Laptop for Mum - Page 2

Burble · 05-09-2010, 12:47

You can't really go wrong with Dell I think. Try to stay away from the cheaper brands as I've found they're a real ball ache if something goes wrong or even if you just need a driver.

17" laptops can be quite heavy (my old 15.4" laptop was a bloody brick) so can be uncomfortable to use on your lap after a while.

A few months ago my parents bought an HP from Tesco for £400 or so - I'm really impressed with it, it feels well put together, has a nice keyboard and much to my surprise didn't come with loads of preloaded unwanted crap.

LeperousDust · 06-09-2010, 23:37

Wow, think you'd be stupid not to get this

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Product/id/910208

lostkat · 07-09-2010, 06:37

Can I ask why? What's so good about it? Genuine question, I'm not trying to be funny with you. I've never heard of the brand so it's not something I'd even look at normally. There's a Dell Inspiron 15 with pretty much the same spec for £449 on the Dell website (4gb memory, 320gb hdd). Why go for this over that?

Burble · 07-09-2010, 08:34

Lenovo (formally IBM) are a fantastic brand, probably the best quality laptops you can get. Well, that's true of the Corporate range of machines, I don't know what the lower end kit is like.

Personally I'd save the £100 and buy the Dell.

Mark · 07-09-2010, 08:44

Thinkpads used to be 'the' thing to have back in the day in the corporate world. Not so much now but that's because other brands have caught up.

For a power user I'd rate that Lenovo as very good. For what you've stated it's needed for, overkill. I'd do what Burble suggested and save some money.

LeperousDust · 07-09-2010, 14:13

Yeah i guess its way too powerful for your mum actually, but its a good laptop for someone asking a bit more. My mum has an SU2300 13" lenovo, and its superbly built, very very impressed with it

Its battery life is netbook standard as well

lostkat · 14-09-2010, 21:43

Right, parents are now back off holiday, Dad has read the Which? reviews (which are his bible) and wants to get her an Acer.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=LT-155-AC

Any good? £650 on Amazon!

Burble · 14-09-2010, 21:46

Personally I'd not a fan of Acer laptops, the build quality has left a lot to be desired in the ones that I've worked on.

Mark · 14-09-2010, 22:01

I feel the same. Wasn't particularly impressed with what I've seen of Acer in shops.

I expected Asus to be similar but have been pleasantly surprised. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the SUxx00 series CPUs (there's one in that Acer too) - so much so that I've relegated my big beast of a laptop to the cupboard and will be selling it once I get time to wipe it.

I'll try to find my own Which 'bible' tomorrow evening and see what else they say. I only treat their reviews as guidance though as they don't always get it right.

lostkat · 14-09-2010, 22:12

Well Apple came up tops, but I've told him that she will HATE an Apple. Besides, the one in the review was £800. He's pretty much snubbed Dell because they got poor reviews on the customer service side. Unfortunately, once he's read his Which bible, there's not much I can do to persuade him otherwise.

The only time he ignores it is when it comes to cars. He owns a Freelander! Ha!

06-09-2010, 23:37	#12
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Wow, think you'd be stupid not to get this http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Product/id/910208 __________________

07-09-2010, 06:37	#13
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Can I ask why? What's so good about it? Genuine question, I'm not trying to be funny with you. I've never heard of the brand so it's not something I'd even look at normally. There's a Dell Inspiron 15 with pretty much the same spec for £449 on the Dell website (4gb memory, 320gb hdd). Why go for this over that? __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

07-09-2010, 14:13	#16
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Yeah i guess its way too powerful for your mum actually, but its a good laptop for someone asking a bit more. My mum has an SU2300 13" lenovo, and its superbly built, very very impressed with it Its battery life is netbook standard as well __________________

14-09-2010, 21:43	#17
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Right, parents are now back off holiday, Dad has read the Which? reviews (which are his bible) and wants to get her an Acer. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=LT-155-AC Any good? £650 on Amazon! __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

14-09-2010, 22:01	#19
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	I feel the same. Wasn't particularly impressed with what I've seen of Acer in shops. I expected Asus to be similar but have been pleasantly surprised. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the SUxx00 series CPUs (there's one in that Acer too) - so much so that I've relegated my big beast of a laptop to the cupboard and will be selling it once I get time to wipe it. I'll try to find my own Which 'bible' tomorrow evening and see what else they say. I only treat their reviews as guidance though as they don't always get it right. Last edited by Mark; 14-09-2010 at 22:04.

05-09-2010, 12:47	#11
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	You can't really go wrong with Dell I think. Try to stay away from the cheaper brands as I've found they're a real ball ache if something goes wrong or even if you just need a driver. 17" laptops can be quite heavy (my old 15.4" laptop was a bloody brick) so can be uncomfortable to use on your lap after a while. A few months ago my parents bought an HP from Tesco for £400 or so - I'm really impressed with it, it feels well put together, has a nice keyboard and much to my surprise didn't come with loads of preloaded unwanted crap.

07-09-2010, 08:34	#14
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Lenovo (formally IBM) are a fantastic brand, probably the best quality laptops you can get. Well, that's true of the Corporate range of machines, I don't know what the lower end kit is like. Personally I'd save the £100 and buy the Dell.

07-09-2010, 08:44	#15
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Thinkpads used to be 'the' thing to have back in the day in the corporate world. Not so much now but that's because other brands have caught up. For a power user I'd rate that Lenovo as very good. For what you've stated it's needed for, overkill. I'd do what Burble suggested and save some money.

14-09-2010, 21:46	#18
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Personally I'd not a fan of Acer laptops, the build quality has left a lot to be desired in the ones that I've worked on.

14-09-2010, 22:12	#20
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Well Apple came up tops, but I've told him that she will HATE an Apple. Besides, the one in the review was £800. He's pretty much snubbed Dell because they got poor reviews on the customer service side. Unfortunately, once he's read his Which bible, there's not much I can do to persuade him otherwise. The only time he ignores it is when it comes to cars. He owns a Freelander! Ha! __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?