Best laptop - under £300!?!

bainy

bainy wrote: »

Here's a very good deal on an Acer Extensa 5512ZWLMi Intel Core Duo laptop priced at £342.23 inc.VAT from: -

http://lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B74219

Specification: -

Processor: Intel Core Duo, 1.6GHz CPU (far superior processor than a celeron or a sempron)
Memory: 1024MB RAM (1GB)
Hard Drive: 80GB Hard Disk Drive
Display: 15.4 inch TFT display
Optical Drive: DVD Supermulti
OS Version: Windows Vista Business
Wireless LAN: Wireless LAN 802.11abg upto 54Mbps
6 Cell Battery
Weight: 2.72 Kg

Best bang for buck

This exact same laptop can be bought and delivered free from saverstore.com for £347.55
http://www.saverstore.com/productinfo/Product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=20014692&rstrat=15600



Definately the best laptop by miles presented to you in this thread, you will not be disappointed Sarah1971


EDIT: Sorry this laptop is now out of stock at Saverstore!!!

paint

bainy wrote: »

This exact same laptop can be bought and delivered free from saverstore.com for £347.55
http://www.saverstore.com/productinfo/Product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=20014692&rstrat=15600

Definately the best laptop by miles presented to you in this thread, you will not be disappointed Sarah1971

Totally agree (wish this had been on offer when I was looking!), but it's going on for £50 over budget.

Given the key requirements which seem to be basic office computing and wireless connectivity at a very tight £300 budget, I'm sure that any of the laptops mentioned in the thread would be more than suitable (subject to the Windows Vista RAM caveat).

bainy

paint wrote: »

Totally agree (wish this had been on offer when I was looking!), but it's going on for £50 over budget.

Given the key requirements which seem to be basic office computing and wireless connectivity at a very tight £300 budget, I'm sure that any of the laptops mentioned in the thread would be more than suitable (subject to the Windows Vista RAM caveat).

paint,I agree that its slightly over budget but it does offer a very good degree of future proofing and if they can just stretch their budget that little extra it would be so much more worthwhile and not least faster, more powerful, able to open several applications at once etc, Hey it comes with Vista Business which cost £85 alone to buy. It has 1GB Ram which is more than ample to run Vista and its aero engine.

john-306

bainy wrote: »

This exact same laptop can be bought and delivered free from saverstore.com for £347.55
http://www.saverstore.com/productinfo/Product.aspx?catalog_name=Savastore&product_id=20014692&rstrat=15600

Definately the best laptop by miles presented to you in this thread, you will not be disappointed Sarah1971

That looks a cracking price compared to laptops direct @ £565.
Is it an outgoing model though I cant find any reviews on it?
Whats the difference with vista business as it would be for general use.
Cheers

Sarah1971

I ordered this one as recommended yesterday lunchtime, it was here at 10am this morning, I missed out on the free postage as mentioned in a later post but that cost just an extra £8.50! so just over £50 over budget but it's just what I wanted!

Now for my next issue I need a wireless modem now, not sure how to get round this as my home computer is linked up by a wire to the modem. hmmmmm any advice anyone?

"Here's a very good deal on an Acer Extensa 5512ZWLMi Intel Core Duo laptop priced at £342.23 inc.VAT from: -

http://lambda-tek.com/componentshop/...?prodID=B74219 "

Psychofly

What model is the modem ? Should be a sticker underneath. It may be a wireless router/modem. The router part is the important thing.

If you have more than one PC connected (whether through wireless, wired or a mixture) then it will take all data sent to it and literally 'route' it to the correct PC. So if you are on your laptop and login to your email then any information your laptop requests from the internet, your router will send that info to your laptop and not your PC.

The modem part is the bit which connects to the internet. Normally the modem and the router are now both built into the same box. You used to have them separate.

If your modem is JUST a modem you'll need to get a wireless router or a wireless router/modem. Usually the wireless router/modem is the most common option.

If your 'modem' is a modem/router then you're pretty much already sorted for wireless access from your laptop.

Remember a 'wireless' router/modem will almost always have wired connections at the back as well. This means you can have your PC connected via a wire (usually a network cable) and your laptop via wireless.

Anyway - get the model number and we'll take it from there.

bainy

I agree completely with Psychofly's comments Sarah1971. Now all we need to know is what model of modem or modem/router you have.If you already have a modem/router then its a case of correctly configuring the router and the wireless adapter on the laptop for internet access.
However, if you only have a modem then I'm afraid you'll need to purchase a modem/router, if thats the case then I'd recommend that you purchase a Netgear DG834G Wireless Modem Router Bundle with FREE WG111 USB WiFi Adapter priced at £44: -
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/118010

You do get cheaper modem/routers but in my experience Netgear and Dlink are the best. In the systems I've fitted I've yet to have a problem with either brand.

However lets wait and see what you have with regards to a modem or modem/router.

You've got yourself a cracking laptop.

john-306 wrote: »

That looks a cracking price compared to laptops direct @ £565.
Is it an outgoing model though I cant find any reviews on it?
Whats the difference with vista business as it would be for general use.
Cheers

Yes this Acer is currently outgoing after its had a major facelift e.g. Motherboard, CPU, RAM etc, however warranties etc are valid and full technical support is available from Acer.
As for the Business edition it dosen't have Windows Media centre like Home premium does and it also dosen't have windows dvd maker or windows Movie Maker. Most people use Nero for creating,copying dvd's anyway as well as creating movies.It does have other advantages over Home Premium like protection against hardware failure, windows fax and scan and remote desktop connection whereby another person can connect to your laptop (with your permission of course) and solve technical problems.
Full version details of Vista available here: -

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx?wt_svl=10033VHa2&mg_id=10033VHb2

Sarah1971

I have 1 pc connected to the modem which is a "Thompson" speedtouch 330. Its noT clear what the model number is so I'll quote the various codes that I can see and hopefully you will recognise 1?

CP04498TT14
DSLBB607QP
N10406

Thanks


Sarah

Psychofly

OK. That's a modem and just a modem. There are 2 ways to get wireless access to your laptop in that case. One is a method called 'bridging' and Internet Connection Sharing. It would mean to use the laptop online you'd have to have your main PC switched on too. It's also quite a bad way of doing it since you'd end up spending £25 on a wireless USB adapter for your PC and for just a little more you could get that wireless router that bainy suggested. Personally I think that's by far the best bet.

Keep us updated.

john-306

Unfortunately no stock available for the Acer at both those suppliers,
looks like you emptied them Sarah:rotfl:

Worth looking for again though