(O/T) HELP PLEASE - buying a laptop and I know NOTHING!!!

Topics

MoFo

Helloooo, right so I need to buy a laptop for my lad....for school mostly but obviously there'll be game playing and downloading done on it too.
REALLY tight budget though so I'm looking at second hand/reconditioned bollocks. Looking to spend under £200 - or is that laughable?
I know nothing about kilo-mega-watt-byte-ram stuff so please if anyone can tell me whats the impressive stuff and whats less important.
Also whats the difference between a laptop, a notebook, a think pad....and pretty much everything else I need to know I would be SOOOOO grateful.
Cheers xx

Also if you could tell me reeeaaallly slowly like you are talking to an idiot I'll have more chance of understanding, thanks.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

jacksonbMember

to be technical about it, big numbers are good.

8/4/092:36 AM

MoFoMember

quote:
Originally posted by JacksonB:
to be technical about it, big numbers are good.

*licks pencil and writes down carefully*

8/4/092:38 AM

The Devil In DiamanteMember

I don't know much about them myself, though I do know that Notebooks don't have the memory of a laptop, and you'll find they don't have a disc drive (or at least most of them don't)....

I'd definately go for a Laptop,, and I'm sure the lovely peeps on here will be able to help you out!

8/4/092:38 AM

MoFoMember

quote:
Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
they don't have a disc drive

er...nope, I'm lost already

8/4/092:39 AM

The Devil In DiamanteMember

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
quote:
Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
they don't have a disc drive
er...nope, I'm lost already

My OH has a notebook and he can't insert a disc into it to play music or films etc....laptops do!!!!

I also find the notebooks rather fiddly, epescially for blokes as they have bigger fingers!!!

8/4/092:46 AM

Starfleet Admiral hoochieMember 10 years

If you want to play games - you want a laptop.

Also if it's running Vista you'll really want minimum 2GB RAM (big is good

) XP doesn't need as much memory but they're not that easy to find

I think you'll have to pay a bit more than £200 but you should be able to get one for less than £300

8/4/092:46 AM

The Devil In DiamanteMember

Have a good look around, Tesco usually do some good deals, don't discount the Supermarkets in favour of PC World etc....

8/4/092:49 AM

DemantoidMember

Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

8/4/092:52 AM

MoFoMember

quote:
Originally posted by The Devil In Diamante:
Have a good look around, Tesco usually do some good deals, don't discount the Supermarkets in favour of PC World etc....

HaHaAH I was thinking more of ebay or pawn-shops!!!

Anyway my list so far....

A laptop
At least 2gb ram

8/4/092:52 AM

MoFoMember

quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

I have a Vaio....I love it!

8/4/092:53 AM

DanceSetteeMember

Don't get one from PC world.....had nothing but trouble when I did and the customer service is appalling.

8/4/092:54 AM

MentalistMember

quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

I have a Mac and I love it. MoFo definitely shop around, there are some good deals to be had at the moment on PCs

8/4/092:55 AM

BBTENNERMember

You need to spend at least £350. If you only have £200 you will be looking at the second-hand market which is not advisable, unless you can buy it with a warranty.

You will also need to get anti-virus/security software which will agian cost £40 - £50 a year. There are freebies such as AVG.

I would suggest you approach PC world and see if they have any refurbished laptops. Their cheapest is £250 for a new one but there is only 1gB of RAM but PCWorld may be able to up the RAM for a small fee.

Alternatively get a friend who knows about computers and see if you can buy one on E-bay.

Best of luck

8/4/092:55 AM

jacksonbMember

ebay is prob the best bet.

take down the details and then show them to some one who knows stuff.

big ram, big hard drive, big speed.

8/4/092:56 AM

The Devil In DiamanteMember

I got one from Asda & banged it and shattered the whole screen, I thought I'd take a chance and told them it was like that when I opened the lid one day,...they refunded me straight away, no questions asked!!! so, off I went to Tesco and bought a replacement (Asda didn't have any in)!!!

I know people who've got them from places like PC World and the also say the customer service is crap!!!

8/4/092:58 AM

DemantoidMember

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.
I have a Vaio....I love it!

Each to their own... I hate the bliddy thing, to the extent that I've used it less than half a dozen times since I bought it at the start of the year.

Want a nice little MacBook, like my MiL's

8/4/092:59 AM

Former Member

quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

I have a small limited edition Vaio with Vista.........despite being totally cack on any comp I've owned, this is the easiest & loveliest laptop I've ever used

8/4/093:00 AM

SazBombMember

quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

I was gonna say that too

They break waaay to easily too, and Sony customer services is utter shite

Mo, you mentioned Think Pad in your OP - thats just an IBM laptop, they're good and sturdy too , which is something to think about if its for your lad

8/4/093:01 AM

DemantoidMember

quote:
Originally posted by evviva!:
quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Whatever you do, don't buy a Sony Vaio.
They're awful - way too many fiddly functions. I'm about to trade mine in for a Mac.

I have a small limited edition Vaio with Vista.........despite being totally cack on any comp I've owned, this is the easiest & loveliest laptop I've ever used

God, Windows Vista is another annoyer

I'll never learn to love it.

8/4/093:02 AM

Former Member

Not a laptop but ... if you have a valid copy of Windows already and someone to help install it and set it up then this is pretty damned good:

Ebuyer value PC

£220 inc VAT with free delivery.

Intel E5300 Dual Core Processor 2.6Ghz, 500Gb SATA hard drive, 4Gb memory, DVD writer, onboard graphics and LAN, keyboard and mouse.

But it DOES need setting up by someone who knows about installing drivers and stuff.

8/4/093:02 AM

SazBombMember

quote:
Originally posted by Demantoid:
Want a nice little MacBook, like my MiL's

I have a Macbook, I heart it

8/4/093:02 AM

SaintMember 10 years

I was told you must have at least 1gb of RAM to successfully surf the net - do not go lower

Note the 'T' rating that you'll see with the technical stuff written about the lappy you choose.
Go for the highest - mine is T7500 which is huge (apparently)

But more so get a good Service Provider if your gonna let him web surf at home.
I'm through AOL - do not choose them!!! i share my stream for sure and get almost nothing during peak times

8/4/093:06 AM

SaintMember 10 years

i gotta VAIO and it gets feriously hot

Should i get it looked at?

8/4/093:10 AM

MoFoMember

quote:
Originally posted by Daniel J*:
Not a laptop but ... if you have a valid copy of Windows already and someone to help install it and set it up then this is pretty damned good:

Ebuyer value PC

£220 inc VAT with free delivery.

Intel E5300 Dual Core Processor 2.6Ghz, 500Gb SATA hard drive, 4Gb memory, DVD writer, onboard graphics and LAN, keyboard and mouse.

But it DOES need setting up by someone who knows about installing drivers and stuff.

No it needs to be a laptop...I also want it to have windows and office and all that already installed.

8/4/093:11 AM

MoFoMember

Right I'm having a look on ebay now....if anyone fancies popping back and giving me an opinion on any laptops I link here I'd appreciate it ta. xx

8/4/093:12 AM

squiggleMember 10 years

Do check out the Dell site as well. They build very good computers and some of their laptops start very reasonably. I bought mine from them and am very pleased with it. Got it at £10 a month with their payment plan.

8/4/093:12 AM

MoFoMember

Ooooh what about this....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-Thin..._trksid=p3286.c0.m14

mind you it says nothing about office???

8/4/093:13 AM

SazBombMember

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Right I'm having a look on ebay now....if anyone fancies popping back and giving me an opinion on any laptops I link here I'd appreciate it ta. xx

I'll hang around

8/4/093:14 AM

SazBombMember

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Ooooh what about this....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-Thin..._trksid=p3286.c0.m14

mind you it says nothing about office???

Hard drive looks too small, and not enough RAM - I'd guess if they dont mention Office then its not there

8/4/093:15 AM

GMAMember

quote:
Originally posted by squiggle:
Do check out the Dell site as well. They build very good computers and some of their laptops start very reasonably. I bought mine from them and am very pleased with it. Got it at £10 a month with their payment plan.

My son has been a technician with PC world (he was the youngest technician they ever employed P/T) and now travels the world (with his present company) setting up computers for companies and mine/he's also a programmer and he always insists on 'Dell' if people ask him what they should buy, but he too talks of deals in Tesco - although he has 9 laptops of various types and love his apple' thingy but they're expensive.

Guess I'm lucky I have him in that respect otherwise I'd be right up the Creek myself.

8/4/093:19 AM

squiggleMember 10 years

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Ooooh what about this....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBM-Thin..._trksid=p3286.c0.m14

mind you it says nothing about office???

I checked the link, it looks good, his feedback is good. They do say they will load Open Office. Before the listing ends might be a good idea to check out this particular laptop on Amazon, see what people think of it. Good luck.

8/4/093:19 AM

SaintMember 10 years

I was told DELL customer service was rotten

8/4/093:20 AM

squiggleMember 10 years

quote:
Originally posted by RENTON:
I was told DELL customer service was rotten

Couldn't possibly comment since I've had mine for a year and nothing has gone wrong

8/4/093:22 AM

MoFoMember

Right people tell me clearly....cos I am totally overwhelmed here looking at ebay.

How much hard-drive is good
how much ram is good
how much mega things is good
how much kilo wotsits is good
how many bytes is good
how many watts is good.

Which are most important. He is only 12 so I'm not arsed about top of the range. First and formost its to help with his school work cos of his dyspraxia....but if I'm buying one it might as well be decent for gaming and downloading too.

I can feel a migraine coming on....I dont even get migraines!!!

*collapses in confused techno****wit heap on floor*

8/4/093:23 AM

Starfleet Admiral hoochieMember 10 years

quote:
Originally posted by RENTON:
I was told DELL customer service was rotten

My son has a Dell PC and we've found their customer service to be outstanding - I'd definitely buy another from them

8/4/093:23 AM

SazBombMember

Mo, I think you will struggle to get something for the £200 mark - they just dont seem to have enough RAM or big enough Hard drives...

These ones look ok though, for a little extra:

http://www.thelaptopcentre.com...ptops/Dell_D600.html

http://www.thelaptopcentre.com...-laptops/ibmt42.html

8/4/093:25 AM

squiggleMember 10 years

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Right people tell me clearly....cos I am totally overwhelmed here looking at ebay.

How much hard-drive is good
how much ram is good
how much mega things is good
how much kilo wotsits is good
how many bytes is good
how many watts is good.

Which are most important. He is only 12 so I'm not arsed about top of the range. First and formost its to help with his school work cos of his dyspraxia....but if I'm buying one it might as well be decent for gaming and downloading too.

I can feel a migraine coming on....I dont even get migraines!!!

*collapses in confused techno****wit heap on floor*

Just my opinion but the specification on the Toshiba laptop from eBay that you checked out looks good to me. Use this as your starting point and, as I said earlier, check out the Dell site with this specification in mind. I bow to other's superior knowledge but personally I don't think you would go wrong with that setup.

8/4/093:29 AM

Mount Olympus *Olly*Member 10 years

Mo.. if you want one that can be used for gaming too that will add a huge amount to the cost.. sorry

and ello you

8/4/093:31 AM

SazBombMember

quote:
Originally posted by MoFo:
Right people tell me clearly....cos I am totally overwhelmed here looking at ebay.

How much hard-drive is good
how much ram is good
how much mega things is good
how much kilo wotsits is good
how many bytes is good
how many watts is good.

Which are most important. He is only 12 so I'm not arsed about top of the range. First and formost its to help with his school work cos of his dyspraxia....but if I'm buying one it might as well be decent for gaming and downloading too.

I can feel a migraine coming on....I dont even get migraines!!!

*collapses in confused techno****wit heap on floor*

ok, just concentrate on RAM and hard drive - the bigger the better basically :fnar:

More RAM will make it faster, so thats important for gaming etc...

You can get new ones for about £300 - £350 which would be more powerful than a reconditioned one, or is that too much?

8/4/093:31 AM

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