New Laptop - which one please? (Also Vista query)

polybear

Hi,

I'm looking for a cheap laptop for home use (under £300) for email & internet use mainly. I'm not into games/video/music etc. I have a desktop pc upstairs so just a basic laptop for mobile use around the house will do.

I've seen the following:

Dell Vostro 1000 (basic model) for £258 delivered:
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?b=&c=uk&cs=ukbsdt1&kc=N4X10001&l=en&m_30=139043&oc=N0410001&rbc=N0410001&s=bsd

Fujitsu Siemens V5535 for £280 delivered:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139119

The F.S. has the better spec. (is build quality/reliability ok?) but I'm used to XP; however the Dell can be purchased with XP for the same price.

Any thoughts please? I phoned Ebuyer and asked if I could buy the FS with XP instead of Vista - only if I buy it as a separate item. However, their adviser said that Vista is now much better now that SP1 has been issued.

Would it be difficult to remove Vista and install XP on the F.S?

What should I do please? Thanks.

Brian.

interceptor02

The dell is far better deal.

polybear

Thanks for the reply.

Out of interest, what makes Dell the better deal please?

Brian.

Malski

A cheaper option would be an Acer, I have one of these and a dell but I tend to use the Acer more often. I got mine from www.misco.co.uk they had this shippe dout to me within 2 days.

interceptor02

Ah if you are talking Acer then Play.com got a nice one with the voucher code ACER40 you can pick up one for £309.

polybear

Thanks for the replies. After seeing several links on MSE to this laptop:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3477557/Acer-Aspire-5720-Z-Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-T2310-1-46GHz-2GB-80GB-15-4-DVD-SM-Vista-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html

- I thought I'd consider it more carefully. Then I found this one on the same site (same laptop but slightly faster processor) for the same price:

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3477577/Acer-Aspire-5720-Core-2-Duo-T5250-1-5GHz-2GB-80GB-15-4-DVD-SM-Vista-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html

By purchasing it through Quidco and also using the discount code ACER40 when checking out of the Play.com site I've managed to get the price down to £297 delivered (from £500 RRP); I also used my credit card which will allow me to register the laptop for an extra year's warranty free of charge. So I'm a happy bunny - a DELL with equivalent spec. would've cost loads more.

Brian