any assumptions, I have based my recommendations on the words of the OP, whilst Jamie and yourself have resorted to conjecture and mudslinging.

As to you offering a choice, I haven't see it? Where is it? I see only conjecture, but no actual good value recommendation.

That's funny, because you assumed that they only need a low spec laptop. And you assumed that they sell on ebay.

Jamie_Carter

HereAgain wrote: »

Which programs would these be then? More programs than the OP has mentioned? More conjecture?

The fact is, that you made a bad choice for your business.

Mine and the OP business likely doesn't need the same processing power as you, apparently.

Yes I made a bad choice for my business by buying laptops with Celeron processors.

You don't know what the OP needs, and you don't know what programs they may need to run if their business starts to grow. Buying a low spec laptop, to only have to replace it is a false economy. So lets leave it to the OP to decide what they do and don't need.

HereAgain_2

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

Yes I made a bad choice for my business by buying laptops with Celeron processors.

You don't know what the OP needs, and you don't know what programs they may need to run if their business starts to grow. Buying a low spec laptop, to only have to replace it is a false economy. So lets leave it to the OP to decide what they do and don't need.

So...from the kind of business described, which programs do you think may be unlikely to run in the future on the recommended laptop?

If you have some knowledge and experience in this area, I'm sure that we can all benefit from it.

In addition, I am quite sure that no one but you on this thread can understand quite what it is that you mean in post #10.
If anyone can explain what you meant, I would be happy to read the explanation.
But I quite sure that you won't be able to explain it.


Now using Excel whilst listening to the YellowJackets. Three different browsers open. Still no problems. CPU usage 10% Oops, dropped down to 5%. Trying to do something to push it up.
What do you recommend?


The Toshiba is not a low spec laptop. Relative to more expensive laptops it is, but for general office performance, it is not.

It's got everything they should need. USB 3.0, Flash card slot, HDMI out for presentations... and the good news is that the price has dropped to £179.99.

Jamie_Carter

HereAgain wrote: »

So...from the kind of business described, which programs do you think may be unlikely to run in the future on the recommended laptop?

If you have some knowledge and experience in this area, I'm sure that we can all benefit from it.

In addition, I am quite sure that no one but you on this thread can understand quite what it is that you mean in post #10.
If anyone can explain what you meant, I would be happy to read the explanation.
But I quite sure that you won't be able to explain it.


Now using Excel whilst listening to the YellowJackets. Three different browsers open. Still no problems. CPU usage 10% Oops, dropped down to 5%. Trying to do something to push it up.
What do you recommend?


The Toshiba is not a low spec laptop. Relative to more expensive laptops it is, but for general office performance, it is not.

It's got everything they should need. USB 3.0, Flash card slot, HDMI out for presentations... and the good news is that the price has dropped to £179.99.

Stop trolling, you are just repeating yourself.