Help with choosing laptop please!

[Deleted User]

Quiet_Spark wrote: »

Which is invariably a trial version.

I got the full version.

Jivesinger

Quiet_Spark wrote: »

Which is invariably a trial version.

Not necessarily.

Microsoft allowed manufacturers of small-screen devices to give away full Office 2013 Home and Student, and if you get one of those, it's not a trial. I think the later ones seem to have a year's subscription to one of the versions of Office 365, which isn't as good as it expires after a year (but still better than a trial).

Kernel_Sanders

chib wrote: »

A budget laptop would do what you are looking for, even a Chromebook
Very fast for web browsing, you can do word processing for free using Microsoft Office Online or Google Documents. Watching TV (iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD) is done within browser and so is Netflix for movies.

Does BBC iPlayer support Chrome OS regarding downloads for offline viewing?
I believe the lower bandwidth option isn't available for this, so only a few of these huge files will actually fit on the paltry SSDs that these machines tend to come with!

[Deleted User]

Jivesinger wrote: »

Microsoft allowed manufacturers of small-screen devices to give away full Office 2013 Home and Student, and if you get one of those, it's not a trial.

That's what I got, and mine's a 10.1", which I don't consider to be particularly "small-screen", and less so when it's plugged into my 16" widescreen monitor. :cool:

I think the later ones seem to have a year's subscription to one of the versions of Office 365, which isn't as good as it expires after a year (but still better than a trial).

Mine doesn't expire after a year.

Mr_Toad

My view as a Mac user.

First, I'm not a rabid Microsoft hating Apple fanboy, I rather like MS stuff. I think they should start again with Windows and not try to be compatible with so many legacy programs and machines. A new, ground up Windows would be fantastic, but that's another debate.

I always had Windows laptops until late 2010 when my last one died. I set out my personal priorities of what I wanted and that put me in £1000 - £2000 price bracket.

I looked at loads and gradually whittled it down and in the end the Windows machines were, in my opinion poorly made for the price, too much flexible plastic, so I bought a MacBook Pro.

It's been and is fantastic, it doesn't get cluttered up with junk like Windows PCs tend to and it just works.

Just look at all the threads on here and elsewhere about slow running PCs, malware and adverts etc. Someone will, I'm sure, be along to tell you this is because there are loads of PC and hardly any Macs out there and to some extent that's true but not the whole picture. There are plenty of Macs out there but PCs do outnumber them but this means that most of the malware and other assorted crud is aimed at PC users.

Nothing that can't be fixed or, if you have the know how, prevented but it's something I've never had to do with my Mac. It's still runs and boots as quickly as it did when new.

If I'm honest the geek/tinkerer in me misses the constant battle I used to wage to keep my Windows boxes running well.

Whatever you choose make sure it's your choice and what you get does what you want.

almillar

A new, ground up Windows would be fantastic, but that's another debate.

You mean Windows RT. That's not working so well, but I do like the interface, and that's on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, XBox...

Mr_Toad

almillar wrote: »

You mean Windows RT. That's not working so well, but I do like the interface, and that's on Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, XBox...

No I don't mean Windows RT, it's for mobile devices.

I mean a ground up new version of the desktop/server OS that isn't crippled by support for old versions of Windows/hardware/programs a completely fresh start.

Maureen43

Thanks for all the buying advice.


Now, does anyone think I can sell the old one on Ebay? Does it have any re-sale value?

Maureen43

Maureen43 wrote: »

Thanks for all the buying advice.


Now, does anyone think I can sell the old one on Ebay? Does it have any re-sale value?

Can anyone help on this?

kwikbreaks

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

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

Which will almost certainly either be a trial or a year lease version which you'll have to renew.

Whichever way you get it other than a cracked hookey download MS Office will cost you money whereas Libre Office and others are free. It really comes down to whether the free version will do what is needed - for most people it will.