RIP laptop...need a new 'un'!

Carlo

Carlo

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Carl
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My very basic Toshiba latitude laptop has died on me after 18 months so i'm hoping for a bit of help/advice choosing a replacement.
I'll be using it for photo editing mainly, but won't need a huge memory as i transfer files to hard drives.
Also light internet browsing, not into gaming either.
I'm currently using my works dell laptop which is great, but i'm not really allowed to download anything which isn't work approved!
My budget is £500 max, and ideally i'd like it to have the following;
8GB RAM, 13"-15.6" screen,USB 3.0, lightweight, and a good processor. anything else i should be looking for??
my dell has a i7 intel core which i know i wont be able to afford, and i know i5 is the next level down then i3. what other processors are good as i see a lot of AMD etc advertised?
what make should i look at/avoid.
Can't really afford one till next month at the earliest so have a while to browse/check out/read up.
Any help really appreciated
Carlo
 
You're nearly on the mark there - an i5 with 8G is where I'd be at for a laptop for processing. I'd prefer a full HD screen, but you're not going to get that for £500. This doesn't seem too bad (although USB2 only): http://www.ebuyer.com/441627-acer-aspire-e1-laptop-nx-m09ek-007 Personally, at that price I think they are all much of a muchness. Just make sure the processor is an i5-3xxxM (they are all pretty similar in performance at that price - I wouldn't worry about 100 MHz here and there) and you'll be fine :)

I wouldn't buy an AMD processor at the moment - more power hungry and less compute efficient - although they are cheaper!
 
Carlo said:
My very basic Toshiba latitude laptop has died on me after 18 months
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I won't repeat the excellent advice above, but I wanted to chime in and ask if you brought this as a consumer, i.e. not through a business?

If so, I would be getting in touch with whoever you brought it from, given that the laptop failed after only 18 months. You may find that you are covered under the Sale of Goods Act.
 
On the Dell Outlet right now....

Inspiron 15R - 7520
Inspiron 15R - 7520
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-3230M (2.60GHz, 3MB cache)
Windows® 8
8 GB Dual Channel DDR3 1600MHz Memory (2 DIMMs)
1 TB SATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
8X DVD+/-RW Drive
Display: 15.6in Full High Definition (1080p) WLED with AntiGlare
Graphics: 2 GB AMD Radeon HD 7730M Card
Back Up Media Not Included
Windows® 8 64bit (Englilsh)
Wireless : Intel Centrino Advanced-N 2230 (2x2, a/g/n) + Bluetooth
LCD Back Cover : Aluminium
LCD Back Cover : Aluminium
Battery : Primary 6 Cell 48W/HR
Internal Qwerty Backlit Keyboard


Click here for available options and upgrades
Price: £363.30
Price excl. VAT and delivery
Continue
 
Crikey - that's cheap!!!!!!! Almost press buy myself.....
 
I did buy one, there is one left at a similar price (or was). It is a an even better deal because when you get to the checkout a coupon is applied for free delivery (coupon valid til 9th of August)
 
mcpieman said:
I did buy one, there is one left at a similar price (or was). It is a an even better deal because when you get to the checkout a coupon is applied for free delivery (coupon valid til 9th of August)
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i bought it!!!:D

can't track the progress though!, got an email with an internet receipt number, but think i have to wait till i get another email with an actual order number as nothing working when i enter this on the 'check my order' page!
had hoped it'd be sent out today as it's a refurb so should be in the warehouse ready to ship!
 
I bought a refurb last year and, while you would expect immediate shipment, it actually took 11 calendar days until delivery. Another Outlet order earlier last year arrived 7 calendar days after delivery. I would not expect anything quicker than that.
 
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just found out the estimated delivery date is the 18th August! bah!!!
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Mines 20th August!!!! Still give's me time to get stuff from the old laptop on an external drive to transfer over.
 
neil_g said:
issue with parts supply maybe.

biggest delay on any dell kit we've ordered at work was due to intel not shipping chips quick enough.
Click to expand...


it's a refurb though, so i'd assume it was on a shelf ready to ship!
Lady on phone says they take up to 7 days to 'check the spec', another 3 days to move to central hub, then up to 2 days for the courier to deliver...

Still, thats only 12 days...never mind! :(
 
As a personal IMHO, go for the best Lenovo Thinkpad in your budget.
Built like tanks, unlike just about anything else these days.

Sure, the styling may not be quite as hot as some of the Dells/ Acer, but the Thinkpad will last far, far longer. My family had an Apple, a Toshiba, a Packard Bell a pair of Dell's and my Thinkpad all bought at roughly the same time. The Thinkpad is the only one that's never skipped a beat, no repairs or anything.
 
Get an acer aspire v5. It comes with 4gb of RAM, I5 processor, 500gb hard drive and dedicated graphics. I got the laptop and it is very thin but Suprisingly comes with a DVD rw. All for £500 (this was in January)

I got the V5-571 and I added a 120gb SSD in it for £60. It now goes like a rocket...
 
thought i'd post an update.
Received the laptop Monday afternoon, and set it up that evening.
In a nutshell really pleased with it, until i needed to charge it!
Plugged the charger in and turned it on and...
nothing! well the light on the charger came on for a second then went off.:thinking: (it charges fine when its turned off)

Phone call to Dell the next day and they arranged for an engineer to visit next day at work.
Of course when he turns it on and plugs the charger in it decides to work and make me look a right ***!
He still changed the motherboard and charger input 'thingy' all in less than 45mins and its worked fine ever since.
So...big thumbs up to Dell :thumbs: for great, fast callout/repair, think i'll upgrade when the 12 month service plan when it runs out as i was well impressed :)
 
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