Help requiredaptop for sons birthday - which one of these please

Hizz

It's our sons 10th birthday and having sold the Wii that he got for Christmas (played on it at least 6 times) we told him we'd add to this money to buy a laptop that he so dearly wants.

Having looked at the refurbished ones on the PC World site, We really don't have a clue what to get him though and would appreciate help.

Main requirements for him are internet, playing games, watching DVD's.

Like to be able to write to CD & DVD and have wi fi / wireless connection.

Don't really want to go above £290.00. So, which of the following would you buy:-

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1263716331.1203371551@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccciadedggdgjdmcflgceggdhhmdfhk.0&page=ProductList&category_oid=-28487&show_all=true&disabled_product=1#(any):225:1125:PageNo_0:SortOrder_DOWN

Or, is there another product someone could suggest on another site?

Help ver much appreciated.

bob_a_builder

Playing games and cheap laptops are not natural companions

Although it depends exactly what you mean by 'games'

Most modern popular games are highly graphic intensive, usually way above the capabilities any of cheap laptops graphic cards.

If you mean the many online games - mini clip type of thing it shouldn't be a problem

Look out on here for some of the Dell special offers, which seem to come round every so often - probably get a bit more bang for your pound than those pcworld ones - but may not be in time for the birthday though

Hizz

He does play a lot of the mini clip games but dare say will also want to play CD rom games too.

It's his birthday next week, so time is against us when you take delivery into consideration.

dog1

This dell deal seems to be very popular at the moment and may suit your needs.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/145797/dell-vostro-1000-notebook-1yr-warra

dog1

dog1 wrote: »

This dell deal seems to be very popular at the moment and may suit your needs.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/145797/dell-vostro-1000-notebook-1yr-warra

You can also update to an AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL58 for £20 if desired.

Current offer is £50 off laptop and free delivery (a further £60 saving), this offer is due to end on Wednesday 20/2/08.

Little_John

Hizz, for that budget your at the bottom of the entry level stuff maybe slightly higher with the dell deal but you definatly won't be playing games that are bought in shops in the last 12 months maybe longer with anything in that range.

We all want a car we can drive on the roads but occasionally race and hit speeds of 200mph on a budget of £6k it isnt going to happen. You need to remember that not long ago if you wanted a laptop you had to pay a small fortune for it compared to the prices of today to get the low prices available now the spec has had to be reduced.

Hizz

dog1 wrote: »

You can also update to an AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL58 for £20 if desired.

Current offer is £50 off laptop and free delivery (a further £60 saving), this offer is due to end on Wednesday 20/2/08.

Excuse my ignorance but what exactly does the AMD Turion 64 x 2 TL58 mean and do?

Where exactly do you get this for the cheapest price?

Is it a retailer that Quidco / Top cashback can be used with?

Help, please!!!!

dog1

The turion is a faster processor (or brain), this will increase speed and performance of the system.

If you go to the link and click on go to deal, you will be buying direct from Dell. This link takes you to 'small business', although I have priced the laptop that I was interested in through Dell 'home' site and the price is the same, £304.33. For that you get the turion processor, and I would also upgrade to the 6 cell battery, included in the price I have given.

You can go through quidco and get 5% cash back too, less the vat (£259), bringing you nicely to your £290 target price!!

The code is N0210007, remember to reduce the warranty to 1 year for this price too and continue into basket to get the final price, including the free delivery. Remember this offer ends tomorrow, possibly in about 12 hours time.

Probably a better one next week though, the way that Dell are selling their systems at the moment.

Cerro

laptop and games - that doesn't usually go in the same sentance. Laptops are not designed for gaming. Even the most expensive laptops the so-called desktop replacements will not handle much gaming. Any modern or even semi-modern game will run at unplayable frame rates on a budget laptop.

If your main PC requirement is gaming coupled with home entertainment and surfing/leeching then a desktop is the way to go. You will get a more powerful system that will last and can be cheaply upgraded, you just don't get that with laptops. On top of that you can get a nice set of 5.1 speakers to go with it - cheaply (but that is an optional extra). But the point is, you can add these things to a desktop easily.

Has anyone asked "why do you need a laptop?" It does seem to be more of a trend to get a laptop "just because..." when a desktop would be much more useful.

Fliss_Harper

Cerro wrote: »

Has anyone asked "why do you need a laptop?" It does seem to be more of a trend to get a laptop "just because..." when a desktop would be much more useful.

I couldn't agree more.

rdpro

If you want to play games on a laptop, ensure is doesn't have 'shared video RAM/Memory', but has a seperate graphics card - this will mean you'll need to buy a higher end laptop.

As the others have mentioned, I really wouldn't get a laptop if it wasn't actually used as one.

The warranty will only cover faulty parts, not drops/spills, and you'll get a hefty bill if this happens.

Invest the money in a decent, upgradeable PC with a nice big tft screen. You'll save lots of hassle in the long run (laptops generally have very limited upgradeability)