Laptop for my mother for her 60th birthday

Lollymcd

The family have all contributed to get my mother a laptop for her 60th birthday, she previously used a Dell Inspiron but it needs upgrading.

The budget is €900.00 but must include Microsoft Office (2007/2010???) and Norton Antivirus.

The laptop will mainly be used in the house so weight is not a problem (she doesn't want a brick though!!!)

She also wants the option of going back to the shop if anything goes wrong in the first year, she disliked having to call Dell if there was a problem. She probably wont want an extended warranty.

She will mainly use it for the internet, it's very important that this works for her and is a reasonable speed. It must be wireless. She will also do a small amount of typing, store some pictures and files.

She has used my Toshiba Satellite Pro C650-198 and she likes it so we will probably go for something similar (this is my work laptop so I have no idea how much it cost)

Could anyone recommend anything? I am in Dublin so will be basing my search around PC World and Pete's.

Thank you so much for any responses in advance.

ED E

Its Peats


Its not exactly high performance there. Just avoid emachines. A ~€400 Toshiba Satellite would do it the job. Spending €900 is excessive. Thats gaming level.

Lollymcd

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Its Peats


Its not exactly high performance there. Just avoid emachines. A ~€400 Toshiba Satellite would do it the job. Spending €900 is excessive. Thats gaming level.

Thanks for replying, oops! Peats it is so!!!

It's not really €900 as I have to get Microsoft Office and Norton with that, I presume I'll have about €600 left for the actual laptop.

I have looked on boards a bit and Toshiba seems to be popular, will most likely go with that.

Thank you

I-Shot-Jr

Lollymcd wrote: »

Thanks for replying, oops! Peats it is so!!!

It's not really €900 as I have to get Microsoft Office and Norton with that, I presume I'll have about €600 left for the actual laptop.

I have looked on boards a bit and Toshiba seems to be popular, will most likely go with that.

Thank you

PC World will do Office and Norton together for 109 euro when bought with a laptop.

TouchingVirus

Why get Norton at all? It's very poor, even if widely used, software. There are better (and free) alternatives

Lollymcd

I-Shot-Jr wrote: »

PC World will do Office and Norton together for 109 euro when bought with a laptop.

Thank you, I will check that out. She feels more confident with Norton. We will probably download spybot or similar for her too.

Thank you again

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Why get Norton at all? It's very poor, even if widely used, software. There are better (and free) alternatives

Alanstrainor

I'd agree. Forget Norton. Get Microsoft Security Essentials. Much better and free.

U_Fig

+1 for avoiding Norton used it and it's not good and slows down the computer a good bit..

Amalgam

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Spending €900 is excessive. Thats gaming level.

The OP's Mother, one of her priorities is probably a screen beyond the usual 15" size, anything above a certain size and the cost goes towards the screen usually.

*cough* There's a wider choice in Dublin than just Peats.. (and better prices)

woolymammoth

PC world have some nice bargains once in a while, you could keep a look out there. Check out the Dell site, or komplett.ie, laptopsdirect.ie just for comparison sake. I would go with office 2010 if you're buying it. Again, I would also avoid norton. I mean, you wouldn't wear a fat baby seal to keep you protected from the rain and cold would you? Of course not! Don't be lulled in by their advertising. Microsoft Security Essentials is better, lighter and free..er! There's other free ones too (avast, avira, not avg) but i find the microsoft one the best. If you're still paranoid about spyware etc., install malwarebytes, or spybot.

you should be able to pick up something fairly good for 500-600 euros

Overheal

Microsoft Security Essentials is all the new rage. I'd give that a shot.

Lollymcd

Thank you all for your help, I was in PC world today and seen a Toshiba Satalite for €600 so will prob go with that. Pretty sure it was this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/toshiba-satellite-c660d-102-07787032-pdt.html

seraphimvc

i scroll through the below 499GBP range and i found the best value laptops would be the 429gbp ones:
Hp pavillion dv6 with the AMD P320 (specs is slightly better)
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavilion-dv6-3005sa-06474319-pdt.html

or the Acer with T4500
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/acer-aspire-5734z-06539249-pdt.html
but overall i dont they make much difference, just walk in and compare them beside each other see which one you like.

DOC09UNAM

Lollymcd wrote: »

Thank you all for your help, I was in PC world today and seen a Toshiba Satalite for €600 so will prob go with that. Pretty sure it was this: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/toshiba-satellite-c660d-102-07787032-pdt.html

What about something like this one, Dell Inspiron N5030

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/specials/deals_1?c=ie&cs=ie&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn

First one on the list.

It's just I can't see why a 60 year old, (I'm assuming she will only be using to browse the web, and maybe a few other small things) would need 3gb RAM, and 320gb Hard drive.

I would think something along the 2gb RAM and 160-250gb hard drive would do her?

ED E

Amalgam wrote: »

The OP's Mother, one of her priorities is probably a screen beyond the usual 15" size, anything above a certain size and the cost goes towards the screen usually.

*cough* There's a wider choice in Dublin than just Peats.. (and better prices)

My mistake, normally disregard 17"s as they're a pain to lug around but for somebody in her age bracket that would make sense.

If you know any students office is much cheaper via Software4Students.

Have to agree with the above, forget Norton. Microsoft Security Essentials is where its at, and if she's concerned simply explain that she's trusting MS with her operating system anyways.

thenightrider

Norton will only slow down the laptop there is much better free AV out there also you can download open office for free and use that rather then paying for MS office open office is just as good

Lollymcd

Thanks everyone for the replies, it's given me some more ideas. I'm staying away from Dell due to her previous bad experience with them.

On the Norton side of things, while I agree with you all, it's her 60th and she wants it so we're getting it!!! I'll be setting up the computer though so I will probably download Spybot and Malwarebytes as that is what I use on my own laptop, I'll also look into the windows on above.

norbert64

Real bargain basement deal here, but bear with me.

Currys/PCWorld are selling off there own Advent brand of laptops fairly cheap.
Advent 17'' machine, 3 GB ram, 320GB HDD, Vista, Wireless with webcam for €350

I know, I know, Vista OS with advent brand doesn't exactly instill much confidence in us but if we're just looking for basic use?

You could of course always just wipe it and stick a more preferable OS on her.

Lollymcd

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. The big unveiling was yesterday. We ended up getting a Toshiba Satellite 650L and went for Windows Essentials, Spybot and Malwarebytes. She was tickled pink.

alex73

You should buy an Ipad, If all she needs is intenet then no better thing that Ipad.

ricman

You can get toshiba laptops around 440 euro,I dont know about ms office , just check is it installed , they are more reliable than advent pcs.You buy any pc you have 2 years gaurantee under eu law.Buy from local shop, currys, did, harvey norman etc
do not lose the receipt, A laptop with 2gig ram with celeron cpu will be fine for her ,runs cooler ,quieter, than a dual core cpu model.make SURE screen is not too shiny,too many reflections=hard to read.