Looking for a laptop

Desmo · 21-06-2007, 09:46

I was always going to ditch my desktop once our house was done and grab a laptop instead but it's becoming something we'd like to get sooner rather than later. At the moment I'm using the TV as a computer display so in the evenings we can't have the TV on at the same time as I'm on the net. If we have the TV on and Sinead is on her laptop, I can't now get access to the net so it's becoming a bit of a pain.

So, I'm looking to spend around £500-700. I'm only really using it for net and maybe a few other bits 'n' pieces. Nothing too strenuous going on though. But I still want a pretty quick machine. Mind you, my current desktop is only a 1.4Ghz Athlon so anything I get should be quicker

Here is what I need:
£500-700
15" screen minimum
DVD writer
Wireless
Bluetooth
80GB HD - at least
1GB RAM - at least
Battery Life - Reasonable
Weight/Size - Not an issue

I specced up a machine on Dell last night and it was quite good spec but wondered if you guys know of anything else.

Daz · 21-06-2007, 10:01

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34458...tebook-with-fr

You need to add the Bluetooth on yourself, comes to £500. Basic net machine wont need more than 1GB RAM, any more and you quite a premium for it with laptop memory. You might want to consider a better screen with a higher resolution but I didnt look how cheap (or not) it was and it's personal preference anyway really.

Some other just for the crack

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34454...tebook-tl56-2g
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34451...tebooktl50-cpu
http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34448...tebook-dualcor

I'd get the first one myself as it's a Core2.

Desmo · 21-06-2007, 10:23

Was looking at those last night

Upgraded the screen and added bluetooth. Price is now £533.
Not bad at all

CliffyG · 21-06-2007, 10:30

I have a 6400 at home and am very happy with it, can't compete with those prices either. If you can stretch to it i'd suggest upgrading the screen as it makes a huge difference, adding an ATI graphics card may be an idea too if you think you'll ever want to do any gaming on it.

Daz · 21-06-2007, 10:37

1440x900 is a nice resolution, well worth £30. My D820 runs at 1680x1050 which is ideal for me but probably too small for most. You can get that same screen (15.4") @ 1900x1200, which is so god damn tiny :| How anybody could work with it I dont know.

Desmo · 21-06-2007, 10:41

I used to dabble with a couple of games on the PC, but now I've got the 360, I doubt I'll ever bother.

The screen upgrade isn't a problem and it's fitting in the lower end of the budget which is a good thing

Daz · 21-06-2007, 10:46

£533 is damn good for that, I doubt you'll beat it. Only other thing I would have suggested is a 7200rpm hard drive, but they dont offer it, and you could always get one in future if it bugged you - that and memory are the only real things you can upgrade on a laptop anyway.

Free printer as well, which at worst is ebay fodder.

Desmo · 21-06-2007, 10:53

All looks good to me, especially for what I need it for. I think it's a go'er

Matblack · 21-06-2007, 11:10

I'm tempted to do something like this. Maybe buy a docking station as well and use the laptop as a media centre, adding network storage for to get the space for movies etc. Then whenI need it upstairs I can just lift it out of the docking station

MB

Daz · 21-06-2007, 11:14

I'm actually pondering that for my (eventual) new setup in the new house. Have a docking station on top of the kit rack so you could web browse/work/whatever in the living room.

Mind you, I dont it's worth the money of a dock, I'm only considering it because I could probably blag a free one from Dell.

21-06-2007, 09:46	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Looking for a laptop I was always going to ditch my desktop once our house was done and grab a laptop instead but it's becoming something we'd like to get sooner rather than later. At the moment I'm using the TV as a computer display so in the evenings we can't have the TV on at the same time as I'm on the net. If we have the TV on and Sinead is on her laptop, I can't now get access to the net so it's becoming a bit of a pain. So, I'm looking to spend around £500-700. I'm only really using it for net and maybe a few other bits 'n' pieces. Nothing too strenuous going on though. But I still want a pretty quick machine. Mind you, my current desktop is only a 1.4Ghz Athlon so anything I get should be quicker Here is what I need: £500-700 15" screen minimum DVD writer Wireless Bluetooth 80GB HD - at least 1GB RAM - at least Battery Life - Reasonable Weight/Size - Not an issue I specced up a machine on Dell last night and it was quite good spec but wondered if you guys know of anything else. __________________

21-06-2007, 10:01	#2
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34458...tebook-with-fr You need to add the Bluetooth on yourself, comes to £500. Basic net machine wont need more than 1GB RAM, any more and you quite a premium for it with laptop memory. You might want to consider a better screen with a higher resolution but I didnt look how cheap (or not) it was and it's personal preference anyway really. Some other just for the crack http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34454...tebook-tl56-2g http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34451...tebooktl50-cpu http://www.hotukdeals.com/deal/34448...tebook-dualcor I'd get the first one myself as it's a Core2. __________________ apt-get moo

21-06-2007, 10:23	#3
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Was looking at those last night Upgraded the screen and added bluetooth. Price is now £533. Not bad at all __________________

21-06-2007, 10:30	#4
CliffyG Vodka Martini Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lower Cambourne Posts: 576	I have a 6400 at home and am very happy with it, can't compete with those prices either. If you can stretch to it i'd suggest upgrading the screen as it makes a huge difference, adding an ATI graphics card may be an idea too if you think you'll ever want to do any gaming on it. __________________

21-06-2007, 10:37	#5
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	1440x900 is a nice resolution, well worth £30. My D820 runs at 1680x1050 which is ideal for me but probably too small for most. You can get that same screen (15.4") @ 1900x1200, which is so god damn tiny :\| How anybody could work with it I dont know. __________________ apt-get moo

21-06-2007, 10:41	#6
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	I used to dabble with a couple of games on the PC, but now I've got the 360, I doubt I'll ever bother. The screen upgrade isn't a problem and it's fitting in the lower end of the budget which is a good thing __________________

21-06-2007, 10:46	#7
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	£533 is damn good for that, I doubt you'll beat it. Only other thing I would have suggested is a 7200rpm hard drive, but they dont offer it, and you could always get one in future if it bugged you - that and memory are the only real things you can upgrade on a laptop anyway. Free printer as well, which at worst is ebay fodder. __________________ apt-get moo

21-06-2007, 10:53	#8
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	All looks good to me, especially for what I need it for. I think it's a go'er __________________

21-06-2007, 11:10	#9
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I'm tempted to do something like this. Maybe buy a docking station as well and use the laptop as a media centre, adding network storage for to get the space for movies etc. Then whenI need it upstairs I can just lift it out of the docking station MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

21-06-2007, 11:14	#10
Daz The Stig Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Swad! Posts: 10,713	I'm actually pondering that for my (eventual) new setup in the new house. Have a docking station on top of the kit rack so you could web browse/work/whatever in the living room. Mind you, I dont it's worth the money of a dock, I'm only considering it because I could probably blag a free one from Dell. __________________ apt-get moo

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