Which Notebook

[Shep]

Hi all
I've just had to return my Sony Vaio notebook to the shop, I've got my money back and now need to purchase another before Friday 24th

I like the black screen of the sony but that was about it! I found it slow, unreliable, battery life unpredictable, generally not what I expected from a quality producer.

I mainly use it for light office work, emails etc. Some production of promotional flyers etc (using corel draw) it needs to be windoze based. dvd read/writer would be great as I used the sony as a second dvd player on my boat. I use a 3G card for mobile internet connections, so it would need a port suitable.



Got about £950

any Ideas?

 

[trotsky]

Okay, it's a bit outside the price range, and the screen as it stands is iffy for detailed work, but I am mostly having fun with one of these at the moment. Resolution is great, keyboard is dubious for long term typing but it is as transportable as it gets and the base with DVD writer works as a DVD player without starting up the full operating system if you want. I keep USB keyboard and mouse with a screen on my desk when I need to do sustained work but it is great if you need to haul a computer around. Does about 80 per cent of what you want very well, but then again, what doesn't?

Geek toy supremo in truth, I fear...

 

[-Robbo-]

I have an IBM T42 which was over £2k but if you do a search on Kelkoo you'll find an IBM Laptop within your range. I am on my 4th IBM and wouldn't have anything else. They are designed for a corporate enviroment which demands reliabilty, quality & availability. The customer support, if required, is superb in my opinion, a few of my mates and relatives have bought IBM and have had great service.

Have a look here for starters.

http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/cp_113501_brand_ibm.html

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Go for something based on Intel's next generation Centrino chipset. That way you'll get better performance, 802.11g wireless and still have the excellent battery life that Centrino laptops provide.

This website is a good source of info on new laptops - it allows you to group them by price.

http://www.laptopshop.co.uk/laptops-n.htm

Mike

 

[judge]

I'm a big fan of PC-PRO's A list ( http://www.pcpro.co.uk ) - I've bought many items on their recomendations and have never been dissappointed. I've just been in the market for a laptop and was going to get the Elonex Soliton ProWire 150-2, it ticked all my boxes and more except in lead time for order/delivery which was 10 working days.

I had to move quick as my Vaio had given up the ghost and remote working on client sites meant get one now! So I did and I'm using it right now.

Battery life is not up to the Elonex on this one but the Centrino means wireless ready and the only noise I hear is my plonking the keys and farting and very occasional spin up of the fan.

Oh and I was able to go and buy it the same day. HP/Compaq Presario M2000, cost me £700 (£300 less than the Elonex) so there's scope for an additional (or better battery)

 

[Ken B]

I have a vaio and my son bought an IBM at the same time, centrino 802.11g etc all for c£650, he is delighted mine cost a lot more and has been back once!

Black screen on the sony is great but if weight is not too important I reckon the IBM has it and it appears seriously robust (for boat and out and about).

BTW I was so impressed by the returns process for Sony (back within a week) I told a freind who agreed he had also had to use it!!

Cheers
Ken

 

[Shep]

Hi Ken B

It was the sony returns dept that eventually forced me to demand my dosh back, they had the laptop 3 times and failed to find the fault (a faulty 5 key) However when you booted up, the password just filled with 5's Duh!

Anyway as I work in Basingstoke is there any where local thats good with laptops?

Regards Shep