laptop buying tips

**milanbenes** · 31 January 2008, 10:48

you flippin cheap skate

general policy should be buy the most expensive you can afford and stick with toshiba or lenovo

Milan.

**MrRobin** · 31 January 2008, 10:50

HPs are fairly good, much better build than they used to be. Nice and shiny finish too. That particular one is OK and would suit your needs but for the same money you could get:

This 17" Acer

What problems have you had with Dell? I've just ordered a Dell lappy...

**miffy** · 31 January 2008, 10:51

Try one of these...
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/133523
£289 with the cashback from HP.

Or if you want the same with Home Premium Vista instead of Business...
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136220
£299

I bought the top one (with Vista Business). Have to say it's an awesome laptop for the money. Has bluetooth and the lightscribe DVD drive in it. Battery life is excellent. If you're sticking with Vista download the service pack 1 release candidate as it improves the battery life.

With Vista business you can legally downgrade to XP pro if you wish.

Runs tip top with 2GB. An additional 1GB sodimm is here...
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/327482...M/Product.html
£12.99

Cheap as chips. I'm a happy chappy.

**miffy** · 31 January 2008, 10:57

Originally posted by rootsnall View Post

ps. what's the piece of kit I need to stop hissing on the phone line when using my newly installed wireless modem

An ADSL line filter?!?

They usually come with the router/modem. You'll need one in every socket where there's a phone (and that includes the sky box).

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/121546

They do filters from .49p but I'd buy quality ones unless you want grief.

**rootsnall** · 31 January 2008, 11:15

Thanks for the replies except Milan's ( I am totally non geek and non gadget man so don't want waste of space bells and whistles, I want the Passat of the laptop word).

I'm scansafed out on those sites but I'll have a gander tonight. I didn't realise they were now so cheap !

I presume the bit of kit that splits the ADSL and phone line is meant to be a filter but it didn't seem to work, I'll fiddle tonight.

Problems with Dell are that the graphics card or atleast the connection on the PC is dodgy, keeps going yellow or no link to screen at all. On the Dell laptop the DVD drive has packed in. In both cases a toddler might have something to do with it but I'm blaming Dell.

**milanbenes** · 31 January 2008, 11:51

you ungrateful little sod

go on then buy yer cheap laptop and be happy

Milan.

**s2budd** · 31 January 2008, 18:11

Do Not Buy Dell

Dell laptops might be very high spec for the price but the call centre is a complete nightmare. stear well clear. You might be lucky and have no problems but beware if anything goes wrong.

**realityhack** · 31 January 2008, 19:15

£299 inc VAT

There was a cheap-as-chips Lenovo 3000 somewhere but I can't find it now.

**MrRobin** · 31 January 2008, 19:40

If you go for e-buyer, please first see the thread on "Bloody Couriers"

laptop buying tips