Buying a new laptop

[Toby]

I thought we had a thread for this already but I can't find anything. Happy for it to be merged if one exists.

I've had a refurbished Macbook for coming on 3 years and I think it's just about done its time. The battery can barely hold charge and now I think the power connection is burnt out as it is often failing to charge.

I'm in two minds about what to do now. I'm not willing to pay the price of a brand new Macbook, but I do like the physical build quality of them and would much rather have something of that solid sort of build rather than flimsy plastic shit of most other manufacturers. Even a refurbished model that was four years old when I bought it has almost lasted me longer than my previous laptops combined. I don't need anything particularly powerful as I do almost everything through a web browser these days, with the exception of occasionally using Photoshop/InDesign (and for all the ability I have with those, I could probably just as easily use something much simpler).

So I care a lot more about how the thing feels to use than I do about its technical specs or anything like that, and I just wanted to see if there were any recommendations for other options before I look at another refurbed Macbook?

[Boydy]

Why do you need it to not be 'flimsy plastic shit'? What do you do with it? Throw it around?

[Toby]

I don't need it to be anything.

[Pepe]

I like the thin Dell, don't remember the name. XP maybe?

[Benny]

Is this for use for work? If so, could they not help with the costs of a laptop? I'm a big believer in 'you pay for what you get', so I would always try and get a real budget stretching option.

[Toby]

There's the Dell XPS range, but they appear to cost more than brand new Macbooks.

Dell might be a good shout though, I'll have a look at their cheaper models.

Is this for use for work? If so, could they not help with the costs of a laptop? I'm a big believer in 'you pay for what you get', so I would always try and get a real budget stretching option.

No just personal.

[John Arne]

My 8GB Surface Pro 3 has been excellent. Would recommend.

[Toby]

Isn't that just a tablet and doesn't it cost about £800?

[Reg]

Could have a look in Currys or similar if it's mainly about the feel etc.

[Toby]

Could have a look in Currys or similar if it's mainly about the feel etc.

This will be an online purchase...

[SvN]

Why's this place been so dead today?

[Toby]

Magic must have work to do.

[Pen]

I also have a refurbished macbook that I've had for three and a half years (it's a 2010 model) and still runs really well and the only problem I have with it is that it's not compatible with the new Apple tv without and app. Have you thought about getting a new power cord and maybe a SSD drive if your use is so 'light' and if the computer still works well otherwise.

[Magic]

Magic must have work to do.

/

Why don't you try an HP Envy? I've dropped mine when it was on right on the corner expecting it to shatter in to a million pieces but because it's aluminium I've just got a nice crumple zone impact and it works beautifully still.

[Toby]

I also have a refurbished macbook that I've had for three and a half years (it's a 2010 model) and still runs really well and the only problem I have with it is that it's not compatible with the new Apple tv without and app. Have you thought about getting a new power cord and maybe a SSD drive if your use is so 'light' and if the computer still works well otherwise.

I'm on my second power cable already, but it's the actual connection on the laptop itself that is acting up now. It doesn't seem like it'd be worth the cost of replacing that. It works for now but I have to fiddle with it for a bit before it does, and slight movements can knock it out of place.

/

Why don't you try an HP Envy? I've dropped mine when it was on right on the corner expecting it to shatter in to a million pieces but because it's aluminium I've just got a nice crumple zone impact and it works beautifully still.

The laptop I had before this was an HP, which did the delightful thing of failing about six weeks out of warranty. Having heard similar stories from several others I've been very wary of them since, but maybe that's unreasonable.

[hfswjyr]

I've had this Asus for 4 years now, and it still goes like a beast (other than the battery). Would recommend if you're looking for build quality.

[TG09]

Here is the link fella.


http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showth...light=i.t+desk



Dell XP laptops are a good soild make, goto their website, i think they have deals on it now and then.

Get a laptop with about 4gb min RAM at least a 1TB disk space. Dedicated graphics card if you are wanting to do any gaming or graphics work, otherwise get a built in card.

[ScousePig]

If anyone could recommend me a good laptop for around the £4-500 mark then their reputation could take an almighty boost.

[TG09]

If anyone could recommend me a good laptop for around the £4-500 mark then their reputation could take an almighty boost.

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-13...?ref=PD_Family


or this one has more RAM in it.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/comput...37876-pdt.html

[ScousePig]

Thanks. The first one looks a bit small; is that what the kids have these days?

[TG09]

Thanks. The first one looks a bit small; is that what the kids have these days?

Before I left for New Zealand I got my ASUS laptop from here - http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/asus_...4h/version.asp

I like ASUS, never had a issue with it, good prices from this site too.

[Toby]

Here is the link fella.


http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showth...light=i.t+desk



Dell XP laptops are a good soild make, goto their website, i think they have deals on it now and then.

Get a laptop with about 4gb min RAM at least a 1TB disk space. Dedicated graphics card if you are wanting to do any gaming or graphics work, otherwise get a built in card.

Cheers. I don't need that much storage though, as I say most stuff I do is online and any films etc I have on external drives. I'd rather have a small SSD than a bigger slower one built in. The tech specs aren't really what I'm concerned about.

[ScousePig]

Went in to work today to pick up my new work laptop but I also need a new personal one and I'm going to pick it up soon from here: https://m.cclonline.com/category/101/Laptops/

As usual though, I don't really know what to go for. I want a powerful one which runs FM really well, and I don't want to spend more than £400 really. I've been using my girlfriend's HP one which I like so HP is an option.

[phonics]

I'd get a Surface in that case if I were you. Much better than having a dumpy laptop burning your nuts off as you sit in front of the telly playing that 15th season of mediocrity.

[ScousePig]

I've got my lap table (or whatever it's called) which I use when I'm working on the sofa so I don't put it on my lap. But anything you can recommend is great.

How would this do:
https://m.cclonline.com/product/1974...HOME/NOT02204/

[phonics]

Personally, I hate HP and Dell with a passion.

[Magic]

I have an HP ENVY 15-u001na x360 Convertible PC and can confirm it's a fucking piece of shit, and it's more than twice the price of that one.

EDIT: Yeah, that ^^^

[Spammer]

Anyone had any problems with Dell?

Quite a few people seem to seriously dislike them I'm not sure why.

[Magic]

My little step brother also bought an HP really recently with a non-removable battery, John Lewis replaced it three times because it kept dying really quick and BSOD before they fully refunded him.

[ScousePig]

How about one of these:

https://m.cclonline.com/product/2135...ptop/NOT03082/

https://m.cclonline.com/product/1994...RAM-/NOT02234/

Though they're both top end of my budget.

[ScousePig]

What's the crack with Microsoft office on these laptops - do I need to buy that separately?

[phonics]

Those are okay but I'd recommend checking to see if you can find one with an i7 rather than an i5 within your budget.

[Giggles]

What's the crack with Microsoft office on these laptops - do I need to buy that separately?

I've never seen one with office preinstalled. I think you just pay around £5 a month (I pay €7) for it now. Gives you one PC download, one tablet, and one phone.

[Giggles]

Those are okay but I'd recommend checking to see if you can find one with an i7 rather than an i5 within your budget.

Could be a bit overkill if it's only for work or FM. I've one with an A10 and FM runs like a dream. Though he would be future proofing a bit I suppose.

[ScousePig]

Could be a bit overkill if it's only for work or FM. I've one with an A10 and FM runs like a dream. Though he would be future proofing a bit I suppose.

I honestly only need one for work and that runs FM well. Even FM I barely play but I want it as an option. I don't want to be spending hundreds more than necessary.

[ScousePig]

Are Asus laptops generally okay?

[Mike]

My only recommendation with laptops is ignore the hard drive in for fully and budget for buying a SSD to put in it yourself, along with one of those usb housing cases for the old laptop to go in.
Putting an SSD in mine was a real eye opener.

[Giggles]

Yep. I was a late convert to SSD but they are class. Such a difference.
@ScousePig I've had four Asus devices (1 laptop, 2 tablets, and a TV box) and all have been very well put together. If the internals are what you need then I wouldn't worry about build quality.

[ScousePig]

What's this SSD business?

[Mike]

Solid State Drive.
They're brilliant. I'm a full on 100% convert.
I have one in my laptop and then my desktop has one in for Windows, FM and normally another game. A second drive for installing everything else and a third for downloads.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Mine just has Windows and then shit that I forget to change the installation path of.

[ScousePig]

Is it just a drive you can take out and swap over or something?

[phonics]

Is it just a drive you can take out and swap over or something?

An SSD is just a Hard-Drive but it's not made up (or is made up, I can't remember) of moving parts so it can write/read the disk quicker.

[Mike]

Is it just a drive you can take out and swap over or something?

Most laptops changing the hard drive is really simple.

[ScousePig]

Are there any SSD laptops you'd recommend?

[Magic]

Lol also to say they had to put a 200 quid SSD in my already 800 quid laptop. Would have been cheaper with a Surface Pro.

But yes no SSD no life.

[Davgooner]

Are there any SSD laptops you'd recommend?

HP are doing some models with SSDs in now. This is quite tasty:

http://www.ebuyer.com/749657-hp-250-...ZdgaAszh8P8HAQ

There's an i3 model kicking about as well.

[ScousePig]

https://m.cclonline.com/product/2010...lack/NOT02420/

What does that look like in comparison to the others I linked? It's a notebook but does it matter?

[ScousePig]

HP are doing some models with SSDs in now. This is quite tasty:

http://www.ebuyer.com/749657-hp-250-...ZdgaAszh8P8HAQ

There's an i3 model kicking about as well.

Is that the same as this:

https://m.cclonline.com/product/2134...lver/NOT03079/

How about the i7?

https://m.cclonline.com/product/2132...lver/NOT03033/

[Boydy]

https://m.cclonline.com/product/2010...lack/NOT02420/

What does that look like in comparison to the others I linked? It's a notebook but does it matter?

Doesn't 'notebook' just mean laptop?