Looking for advise on laptop for LC/pre-Uni student

Cathy Sheehy

Hello,
I'm looking to buy a laptop for my 18 y.o. daughter to cover her through her leaving cert and first few years of uni at least...
At the moment her main interests are email, internet (i.e. Youtube ) and music downloads.. Main requirements would be all above on a broadband setting so preferrably wireless internet ready.

I've seen the following on Elara.ie

FUJITSU - V5505, Manufacturers Code = VFY:EM81V5505BS6GB, Intel Core2 Duo T5450 (1.66GHz), 2*1GB, 160GB
( This appears to be without modem ?? How diffiicult to install on in a laptop? ) @ cost €542

SAMSUNG - R60+ Glare, Manufactures Code = NP-R60FY0D/SUK, Black Aura 15.4" T5450 (1.66G), 250GB @ Cost €700

TOSHIBA - SatP A200GE-24s T5450 1.66 2GB 200GB, Manufacturers Code = PSAE7E-01V010EN ,@cost €714

Are any of these any good , which could you recommend for the function?
Is Elara reputable?

AlmightyCushion

Elara are quite good. I've bought a few things from them before and have never had any problems. The fujitsu looks good for the price and would be a decent spec laptop. You don't need a modem unless she'll be using dial-up.
Edit:
There is an asus and a toshiba that are similar to the spec of the fujitsu but slightly more expensive.

http://elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1479236#spec
http://elara.ie/products/detailsfullft.asp?productcode=ECE1491198#spec

I think fujitsus build quality isn't meant to be great. Asus make lots of highend computer components and also manufacture laptops for sony and apple so they would be quite good. I've heard toshiba have quite good build quality too.

Tom Dunne

Pretty much any laptop will do what you want. But, it's a question of how fast/reliable/portable you want the laptop to be.

Personally, of that bunch, I would go for Toshiba.

All laptops will come with wireless for broadband access, so that is not an issue.

Just to throw out a few other ideas, have you considered things such as portability? For example, those laptops are in and around 3kG. You can get laptops with smaller screens that are much lighter. Plus, have you considered a bigger battery, so the laptop can be used for longer away from the mains?

This will add to the price somewhat, but I just thought I would mention them in case you hadn't thought of them.

Nforce

Have you had a look at what Dell are offering?

For example this Inspiron...
http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=ie&l=en&cs=iedhs1&kc=&oc=N0452508

extra-ordinary_

Dell Vostro 1000. Basic notebook with three year warranty for ~€330

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/4x_vostro_1000?c=ie&l=en&s=bsd&dgc=BA&cid=5260&lid=124314

Edit: It works out at ~€380 - I hadn't factored in the VAT.

Cathy Sheehy

Thanks to everyone who replied to this post , after a week of reviewing , I think that I'll go with the Toshiba.