Laptop From PC World - Help Please

mimi1234

Hi all,

I'm looking to replace my old laptop as it's almost died and gone to heaven. My current one is a Sony Vaio and I have had it for about 4 years. It cost about £500 and it was an impulse purchase. I walked into PC World and picked up the first one I saw! I am not a tech person at all, hence asking you guys for advice.

* I'm wanting something not too large (portable-ish).
* I only use the laptop for emails, watching DVD's and a bit on YouTube and obviously MSE.
* I sometimes use Microsoft packages for writing documents.
* I don't want to pay more than £450.

Could someone tell me what is good at PC World that would meet my needs? I've had a look at the website and I don't have a clue what the difference between them are other than colours, shapes, prices and brands. I have some vouchers I need to use up there so I think I might as well get the laptop from there.

Thanks to anyone who might be able to help.

bsod

I don't think laptops are religious, why the impulse to replace

grumpycrab

mimi1234 wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm looking to replace my old laptop as it's almost died and gone to heaven.

What's wrong with it? Backup docs/pics/music/vids (and Microsoft keys using Belarc) and do a factory restore. e.g.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DekclaZkcFQ

Strider590

At 4 years old a consumer grade laptop is beyond it's useful life, they're not designed to last much longer.

bsod

with all due respect, that's a ridiculous statement to make

Strider590

bsod wrote: »

with all due respect, that's a ridiculous statement to make

No, it's really not. They're not designed to last more than a few years. They're not designed to be easy or cheap to repair, the idea is that people keep coming back for new one's every few years.

bsod

It's an opinion, but to say a 4 year old machine is beyond it's useful life is just a little daft. I'm using such a machine now, not a thing wrong with it.

Don't drop them, and they'll last decades.

The available hardware has been mature for a while, nothing much has changed in the last 10 years apart from ssd's. The software developers are running out of innovations too, because all that needs to be done, has been, so we are left with very small incremental gui changes, and some backward ones.

Off topic, but I've known a few people with a similar attitude go bankrupt due to the constant need to replace electronics with the latest version, when last years model worked perfectly.

robin58

Bsod , I totally agree with you. I have a Presario laptop which is well into it's 5th year of service.

My laptop does exactly what the OP wants out of a laptop and more.

So OP why do you need to buy a new laptop if old one is still working?

PC World is the last place to buy a laptop if you know nothing about computers. They will pickup on this and take you for a ride, making you pay for stuff you don't want in the spec.

To be honest P C World has not got its nickname 'P C Con' for nothing.:rotfl::rotfl:


In the past I used to go 'adviser baiting' in Dixons & PC World asking about equipment eg TV's, HiFi etc. Most of the time I knew more than they did.:D Should have asked for a job.:cool:

Firstly ask yourself why do you need to replace it.

Then as for all computer purchases,(or anything you want buy for that matter), write down what you want to do now.

Then think of anything that in reality that you know what you want it to do in the future so as to 'future proof it'.

Then start looking for laptop to match that.

Paying more than £300 for a laptop for what you want it to do is a waste of money.

Ever thought about buying a secondhand laptop.?

I only just looking in a local independent computer shop today. I saw good secondhand laptops / notebooks from £140 to £180, in good condition , with some near perfect.

One word of advice. Never start looking for a computer replacement at the last minute. It will always cost you dearly.

robin58

Strider590 wrote: »

No, it's really not. They're not designed to last more than a few years. They're not designed to be easy or cheap to repair, the idea is that people keep coming back for new one's every few years.

I know of one good local computer repair shop who could argue with that view. He repairs laptops all the time to a good spec. for a good price.

Red_Army

Strider590 wrote: »

At 4 years old a consumer grade laptop is beyond it's useful life, they're not designed to last much longer.

My Windows Vista laptop is 8 years old and still runs like a dream. Never had to make repairs on it once. As long as you look after it you can get it to last ages.

Nodding_Donkey

How come no one has said Avoid PC World

Anything you can buy in pc world can be bought from a different company that might have decent customer service, will definitely actually know something about computers and usually for a better price.