Buying a new laptop - Any advice?

gráfinn

I'm looking into buying a new laptop and want to know if anyone has had good or bad experience with this laptop, the Sony Vaio NW20EF/S.

I'm not too technically minded so I'd only be using it for email, listening to music, watching dvds and word processing, that sort of thing. Not really into computer games either so don't mind if it doesn't have all the bells and whistles for that

Battery life is important because the last laptop I had started off alright on that front but ended with having to be plugged in all the time.

Value for money is really what I'm looking for (I don't want to spend over €600 really!)

Or if anyone has any suggestions of a good make and model other than Sony that they found good for the price.

Thanks

Biggins

Your on the right track.
If I had to buy a laptop tomorrow, the Sony's would be one of the first I would look at.
Great sound, great internal structure and parts, I don't think you would go far wrong.

Make sure you get Win7 and not fobbed off with Vista.
A decent amount of RAM - 3 gigs if possible at least and get a decent sized harddrive.

Do yourself a favour for the sake of an extra tenner plus - buy a surge protector.
It can save you hundreds later!

For 600 you will get much superior build quality and similar spec in a lenovo or a dell latitude series laptop. Sony build quility is only ok and they are overpriced when components and build quaility are considered. Asus laptop build quailty is actually the best in the market based on number of warranty repairs.

edit: customize this: http://www1.euro.dell.com/ie/en/business/4x_latit_e5500/fs.aspx?refid=4x_latit_e5500&s=bsd&cs=iebsdt1
Change processor for p8700 and ram to 4gig and you have an exceptional machine for 700. Latitudes are step above as regards build quailty and alot of care goes into product matching so it should last a long time.

If you want to go with a cheaper unit and sacrafice build quality but get a slighly more power efficient cpu i couldnt find better than a dell inspiron series with a core i3 for 530
http://www.euro.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/minicat/new/upsell/inspiron-1564-N0056401?c=ie&cs=iedhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Zonda999

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-notebook-i3-330M-2-13GHz-Premium/dp/B00366U5NM/ref=pd_ts_ce_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

Its the amazon bestseller in laptops atm and its easy to see why IMO, great spec for the cash

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Acer-15-6inch-Notebook-processor-Windows/dp/B002ZNLA18/ref=pd_ts_ce_20?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

Also decent value IMO, the processor being the main plus point in both of those, the brand new core i3 in them performs like a high end Core 2 duo apparently

dr.bollocko

I really can't stand those sony laptops. All fur coat and no knickers.

Zonda999

Many do seem to dislike them alright, tryed one the other day though, very similar to the one linked and though it was great, the keyboard in particular was first class, as good as the one on my friends macbook pro

stenan

What do you's think of this one:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_VAIO_EB1E0E-WI_Core_i3_Laptop_in_Silver-White_VPCEB1E0EWI/version.asp

gráfinn

Thanks for all the helpful advice! Even though there's mixed reviews I still think it looks like an alright laptop. I like the look of your suggestion Stenan, especially those quick access buttons.

The only other thing I worry about now is that I read somewhere that Sony only support their own memory sticks and can't read others. Is that true?

Alanstrainor

gráfinn wrote: »

The only other thing I worry about now is that I read somewhere that Sony only support their own memory sticks and can't read others. Is that true?

No. Where on earth did you hear that?

gráfinn

I read it on some review site. Now I feel a bit stupid I guess it doesn't make sense when you think of it logically but I don't know much about computers so I tend to believe everything I read

wo0ng

personel i buy it from amazon.com

goat2

i seen in either donedeal.ie or firesale.ie there is a place in killorglin that sell refurbished second hand, also new , and also odds and ends for computers, i also know someone who had dealings with them as they need a laptop for t heir daughter for college they paid 200 euro and were very happy with the service

carlowpoker

stenan wrote: »

What do you's think of this one:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Sony_VAIO_EB1E0E-WI_Core_i3_Laptop_in_Silver-White_VPCEB1E0EWI/version.asp

Great website that...highly reccomend!

carlowpoker

dr.bollocko wrote: »

I really can't stand those sony laptops. All fur coat and no knickers.

have to agree look good but seem to fair when asked to do much work