Help a clueless idiot buy a laptop?!

[Villers]

Need to get a new laptop for my new house but Ive not got a clue about what all the stuff means. Last time I bought a PC it was a 166MMX and it was the dogs bollocks, so you can imagine how out of touch I am!

Been looking on currys and stuff like that but I'm a bit dumbfounded as to what I want. Its not needed to set the world alight but I want a bit of lasting performance. Me and the Mrs will be using it so the list of things it will be used for..

Facebook, general internet, movie/music downloads, photo storage/editing, video storage/editing, general MS works stuff, iplayer, itunes etc. Nothing amazing I know but I dont really want one that will grind to a halt in six months! Wont be used for gaming either.

I think that 4gb is the way forward but the processor stuff means nothing to me. Im willing to part with anything up to 500 snonkeybats for the right one.

Please, can one of you enlightened people help me?
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Frost]

This is an exponential function:

https://tangentsoft.net/audio/bitmaps/pwr10-curve.png

It's how computer bang for buck works. So along the bottom is performance, up the side is price. So the low end stuff is cheap, but as you move to the right the increase in performance becomes massively more expensive. It's also worth noting that the same spec in a laptop is much more expensive than in a desktop.
So if you're looking for lasting performance from your money, buying something fast now will cost more but be equally slow feeling in 5 years time, so buy something from the middle or bottom half.

4GB of ram is a good idea for running windows 7, upgrading to more can easily be done at a later date. Hard drives are cheap so you might as well get a huge one. Screen size & resolution will want to be as big as possible unless you're planning on moving the thing about a lot. If you're not going to be gaming graphics can be basic as can sound. Processor is probably worth spending a little money on, so might a bigger battery if you're likely to make use of it.

Brand wise, i'd avoid Acer as they don't seem to last quite so well.

If you can't be bothered with all that and just want to click a 'buy' button, these 2 look alright for your budget.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-asus-k52f-ex962v-i3-330-4gb-640gb-windows-7hp

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/156-msi-cx623-258ukwled-intel-core-i3-380m-253g-640gb-hdd-4gb-ddr3-dvdrw-webcam-win7hp-x64

[Banned]

https://computers.shop.ebay.co.uk/Laptops-Netbooks-/177/i.html?_nkw=Asus+UL30&_catref=1&_fln=1&_sc=1&_sop=3&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

A review

https://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/04/asus-ul30-notebook-review-technophile

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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[TomCB]

could try Ebay

Just picked up a Dell Vostro 1510 for myself
£250

2.2ghz core 2 duo
2gb ram
250gb hdd
geforce 8600M
card reader, dvd writer, 15.4 lcd screen

its a refurb but works perfect and there is only minor marks on it (which you do have to be looking for to notice.)


i wouldnt bother going to currys etc, and just go straight to manufacturers on the websites (dell, acer, toshiba etc) they will be a little cheaper, and if you want the extended warrenties, they are alot cheaper. (comet charged me 150 for a 3 year warrenty, when acer only charged 60 for it)
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Faldo: "Classic BCF. A thread about sky diving is NSFW on post #2."

[The View Askew]

If you have £500 I highly reccommend that you at least consider a desktop pc if you have a monitor lying about, or could get one cheap, as you could build a fast pc for that if gaming is not a main use.

For a laptop, you can get a reasonable spec for that, but always be aware that anything you buy pre built (IE a laptop) will always have a premium on it in terms of parts for money.

Your budget will allow you to comfortably do what you have listed, your decision is how you want it delivered.

As a final note, always remember that having more power than you need is worth it when it comes to computing, as you can do your tasks faster, and you will find the computer always waiting for your next click, rather than you waiting for the computer, however small the difference, you will always notice it when you are waiting for something to happen that you are directly focusing on, such as a website.

I know my post doesn't offer any hard information here, but I have good hardware knowledge available, if you are considering an item, just post it and I will have a look, as I'm sure a few others here will, and tell you if it is good value for money.
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"Do what you always did, get what you always got"

[Villers]

Thanks guys, cheers to dafrosty one for heads up and thanks to askew for the perspective!

In short Im planning the laptop for joint use between me and the mrs. Ive splashed my entire savings on the new pad, she is choosing the decor whilst I get the double garage and the downstairs extension as a 'man room'. I will buy a decent pc for in there I hope but the laptop will keep her out of the hallowed kingdom of man!

Ive just come across a 'XPS' from dell that boasts an I5 processor and 4gb for 650 wingwangs. What you think??
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[The View Askew]

i5 range contains some superb processors, if you could give me an actual model number I can elaborate on it, 4GB is plenty of RAM for your application, what are the other specs?

Perhaps a link to the product?
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"Do what you always did, get what you always got"

[Villers]

Im on my ipod but you are talking my language so I'll sort it tomorrow and post the spec, thankyou so much for taking the time askew!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Villers]

Right well, Ive kind of changed my mind since this was pointed out...

Brand: Samsung
Mfr Part Number: NP-RV511-S03UK
RAM Size: 6 GB
Processor Brand: Intel
Processor Speed: 2.66 GHz
Processor Type: Intel Core i5
Hard Drive Size: 640 GB
Hard Disk Rotational Speed: 5400 rpm
Computer Memory Type: DDR3 SDRAM
Operating System: Windows 7 Edition Home Premium
Graphics Card Description: NVIDIA GeForce 315M
Screen Size: 15.6 inches
Display Technology: LED
Light Source Type: LED
Speaker Output Channel Quantity: 2
Spearkers Maximum Output Power: 1.5 watts

Currently on amazon for £549

The equivalent dell is something like £649 for the I5 and 4gb with a 500gb HD.

Almost bought the samsung ten mins ago but broke out in a sweat and decided to think about it!
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RS125 > CBR6 > SV650S > ZX636R > GSX1300RZ Hayabusa > 06 RSVR Mille > SV1000S > Street Triple 765 RS

[Banned]

The one i said and have meself, is a great all rounder and you would be v happy with it, and 350 quid ..
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[Frost]

It was a 13" netbook.

The speaker volume being 1.5 watts, is it just me or does that sound a bit crap?

[Dr. Quack]

Well I would recomend the 13.3 inch Sony VAIO S series with Nvidia graphics and intel i3.
Don't get a laptop with i7, they get so hot they have to set them to idle at 1.73 GHZ, even then the fan sounds like a jet engine when cooling them down.

I can speak from experience too.

I am well impressed with my 13,3 inch VAIO, i3, 1066 FSB, 4 GIG DDR3 1066 MHZ RAM, supports upto 8 GIG DDR3, W7 business. Run quite, nice and cool too. Magnesium cover what ever that means.
Kickin ass on COD4 with it too.

[Banned]

He don't need a high end one ...

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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !

[The View Askew]

[Frost]

[Banned]

I've got a 22 pc screen and a 42 tv, my lap/netbook is 13 .. odd ... the batt life and weight, and silence is the best thing, and the screen size led is ok and you get used to it, i hate small netbooks but mine is a great compromise, dual core 3 ram 12 hr batt low weight, hdmi out ..

You cant go wrong really for 350 notes ... i've plauded it before more than once, i would not bother if it were brill, as the reviews all state ..

Asus ul30 for the WIN ..
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BLUEX5 wrote: Good to have you back covdude.
Ariel Badger - I like the moss and the hole !