Laptop Recommendation - £300-500

Desmo · 01-01-2011, 19:39

Mother dear is after her first laptop. She's only going to be using it for email, internet and maybe word/excel, etc so doesn't need anything too kick arse.

Any deals or offers on at the moment I should be looking at?

leowyatt · 01-01-2011, 20:08

A friend of ours recently bought one of these for their son. I set it up just before Christmas and it seemed quite good. Well built, decent specifications.

Dymetrie · 01-01-2011, 20:21

TO be honest, I'd look at the 15" inspirons.

Brother just bought the top end one for his lass and it's lovely

Desmo · 01-01-2011, 21:41

Yep, was checking out the Dell site earlier on. Got an older Inspiron myself so know they'll last. Might check out comet for the HP and Compaqs as well.

Matblack · 01-01-2011, 21:52

http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthr...highlight=dell

I stick by this, Dell are ideal if you are specing for someone else and you are not charging for support. I've always pointed the Olds in the direction of Dell because I don't want to have to sort things out when they go wrong, I'd rather they had a decent company to call

MB

Jingo · 02-01-2011, 14:42

Dell inspiron 15

LeperousDust · 04-01-2011, 03:42

If its not too late, i got a Dell Studio XPS 13 for £550

13" P8600 (core duo, no "i" but i'm not that fussy now days) , 4Gb, 9500M, Bluetooth, Wireless N, Slot Loading, Backlit Keyboard, HDMI Displayport, VGA, Powered SATA, Pretty Standard HD screen, Decent Webcam, IR port, Card reader dual headphone output and 1 mic input (or 5.1 i think as well) , firewire expressport tec... Half leather top cover, 3 year (i believe the real deal on site or at least a year) warranty.

I feel like it was a superb bargain deal. Dell outlet via an ebay seller, if you trust that stuff, although mine went missing in the post and they had a rep from dell build a new exact model up and send it to me (super impressed by this although it did take a lot longer!). The laptop feels so superbly built i can't big it up much more. Quite simply it IS the cheap rival to a £1k+ macbook pro i think... All i need to do is add my sony erricson 3g/gps card to the spare slot i'm assuming this baby has (and it already has the built in aerials afaik) and i get GPS and mobile internet

Its taken a year but i finally have a laptop i'm HAPPY with! No more ****ty temporary netbooks tiding me over or old hand me down/thrown out laptops i've spruced up to make do. This was kinda my xmas pressie to me

Desmo · 04-01-2011, 08:17

It it too late

Ordered an Inspiron yesterday

Besides, that spec would be way over her needs and also over the top end of her budget. She was much happier spending £350

LeperousDust · 04-01-2011, 17:19

Yeah no worries, i understand just thought i'd pass on what i thought was a superb deal for anyone else as well. First time in ages i've been happy with my laptop (since the m1210 - when it actually worked...

).

Kitten · 04-01-2011, 18:06

I've had the Compaq for over a year now & never had a problem with it so I don't know what their support is like. Love it though, for the price I Dont think it can be beaten. Hope she enjoys it J.

01-01-2011, 19:39	#1
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Laptop Recommendation - £300-500 Mother dear is after her first laptop. She's only going to be using it for email, internet and maybe word/excel, etc so doesn't need anything too kick arse. Any deals or offers on at the moment I should be looking at? __________________

01-01-2011, 20:08	#2
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	A friend of ours recently bought one of these for their son. I set it up just before Christmas and it seemed quite good. Well built, decent specifications. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

01-01-2011, 20:21	#3
Dymetrie A large glass of Merlot Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Letchworth with a Lightsaber Posts: 5,819	TO be honest, I'd look at the 15" inspirons. Brother just bought the top end one for his lass and it's lovely __________________ Khef, Ka and Ka-Tet....

01-01-2011, 21:41	#4
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	Yep, was checking out the Dell site earlier on. Got an older Inspiron myself so know they'll last. Might check out comet for the HP and Compaqs as well. __________________

01-01-2011, 21:52	#5
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthr...highlight=dell I stick by this, Dell are ideal if you are specing for someone else and you are not charging for support. I've always pointed the Olds in the direction of Dell because I don't want to have to sort things out when they go wrong, I'd rather they had a decent company to call 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"

02-01-2011, 14:42	#6
Jingo Smother me in chocolate and eat flapjacks with it! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: North Somerset Posts: 1,854	Dell inspiron 15 __________________

04-01-2011, 03:42	#7
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	If its not too late, i got a Dell Studio XPS 13 for £550 13" P8600 (core duo, no "i" but i'm not that fussy now days) , 4Gb, 9500M, Bluetooth, Wireless N, Slot Loading, Backlit Keyboard, HDMI Displayport, VGA, Powered SATA, Pretty Standard HD screen, Decent Webcam, IR port, Card reader dual headphone output and 1 mic input (or 5.1 i think as well) , firewire expressport tec... Half leather top cover, 3 year (i believe the real deal on site or at least a year) warranty. I feel like it was a superb bargain deal. Dell outlet via an ebay seller, if you trust that stuff, although mine went missing in the post and they had a rep from dell build a new exact model up and send it to me (super impressed by this although it did take a lot longer!). The laptop feels so superbly built i can't big it up much more. Quite simply it IS the cheap rival to a £1k+ macbook pro i think... All i need to do is add my sony erricson 3g/gps card to the spare slot i'm assuming this baby has (and it already has the built in aerials afaik) and i get GPS and mobile internet Its taken a year but i finally have a laptop i'm HAPPY with! No more ****ty temporary netbooks tiding me over or old hand me down/thrown out laptops i've spruced up to make do. This was kinda my xmas pressie to me __________________

04-01-2011, 08:17	#8
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	It it too late Ordered an Inspiron yesterday Besides, that spec would be way over her needs and also over the top end of her budget. She was much happier spending £350 __________________

04-01-2011, 17:19	#9
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	Yeah no worries, i understand just thought i'd pass on what i thought was a superb deal for anyone else as well. First time in ages i've been happy with my laptop (since the m1210 - when it actually worked... ). __________________

04-01-2011, 18:06	#10
Kitten Spinky-Spank Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: 668. The Neighbour of the Beast Posts: 11,226	I've had the Compaq for over a year now & never had a problem with it so I don't know what their support is like. Love it though, for the price I Dont think it can be beaten. Hope she enjoys it J. __________________ "You only get one life. There's no God, no rules, except for those you accept or create for yourself. Then once it's over... it's over. Dreamless sleep for ever and ever. So why not be happy while you're here?" Nate Fisher