Another laptop thread - Sorry - Can I beat Dell?

Bobabry

Morning all,

Sorry, I will apologise in advance, this is another find me a cheap laptop thread, although my query is a little more specific.

I need something cheap and reliable, I only need it for studying so I will only need MS office applications, mainly Word and Excel, with a wireless network built in. The software I have already.

The only gaming I plan to do will be flash based through the internet so I don't need a graphics card, if the laptop will play DVD's that will be a bonus.

I an not fussed about running Vista, infact if I could save money by it not coming with an operating system I can just install XP with my current disc.

I have looked at buying 2nd hand over something new and to be honest the prices for something very basic and 2nd hand are just plain daft on sites like Ebay. Why pay £250 when I can pay £350 for something new with a warranty.

Anyhow, sorry I am rambling on, using the Dell site, I priced up an Inspiron 1501, AMD X2 TL 50, 80GB hard drive, 1024mb memory, 6 cell battery, wireless card and the basic screen for 395 with delivery and the bog standard 90 day service.

Can anybody beat this, do I really need the dual core processor, will a cheaper sempron meet my needs, is the screen ok for working at 6 hours a day. Will vista be buggy and slow on that set up. Ideally I would prefer to buy from a store in person but I don't think I can beat the onlin eprices unless anybody knows different?

Thanks, I would appreciate any comments.

Bryan

DrFluffy

Shop around and haggle.
About 6 weeks ago, I got my current laptop from John Lewis - it's a toshiba, pentium core duo processor, etc. It was priced up at £499 and I got it for £350.
http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Laptops/398/230421468/Product.aspx
Better still, it's JL so comes with a free 2 year warrenty...

overworked_underpaid

DrFluffy wrote: »

Shop around and haggle.
About 6 weeks ago, I got my current laptop from John Lewis - it's a toshiba, pentium core duo processor, etc. It was priced up at £499 and I got it for £350.
http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Laptops/398/230421468/Product.aspx
Better still, it's JL so comes with a free 2 year warrenty...

How did you get it for £350? Care to share?

Crabman

HP have some decent specs and good prices at the moment - apparently they are DELL's main competitor... strange as they hardly seem to market on the level that DELL do.

Anyhow: http://welcome.hp.com/gms/uk/en/sz3/smb/notebooks_tabletpcs.html

wazza

DrFluffy wrote: »

Shop around and haggle.
About 6 weeks ago, I got my current laptop from John Lewis - it's a toshiba, pentium core duo processor, etc. It was priced up at £499 and I got it for £350.
http://www.johnlewis.com/Computing/Computers/Computers/Laptops/398/230421468/Product.aspx
Better still, it's JL so comes with a free 2 year warrenty...

at that price was it a display model?

starrydarkangel

Try ebuyer.com. Fast delivery, good customer service. Cheap. Good Reviews.

Thats where i get mine from.

The lowest on there is 299.00 i think.

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/5/cat/Laptops

EnglishWelshie

How about http://www.mcscom.co.uk/index.php they do dell pcs and laptops and have some good prices on there and most have a 1year warranty some have a 3 year warranty.

mk-donald

Bobabry wrote: »

Anyhow, sorry I am rambling on, using the Dell site, I priced up an Inspiron 1501, AMD X2 TL 50, 80GB hard drive, 1024mb memory, 6 cell battery, wireless card and the basic screen for 395 with delivery and the bog standard 90 day service.

If you're ready to spend £399 with Dell I would suggest looking at the £429 option with them and getting their Inspiron 6400

Advantages
- DUAL CORE which will make the system more responsive, I noticed a major change when I switched my (desktop PC) from single to dual core
- Vista Home PREMIUM with more bells/whistles/features
- Collect and return 1yr

Same 80GB disk and 1024Mb memory as you quote.
"Offer ends 13/6"
Their E-Value code NPUK6-N06646

Obviously every week/month you wait the price/spec can only get better.

Crabman

Try http://www.dmxdimension.com/ for decent DELL offers

DrFluffy

wazza wrote: »

at that price was it a display model?

Nope - brand new in box. Not a return or ex-dosplay.

I've never tried haggling before, but really, really needed a laptop and really, really only had £350 to spend. I'd seen the same model on TCR, despite it supposedly being exclusive to JL. They do not price match TCR shops, but were happy to play the game...