Help with choosing laptop please!

chib

You can't compete with a MacBook for build quality, robustness and service/support.

However, you could indeed buy two good Windows laptops for the money. I got a Dell Inspiron 15r a couple of years back for £380 on the outlet site. It had a dual core i5 CPU, dedicated 2GB video card, 1080p screen and 6GB RAM. Not to mention Bluetooth, webcam, etc. Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Tropez

chib wrote: »

You can't compete with a MacBook for build quality, robustness

Well a multi-year study published in 2009 (yes, five years old now, things do change I agree) suggested that you can. Apple laptops had the fourth lowest failure rate among the nine major manufacturers. Asus placed 1st, followed by Toshiba, Sony and then Apple (obviously Sony has sold off its laptop division now).

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/11/17/reliability.study.has.apple.4th.place/

Individual experiences vary, of course. I had a Toshiba laptop that failed after a year and a bit, and I have a four year old Lenovo still going (despite placing poorly in this study). Heck, I actually have a Vaio that must be 12 years old by now that still works although hardly used because it's obviously got outdated hardware.

Maureen43

What about this one?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-G50-70-15-6-inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B00LLE6QS4/ref=psdc1_t1_B00J3R83N2_B00LLE6QS4

chib

Maureen43 wrote: »

What about this one?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lenovo-G50-70-15-6-inch-Laptop-Black/dp/B00LLE6QS4/ref=psdc1_t1_B00J3R83N2_B00LLE6QS4

Good laptop, and will do everything you require.

I'd personally buy this one from Currys as it's almost identical from a hardware perspective but has a 1080p screen for only £20 more. If it has any issues or your unsatisfied - it's easier to return.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-z50-70-15-6-laptop-white-10022700-pdt.html#cat-0

Note - The one from Currys also has a Hybrid Drive, having switched from an HDD to an SSD before it will likely be a little faster reading from the drive.

almillar

Most new laptops come with Windows 8 and that's rubbish

That's opinion. A popular one, but still an opinion.
OP doesn't need a MacBook. She thinks she wants one but doesn't know why. She will have a steeper learning curve switching to Mac than Windows 8.
Anyway, both OSX and Windows can install LibreOffice, which includes a Word-compatible word processor, and of course both can use Google Docs, which again you can use on both Mac and Windows.

[Deleted User]

almillar wrote: »

She will have a steeper learning curve switching to Mac than Windows 8.

Plus, you can always install Classic Shell, and make Win 8 behave like XP, Vista, etc.

Anyway, both OSX and Windows can install LibreOffice, which includes a Word-compatible word processor

Or, you could get a laptop with MS Office 2013 included.

Maureen43

chib wrote: »

Good laptop, and will do everything you require.

I'd personally buy this one from Currys as it's almost identical from a hardware perspective but has a 1080p screen for only £20 more. If it has any issues or your unsatisfied - it's easier to return.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-z50-70-15-6-laptop-white-10022700-pdt.html#cat-0

Note - The one from Currys also has a Hybrid Drive, having switched from an HDD to an SSD before it will likely be a little faster reading from the drive.

The Currys one looks good! Thanks

Tropez

Maureen43 wrote: »

The Currys one looks good! Thanks

I have an i7 version of that laptop and it is a good laptop. The SSHD makes boot times quite nippy and a few commonly used applications run nice a bit quicker.

The keyboard isn't the nicest one I've used though but it's something that you get used to.

One complaint - Lenovo package in some energy management software that encourages you to turn it on to keep the battery only half charged (thus preserving the lifespan of the battery). This software is incapable of remembering your selection on a fresh boot it seems. According to Lenovo this is working as intended, although I find that odd as another Lenovo laptop I have with similar software does remember your selection.

chib

If you buy it, I'd recommend running the PC Decrapifier.

This will give you an option to remove bloat installed by Lenovo. I'd remove as much as possible, things like Trial Antivirus, Lenovo Apps, Etc.

Quiet_Spark

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

Or, you could get a laptop with MS Office 2013 included.

Which is invariably a trial version.