Recommend a laptop please!

My laptop finally died on me last week so I'm looking for a low budget replacement. Worst possible timing...my son's birthday and Christmas just round the corner and I'm moving house in a fortnight so money's tight. I don't need anything fancy, it's used mainly for internet, online shopping and the odd letter/ kids project. I'm clueless with technology so I need your help! My last one was a large screen one and that'd be ideal but probably out of my budget so I'm flexible on that.

Comments

  • cbe21okcbe21ok Posts: 3,047
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    I have the cheapest Dell Inspiron, nothing fancy but i have had if for 3 years and not had 1 problem touch wood. I am not 100% but i think they are around £300 now.
  • plateletplatelet Posts: 26,361
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    It may be worth having a look in comet whilst they have their closing down sale on.

    I'd also have a play with a few netbooks. If you can live with the small screen they'd be fine for your use and you can pick one up for £200-300.

    Later when budget allows you can then look to put a monitor on it for say another £100-£150. That would give you the larger screen you're used to
  • barky99barky99 Posts: 3,921
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    what's the budget?
    cheap with big screen could be something like http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_G770_1265499.html need to check reviews for how good it is .... major reason for low price seems the processor
    then there's the open box or refurb option as well
  • bluesmurfbluesmurf Posts: 397
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    If your looking at 17 inch screen laptops, anything new or refurbished from somewhere like PC World will easily do what you want. You may not want to do this, but tell us the max/price range your ideally looking to spend. It will make it easier to make suggestions.
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    I don't have a budget! This has happened at the worst possible time. I'll have to buy on credit so as cheap as possible without being so crap it's false economy. I'd prefer a larger screen but accept that it's more sensible to buy a better laptop with a small screen than a big screen on a not so great laptop. Problem being I wouldn't know what's good and what's not, I don't understand tech jargon.

    Sorry I can't be more specific!
  • barky99barky99 Posts: 3,921
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    I don't have a budget! This has happened at the worst possible time. I'll have to buy on credit so as cheap as possible without being so crap it's false economy. I'd prefer a larger screen but accept that it's more sensible to buy a better laptop with a small screen than a big screen on a not so great laptop. Problem being I wouldn't know what's good and what's not, I don't understand tech jargon.

    Sorry I can't be more specific!
    have a peek at what's available in way of refurbs from http://www.tier1online.com/refurbished-laptops/ .... I'd only bother with open box & grade A really -- perhaps grade B if brave
  • alan1302alan1302 Posts: 6,336
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    Just pick up a cheap one on eBay
  • bluesmurfbluesmurf Posts: 397
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    I don't have a budget! This has happened at the worst possible time. I'll have to buy on credit so as cheap as possible without being so crap it's false economy. I'd prefer a larger screen but accept that it's more sensible to buy a better laptop with a small screen than a big screen on a not so great laptop. Problem being I wouldn't know what's good and what's not, I don't understand tech jargon.

    Sorry I can't be more specific!

    Ok, from new and refurbished ones this is what I have come up with. Most are below £300.

    Speed wise these are capable, but may feel slow in a couple of years and now doing certain tasks

    http://www.ebuyer.com/395098-hp-655-dual-core-laptop-b7b06es-abu
    http://www.ebuyer.com/392474-asus-x54c-laptop-x54c-sx524v
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-g6-1325ea-refurbished-15-6-laptop-red-12284708-pdt.html
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-g6-1394ea-refurbished-15-6-laptop-charcoal-grey-17291938-pdt.html
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-g6-1334sa-refurbished-15-6-laptop-red-13985255-pdt.html

    You should get a few years out of these easily

    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-monza-n1-refurbished-15-6-laptop-red-12284635-pdt.html
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/toshiba-satellite-l850-161-refurbished-15-6-laptop-white-13985305-pdt.html
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/asus-a54c-sx146s-refurbished-15-6-laptop-12284714-pdt.html
    http://www.ebuyer.com/398428-samsung-305v5a-laptop-np305v5a-a04dx
    http://www.ebuyer.com/398053-acer-aspire-v5-thin-and-light-nx-m2cek-003
    www.ebuyer.com/398047-lenovo-b570e-laptop-n2f28uk
    http://www.ebuyer.com/392900-toshiba-satellite-pro-c850-172-laptop-pskc9e-02300jen
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/advent-sienna-510-refurbished-15-6-laptop-07586198-pdt.html
  • J-JJ-J Posts: 1,629
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    I don't have a budget! This has happened at the worst possible time. I'll have to buy on credit so as cheap as possible without being so crap it's false economy. I'd prefer a larger screen but accept that it's more sensible to buy a better laptop with a small screen than a big screen on a not so great laptop. Problem being I wouldn't know what's good and what's not, I don't understand tech jargon.

    Sorry I can't be more specific!

    Go to Dell they have 6 months interest free if you spend over £600 so you can get a really decent big screen one and have it spread over 6 months without the stupid credit card interest rate
  • MartinPickeringMartinPickering Posts: 3,711
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    Can't you get your old one repaired?
  • max99max99 Posts: 9,002
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    What do you mean by 'large screen'? Are you confusing laptops with netbooks?

    A regular laptop will have a 15" screen. A larger screen laptop will be 17".

    A netbook is a smaller version of a laptop, typically with a 7" - 11" screen.

    And as above, what's actually wrong with your current laptop? People often think there's a terminal problem, but it might be simple to fix or just need a factory restore.
  • evil cevil c Posts: 7,833
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    Congratulations to bluesmurf for a really helpful post. You have gone to a lot of trouble to help the OP. I've been through your recommendations to see if any have been assessed by Which?, but only one has and that is the Acer V5, launched in August this year, and just tested. They gave it a score of 65% which is reasonably good, although just outside the lowest scoring Best Buy of 67%. The price bluesmurf has found is considerably lower than Which's price, making it a better deal. As the OP is unsure what to buy, I would say that you should seriously consider this laptop as it sounds just right for you. Here's what they say:

    The V5 holds its own among laptops that have similar processors. It's fine for general day-to-day stuff - web browsing, office tasks and watching video.

    It's not particularly great at anything, but it's a decent workhorse and it isn't expensive. The battery is a bit feeble by modern standards. The keys feel precise and only require a light touch.

    On your lap it's fairly stable to work on, but all of the main ports are rather crammed in along the left side of the laptop - you might struggle to get three things connected simultaneously via USB if they're bulky.

    Sound from the speakers is tinny, and even with headphones the sound lacks depth and richness. It has two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port. None of them are powered, so although you can charge a phone or MP3 player from the ports when the laptop is on, you can't when it's switched off. There's also an SD card slot on the front.

    It has gigabit ethernet and high-speed wi-fi, so you can transfer large files over either wired or wireless networks at good speeds.

    It's decent for the price and not too weighty at 2.23kg. It's not as portable as an ultrabook, but you'll be able to move it around the house easily enough.
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    Thanks very much everyone, you've been a great help! Smurf and evil, thank you for going an extra step and researching for me, exactly what I needed, someone who understands the jargon to check out what's on offer. Much appreciated!

    By large laptop aye, I meant 17" but that's a luxury not an essential. My laptop is completely dead, no sign of life. I gave it to a friend who's husband is a super duper techy man, he does it for a living and he couldn't get it going.

    I'll go and have a look at the links.
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    Fab. The V5 looks as though it'll suit my needs and I found it at £265.99 with free delivery. Sorted. Thanks again for all your help!
  • Aarghawasp!Aarghawasp! Posts: 6,205
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    Posting via my new laptop. Very happy with it so far! Thanks again.:)
  • RobinOfLoxleyRobinOfLoxley Posts: 27,040
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    Now make your Recovery Discs/System Image!!!

    :cry:
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    Fab. The V5 looks as though it'll suit my needs and I found it at £265.99 with free delivery. Sorted. Thanks again for all your help!

    Is it this one, but bought from a different place?

    Nearest, I've got so far to the price is,

    http://www.ebuyer.com/398053-acer-aspire-v5-thin-and-light-nx-m2cek-003
  • jrajra Posts: 48,325
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    Now make your Recovery Discs/System Image!!!

    :cry:

    It's a shame that many PCs don't come with an installation disk these days, but just a recovery disk/partition, because if your recovery partition gets corrupted, you could be screwed if you need to re-install. Luckily, I found a installation disk image for my version of W7, which works with my serial number, even though it wasn't supplied originally with my PC.
  • RobinOfLoxleyRobinOfLoxley Posts: 27,040
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    It is expected you make your own backup copy of the RP on a set of DVDs (usually 3)

    Procedure varies depending on Manufacturer.

    Also you can Start/Search 'Backup and Restore' and make an Image in W7 to HDD or a set of DVDs

    Also allows creation of a System Repair boot Disc (CD or DVD).

    The Repair CD/DVD is handy if F8 options don't work on a non-booting computer.








    .
  • alias aliasalias alias Posts: 8,824
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    Going to say it anyway... unplug, remove the battery and hold the power button down for 1 min, repeat.

    I've had to do it once on my dell and also on an acer and both looked dead.
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