Recommend a Laptop please.

Nopeare

Hi I'm looking at buying a new laptop for myself and just looking for recommendations from people that know something about them (I'm fairly clueless when it comes to specs etc). I would be hoping to spend around the €800 mark, I would prefer less but if there was something that was an amazing deal I could probably push €1000 at a scrape

I would use it for browsing, a bit of work on microsoft office, itunes (all kept on my external hard drive) and then I get the new football manager every year and play my old age of empires games which I don't think would have much effect.

From reading through a few threads most people are saying to buy from laptopsdirect, are they good to deal with?

*Edit: I would probably prefer a Samsung or Sony from past experience have used them and like both, but open to other suggestions.

NothingMan

I just received my laptop from then last week. I was a little apprehensive because they have some bad press online but all delivery related.
Anyway, mine took 6 days to despatch even though the laptop and bag were marked as in stock but once they despatched they arrived the next day.

Anyway, if you want to browse, use iTunes and play low quality games then €800 to €1000 is insane money. Any standard laptop will do what you're asking.

What about size? Mines a 13.3" and maybe would be too small for you. What you want doesn't require a high end processor or dedicated graphics so really all that will push your price up is build quality, do you care about the speaker quality? Is a high res screen important?

Merl1n

laptopsdirect or good value

I would avoid Sony Ive dealt with them a lot and they have a terrible warranty process

HP and Toshiba in my opinion are best good built quality and great warranty service
Toshiba have a warranty center in Dublin

Again my opinion Windows 7 is better then windows 8

If you know someone who has an Irish vat number they can order from laptopsdirect ex vat might safe you a bit

Nopeare

NothingMan wrote: »

I just received my laptop from then last week. I was a little apprehensive because they have some bad press online but all delivery related.
Anyway, mine took 6 days to despatch even though the laptop and bag were marked as in stock but once they despatched they arrived the next day.

Anyway, if you want to browse, use iTunes and play low quality games then €800 to €1000 is insane money. Any standard laptop will do what you're asking.

What about size? Mines a 13.3" and maybe would be too small for you. What you want doesn't require a high end processor or dedicated graphics so really all that will push your price up is build quality, do you care about the speaker quality? Is a high res screen important?

Yea I'm not sure of them only know from reading about them on here. I have only ever owned 2 laptops one bought from DID and the other off a friend of my fathers who works with computers, so not exactly certain of buying online.

Its good to know that is much to spend at least its a few quid saved:D but still would prefer to spend a bit extra and get something good that will last.

Size I'm not overly sure, my current laptop is a lot bigger not sure of the size off hand but I think its around 19", but as I said I'm open to suggestions maybe something in between but I wouldn't rule out 13.3". I wouldn't listen to much music on my computer so the speakers aren't to important. I wouldn't mind a high res screen but if its going to cost a lot more its not vital.

Merl1n wrote: »

laptopsdirect or good value

I would avoid Sony Ive dealt with them a lot and they have a terrible warranty process

HP and Toshiba in my opinion are best good built quality and great warranty service
Toshiba have a warranty center in Dublin

Again my opinion Windows 7 is better then windows 8

If you know someone who has an Irish vat number they can order from laptopsdirect ex vat might safe you a bit

I've heard the new windows 8 is mainly designed towards touchscreens, I haven't used it myself is there much difference or just the layout of it?

I haven't used HP or Toshiba is there one in particular you would recommend?

NothingMan

Nopeare wrote: »

Size I'm not overly sure, my current laptop is a lot bigger not sure of the size off hand but I think its around 19", but as I said I'm open to suggestions maybe something in between but I wouldn't rule out 13.3". I wouldn't listen to much music on my computer so the speakers aren't to important. I wouldn't mind a high res screen but if its going to cost a lot more its not vital.

This page here has a few good laptops between €400 and €500. All i5 processors which is more than you need and will provide some future proofing. RAM can always be uprgaded as can Hard Drives but the standard 500GB should be loads.

They are mostly 1366x768 screens. That's not great but honestly I think it's fine for a screen that size.

I've heard the new windows 8 is mainly designed towards touchscreens, I haven't used it myself is there much difference or just the layout of it?

My new laptop has win 8. I hated it for the first hour then quickly fell inlove with it. Doesn't need to be a touch screen to get the effect of the new layouts but a multitouch mouse pad would be highly recommended but a lot are nowadays.

I haven't used HP or Toshiba is there one in particular you would recommend?

Both great makes, I also would recommend Acer. Usually a little cheaper but they are a good quality build and usually, in my opinion, look a little nicer.

That page has a few options. Have a look and get a better idea of what you want in that price range. If you do want to spend more you can decide if you want more bells and whistles or better specs.

Nopeare

NothingMan wrote: »

This page here has a few good laptops between €400 and €500. All i5 processors which is more than you need and will provide some future proofing. RAM can always be uprgaded as can Hard Drives but the standard 500GB should be loads.

Nothing showed up did you mean to link a page??

I did look at.

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Samsung_350V_-_Core_i3-3110M_6GB_500GB_HDD_DVDRW_Shared_Win_8_15.6_screen._NP350V5C-A08UK/version.asp

or

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Samsung_350-_Core_i5-3210M_6GB_Ram_750GB_HDD_DVDRW_15.6_Screen_Win_8__NP350V5C-A0EUK/version.asp

What would you make of either of them?

there are some of the Acer ultrabooks around €500 - €550. you were saying acer were good

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_S5-391_Ultrabook_Windows_8_Core_i5_-_Black_NX.RYXEK.004/version.asp

or

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_S3-391_Windows_8_Core_i5_Ultrabook_-_Gold_-_Champagne_NX.M1FEK.004/version.asp

are they worth the extra? or is their main difference from the standard laptop just size

Edit: If you were buying one for yourself, for what my use would be what would you look at? thanks for the help btw

NothingMan

Well similar specs to your 2nd option is this toshiba.

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Toshiba_C855-1RT_Intel_Core_i5_6Gb_640Gb_15.6in__Silver_PSCBWE-01Q00NEN/version.asp

Sorry, on mobile so hope that link is ok.

Another slightly less ram and smaller hard drive is this.
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_E1_-Intel_Core_i5-3110__4GB_500GB__Win_8__NX.M09EK.002/version.asp

I don't think you need to break 500 really. Samsung are very pretty though.

Any i5 will be a good processor for what you want. Can't go wrong with more ram but not always worth it if it's a lot more expensive.

For games I would be staying at at least 15" screen. I would probably play the odd app game on mine but for age of empires and football manage I'd want a bit more screen.

Nopeare

NothingMan wrote: »

Well similar specs to your 2nd option is this toshiba.

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Toshiba_C855-1RT_Intel_Core_i5_6Gb_640Gb_15.6in__Silver_PSCBWE-01Q00NEN/version.asp

Sorry, on mobile so hope that link is ok.

Another slightly less ram and smaller hard drive is this.
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_E1_-Intel_Core_i5-3110__4GB_500GB__Win_8__NX.M09EK.002/version.asp

I don't think you need to break 500 really. Samsung are very pretty though.

Any i5 will be a good processor for what you want. Can't go wrong with more ram but not always worth it if it's a lot more expensive.

For games I would be staying at at least 15" screen. I would probably play the odd app game on mine but for age of empires and football manage I'd want a bit more screen.

Links worked perfect that time thanks. Yea I am fond of the samsung laptop I have, but it has being banged around a bit from college over the last couple of years so time for a new one I think, now that I'm finished and it won't be dragged everywhere.

What would you say then as your preference (don't worry I'm not going to hold you to this and come back in a year moaning you recommended this and its after breaking etc.)
1. The toshiba you linked
2. My second Samsung link
3. My first Samsung link

Edit: I checked my laptop it is the Samsung R730 (its specs aren't far off some of them)
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Samsung_R730_Windows_7_Laptop_in_Red-Silver__NP-R730-JB08UK/version.asp

NothingMan

If you like the Samsung then I'd go with the 2nd. There's a good jump from the i3 to the i5 and worth the price and the 50% extra storage too. Worth €70 anyway.

Missed your comment about the ultrabooks. That's what I got.
http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_S3-391_Ultrabook_Windows_8_Core_i5_-_Gold_-_Champagne_NX.M10EK.005/version.asp

Although that was only €601 when I purchaed it last week. I went with the SSD which is a lot smaller and you will need external storage also. But it's blisteringly fast and it's ridiculously small and damn sexy too. The nos SSD one is still very well priced though. And it has a small 20GB SSD inside to boost the start up times from sleep or hibernation.

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Acer_Aspire_S3-391_Windows_8_Core_i5_Ultrabook_-_Gold_-_Champagne_NX.M1FEK.004/version.asp

Screen isn't great though but that wasn't as important as portability to me as I will be heading off travelling again within the year.

Nopeare

Thanks a million for your help nothingman very much appreciated. The one you bought looks class, but I probably don't need it so the extras would mostly be wasted money and then getting another external hard drive.

Its between the Toshiba and the 2nd Samsung, I think.

Best of luck on your travels hope your off somewhere nice, hope to be doing the same in about 12-18 months.