Help to choose a replacement Toshiba laptop, please.

[Deleted User]

Thanks very much - yes I definitely have the extended warranty in mind on my 'to do' list.

About the speakers - It could well be a girly thing but I genuinely am very short of space.  I use my (new) laptop in the living room on my dining table ( ... yes - it's a small table with two chairs - and a stool in the bedroom if third place needed!)  I have it on my lap in the bedroom.  I can't claim to be minimalist but I have no room for clutter and nearly always clear out when I can.

One living room with kitchen (small, very adequate but quite narrow kitchen) off, one bedroom and shower room - not even full bathroom (not that I'd have my laptop in there!)  Do you believe me? -    And if there's a way of tripping over a wire I'm sure to find it. 
I even tried to get the Council Cleansing Dept. to exchange my 'large' standard size Wheelie Bin (it practically dominates my postage stamp size bit of garden) for a smaller size (they are available) but, as there was to real need, I had no success.  One of these days I'm going to topple into the bin myself as it's so deep - I'm 4 ft 9 inches ... and getting shorter with age as I used to be half an inch taller.

I'm going to try to have a laptop free evening now.  Much as I enjoy the learning process, a break is good at times.  

Many thanks yet again.

OnlyTheBestWillDo

It's a difficult one. Ideally you would want no wires at all. It's already enough to have a hub and then having to connect the speaker/s to both the hub and the laptop seems a bit clumsy. A Bluetooth speaker with a rechargeable battery is an option, but then the sound range will be relatively limited.

Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392170608122 means that you don't need any wires at all. How long it might last is another question altogether.

Also available for less: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263768747445

The problem with these things is that there are an unknown; the sound could be tinny and terrible, as they are unbranded and likely no useful reviews anywhere.

Headphones of course are good alternative if you don't mind wearing them. Then you will definitely be able to hear everything and can choose from wired or wireless. No power delivery necessary, so no wires other than the headphone jack needed at the most.

Trying to keep costs at a minimum...

getmore4less

For portability headphones or earbuds are the simple option.

Wide range of prices and quality available

I have been looking at the jabra range of buds

https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/jabra

if you can arrange some permanent set up for the dining table that would help depends if you have suitable shelf or wall space to have something.

Depending on layout of your room  you could set it up for both laptop and TV upgrading that sound at the same time.


In the Bluetooth portable market there is a wide range range of options from super cheap through to the likes of Sonos/Bose silly money

https://www.hotukdeals.com/tag/bluetooth-speaker

going that route gives you the option to use it for other things  


We went for one of these wanted, portable, waterproof for bathroom and outside
At this size its pop on a bag not a pocket .


https://www.tribit.com/products/Tribit-StormBox-Portable-Speaker-Black

There are loads of good brands at this price point and size  they are pretty decent on sound quality and volume.

there are smaller options around JBL GO 3 get decent reviews


loads of youtube vids doing test and comparisons some full tech reviews with response curves a bit over the top..



Then I got one of these as part of a phone deal( a bit expensive I think).
https://www.hihonor.com/unitedkingdom/product/honor-mini-speaker

OK sound quality but limited volume, very portable I pop it in a pocket to use with the phone when out when I need a volume boost(phone has decent stereo speaker set up but not as loud)





The more you plug into a portable device the more hassle it becomes moving it about.

[Deleted User]

Thanks very much for all that, getmoreforless.  I have a lot of helpful links and homework to do and I'm really grateful for all these ideas.

[Deleted User]

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

It's a difficult one. Ideally you would want no wires at all. It's already enough to have a hub and then having to connect the speaker/s to both the hub and the laptop seems a bit clumsy. A Bluetooth speaker with a rechargeable battery is an option, but then the sound range will be relatively limited.

Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392170608122 means that you don't need any wires at all. How long it might last is another question altogether.

Also available for less: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263768747445

The problem with these things is that there are an unknown; the sound could be tinny and terrible, as they are unbranded and likely no useful reviews anywhere.

Headphones of course are good alternative if you don't mind wearing them. Then you will definitely be able to hear everything and can choose from wired or wireless. No power delivery necessary, so no wires other than the headphone jack needed at the most.

Trying to keep costs at a minimum...

I'll need to update myself on things like Blue Tooth.  I have heard of it but, like so many things, have never needed to really take it in.  In these early days I so glad to have had all this huge amount of help.

I'll work on it (probably at my usual slow pace) but, for example even this morning I struggled trying to print something the way I wanted to from the new laptop.  The layout was unfamiliar to me. Because I have done it before I know that, given time, I'll get used to the new layout - and the printer is installed on the new laptop so that, thankfully is not a problem. Because my old laptop has not fully died, not just yet, I 'cheated' this morning and printed from that this morning.

I'm going to order the (I'll need to check your helpful post and link again) the 'colour matched' USB extender you suggested which will plug in to the left side of the laptop, OnlyTheBestWillDo - it  will be ideal and will give me time to get used to that, then move on to the next 'thing' thanks.    I'm glad I didn't rush to buy the one I thought was right - it was because it was easy to buy locally - and there are much better choices now, thanks.  So much to learn but it really is all very worthwhile.  If I get too frustrated I just log off and come back to it later - that system works for me!

Retired_Saver

J_B

getmore4less said:

For portability headphones or earbuds are the simple option.

If she's deaf in one ear, then surely the MSE way would be to just buy one earbud? 

OnlyTheBestWillDo

[Deleted User] said:

OnlyTheBestWillDo said:

It's a difficult one. Ideally you would want no wires at all. It's already enough to have a hub and then having to connect the speaker/s to both the hub and the laptop seems a bit clumsy. A Bluetooth speaker with a rechargeable battery is an option, but then the sound range will be relatively limited.

Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392170608122 means that you don't need any wires at all. How long it might last is another question altogether.

Also available for less: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263768747445

The problem with these things is that there are an unknown; the sound could be tinny and terrible, as they are unbranded and likely no useful reviews anywhere.

Headphones of course are good alternative if you don't mind wearing them. Then you will definitely be able to hear everything and can choose from wired or wireless. No power delivery necessary, so no wires other than the headphone jack needed at the most.

Trying to keep costs at a minimum...

I'll need to update myself on things like Blue Tooth.  I have heard of it but, like so many things, have never needed to really take it in.  In these early days I so glad to have had all this huge amount of help.

I'll work on it (probably at my usual slow pace) but, for example even this morning I struggled trying to print something the way I wanted to from the new laptop.  The layout was unfamiliar to me. Because I have done it before I know that, given time, I'll get used to the new layout - and the printer is installed on the new laptop so that, thankfully is not a problem. Because my old laptop has not fully died, not just yet, I 'cheated' this morning and printed from that this morning.

I'm going to order the (I'll need to check your helpful post and link again) the 'colour matched' USB extender you suggested which will plug in to the left side of the laptop, OnlyTheBestWillDo - it  will be ideal and will give me time to get used to that, then move on to the next 'thing' thanks.    I'm glad I didn't rush to buy the one I thought was right - it was because it was easy to buy locally - and there are much better choices now, thanks.  So much to learn but it really is all very worthwhile.  If I get too frustrated I just log off and come back to it later - that system works for me!

Retired_Saver

It might be prudent to buy a hub with USB-C Power Delivery, in case there are other items that need power. That would push the cost up a little; but perhaps useful in the future.
If you go for speakers, it might also be useful. So maybe hold off until you decide on speakers or headphones.

[Deleted User]

Re:  "It might be prudent to buy a hub with USB-C Power Delivery, in case there are other items that need power. That would push the cost up a little; but perhaps useful in the future.
If you go for speakers, it might also be useful. So maybe hold off until you decide on speakers or headphones. "

I'll do that, thanks OnlyTheBestWillDo.  I had just logged in and was going to check and order - I still have an Amazon account.  I am pleased to wait until (regarding being more familiar with the new laptop) I'm more used to it.

Retired_Saver

Jenni_D

[Deleted User] said:

I'll work on it (probably at my usual slow pace) but, for example even this morning I struggled trying to print something the way I wanted to from the new laptop.  The layout was unfamiliar to me. Because I have done it before I know that, given time, I'll get used to the new layout - and the printer is installed on the new laptop so that, thankfully is not a problem. Because my old laptop has not fully died, not just yet, I 'cheated' this morning and printed from that this morning.

Is this because the old laptop is Windows 7 and the new one is Windows 10? (So it's not a problem with the laptop, merely gaining familiarity with the new OS).

[Deleted User]

I've never had or used Windows 10 before, Jenni_D, thanks, and it all seems so very  new  and quite unfamiliar.    I'm eager to persevere though. 

Today the only way I could delete the print queue was to uninstall the printer - because it kept printing the one document 'stuck' on it. (HP Envy 100 D410 series.) 

So far the print queue is empty but, as I was short of time,  I printed off my old (on its last legs now but still working) Toshiba laptop.  It will take time but I'm looking forward to getting used to Windows 10 ... then it looks as it, a few years from now, Windows 11 will arrive!

But for the good help on this Forum I'm certain it would all be so much more difficult. 

Retired_Saver