Calling all laptop users.....

[TEB]

I don't watch a lot of telly, but recently I caught an advert for the new Apple iPad. It looks like an iPhone but the size of a Laptop - I WANT ONE!!!

I would read the reviews first as there is a huge list of issues, the main one in my mind is that it cannot multi task, i.e. browse the web and have another program open at the same time, also apparently you cannot connect much to it as it hasnt got any USB ports etc, and finally it doesn't support flash - in other words its an expensive gadgets designed to lure in the gullible who must have the lastest gizmo's, shame really as it could have been so much more.

[muckdiva]

Hi Headfry

I used to be a Mac diehard (I work in publishing), but when you buy one you need to be aware that there's very little bundled software so the costs can mount up very quickly indeed depending on what you want to do. However, they are a joy to use...(mostly!)

However, I have had two Acer laptops over the last 3 or 4 years and they are both very good and so far have been trouble free. I'd recommend one.

Hope this helps!

[Headfry]

goodness, this is going to be fun! Still have a little more saving to do....I need time to learn and look around. Your replies have given me lots to think about - thank you

[Glutton4...]

I would read the reviews first as there is a huge list of issues, the main one in my mind is that it cannot multi task, i.e. browse the web and have another program open at the same time, also apparently you cannot connect much to it as it hasnt got any USB ports etc, and finally it doesn't support flash - in other words its an expensive gadgets designed to lure in the gullible who must have the lastest gizmo's, shame really as it could have been so much more.

That sums me up TEB; gullible gizmo lover! Thanks for talking me out of it too!

I'm easily swayed LOL! (Not to mention, skint!)

[TEB]

That sums me up TEB; gullible gizmo lover! Thanks for talking me out of it too!

I'm easily swayed LOL! (Not to mention, skint!)

Yeah sorry it was a bit of a soapbox rant

[Lazgaot]

Headfry, you haven't mentioned (or I haven't seen) a budget for your laptop. MacBooks will almost always be more than Windows based machines, but as Zazzen says, they just work very, very well! Apple have a site for Windows -> Mac switchers and lots of video tutorials. Expect to pay upwards of £700 for the Macbook and £850+ for a Macbook Pro. They also hold their value terribly well, so bargains are quite hard to find. You may be eligible to discounts if you are Higher Education.

On the Windows side, it may seem like a minefied as there are so many makes and models to choose from, and also build quality and Windows versions.
My top tips would be to ensure you got at least:
Windows 7 Home Premium
13-15" screen
3GB RAM
250GB hard disc
Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2Ghz+
Web cam, Wifi,
3 USB ports
DVD-RW drive

[grannymem]

I think someone else recommended Acer - I'd second that and am delighted with my Acer Aspire 5738Z. It came out well in reviews, cost about £380 and seems to do everything.
Dead easy to get up and running and the in built web cam works very well.

[Glutton4...]

Yeah sorry it was a bit of a soapbox rant

No probs! We can't all go out and try all the products available. It's invaluable to have an opinion from someone who has either seen or worked with them. I'm guilty of being sucked in by gizmos. Luckily (I guess!) I don't have the dosh to just jump in and make an expensive mistake.

I hope you get what you're after HF. My BIL sold me a cheap 3rd Hand Lappy, and it's been great for getting used to one after having only used a desktop Poota.

[TEB]

If you are after refurbished or return computers then you might want to have a look at the "Dell Outlet" site, these typically are computers that have been returned to Dell for a variety of reasons, Dell then refurbishes/retests them and sells them on cheap, I have had a few from them and yet to have problems

[TEB]

I think someone else recommended Acer - I'd second that and am delighted with my Acer Aspire 5738Z. It came out well in reviews, cost about £380 and seems to do everything.
Dead easy to get up and running and the in built web cam works very well.

Trouble is for every happy experience there is someone thats had a nightmare. My Acer tablet has gone back twice, my MD's has gone back twice, my FD has gone back once and the OH has gone back once and has since died again.
This is why I recommend the extended warranty from the manufacturers because out of warranty repairs are so expensive.

[Two_Sheds]

I have an Acer - it's 7 years old and has never had a problem*. It does all sorts:

- I play DVDs on it
- I can rip my CDs to it, and have all my music on the computer
- I listen to radio on it, and watch TV progs too
- all my photos are on it (I put photos on it from my camera & my phone)
- Facebook
- and of course email & Grapevine, at the same time as playing Scrabble!


* except when the parrot ripped off several keys & broke them. Keyboard was replaced free under warranty

[its hilly]

I've got a secondhand Acer..and its ok, works well considering it was from a company so will have been hammered.
Paul (my local guru) told me Vaio were better if I could have afforded one..but he uses Macs. Says they are more expensive, but indestructable, thats why they hold their value so well. Also their programmes are written in a more straightforward way so aren't as memory hungry, you can get lots more on the same amount of space? if you understand that (cos I only do vaugely) I only know that money permitting I would have had the Mac, and will when I can afford one. My Acer cost £200 2nd hand, a 2nd hand Mac would have been £600. Dont go to PC world. My friend works for them and says they are often expensive for what you REALLY get and the service they give is not great. Pay for the best motherboard you can get, and upgrade as and when you can afford it, rather than go for a 'little of everything at lower quality' approach.
Have fun
PS lappys are certainly useful, but I swear by my desktop! It was built for me, especially to deal with graphics, I've got 17 folders of photos so far, each holding more than 1000, and its still rocketship fast, the lappy drives me nuts cos its slow, and its still faster than my mates!

[JoeyG]

Headfry, I'm also in the market for a new laptop

I've always been anti-mac, just couldn't get on with them... but this time the mac fans have finally ground my down and I think I'm gonna get one... what swayed me this time was that you can actually run windows on them now, not an emulator but the actual full operating system.

Sure if you're on a tight budget then a Dell or Acer is probably the way to go, but if you can stretch a bit further I'd say Apple pretty much have the market sewn up... the build quality and battery life seem to be way ahead of the competition, and unlike most laptops they seem hold their resale value extremely well.

[zazen999]

I've always been anti-mac, just couldn't get on with them... but this time the mac fans have finally ground my down and I think I'm gonna get one... what swayed me this time was that you can actually run windows on them now, not an emulator but the actual full operating system.

Gwan Gwan Gwan - you know you want to

[selfraising]

I'm a Dell fan myself. Both my daughters have one and our main PC in the house is one. I have found Dell to be very reliable and as I was going to be paying out a fair bit, I wanted to know it was going to last. When I was looking on the Dell website, I picked one I liked the look of and then googled it, asking for reviews. The thing I also like about Dell is that you can customise your computer online so I could increase the memory, change the specs and software to suit myself. Also look out for Dell vouchers in 'myvouchers.co.uk' as I managed to get a decent discount off mine by doing that as well.

Again, it's just personal opinion. Good luck with the hunt