New Laptop, what would you advise?

Balmed Out

Budget: Up to a thousand but would be happy to spend less obviously enough!

Intended use: internet, word, excel, microsoft publisher, music, movies. Also play the computer game civilization 4 and would like to play future games in the series and any games out there that are similar. (recomendations welcome!)

Mobility: not important. Only use at a desk at work or at home. never would need to carry it very far.

Warranty: not important.


Whatever I buy id want to hang onto for a few years so would want it to last. I dont want to find its outdated very quickly and wont work the next generation of publisher or whatever.

Have been looking at the dell studio 15 with the i7 processor which with the addition of microsoft office and a 9 cell instead of 6 cell battery (€70, is it worth it?) and a 5% discount code would come to €987 with the present sale offer on it.

Am I better off waiting for the new dell studio 17? Not really sure is the screen size such a big deal as i reckon you get used to whatever you have.

Am i better off getting something cheaper less powerful, is what im looking at overkill?

Cheers for all opinions, advice etc. Thanks.

Alanstrainor

THe studio 15 is definitely a good machine. If it's not going to move anywhere i can't see the point in upgrading the battery. And there's always Open Office which is free and will do most of the things you'd use office for.
I'd say it'd probably be a good idea to at least wait for the studio 17, if it's not going to move much it'd be better to have a nice big display.

Balmed Out

any idea when the studio 17 is out and would the price be around the same as the 15?

Skylinehead

If you're only going to be using it at home, why bother getting the 9 cell battery for 70 quid more?

Balmed Out

Just for the very odd occasion i might possibly use it elsewhere would worry that the battery wouldnt last very long at all?

Alanstrainor

Balmed Out wrote: »

Just for the very odd occasion i might possibly use it elsewhere would worry that the battery wouldnt last very long at all?

Are you going to be using it anywhere without plugs nearby? You should get a couple of hours out of it on the standard battery, but that depends on what you're using it for.

Voodu Child

The difference between the 6-cell and 9-cell is literally 9/6. So its really just your call if the extra €70 is worth it for 50% longer batter llife. If its sitting at a desk the whole time its probably not.

The new Studio 17 is out if you hadn't seen it. But all the prices are stock at the moment - personally I would never buy a Dell unless it had a good deal. For the simple reason that there is nearly always a deal going on every model :pac: Their stock prices are artificially high just so they can say '£200 off'