New Laptop for College help!

Monterrey

Hi everyone, i'm looking for some help investing in a new laptop.

Budget is around 500euro but may stretch to 600 if it is too good to ignore. I plan on using it for the usual stuff like watching movies and college work.
I am doing an adult education course in media studies so i would like to be able to use things like adobe audition and photoshop.

I have developed a big interest in photography so ideally i would like something that could handle photoshop and maybe store a lot of photos.

Mobility is not hugely important.

A decent sized screen - at least 15.6" would be desirable as well as a hdmi port, card reader, and possibly an i3 processor or better. And obviously windows given my budget

I have never actually purchased a laptop before so i don't know the ins and outs of buying online, and i'm not tech savvy(working on it!). So i would prefer to buy it in a store as i don't know how warrantees, repairs etc would work from an online company I live in Galway if that makes any difference.

Hope i have given enough info, all help appreciated
Thanks guys

Torqay

Monterrey wrote: »

So i would prefer to buy it in a store

Well, you'll have to pay a premium for that privilege.

Have a look at PC World then, they offer a bunch of pretty decent Core i3-based laptops for under 500.

For 549 you'll get this Lenovo with a 2 Gen Core i5 (it doesn't say much about the specs but from other reviews, I suposse this model does have an HDMI port). Decent brand and with that processor you're on the safe side re Photoshop.

Monterrey

Thanks, do you think it's worth paying the extra to buy it instore? Do they just sell you a warranty same as the online companies and send it off to them when you bring it in?

I am open to the idea of buying online i'm just afraid of something going wrong. I should have mentioned reliability as a preference because if anything happens this one i won't be able to afford to replace it for a LONG time!

Sync

Monterrey wrote: »

Thanks, do you think it's worth paying the extra to buy it instore? Do they just sell you a warranty same as the online companies and send it off to them when you bring it in?

I am open to the idea of buying online i'm just afraid of something going wrong. I should have mentioned reliability as a preference because if anything happens this one i won't be able to afford to replace it for a LONG time!

I have owned a few Toshiba laptops, never had a problem with them... Dell have a very good warranty service, but I wouldn't buy another one

Buying online, as long as it's from a reputable seller you will have a guarantee with them... and as for a warranty, most brands give a 1 year manufacturer warranty (if it broke, you would have to send it back to the manufacturer (dell/toshiba/hp etc..)

Check out komplett.ie / elara.ie / saveonlaptops.co.uk :pac:

_AVALANCHE_

Monterrey wrote: »

Thanks, do you think it's worth paying the extra to buy it instore? Do they just sell you a warranty same as the online companies and send it off to them when you bring it in?

I am open to the idea of buying online i'm just afraid of something going wrong. I should have mentioned reliability as a preference because if anything happens this one i won't be able to afford to replace it for a LONG time!

Not only is it vastly more expensive buying instore (most of the time) their conditions are WORSE if you have a problem after!

Currys for example, if your laptop breaks after 21 days, you are off down the repair route with at least a two week wait to get it back.

Amazon for example, give you 30 days and (I think) will send you a replacement.

The CPU and RAM do most of the work in Photoshop but if your're getting into it in a big way you'll need a Graphics Card to do this advanced stuff. You prob be fine without one.

Samsung from Komplett for €615 (Komplett have Forum on Boards here.)

Dell have this

Inspiron N5110 (FCG68)

Processor 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i5-2430M processor (2.40 GHz, 3M cache)

Memory 4096MB 1333MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [1x4096]

Keyboard Internal Keyboard

Hard Drive 750GB (5400RPM) Serial ATA Hard Drive

Primary Battery Primary 6-cell 48 WHr Lithium Ion battery

Video Card 1 GB nVidia GeForce GT 525M

CD ROM/DVD ROM8X DVD+/-RW Drive

WirelessIntel® Centrino® Wireless-N 1030, Bluetooth v3.0+HS

CablePower Cord : 1M

LCD15.6" (40 cm) High Definition (1366X768) WLED with True-Life

Camera Integrated 1.0 Mega Pixel Widescreen HD (1280 x 720) camera
Dell System Media Kit Inspiron N5110 Resource DVD (Diagnostic & Drivers)

for €584 if you use this code at the checkout 64BGNTH9G3GL2Q taken from PromotionalCodes.ie


Asus from saveonlaptops (perfectly safe site, been used on here for years) for €610, i5, 8GB RAM.

No point me linking to Lappys on Amazon, for some reason they are carrying very little stock of each Model lately and it'd probably be sold out by time you click on link.

Sync

This works out at about €490 including shipping
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_L750-1RJ_1148100.html

i3 processor, and nvidia dedicated graphics...

Monterrey

Wow some great feedback there thanks everyone

I am now absolutely open to the idea of buying online so i'm sifting through the websites mentioned below. And given the prices that are coming up i'm confident i'll find something suitable.

An i5 processor would be great as well as a dedicated graphics card so i'm trying to narrow it down to that. I tried to set up an account just there on saveonlaptops but i cant seem to register without a postcode?

Also i'm wondering if i will be able to purchase from the uk without a credit card as i only have laser.

@avalanche- at the moment i'm just starting off with photography but its possible that i could be pursuing it farther by doing an advanced or even a degree course in a couple of years, it's quite likely that i will.

Once again thanks everyone already for your efforts much they are much appreciated

_AVALANCHE_

Monterrey wrote: »

Wow some great feedback there thanks everyone

I am now absolutely open to the idea of buying online so i'm sifting through the websites mentioned below. And given the prices that are coming up i'm confident i'll find something suitable.

An i5 processor would be great as well as a dedicated graphics card so i'm trying to narrow it down to that. I tried to set up an account just there on saveonlaptops but i cant seem to register without a postcode?

I'm pretty sure you use 0000 as your Postcode but start a new thread to be sure.

Monterrey wrote: »

Also i'm wondering if i will be able to purchase from the uk without a credit card as i only have laser.

Their's a good few prepaid options now.

O2 Moneycard for example.
Multiple Top Up needed though as they are a money grabbing shower of ****s.

How do I use my O2 Money card online?


When you’re buying something online, select to pay by Visa. Enter the 16-digit O2 Money card number and expiry date on the front of the card, and the 3-digit security code from the back of the card. The 3-digit security code is often called the CVV2.
If the details you enter are correct and there is money on the card to pay for the transaction, the transaction will be authorised.
For non-Euro transactions, a conversion fee of 2.75% of the transaction amount is charged.

Neteller pre-paid credit card

Start a thread in Banking & Insurance & Pensions bout prepaid cards and someone may be able to point you in a better direction.

Or ask somone with a credit/debit card to buy it for ya.

_AVALANCHE_

LOL

There's a new thread asking just that on page 1.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056574201

Bump that if no one replies to it by the time you see this.

Edit:Just incase, by bump I mean post a reply with "Bump" in it. It puts it back on pg1.

Monterrey

Thanks avalanche i'm working on those accounts!

What do ye think of this guys? Only thing i'm not sure about is the graphics, whether or not it's a dedicated card?

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/20098654/toshiba_15_6_c660_25u_i5_2430m_4gb_500gb/details.aspx

_AVALANCHE_

Monterrey wrote: »

Thanks avalanche i'm working on those accounts!

What do ye think of this guys? Only thing i'm not sure about is the graphics, whether or not it's a dedicated card?

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/20098654/toshiba_15_6_c660_25u_i5_2430m_4gb_500gb/details.aspx

It is but the integrated Intel graphics are actually ranked higher!

(slightly)

Monterrey

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80005046/toshiba_15_6_c660_1n3_i5_2410_4gb_320gb/details.aspx

This one has them i think... but i'm not sure if there's a hdmi port!

Crystalboy

You should get something with a lot of ram for running Photoshop because a lot of the time in college I'll need to get resources for using in my photography course[/U] Also watch out for touch screens, they might look cool but they cause problems.

Check this build out:


M2A-VM AM2+ MOBO with x1200 integrated graphics
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ @ 1.9GHZ
Crucial Ballistix 4x1GB DDR2
1TB Caviar Green HDD
Thermaltake V4 case
Win7 64bit

Cost? 40 euro, no joke.

_AVALANCHE_

Monterrey wrote: »

http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/15_16_inch/80005046/toshiba_15_6_c660_1n3_i5_2410_4gb_320gb/details.aspx

This one has them i think... but i'm not sure if there's a hdmi port!

You'd imagine it would in this day and age but Toshiba page with spec doesn't have it listed.

Translated

1 × DC-in
1 x external monitor
1 x RJ-45
1 x external microphone
1 x headphone (stereo)
1 x integrated VGA Web Camera with built-in microphone
2 (Right 2) x USB 2.0

I'd go for Torqays one above^^^ (post 2) before it anyway, few others to look at...

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-784459&pages=1&prod=784459&brands=SONY&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-928107&pages=1&prod=928107&brands=TOSHIBA&image=

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/ASUS_K53E-SX069V_1120764.html

Good specced MSI but I don't know enough about them to recommend it.

if your budget can stretch to it I'd get the €610 Asus above but reading up on specs for Photoshop you'll be fine with i5 and 4GB RAM (though more the merrier, 7200rpm HDD would be nice to but theirs not alot of them around).

You could have 32GB RAM and still max it out depending on how you set it up and if you'd a severe lack of patience!

_AVALANCHE_

Crystalboy wrote: »

You should get something with a lot of ram for running Photoshop because a lot of the time in college I'll need to get resources for using in my photography course[/U] Also watch out for touch screens, they might look cool but they cause problems.

Check this build out:


M2A-VM AM2+ MOBO with x1200 integrated graphics
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ @ 1.9GHZ
Crucial Ballistix 4x1GB DDR2
1TB Caviar Green HDD
Thermaltake V4 case
Win7 64bit

Cost? 40 euro, no joke.

-_-

Monterrey

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-928107&pages=1&prod=928107&brands=TOSHIBA&image=

i like the look of this i'm a click away from buying it...

Jarren

Monterrey wrote: »

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-928107&pages=1∏=928107&brands=TOSHIBAℑ=

i like the look of this i'm a click away from buying it...

Grab one from Amazon.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005V7QG0K/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1331663601&sr=8-3

Monterrey

Jarren wrote: »

Grab one from Amazon.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005V7QG0K/ref=mp_s_a_3?qid=1331663601&sr=8-3

Thanks but only 4euro in the difference!

Jarren

It's about the Amazon superb customer service when the things go wrong.

Monterrey

I've spent a long time(too long i should be studying!) researching so had to make a decision and i've gone with Avalanche's Toshiba L750-16Z from Powercity, thanks for that Avalanche

And thanks everyone for the advice, I would've been lost without it, so it's much appreciated.

_AVALANCHE_

Monterrey wrote: »

I've spent a long time(too long i should be studying!) researching so had to make a decision and i've gone with Avalanche's Toshiba L750-16Z from Powercity, thanks for that Avalanche

No probs.:)