Laptop, netbook, notebook, tablet?

Whispered

Another "what should I buy" thread!

My father wants to give my mother a "new laptop" for Christmas. He gave me a budget of 400 euro max, but if possible I'd like to stay a bit below that because I know that would put major pressure on him.

She would use it for surfing the net, playing games on facebook, listening to music on youtube etc. Very basic use really.

There might be a need to use it for photo's too, but if it works with an external harddrive for storage, that would be fine too.

Any suggestions? I really don't know where to start. At all. Help would be greatly appreciated.

Stheno

Samsung netbook

http://www.currys.ie/Product/SAMSUNG-N-Series-NC110P-101andquot-Netbook-andndash-Black/313704/149

Whispered

Thanks!

Very basic question for you, but would it be as easy as turning it on and off you go?

Stheno

Whispered wrote: »

Thanks!

Very basic question for you, but would it be as easy as turning it on and off you go?

Pretty much, it comes with Windows 7 so that's why it's reduced, but iirc Currys/PCWorld are offering a free upgrade to Windows 8 if you want it.

Should be as easy as switch it on, go through a few minutes of setup, put in your wireless key, and off you go.

Whispered

Ok thanks, is windows 7 just an older system or is there a problem with it. Someone mentioned that it is only compatible with window 7 programmes or something. But to be perfectly honest I don't know what that means!

I just turn on my laptop and surf the net. Nothing complicated.

Stheno

Whispered wrote: »

Ok thanks, is windows 7 just an older system or is there a problem with it. Someone mentioned that it is only compatible with window 7 programmes or something. But to be perfectly honest I don't know what that means!

I just turn on my laptop and surf the net. Nothing complicated.

Windows 7 came out in 2007, Windows 8 is an upgrade to it that came out a couple of months ago.

Most programmes are written to be compatible with multiple versions of operating systems and given your mum's requirements I'd not be overly concerned about it.

shocksy

Stheno wrote: »

Windows 7 came out in 2007.

Windows 7 was introduced in 2009

Whispered

Final silly question - when you get a laptop/pc with windows, does that mean it has basic things on it, like word etc?

Camo22

I have the Ipad 3 and love it. First apple bar the iphone.

I think I would like to get the mac book pro but I find I never use my laptop anymore because of the Ipad. Anyone think it's worth spending the monies on?

Jarren

Whispered wrote: »

Final silly question - when you get a laptop/pc with windows, does that mean it has basic things on it, like word etc?

Go for a lappy then.

It will do the job just fine for basic use only ,including Microsoft Office package .

Personally speaking I purchased a lappy a few months ago from Argos that developped a hardware fault the same day it was purchased.

Returned the following day to the store and after explaining and showing the problem I had my money back straight away .

So defo I would recommend purchasing a lappy from Argos .

Whispered

Camo22 wrote: »

I have the Ipad 3 and love it. First apple bar the iphone.

I think I would like to get the mac book pro but I find I never use my laptop anymore because of the Ipad. Anyone think it's worth spending the monies on?

I have just been looking at tablets online, I've no idea how they work though. Is it simply to get online with? And again, are they easy to use. My mother would be about as technologically able as I am (so not very!).

Thanks Jarren, Argos has a really good returns policy actually so that's a good idea!

Camo22

Whispered wrote: »

I have just been looking at tablets online, I've no idea how they work though. Is it simply to get online with? And again, are they easy to use. My mother would be about as technologically able as I am (so not very!).

Thanks Jarren, Argos has a really good returns policy actually so that's a good idea!

Well worth it if you do spend most of your time online, can do everything a computer can if you are not working..

I would highly recommed. You'll get the hang of it in no time and like me will leave the laptop/desktop gathering dust..

Skerries

have a look at this thread i started for the Samsung Tab 2 10.1" tablet which normally is about €360 in shops

also there is another thread on the smaller 7" version and you can get the rebate from the link in the top link

Gurgle

Whispered wrote: »

Final silly question - when you get a laptop/pc with windows, does that mean it has basic things on it, like word etc?

Nope. That's Microsoft Office, not part of windows.

To narrow down your choice:

Laptop = Notebook
Netbook = Very small Notebook (Generally woefully slow and painful to use)
Forget about Netbooks is my first piece of advice.

Tablet = Oversized smartphone

She would use it for surfing the net, playing games on facebook, listening to music on youtube etc

For most of this, a touchscreen only interface is perfectly fine. A decent tablet will do her for years.

But if she tends to regularly type more than ~20 words in a row then go for a notebook instead.

Whispered

Just off the phone to her and in my deviousness I learned that she would actually love a tablet. So now, any suggestions for a good, but not too expensive tablet please.

Really appreciate the help btw. Thank you!

Why would you think this is so reduced in price?

Gurgle

Whispered wrote: »

Why would you think this is so reduced in price?

Blackberry products induce feelings of... dubiousness...
Go with Android, its the de facto standard OS for tablets. And Samsung are the leaders in Android products.

I recommend this.

Camo22

Whispered wrote: »

Just off the phone to her and in my deviousness I learned that she would actually love a tablet. So now, any suggestions for a good, but not too expensive tablet please.

Really appreciate the help btw. Thank you!

Why would you think this is so reduced in price?

Ipad is the only way IMO. You can pick up and Ipad 2 for cheaper as the 3(maybe even 4) is out or the new Ipad mini got good reviews, cheaper and does everything the regular Ipad does

Gurgle

Camo22 wrote: »

Ipad is the only way IMO. You can pick up and Ipad 2 for cheaper as the 3(maybe even 4) is out or the new Ipad mini got good reviews, cheaper and does everything the regular Ipad does

I guess if you don't care about performance, cost, compatibility (good luck with facebook games), screen resolution etc....

Camo22

Gurgle wrote: »

I guess if you don't care about performance, cost, compatibility (good luck with facebook games), screen resolution etc....

I don't know that much about it as I mentioned but if you're like me and use it lightly for internet, movies, music etc then it does the job great. Also like the apple eco system - itunes etc.

Do you have any other sugesstions and what are the real differneces?

cookie1977

Whispered wrote: »

Just off the phone to her and in my deviousness I learned that she would actually love a tablet. So now, any suggestions for a good, but not too expensive tablet please.

Really appreciate the help btw. Thank you!

Why would you think this is so reduced in price?

The playbook is a bargain at that price. It runs a lot of the latest games and you can add most android apps to the device too. That device was 699 at one point. It's been reduced for a number of reasons (yes it wasn't the hottest of sellers but the company has already written off the loss so they're happy to charge so little for it now). I've got one and it's excellent.

You might find this thread useful:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=80572553

Dont forget at that price it comes with a hdmi port so you can plug it straight into a tv and watch movies or play games via the TV. Not may (if any) tablets at that price with that storage come with a hdmi port. Any questions fire away.

Gurgle

cookie1977 wrote: »

It runs a lot of the latest games and you can add most android apps to the device too.

Cool, I was not aware of that.

@OP, buy this thing

Whispered

Decision almost made. I just wanted to check if, besides the memory, is there a big difference between the one I mentioned earlier and this one?

http://www.harveynorman.ie/easypix-750.html

Thanks.

cookie1977

Whispered wrote: »

Decision almost made. I just wanted to check if, besides the memory, is there a big difference between the one I mentioned earlier and this one?

http://www.harveynorman.ie/easypix-750.html

Thanks.

Between the above and the playbook or the above and something else?

cookie1977

Playbook - Dual Core, Easypix - single core
Playbook res. - 600 x 1024 pixels, Easypic res. - 800 x 480
Playbook ram - 1GB, Easypix 512mbs
Playbook cameras - 5MP pixel rear autofocus/ 3MP front (Capable of HD Recording), Easypix - 0.3 MP (No HD)
Playbook Battery - 5300 mAh, Easypix - 3000mAh
Playbook - HDMI port, Easypix - no HDMI
Playbook - no memory card reader, Easypix - Micro SD cards up to 32GB

Whispered

Sorry, the playbook. Huge difference!

Thanks Cookie.

EDIT: Got the playbook yesterday. Thanks for all of the advice!!