Which lap top to by?

[colyboy]

May be in the market for a new laptop ! Which one should I go for ? say upto £300

Colyboy

 

[TinaLes]

We had a similar dilema a few months back when our 2 year old one went its up.
We wanted to ensure as much as we could that the new one would be as future proof as sensibly possible, and would be as good if not better than the one it replaced. Having spoken to the computer fixers, as with most things in life they all have their preferences in terms of manufacturers.
Having delved into the specs for new models, Apple was rule out as they are twice the price as usual to other makes with the same specs. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but in the end we ended up with specking up our new PC with a decent amount of Ram, so 16GB, high processor speed via an Intel I5 chip, a decent NVidea HD video card, and one of the new generation solid state drives also (as these are deemed more reliable by those in the know)
So we ended up with a Dell laptop costing us twice as much as our original one, but with a two year warranty, and their on line ordering system allows you to choose your desired spec.
I have used a company for the office desk tops in the past, they also do laptops, they build to order offering every spec with high quality components, they are called Computer Specialists, which you can google.You literally build your own computer on line by choosing the spec you want, at a price you want to pay.
Comp Specialists are Highly recommended, but could not quite match the price of The Dell, but if I could have waited the two weeks for them to build one, then we maybe would have used them again, as they offer future upgrades for keeping it up to date.
Places like Curries PC World only discount models which are becoming obsolete and their after sales is shocking.
Hope that helps, good luck with you choice, but stay away from PC world would be best advice.
You may to increase your budget however, just as we did, but it all depends on what you expect it to do for you.

 

[The Nomad]

Form follows function.
It's a "how long is a piece of string" I'm afraid until you tell is what you'll be using it for.... as it's the uses of the tool which drive the spec and features in it that you'll need.

 

[colyboy]

Laptop use- emailing - photos- letters etc- not much downloading -

Colyboy

 

[Gellyneck]

You may want to consider a refurbished unit as you won't get a very high spec for your budget but as The Nomad says it depends on what you're going to use it for.
You might want to have a look at eg https://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/
You'll also want to think about the operating system you'll want, eg Windows \ Linux, etc and what software you'll be wanting to run.
Be aware Windows 7 will stop being supported by Microsoft early 2020.
Linux Mint is an excellent easy to use OS and is free to download.

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[tofo]

Laptop use- emailing - photos- letters etc- not much downloading -

Colyboy

thats about all i do and my i pad and phone
manage mind phone and pad are linked
and i only take photos with the phone
( other tablets are avaiable )
the MAC stands idle in the spare room
while i lounge using the tablet

so i would get a new tablet

 

[Podney]

I got an iPad. Reason: Er indoors told me to. Simples. Seems to do most things.

 

[daveandsan]

https://www.johnlewis.com/hp-laptop-intel-celeron-8gb-ram-1tb-15-6-/p3249219
@colboy a bit over your budget but not a bad spec for the price.
I have been looking because my laptop is on the way out, the price of some of the laptops is just stupid money when all you need is something basic.

 

[Guigsy]

Much as I hate Apple, iPads do most of the things you need, is more compact and is just 'pick up and play'.

I assume you are replacing an old laptop. Anything that was half decent 5 years ago that now feels slow can be pepped up by changing the spinning hard drive for an Solid State Drive. You can buy SSDs in kits for not too much cash, it's not that hard to do. For most tasks, an SSD will make even the slowest laptops perky.

 

[mitzimad]

unless you need to work on it or write huge amounts i would go for a android tablet of some sorti can do everything you need on a £100 phone but a tablet gives you a larger screen and you can use a wireless keyboard if needed

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[Tea Bag]

Hi.
My Lap top was bought for an old duffer,this was explained to a computer wizzard and he suggested to Jennifer (Who was buying it as a gift for me) that this ASUS A54C series/model was the one for me. I have not scratched the surface of what it can do,but it does for me.Had it a few years and don't know what it cost.
Tea Bag

 

[DanielFord]

Laptop use- emailing - photos- letters etc- not much downloading -

Colyboy

Your usage is not heavy, and, as others have suggested, a tablet may be more suitable for your needs. However, you may also consider a hybrid. Personally I use an Acer Switch when I am in the van. It gives me the ability to use it as a laptop when I need to work, and a tablet when I don't.

The model I have is no longer available, but it is similar to this:
Broken Link Removed

 

[Minxy]

Your usage is not heavy, and, as others have suggested, a tablet may be more suitable for your needs. However, you may also consider a hybrid. Personally I use an Acer Switch when I am in the van. It gives me the ability to use it as a laptop when I need to work, and a tablet when I don't.

The model I have is no longer available, but it is similar to this:
Broken Link Removed

Refurbished and new ones on offer at Tesco:

https://www.tesco.com/direct/techno...40692&icid=laptops_textlink_shopbyprice_slot1

 

[Minxy]

It really depends on what size screen you want as a starting point, if you want 11" or above you're looking at a laptop, if something smaller will do then either a tablet, a netbook/notebook or 'transformer' type.

If you're not sure what you want go along to PC World etc and have a play with what's on offer, what features you like, don't want etc, how they 'feel' to use - I like HP laptops and find them very good quality and reliable but also have a 10" Samsung N120 notebook for use in the camper, very nice and more than sufficient for my needs in that, I've had it for 4 and a half years now and it's still performing perfectly. Hubby likes his tablet for when away in the camper but at home has a full PC setup with very wiiiiiiddddddddeeeeeeeeee screen which I hate!

 

[ymfb]

If you want a laptop try www.novatech.co.uk, we have been buying from them for over ten years, but you can visit them if you are near Portsmouth.

I have an iPad for Home but for work need a laptop. If I was retired I would only have an iPad.

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[Chipster]

A solid state hard drive and as much ram as you can get within budget is what I would tend to lean toward. Laptop are portable so I don't expect same performance as a desktop. I have always come back to Dell as they always have performed well and have been very reliable in my experience.Although I know a lot of others will disagree.

 

[42208]

I would not be put off by pic world at this price and spec. Plenty of Lenovo lap tops in sale, 4gb ram and up to 1T of storage, will suit your needs very well, however, you will have to stretch to £350. Good luck whatever you chose.

 

[Wissel]

Anything with 4gb of ram or above should work quite well. How much hard drive you need will probably come down to how many photos you take (or storing video).

I'd say decide on what screen size is ideal for you, and how long a battery life you need, as starting points.

I use two laptops. A big, powerful Dell for working and a small convertible (to tablet) unit with a 10 hour battery for when I'm out and about.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not quite up to date on the latest offering but neary 2 years ago I bought a new laptop when our Samsung 10" Netbook finally died after nearly 7 years service.
We were originally looking in the £200-£300 price bracket but found too many limitations with what was on offer. Found you could get a reasonable spec Lenovo but the screen was rubbish, poor viewing angle & depth of colour, other machines you could get a good screen but poor spec.
In the end we bit the bullet and spent £400 on an HP Pavillon X360 2in1 and never regretted it. Decent processor, 4GB ram, 1TB hard Drive and a very good screen. It has 3 modes of use a standard laptop, A frame you can fold it into an "A" stand it on the table for watching videos or fold it compelely back on it's self and use it as a tablet. It has a nice hard glass touch screen with good viewing angles high resolution.
With a 13" screen it's big enough for every day use but small enough to cart around in the van.
After the fist few months the novelty of using it has a tablet wore off and now always gets used as a normal laptop but even in this mode I find the touchscreen invaluable.
Recently used it to replace my ageing desktop, I just plug mouse, keboard & my 24" monitor in, do miss the touch screen in that mode.

If you are looking for a laptop don't be tempted with a tablet, they are just glorified web browsers, the boss has a Crapad she uses it for browsing and likes it but still uses her desktop 90% of the time. Also if you have a windows network at home it's awkward to connect to and use files from it with a tablet. Although on my new NAS server unit I've set up a personal cloud which makes connecting a bit easier also I can connect from anywhere.

 

[two]

I find small screens difficult to use. Look at secondhand laptops for best value. Don't worry about HD size, that can be added later when you have the need and funds. You may need cash for software.

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[MitchandJenny]

I-Pad.
You will never regret it.
It comes with Siri and fingerprint security. Etc etc etc.
Mitch.

 

[Lenny HB]

I-Pad.
You will never regret it.
It comes with Siri and fingerprint security. Etc etc etc.
Mitch.

Can't agree they are only a glorified browser difficult to acess files on your network and work with Windows files over a network as I said wife has a crapad but still uses her desktop 90% of the time.

 

[icantremember]

Apples are for eating or cooking! imo

 

[Gromett]

If you just want to use it for Email and Browsing can I suggest you have a look at Chrome books.
They are fast at these tasks, constantly updated automatically so you don't have to worry about security.
No problems like you get on windows.

If you don't need it for major software like Adobe photoshop etc etc then they are fantastic little devices.
This is the one I am getting for my Mum for Christmas. She has a main desktop but I gave her an old tablet and an old netbook which she has in the front room to save her getting up to do emails and browsing etc. She prefers the netbook but windows keeps messing up on it. So I am getting her this for Christmas.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Chromebook-Rockchip-Processor-Touchscreen/dp/B0107N7WT6/?tag=mhf04-21

 

[Gromett]

PS: New chromebooks run android apps as well.

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[Gromett]

PPS: Please ensure it does everything you need it to do before you buy a chrome book. It doesn't run Windows or Mac OS/X so if you are used to those you might miss something?

 

[CWH]

If you just want to use it for Email and Browsing can I suggest you have a look at Chrome books.
They are fast at these tasks, constantly updated automatically so you don't have to worry about security.
No problems like you get on windows.

If you don't need it for major software like Adobe photoshop etc etc then they are fantastic little devices.
This is the one I am getting for my Mum for Christmas. She has a main desktop but I gave her an old tablet and an old netbook which she has in the front room to save her getting up to do emails and browsing etc. She prefers the netbook but windows keeps messing up on it. So I am getting her this for Christmas.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Chromebook-Rockchip-Processor-Touchscreen/dp/B0107N7WT6/?tag=mhf04-21

Grommett, I want email (& maybe Skype), browsing (especially Fun), banking, story writing, and photo storage; a little bit of record keeping via Excel; a little bit of work usually based on pro forma documents. Will it do for that please?

 

[Gromett]

Grommett, I want email (& maybe Skype), browsing (especially Fun), banking, story writing, and photo storage; a little bit of record keeping via Excel; a little bit of work usually based on pro forma documents. Will it do for that please?

I believe you can use skype as there is an android version of Skype.
Photo storage, you would probably use the google cloud?
email and browsing no problems.
Banking through your browser no problems.
Story writing, probably google docs.
https://www.google.com/docs/about/

It won't run excel. You would need to use Googles online office suite. But you can export this to excel I believe.
https://www.google.com/docs/about/

pro forma documents? No idea what you mean there sorry..

Anway, as Amazon is a mail order company you are covered under the Consumer Contracts Regulations ( which replaces the distance selling regulations) so you can return the chrome book for a full refund within 14 days of it arriving.
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-contracts-regulations
So you can give it a try and see if it is suitable. Just be careful to follow any requirements for the return.


PLEASE NOTE: I have never owned or tried a chrome book and they are not suitable for everyone. However if they are suitable they are a fantastic bargain.

ALSO: You do need to be online to use some of the functionality of them.
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/3214688?hl=en-GB

 

[CWH]

@Gromett Thank you, that's really helpful. I reckon I still have lots of thinking to do... But it's so useful to have insight & opinion from somebody who's not trying to sell me something. Really appreciated.

 

[Gromett]

Just did a bit of hunting around on the skype front.
It appears as though the Skype (android app) works on some chromebooks but not on others.
However Skype for Web appears to work for most people? This is not a guarantee but it does lookup promising.

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