Laptops...Hot or Not?

Tetsuko

I've been given the opportunity to get a laptop but I'm on an a very restricted budget. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good laptop. So far it's been suggested that I take a look at getting a Dell as I've been told this would be the best spec for the money.

I have £250 to hand and I really don't want to spend over £350 to £400 if I can get away with it...BUT I can stretch to £500 at an absolute push (though no one will get Christmas presents this year if I do overspend )

......And no I'm definitely not getting a mac. I have to have some money left to eat and suchlike xD And obviously I mean to buy food. I don't eat money. That would be foolish and not as nummy as curry.

Tetsuko

:rolleyes: Never mind I just saw the sticky thread at the top *slaps head*

Quasar

LOL Tetsuko! I hope you get a good lappy. I've always had lappies and I'm on my third now - the others still work and they are very useful as a backup because in my line of work I cannot afford to be without a computer for even one day.

I have spent quite a bit on mine, £900 for the last one (an HP, about 18 months old), but I'm sure you can get a good one for £400 these days. I've never had a Dell but I hear they are good value, so.... Anyway the lappies' sticky will tell you all you need to know.

Tetsuko

Damn.....I got fed up trying to figure out which one was the best spec for the best value as there are soooooo many options to choose from and trying to get my head round the logistics of getting a friend to sneak one over from the states was confusing the hell out of me. Dell had a fairly decent one on offer on their web site and, as I couldn't bare the laptop keffudlement anymore, I gave in and got one from there in the end.

Now are the horrible weeks of waiting for the shinys to arrive

Do laptops last well? I was just wondering how robust they are. I might have to cycle with mine in a backpack but I wouldn't want to break it going over bumps in the road >.<

Quasar

Tetsuko wrote: »

Damn.....I got fed up trying to figure out which one was the best spec for the best value as there are soooooo many options to choose from and trying to get my head round the logistics of getting a friend to sneak one over from the states was confusing the hell out of me. Dell had a fairly decent one on offer on their web site and, as I couldn't bare the laptop keffudlement anymore, I gave in and got one from there in the end.

Now are the horrible weeks of waiting for the shinys to arrive

Do laptops last well? I was just wondering how robust they are. I might have to cycle with mine in a backpack but I wouldn't want to break it going over bumps in the road >.<

Very good question, Tetsuko. My first one (a Packard Bell) lasted FIVE years of heavy use, then the hard drive began to rattle and I had it replaced.

The second one (a Toshiba) has been going now for 3 years and I used it heavily for 2 years until I bought the present one which is...

A Hewlett Packard. Again heavily used.

All three are still perfectly good and I am therefore assured of good backup as a computer is essential in my line of work.

The sturdiness and reliability of a lappy depends on many factors, really: make, model, how you look after it, and also if there are any manufacturing errors.

I guess I've been very lucky. I hope you are too!

Wombat

Tetsuko wrote: »

Do laptops last well? I was just wondering how robust they are. I might have to cycle with mine in a backpack but I wouldn't want to break it going over bumps in the road >.<

I have an Acer laptop and was carrying it downstairs one day, caught my elbow, laptop flew from my grasp and landed flat on its lid on a tiled floor. I was convinced it must have cracked the screen, dislodged several components and probably destroyed the hard drive.

I turned it on and....it worked perfectly!! I was amazed, frankly, but it just shows how sturdy they really are.