guidance for buying a new laptop

Ms_Wheels

Hello,

I am looking for a new laptop and I am confused by all the information. My current laptop was provided via Disabled Student Allowance and so I did not get involved in choosing it. I am not very knowledgeable with technology and I am wondering if there is an easy to understand guide that could help me? Alternatively, I would be most grateful for any guidance you can offer based on the following:

So far, I know I want:
1. Windows operating system as I use microsoft office.
2. A laptop that can withstand heavy use - mainly for study/work, internet, tv/films, and basic games.
3. At least 500GB storage for data. My current (and old) laptop has two drives - so I have storage for my software and another storage for my data. I would like this again.
4. Relatively low in weight

As I need something that is light, I did think about a tablet however I am not sure this will meet my need with storage - I know there is cloud storage however I am concerned this may not be safe for confidential material.

What is particularly confusing me is which processor will be best - I understand that Intel is better than AMD, however I am not sure if Intel Pentium is better or worse than i3 or i5.

I don't have a specific budget, although I think approx £500 will be my maximum.

Thank you.

System

I can't help much with which laptop to get, but you can get Microsoft Office for Macs too. There are also free alternatives to Microsoft Office that run on multiple platforms -- "Open Office" is one, Google for the link (I can't post links yet) -- so you could try one of the free ones on your current laptop first, to see if you like it. If you like the free versions of Office that could save you some extra money to put towards your laptop budget.

Cisco001

Do you need optical drive?
for your use, intel i3/ i5 will be faster.

NiftyDigits

What is wrong with your old laptop?

Ms_Wheels

Thank you for your replies.

My current laptop still works. The problems I have are:
1. Some of the keys sometimes don't (I have been told I could use compressed air to remove anything underneath the keys).
2. It is slow to start up and I have instead been keeping it switched on or in sleep 24/7. It recently developed some driver issues which have been fixed and I was advised that this was caused by leaving the laptop on all the time. I am not sure if this is true!?
3. Sometimes I get an error message saying that there is not enough memory (cannot recall exact message) - this tends to happen when I have multiple files and programs open and I think it is because I have too many things open so can easily been fixed by less multitasking. I don't think it means my storage is full as when I open windows explorer both C and D drive have space left.
4. It is also relatively heavy - I am a wheelchair user with various disabilities and sometimes find it difficult to transport out of the house.

These four reasons don't stop me using the laptop indoors.

My main concern is that it is no longer covered by the extended warranty and support that DSA provided (basically they used a company who were a phone call away in case of any problems) and if anything goes wrong with it I will be stuck. I realise as I am typing that this appears a weak reason for a new laptop however I am thinking that if the laptop is new then there might be less chance of any problems.

re: optical drive - I only really use it on my current laptop for watching DVD's or loading software. I have varies software like Claro, Dragon, Opticbook - I need these to help with reading and typing although I imagine there might be a way to load software on machines without a optical drive. I still have the software for these programs and hoping they can be used on a newer laptop rather than purchasing newer copies of these software.

re: processor - thank you for confirming that Intel i3/i5 would be sufficient.

I will test out one of the free alternatives to Microsoft Office - always used Office so am very comfortable with it. There might even be free copies of the other software I use.

NiftyDigits

What is the brand name and and full model number of the laptop?

It will allows us to check the current specification and upgrade options, so even if you buy a new laptop, you can have a viable, working alternative.

macman

Doesn't sound like anything that a clean OS reinstall wouldn't sort out. Then max out the RAM, and replace the sticky k/b. On most laptops those last 2 jobs should be about 10 minutes each. And you'll have saved around £450...

Cisco001

https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/6549282148087199488?q=asus%20X550CA-XX101H&client=tablet-android-asus&espv=1&sboxchip=%E8%B3%BC%E7%89%A9&biw=1280&bih=752&prds=hsec:online,scoring:p&ei=2HM3U-iPD4rY7AaI6IHABw&ved=0CFQQ2SswAA

https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/1132639392355687196?client=tablet-android-asus&sboxchip=%E8%B3%BC%E7%89%A9&biw=1280&bih=752&q=toshiba+c50+i5+2.5&oq=toshiba+c50+i5+2.5&prds=hsec:online&ei=IXc3U4WaKsLPhAfItYDADA&ved=0CGkQ2SswAQ

Ms_Wheels

Thank you all for your replies.

NiftyDigits wrote: »

What is the brand name and and full model number of the laptop?

It will allows us to check the current specification and upgrade options, so even if you buy a new laptop, you can have a viable, working alternative.

It is a Hi-Grade Notebook Computer. Looking at system details via control panel I found:
Model: NOTINO_D8000W
Processor: Intel Core 2 Due CPU T6600 @2.2GHz 2.2GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 3.00GB
System type: 32-bit Operating System

On the base of the laptop are two different model numbers: D8000W and W76TUN

macman wrote: »

Doesn't sound like anything that a clean OS reinstall wouldn't sort out. Then max out the RAM, and replace the sticky k/b. On most laptops those last 2 jobs should be about 10 minutes each. And you'll have saved around £450...

That sounds like an idea – I am not at all confident in my ability to do that though. Is there a simple idiots-guide to follow?

Cisco0001 – thanks for the links.

Cisco001

Ms_Wheels wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies.

It is a Hi-Grade Notebook Computer. Looking at system details via control panel I found:
Model: NOTINO_D8000W
Processor: Intel Core 2 Due CPU T6600 @2.2GHz 2.2GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 3.00GB
System type: 32-bit Operating System

On the base of the laptop are two different model numbers: D8000W and W76TUN


That sounds like an idea – I am not at all confident in my ability to do that though. Is there a simple idiots-guide to follow?

Cisco0001 – thanks for the links.

Looking at your existing system, there is no point of getting more RAM as your machine is only 32bit.

the easiest things to do is backing up all important data and do a factory restore to see if there is any improvement.

By the way, is your machine XP/ vista/ Win 7?
If it is XP, and you continues having hardware fault, I don't see the point of keeping it.

NiftyDigits

Ms_Wheels wrote: »

Thank you all for your replies.

It is a Hi-Grade Notebook Computer. Looking at system details via control panel I found:
Model: NOTINO_D8000W
Processor: Intel Core 2 Due CPU T6600 @2.2GHz 2.2GHz
Installed memory (RAM): 3.00GB
System type: 32-bit Operating System

On the base of the laptop are two different model numbers: D8000W and W76TUN


That sounds like an idea – I am not at all confident in my ability to do that though. Is there a simple idiots-guide to follow?

Cisco0001 – thanks for the links.

It is a CLEVO W76TUN laptop.

If keyboard replacement is necessary, here is an example.

As aforementioned, a Factory Restore would cure the 'slowness'. Though of course you would need to copy your important data elsewhere before proceeding.