Help please - new laptop requuired, 500euro or under

Plek Trum

Hi guys,

my laptop (chunky Toshiba) is old and ready for bed and I urgently need a new one. It's a total minefield out there for someone like me with limited tech-savy :rolleyes:

My requirements are:

Large storage capacity
Fast processor
Windows (Word / Excel etc)
Built in webcam
Decent sound.



I would really REALLY appreciate any links, either walk in-shop or on-line that you would recommend. I know Argos don't reveal detailed spec's in terms of generation and don't want to get stung with something I'll be looking at upgrading in a year or two.

Impress me ... pretty please?

Torqay

Toshiba Satellte Pro L850 (Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD)) €485 at LD

Core i5 is as good as it gets for 500 yoyos. Maybe not the biggest HDD but the sound is good, which is more important. A HDD can be upgraded, crappy speakers not (unless you get a set of external speakers).

And forget about Word, Excel, etc at this budget. You'll have to buy MS Office separately... or resort to some free alternative (Softmaker, Kingsoft, Libre/Open Office).

Plek Trum

Cheers Torqay - do you feel thats the best value one out there in my price range. Why no Microsoft office (not standard on Windows 8 Home??)

Torqay

Plek Trum wrote: »

Cheers Torqay - do you feel thats the best value one out there in my price range.

Yes, the Tosh is pretty good value.

Plek Trum wrote: »

Why no Microsoft office (not standard on Windows 8 Home??)

When you buy a laptop, you'll find most likely a trial version of MS Office pre-installed. When the trial period has expired, you can buy a license or subscribe to MS Office 360. Or use something else, there are alternatives (which are more or less compatible to Microsoft's document standard).

Supercell

Torqay, I'm looking something similar for the same budget except i'm not interested in the software or the graphics really. Its for my ongoing Vmware and Server 2012 studies which broadly need the same hardware requirements - 64 Bit , Intel VT-x or AMD RVI, and NX/XD .
Pretty sure all the Core i CPU's should support these (correct me if I'm wrong), would you recommend the same Laptop at this price point for that? i'll be looking to upgrade the ram to 6GB minimum or probably 8gb.

Torqay

@ Supercell: All mobile Core processors of the current generation support VT-x (but not VT-d).

If you can stretch you budget somewhat and if you already have an operating system, for 600 yoyos you'll get the PCS Genesis IV with a Core i7 3630QM, 8 GB RAM and 500 GB HDD (incl. delivery and 3 yr standard warranty). This model can be upgraded to 16 GB RAM and also has a second HDD bay.

Plek Trum

The laptop I have at home is an older Toshiba Sattelite - bit on the heavy side and quite bulky, I imagine this will be too. Anything else (just in case) that may be more convenient to use in my specs and price range?

Balmed Out

http://www.laptopsdirect.ie/Lenovo_Z580_Red_-_Core_i5-3210M_8GB_1TB_15.6_Win8_DVDRW__M81GDUK/version.asp

at 573 it stretches the budget but may be a good option. i5 1tb hd 8gb ram and a dedicated graphics card - NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M (dont know if they are much better then standard though). Lenovo too which are apparently one of the more reliable.

Torqay

Same model with Intel HD4000 and a slightly faster processor costs €560. The Z580 has pretty good speakers too.

Plek Trum

Looks good, will check them both out, thanks guys, appreciate it!

Balmed Out

Plek Trum wrote: »

Looks good, will check them both out, thanks guys, appreciate it!

theres a dell spring clearance sale with a 17r inspiron i5, 4gb ram, 750 gb,1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics.
its sale price is 599 but a quick google will get you a 12 % off code to bring it to about 527.

it has a "17.3in High Definition+ (900p) WLED Display with TrueLife" display which beyond being bigger then standard I dont understand. Is that chearer then a regular display? Dont know whats the max ram it can have either.

Torqay would you know which is better graphics wise the integrated intel 4000 or the gt 630? is there much of a difference?

MJ5

Hi all

I would like your advice. I want to get a new laptop. I would love to get an Apple laptop but this is my problem all my docs/ publishing files are done on Microsoft 2007 version windows PC. Is it better stay with mirosoft windows ?

I'm not at all computer savvy.

Thanks for the advice!