Laptop Advice for Future Post Grad Student :)

Laura Steph

Hey all!

I'm looking for a new laptop for my Masters in September but want to buy asap.
Just need the basics like Word et al, a decent memory allowance, a cd-rom drive/iTunes. I'm a techie novice as you can probably can tell! I would also like to keep it below a 15" laptop so it can fit into a large handbag/small backpack.

Any advice would be really appreciate from anyone that has a good, reliable laptop or that generally has a good knowledge of reliable and stylish laptops. Also, NO DELLS, have had a poor experience with them, especially the battery life.

Thanks a mill!
Laura

Jarren

Hi Laura

What is your budget?

Laura Steph

Laura Steph wrote: »

Hey all!

I'm looking for a new laptop for my Masters in September but want to buy asap.
Just need the basics like Word et al, a decent memory allowance, a cd-rom drive/iTunes. I'm a techie novice as you can probably can tell! I would also like to keep it below a 15" laptop so it can fit into a large handbag/small backpack.

Any advice would be really appreciate from anyone that has a good, reliable laptop or that generally has a good knowledge of reliable and stylish laptops. Also, NO DELLS, have had a poor experience with them, especially the battery life.

Thanks a mill!
Laura

check out the lenovo that I recommended in this thread.
13.3 inch, light, fairly powerful, amazing price of £362 sterling.

no cd / dvd drive but you don't need that anymore and can buy a usb one on ebay for 20 euro or so.

edit - adding link!

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056662038

Laura Steph

Hi Jarren,
I'd like to keep it under €1,000, inclusive of insurance and software if possible.

Cheers Glasso, I'll check it out!

If anyone else has any advice, please share
Also, if anyone knows anything about MacBooks, Samsung or Sony Vivos too!

Laura Steph

Laura Steph wrote: »

Hi Jarren,
I'd like to keep it under €1,000, inclusive of insurance and software if possible.

Cheers Glasso, I'll check it out!

If anyone else has any advice, please share
Also, if anyone knows anything about MacBooks, Samsung or Sony Vivos too!

that's now gone up to £412 but still a good deal. would recommend adding extra 2gb ram bringing it to £440 or so but very good value.

won't have any software except windows on it but if you need say an office suite openoffice is free and will product word, excel docs etc. otherwise you can buy full microsoft office for €70 or so from softwareforstudents.ie - you can just buy and download it when you get the laptop.

Jarren

That one recommended by Glasso is atually an excellent choice.
Sony are usually pretty expensive for the specs so I'd like you to have a look at this Sammy.

Samsung Series 5 530U3B 13.3 inch Ultrabook Laptop (Intel Core i5 2467M 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 16GB SSD, LAN, WLAN, BT, Webcam, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit)



Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features
Ultra performance - large storage, 20 second boot up and expandable and upgradeable features make this ultrabook as flexible as you are
Ultra portability - remarkably thin and light, and with a sophisticatedly simple metallic aluminium exterior and a lightweight and durable fiber glass underside means that the Series 5 can go anywhere
Ultra display - Samsung superior anti-reflective display technology means that every photo, video, website and document just looks stunning
Technical Details

Model Name: Series 5 ULTRA
Part Number: NP530U3B-A01UK
Operating System: Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i5-2467M 1.60 Ghz (3M Cache)
Main Chipset: Intel HM65
System Memory: 4 Gb
Memory Slot: 1 x DIMM Slot
Display: 13.3 inch HD LED LCD Non-Gloss
Graphics: Integrated
Sound: HD Audio
Sound Effect: SoundAlive
Speaker: 4 W Stereo Speaker (2 W x 2)
Integrated Camera: 1.3MP HD Camera
Storage: 500 Gb HDD, 16 Gb SSD
ODD: None
Wired Ethernet LAN: 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Wireless LAN: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6230, 2 x 2 802.11 abg/n (up to 300 Mbps), Widi Support
Bluetooth: Bluetooth v3.0
I/O Port: VGA Adapter, HDMI, Headphone-out/Mic Combo, Internal Mic, 1 x USB 3.0 (Sleep-and-Charge), 2 x USB 2.0, 4-in-1 (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC), RJ45, DC-In
Security: BIOS Boot Up Password, HDD Password, Samsung Recovery Solution, Norton Internet Security (60-day Trial), Absolute Data Protection (90-day Trial)
AC Adapter: 40 Watt
Battery: 4 Cell, 45 Wh
Dimensions (WxDxH): 315.1 x 218.9 x 14.9 - 17.6 mm
Weight: 1.43 Kg

.
The CPU is not the best but I wouldn't expect to be in fairness

For your needs this would be the best choice exept the cd drive:(

OK

The next one

http://outlet.ie.lenovo.com/store/lenovooe/en_IE/pd/productID.251631200

much better CPU,built quality,not as stylish.

avalon68

I have previously owned a sony viao and I loved it - really great screen, and great sound for a laptop. I currently own a macbook pro and without a doubt its the best computer I have ever owned. Its almost 3 yrs old, still as fast as the day I got it, i think just 1 blue screen event in 3 yrs, battery life still fantastic - that went on my sony within a year - had to be plugged in all the time, but didnt other me too much at the time. Macs are more expensive upfront, but I dont expect to have to upgrade mine for many years to come barring it getting stolen or physically damaged, whereas I previously had a compaq (just over a year), Siemens (again just over a year), HP (less than a year......just got a refund as it was in for repair more than I had it), dell (1.5 ish years....eventually just slowed down so much I couldnt take it anymore!) and the sony (probably had for 2.5 ish years before it started overheating and eventually bit the dust). I may just have been (extremely!) unlucky with my previous computers, but I really didnt expect to have to keep replacing them every year or two......so I think I will be sticking with macs from now on!

Mance Rayder

I recommend the Toshiba L75 Satellite series. I got mine from Littlewoods for €360.

2 GB Ram
Dual Core Pentium B950 @2.10 Ghz or i3 processor (optional)
win7 64bit installed
250 gig hd
HD graphics

Unless you want to play the latest games then this laptop is perfect for you. I got this laptop around the same time my Friend got a Vaio for 2x the price and he feels like he over paid, and wishes he bought the Toshiba as it does exactly the same job .

I did add 2GB more RAM to it (not that It needed it , I just happened to have the RAM ) . I use it for study

CiscoStudent

CiscoStudent wrote: »

I recommend the Toshiba L75 Satellite series. I got mine from Littlewoods for €360.

2 GB Ram
Dual Core Pentium B950 @2.10 Ghz or i3 processor (optional)
win7 64bit installed
250 gig hd
HD graphics

Unless you want to play the latest games then this laptop is perfect for you. I got this laptop around the same time my Friend got a Vaio for 2x the price and he feels like he over paid, and wishes he bought the Toshiba as it does exactly the same job .

I did add 2GB more RAM to it (not that It needed it , I just happened to have the RAM ) . I use it for study

too big and heavy for her needs tho....

@Jarren how much does the Samsung ultrabook cost?

Jarren

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007G9G75U/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1339610268&sr=8-1

631 pounds including delivery

Jarren

Jarren wrote: »

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B007G9G75U/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1339610268&sr=8-1

631 pounds including delivery

very nice machine - if you can spare the cash OP it's a good option. don't worry about lack of dvd drive - most laptops don't have them now. cheap in any case to buy an external usb one that doesn't need it's own power supply.