Buying a laptop

allyssa

I want to buy a laptop and have very little personal techy knowledge I'm looking for a fair deal and and a reliable product.
Is it better to buy brand new, with lower spec? or refurbished hi spec for the same price? Is ebay reccommended or high street retailers?
I have about £600 cash to spend.
My main usage is storing and printing off artwork, heavy internet use and writing and storing articles.
Anyone help? It's seems a very confusing marketplace!

VEE_2

Hi

I am looking for exactly the same thing at the moment. Very similar purposes and usage. I am totally non tecchy so have no idea if what I have come across is decent or not but I am thinking of a Sony Vaio NR 21 or 32 or maybe a Toshiba A300d-13x. Both are around £500 avail on lots of online sites. I could go up around £100 but I have no idea what else to look for!

I want at least 2gb
Fast processor....but not sure what is good or bad
Multiple usb ports
Fairly light in weight

Hope you get some suggestions on your thread!

allyssa

Thanx Vee,
I just saw on Ebay they have a 'laptop finder'. It includes price, make, all the specs, new or used, etc. You pick what you require and it comes up with what's available.
Seems quite good but I still don't feel very confident about what I'm buying. For example, what's satalite for on a laptop?
I'll probably have to go down to PC world and ask them. But I hate being bombarded by info I don't understand. I just want to hear from some one trustworthy, experienced, and who hasn't a vested interest, to tell me what are the best deal and places to buy from.

Anyway, good luck. If you get something nice let me know. I still have a week or so before I will be buying.

Allyssa

TiTheRev

Two words: Apple Mac

It's by far the best laptop on the market IMHO, and especially if you are wanting it for music/art/photo use, as it already comes with some good software without the need to buy any.

I bought one just over a year ago, and have had no problems at all. It's not slowed down despite having over 1000photos and 500+ songs on, and because of the way it organises its data you can do all of these at the same time without it grinding to a halt..plus there's NO WINDOWS!!! :T

VEE_2

Allyssa,

Will check the laptop finder out, thanks. I defo know what you mean about wanting some impartial advice. I am scared of getting talked into something and suffering a major case of buyers remorse! As for spec etc I don't know what most of it means!

TiTheRev

I have been looking at the Apple Macbook myself but I got a quote for the basic 2gb one today from Apple with the Office for Mac Software and it came to over £900. Much as I like how it looks and hate when laptops run really slowly, I think it would work out too expensive for me as my budget is around £600. I think I would need to buy that software so I could do things on word etc too something about converting? Even without it mind it would be £800 quid plus. Thanks very much for the suggestion though. Maybe Allyssa might be able to stretch her budget!

TiTheRev

It was only just over a year ago I got mine for just under £600! I also got Office for Mac for another £70 through eBay...inflation is ridiculous :?

VEE_2

£600 quid, did you? If I could get it for that price I reckon I would have gone with it. So it has jumped up that much in a year? I think the most basic one is 699 and then to add up to 2gb you pay extra. Then there is the software you have to buy to make sure other documents convert with is around 80 quid. I think I could get a cheaper deal on the software by shopping around but I haven't seen any cheaper prices on the mac anywhere, in fact many places charge way over the 699 for just the basic model. Where did you get yours if you don't mind me asking? If you know of any good places to shop for special deals please do let me know. It'd be great.

TiTheRev

My dad sells computers for a living it was a very good deal and didnt include VAT, but I still thought it was only slightly below market value! Ive only got a 40gb HD but did get the memory upgrade included in that. Got my Office software through a American company advertising on eBay, all legit as far as I can work out, had official CDs and paperwork etc...

klm99

I purchased a laptop 2 years ago for £600, and it was a good spec, so I don't see why you have to go low spec or used. avoid brands, e.g. mac, as you pay for the brand. acer is a cheap brand that might interest you. anyway, normally the posh brands mean nothing but higher price, as all important parts are of different manufacturer anyway.

ukdutypaid

They're all pretty much similar spec.
Things I think about are;
How much will you be lugging it about... If it's for home/space saving then 15 or 17" screen size..
If off the mains, then battery life/weight......

Warranty is also worth looking at, plus how rubbish does the keyboard feel... Big issue with laptops... Over three laptops, I've been through about 6 keyboards... The letter symbols, wear off, and the actual key action wears out..
Personally, I'm down PC world next time.... I want to touch it... see where the fingers go.... Hell, I'd have no issue walking out of there, if I wasn't sure...
Plus you'll get your Wifi router and anti virus software and be able to get it all working when you get home....
Don't worry about the tech spec so much it's the physicals .. weight, screen size, keys, battery life, where's the mousepad....

merlinormartin

Hi Ally
I have two suggestions within your price range
Sony Vaio NR21 Z/S £599
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/3593592/Sony-Vaio-NR21-Z-S-Core-2-Duo-T8100-2-1GHz-3GB-250GB-15-4-Vista-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html

Hewlett Packard DV9820EA £569
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/654/861/-/5451745/Hewlett-Packard-DV9820EA-Turion-64-X2-TL-60-3GB-250GB-DVD-SM-17-Vista-Home-Premium-Laptop-Notebook/Product.html?searchtype=genre

Great specs and within your price range. I'm yet to find the Sony Vaio at a cheaper price; except for some "dodgy online stores"