what laptop?

[sparkplug]

Ok so it looks like my laptop finally died.

My requirements are:

1) WiFi
2) Bluetooth
3) CDRW/DVDRW drive
4) minimum 15" screen

I either want something really cheap or I may go completely the other way and spend a lot of money on something 'reliable'

I'm also half tempted to buy one of the Intel Macs so I can run both OSs - has anyone done this? Is it reliable or flaky?

What's good out there?

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=uk&fb=1&kc=307&l=en&oc=n10645&s=dhs

£489 with one year cover

 

[Muppet]

I've got an Acer, had it a few years now and it's been dead reliable. From what I hear they're more robust than many other laptops. I haven't looked to see if they have the spec you want but I'm sure they do and they;re normally a reasonable price.

 

[shuck raider]

Acer laptops at for £348. Not sure what bells & whistles come with it - assume it's pretty basic at that price. Mate just bought one for his boy who's off to Uni, seemed more than happy with it.

 

[judge]

Following Tooned's reccommendation, don't overlook the Dell Outlet store, I've just nabbed a right deal there on a Latitude D820, the spec I have it totalled £1200, I paid £800 for what appears to have been a cancelled order

 

[CatchUp]

Another Acer fan here. Excellent bit of kit.

 

[sparkplug]

Following Tooned's reccommendation, don't overlook the Dell Outlet store, I've just nabbed a right deal there on a Latitude D820, the spec I have it totalled £1200, I paid £800 for what appears to have been a cancelled order

Just been looking - sounds pretty much like what I'm after.

I've heard that Dells come with loads of bundled rubbish software which doesn't always uninstall properly - urban myth?

 

[judge]

Just been looking - sounds pretty much like what I'm after.

I've heard that Dells come with loads of bundled rubbish software which doesn't always uninstall properly - urban myth?

I reccommend, and therefore install Dells all the time and yes it is true they have agreements with software vendors and machines come pre-installed with trial stuff, for some reason this one didn't come with anything other than a full featured 90-day McAfee System Security.

They're not alone in this practice either, I have experienced the same with Acer, Fujitsu Siemens, HP Compaq, Levono and Sony Vaio. In fact in recent times the only one that hasn't was a Novatech unit which came un-formatted with an XP disk in the box for self-install.

I've never had any trouble removing software from any of the machines I've installed, generally the lower the spec (domestic type machines) the more likely they will come with trials of stuff - even in the worse case 30 minutes and they are all off.

 

[DavidHale]

As judge says, it seems to all come off ok, even the AOL stuff. I bought an Inspiron 9400 with a 17" screen off them a couple of weeks ago and it cleaned up fine.

 

[sparkplug]

Thanks chaps.

I think I'll live with an external keyboard for a while and keep an eye on the Outlet store for something good to turn up...

 

[B Murr]

if all you want is to fix the keyboard then have a loook at ebay. I accidently stood on my inspiron one night and smashed the screen. Insurance company paid up for the value of it, I tried to get it repaired but it would have cost an arm and a leg so I just bought secondhand screen and fitted it myself. You should be able to do the same with the keyboard, I'm assuming that there is something physically wrong with the keyboard of course.

 

[AndyT]

My Dads just got his first computer (at the age of 83). Its a Dell and cost him £399. Its wireless and seems to be a fine choice. I was in the Toshiba shop at Cheshire Oaks outlet village the other day and they had some absolutely superb looking Laptops which were alomost a piece of furniture they looks so good. I say looked so good as I'm not an IT walla so I only go by looks. They were one thousand of your earth pounds though...

 

[drmajor]

LAPTOP

NOT CHEAP--- but VERY strong and durable- the Panasonic Tough Book. You can through them onto the pavement will little effect. Spilling your coffee on them will not hurt. I heard of one saleman that drove a car over it.!!!

about $3000 US.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

I bought a Dell Latitude X1 off ebay for a project earlier this year with the intention of flogging it afterwards but I like it so much I'm hanging onto it. Not cheap but a fine machine. Lots of connectivity and card options, small, very light (1.1kg), tough*, separate DVD RW, 3 year accidental damage cover and warranty. Screen is very readable and a good size though probably smaller than 15". The small battery means battery life is not great but that's the only downside I've found so far.


Paul

* Not on the Panasonic Tough Book level I suspect

 

[Dellis]

Dell laptops get my vote too.

Dave

 

[Rushy]

Toshiba shop at Cheshire Oaks outlet village the other day and ...

Long way from home Andy! My localish.............the better half tries to drag me there but luckily most times her mother goes with her instead.

I like the Bose store myself

 

[Gonzo]

I can speak highly of the IBM/Lenovo Thinkpads. Extremely tough, mine has been on a bike / plane / train / car every working day for the last three years and has not missed a beat. I've got the 14" screen but I think they go bigger.

None of this coloured silvery plastic to fade and scratch, just matt black that seems to shrug off abuse.

My firm has roughly half Fujitsu and half IBMs (total in circulation > 7,500) and the techies see far fewer of the latter.

I think my average spec is £900 (corporate bulk purchase) and I'm sure for the super-duper models the price, spec and desirability can go higher.

G