Is this a decent laptop for the money

colly10

Hi, i'm thinking of picking up this laptop today -

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083369.htm

Is there any reason why ye wouldn't go for it for the money, seems a reasonable spec to me but just wanted to make sure? I know laptopsdirect.ie etc.. can have better deals but i'm using one for all vouchers so I think that limits me to DID, Argos or Peats

Anyone had issues buying laptops from Argos either (like if they had problems)?

drunkmonkey

I wouldn't touch an emachine with a dirty stick, have a look around for toshiba there's some ones in the sales for a little less money. Have a walk around the shops.

colly10

Whats the problem with them, the machines are generally made up of parts that they don't make (like ye buy a pc or laptop and generally the parts are made by other companies anyway?)

I've looked at one or 2 toshiba's and the spec is generally quite poor for similar money

dkmedia

I think its a fairly good laptop for the price, although laptops with AMD cpu's generally have worse battery life compared to Intel based laptops.

Added to the fact that you have a voucher, you could do a lot worse for the money. I'd say get it.

What will you be using the laptop for?

As for the brand eMachines, I wouldn't worry too much, you'll have a warranty if anything goes wrong.

colly10

dkmedia wrote: »

I think its a fairly good laptop for the price, although laptops with AMD cpu's generally have worse battery life compared to Intel based laptops.

Added to the fact that you have a voucher, you could do a lot worse for the money. I'd say get it.

What will you be using the laptop for?

My mam wants me to pick her up one, the vouchers being accepted practically nowhere is causing me issues though. There's very little I can get for that kind of money and that seems to be one of few with a decent spec.

Emachines rep is bothering me though, batteries run out anyway so a crap battery wouldn't bother me and they make very few of the parts. I just don't get what could really go wrong with it when they make practically nothing?

Anyone any suggestions of something they'd recommend for that kind of money for one for all vouchers?

colly10

Would you feel money would be better spent on this, this is the closest thing spec wise for a bit more money? -

http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog_v2.cgi?id=27217&type=product

dkmedia

I edited my post, just before you replied:

As for the brand eMachines, I wouldn't worry too much, you'll have a warranty if anything goes wrong.

Argos are really good when it comes to returns etc.

Any other laptops around that price are horrible, they mostly have celeron cpu's.

This laptop http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5083383.htm?tag=ie:cat:opp:laptop:acerupgrade isnt too bad either, the Core i3 is clocked faster and is better in most tasks than the Athlon with the exception of programs that can use more than 2 cores.

EDIT:

Would you feel money would be better spent on this, this is the closest thing spec wise for a bit more money? -

http://www.peats.com/cgi-bin/catalog...7&type=product

No. I'd take the eMachines over that one, or for the extra couple of euro the Acer laptop I linked above.

drunkmonkey

There's very similar toshibas in stores for a out 399, so I'd say that online price is a little high.

This looks like a good deal. Think they were selling them in the shops for 350 today http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-Q62220

colly10

Thanks, I like the acer but it's just to dear, I can get the toshiba from the peats link above (and it only works out 20 dearer when I get office with it because of a deal from peats - would you go for the toshiba?)

dkmedia

drunkmonkey wrote: »

There's very similar toshibas in stores for a out 399, so I'd say that online price is a little high.

This looks like a good deal. Think they were selling them in the shops for 350 today http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-Q62220

That linked laptop isn't great - Single core Celeron and 2gb ram. I think the OP should buy the eMachines laptop that he originally asked about. eMachines aren't that bad. 2 of my cousins have Toshiba laptops, and both of the laptops broke after a year, the batteries died in one, and the charger of the other.

dkmedia

colly10 wrote: »

Thanks, I like the acer but it's just to dear, I can get the toshiba from the peats link above (and it only works out 20 dearer when I get office with it because of a deal from peats - would you go for the toshiba?)

Personally, No, as per my previous post- I'd take the eMachines from Argos.

EDIT:

By the way, Acer own eMachines.

Just found this:

In July 2004, eMachines began to shake the perception that their computers were of poor quality when PC Magazine reported:
“Among systems less than a year old, eMachines users report the fewest serious problems. eMachines' low-cost PCs are less likely to need repairs than systems from any other vendor. Whereas only 9 percent of eMachines desktops less than a year old needed repairs, according to readers, the rates of comparably new systems from Dell and Gateway needing repairs were 11 and 15 percent, respectively. Only 1 percent of all eMachines systems needed to be replaced."

colly10

drunkmonkey wrote: »

There's very similar toshibas in stores for a out 399, so I'd say that online price is a little high.

This looks like a good deal. Think they were selling them in the shops for 350 today http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-Q62220

I can't go to powercity because they don't accept one for all. The N830 outperforms that processer almost X3 on http://www.cpubenchmark.net and the emachines has 3gb of DDR3 as opposed to 2gb of DDR2.
I wouldn't see the spec as near similar

xsiborg

i'd go for the laptop in argos too, and while you're in there OP, pick up an HDMI cable, and a wireless keyboard + mouse combo, then when you get home, hook it up to your HDMI on your tv, and you have a nice large external monitor on which to show all your christmas photos and videos in windows media center and view and control your laptop from the comfort of your couch!

Tenger

colly10 wrote: »

Thanks, I like the acer but it's just to dear, I can get the toshiba from the peats link above (and it only works out 20 dearer when I get office with it because of a deal from peats - would you go for the toshiba?)

Personally I would go with Toshiba. Our last 2 laptops were a Toshiba laptop from PC World and a netbook from Peats (with vouchers) I have had only a single problem with these 2 machines in 3 + 2 years (respectively) of use.

FYI Harvey Norman also take those vouchers. Their laptop selection however usually isn't great, mostly Sony and Toshiba.

dkmedia

I wouldn't worry about the brands, its like cars - Fiat used to have a terrible reputation, along with Skoda. Now Fiat Punto's for instance are all over the place and dont often have problems.

As I said though, Acer owns eMachines so ultimately it will be Acer who will provide the support if needed.

colly10

Thanks all for your help, i'm going with the eMachines, spec is alot better than i've seen for similar money, it's made by Acer and I have a warranty.
I'd understand going for something else if the spec was close but it seems i'd be buying total rubbish for similar money.

dkmedia

colly10 wrote: »

Thanks all for your help, i'm going with the eMachines, spec is alot better than i've seen for similar money, it's made by Acer and I have a warranty.
I'd understand going for something else if the spec was close but it seems i'd be buying total rubbish for similar money.

Good choice :cool:

drunkmonkey

I'd disagree brand has a lot to do with it. From fixing laptops the last few years I'd consider emachines and acer to pretty low on the quality ladder.

Dell, toshiba, Sony, HP, Compaq, lenovo would all be pretty good laptops even if there headline specs are lower than the emachine.

OP is looking for a laptop for him mum not some multimedia powerhouse, Argos is not going to be able to give her service if something goes wrong. If anywhere local will accept the vouchers I'd try and buy off them if possible as the support will be priceless if there's a problem.

Its the wrong laptop from the wrong shop, I'd avoid. Just my 2cent.

drunkmonkey

here's another great deal!

http://www.harveynorman.ie/lenovo-g550.html

Lord Khan

Actually dell, still have weak case they still get cracked laptop at present. They are not cheaper as before either.

Best choice Asus, are the best with Toshiba coming in second. they are have the fews number of problems both laptop and eee pc/netbook.

Argus were never cheapest they are just convenient. Currys.ie / pcworld.ie/ pixmania.ie and harveynormans.ie are your best and also cheapest for this time of the year