Best place to buy laptop in Galway?

Zzippy

Never bought a laptop before, home PC is finally dying and due to space considerations have decided to get a laptop/wireless router setup instead of a big desktop.
Main use will be web browsing, some office applications and a bit of photo/video editing, nothing too heavy on memory. Just looking for opinions on best place to buy in Galway, prefer bricks and mortar shop but can buy online if its much better value - if so any recommendations?

beardybrewer

Research locally, purchase online from another country.

bobbytables

My advice is this:

Buy a laptop only if you need mobility or if you don't have or no longer have the space for a desktop. Also you can simply add wireless network connectivity to a desktop machine (internally using a PCI card, or externally via USB if you don't like opening computers). So don't think your only choice is a laptop just because you don't want to run cables about the place. Also in terms of hardware you are paying a premium for mobility on most components of a computer.

Leaving the laptop Vs desktop debate aside...
In terms of your needs for a machine, office applications, email, web browsing, etc are not very resource hungry tasks. However, photo and especially video editing / gaming are. Also for example some security apps are well known to consume excessive resources, leaving less available to do what you want to do with your computer. So what you want from your computer, drives what applications you will need, and in turn will drive what sort of hardware you should be looking at.

I wouldn't get anything less than 4GB of RAM. Without budget I couldn't offer you any more advice on other things to look for.

In terms of a place to buy, high street shops only offer value sporadically. Put some time in to thinking about what you need in terms of hardware and your budget. Have a look online for a benchmark in costs. When looking at the difference in costs between similar hardware online and in brick's & mortar you have to decide yourself is the ability to pay and get today, and a base to go back shouting to if things go wrong worth the difference in price.

I've known people to get deals in DID electrical and once in Curry's. However, that is not to say you will always get a deal there. I've never known anyone to get good value on machines in PC World.

Something else I've noticed is that most shops mostly stock low to mid end systems, despite what their range and presentation might imply otherwise.

japanesebanana

Lapteck in Woodquay. Got mine there 4 years ago, good value, sound lads. They are just refurbishing it at the moment. Had one problem with software, they fixed it free, upgraded RAM another time for a ridiculously decent price

desaparecidos

bobbytables wrote: »

I wouldn't get anything less than 4GB of RAM.

Poppycock

biko

Although buying one in Currys or PC World will let you spend money locally and also take it home immediately the option of buying cheaper online is usually the way to go.
Mind, herself got a student deal Compaq laptop in Currys and seems to be happy with that.
Check in Bargain Alerts forum.

Look at the requirements for the "heaviest" application you'll use and go from there. If it requires 1GB of RAM then get 2 or 3 on the lappy.
I'd say minimum 2GB RAM to use regular stuff and a minimum of 250GB hard drive (depending on how big your music etc collection is).
Also consider an external harddrive to back up to.

bobbytables

desaparecidos wrote: »

Poppycock

No!...RAM, 4 gigs of it to be precise. Poppycock never works.

Close though :P

hotdojumpin

I think we should organise a group buy for Galway laptops.

I recommend we buy this laptop: (http://www.shop.bt.com/products/fujitsu-ah530---p6200---4-gb-500-gb---dvd-rw---win-7-hp-64-bit---15-6--widescreen-led-web-cam-7NHG.html#imagegallery)

And have it forwarded by: (http://www.deliverme.ie/)

You know it makes sense. If 2 people go in on this it will cost ~EUR367 per laptop, 3 people: ~EUR362 and 4 people ~EUR359. Compared to ~EUR385 on your own.*

*I could be wrong in my calculations and they are dependent on exchange rates. And apologies if this is against the rules.

Zzippy

hotdojumpin wrote: »

I think we should organise a group buy for Galway laptops.

I recommend we buy this laptop: (http://www.shop.bt.com/products/fujitsu-ah530---p6200---4-gb-500-gb---dvd-rw---win-7-hp-64-bit---15-6--widescreen-led-web-cam-7NHG.html#imagegallery)

And have it forwarded by: (http://www.deliverme.ie/)

You know it makes sense. If 2 people go in on this it will cost ~EUR367 per laptop, 3 people: ~EUR362 and 4 people ~EUR359. Compared to ~EUR385 on your own.*

*I could be wrong in my calculations and they are dependent on exchange rates. And apologies if this is against the rules.

That laptop is available on www.dabs.ie for €348.25 plus €7.53 shipping anywhere in Ireland.

http://www.dabs.ie/products/fujitsu-ah530---p6200---4-gb-500-gb---dvd-rw---win-7-hp-64-bit---15-6--widescreen-led-web-cam-7NHG.html?refs=50420

hotdojumpin

Zzippy wrote: »

That laptop is available on www.dabs.ie for €348.25 plus €7.53 shipping anywhere in Ireland.

http://www.dabs.ie/products/fujitsu-ah530---p6200---4-gb-500-gb---dvd-rw---win-7-hp-64-bit---15-6--widescreen-led-web-cam-7NHG.html?refs=50420

NOOOOO! I see this post just after BT have dispatched my order! I'm going to have to refuse the delivery! Thanks Zzippy and it's free delivery also.