HP laptop for home use

Snowshower

Would be grateful if someone with a bit of experience could give me some advice. Old computer is Windows XP and is too slow.... tried all the various deleting etc., but still the same. Looked at getting it repaired but too expensive. Have to stay with PC World as have a notebook which is damaged and they will give something towards a new laptop. Just be using it for e-mails, word processing etc., nothing major.

Attached are the details of what was recommended to us:

HP Windows 8 - 15.6"
Memory: 6GB
Hard Drive: 750GB
AMD E2-1800processor
Graphics: HD 7340 Graphics, up to 3GB graphics sys memory.

Cost: €419.99
Ms Office, virus 500GB cloud and set up - €150 extra.

Don't really understand some of the above just quoting from a photocopy given to us. Also, is it worth getting the Coverplan: 2 yr: €169
3 yr: €199

Thanks

yoyo

Moved from Comp & Tech.

riclad

if this PC is for home use,
PAY 419 ,euro, not worth paying cover plan you get 12months gaurantee.
Unless you need it,dont get ms office,
YOU can download antivirus free ,avast antivirus .
do you need 500gig cloud online storage,
HOW Long does it last 1 year, 2 years.
up to 3gig system memory i think means video ram on the grahics card.
You can get free word processing programs, libreoffice etc

I,D get a more basic graphics card with 1gig video ram, and get a larger hardrive,
eg 1000gig or more.

no point in paying 350 euro plus for msoffice,cloud,
cover plan ,its a waste of money.
Unless its a pc for business and you can claim tax credits for it.

riclad

unless you are a gamer , 3d, cad designer ,video editor, 1gig video ram is fine.
eg ram on the video ,graphics card .

GarIT

Processor in that is terrible, it would be very slow. Also I wouldn't trust HP they have extreme reliability issues. And PC world offers the least value of any computer store in Ireland, try Argos, they offer miles better value for money on computers.

That laptop is terrible value for money, check Argos, look for the cheapest laptop with an i3 processor and 2GB+ of ram, 4GB is much better if its in your budget, you don't need anything more than a 250GB hard drive, unless you have literally a million+ pictures or 250+ full length movies that you want to store.

Just a side note, PC world with any sort of discount (or the fake sales they make up) is much more expensive than Argos. Also, I know a few places that could sort your computer and get it runny like its nearly new for around €100.

This laptop is 4 times as powerful as the one you posted http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5089105/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%252C%2BPCs%2Band%2Bphones%7C14418968/c_2/3%7C19780850%7CLaptops%2Band%2Bnetbooks%7C14419039/c_3/4%7Ccat_14419039%7CLaptops%7C14419040.htm

riclad

http://www.pcworld.ie/PRODUCT/TOSHIBA-Satellite-C8501NU-156andrdquo-Laptop/314594/104.7

i think this is a better laptop,
more ram,bigger hardrive,
I Think toshiba is better built, more reliable than hp.

HE,S getting a trade in,so has to buy a laptop from pcworld.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

http://www.pcworld.ie/PRODUCT/TOSHIBA-Satellite-C8501NU-156andrdquo-Laptop/314594/104.7

i think this is a better laptop,
more ram,bigger hardrive,
I Think toshiba is better built, more reliable than hp.

HE,S getting a trade in,so has to buy a laptop from pcworld.

Still a cr*p processor. What good do you think more ram or a bigger hard drive do exactly? Ram is something you need to have enough of, if you have enough having even more is of no benefit. A hard drive is storage space, why pay for a warehouse when you only need to store a few pictures and documents?

But yes the Toshiba is much more reliable and better value than the HP in the OP, but still not nearly as powerful as the laptop I posted from Argos. The Toshiba and the HP would still struggle when doing basic things like browsing the internet. Basically all you need is a modern i3 everything else is irrelevant performance wise.

Why pay more and trade something in, when you could get better value without the trade in elsewhere?

If you are only willing to shop in PC world where they won't fix your laptop when it breaks, and they just send it to the manufacturer and wait 3 months before it comes back not fixed this is the only acceptable laptop in PC world for what you need http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/LENOVO-G570-156andquot-Laptop-Gun-Metal/310323/104.7, its not windows 8 but its PC world so you can't get everything you're looking for.

riclad

IF the laptop is damaged, bought in pc world,
its unlikely he,d get a good deal on a trade in in say,peats, argos
or any other shop.
Email, word processing,web browseing does not require a fast cpu,
my laptop is 1.5ghz single core cpu.
its silent 95 per cent of the time.
faster cpu = more heat= more noise, more cooling needed.lower battery life.

quote,
How much speed do you really need?

The CPU (central processing unit) is responsible for running the operating system and every application you use. A speedier CPU means faster-running programs, but it also means lower battery life and a pricier laptop. Any CPU over 2.0GHz is fast enough to handle all the basic stuff, like playing music, surfing the Web and playing Web games, displaying online video, and managing
email.

like cars not everyone wants a 30k sports car,
A Small hatchback , mini may suit some people.

not everyone needs an iphone ,or galaxy 4 phone ,
more cpus usually = shorter battery life

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

IF the laptop is damaged, bought in pc world,
its unlikely he,d get a good deal on a trade in in say,peats, argos
or any other shop.
Email, word processing,web browseing does not require a fast cpu,
my laptop is 1.5ghz single core cpu.
its silent 95 per cent of the time.
faster cpu = more heat= more noise, more cooling needed.lower battery life.

quote,
How much speed do you really need?

The CPU (central processing unit) is responsible for running the operating system and every application you use. A speedier CPU means faster-running programs, but it also means lower battery life and a pricier laptop. Any CPU over 2.0GHz is fast enough to handle all the basic stuff, like playing music, surfing the Web and playing Web games, displaying online video, and managing
email.

I don't understand what you are saying about trade ins. You are completely wrong about processors. As technology improves things become more efficent, i.e. Just because something is more powerful it does not mean it is less efficient, it all depends on the technology used.

It would be helpful if you mentioned where you are quoting when you quote. However that article is wrong and written be someone without any computing knowledge, GHz and performance have very little relation. I can show you 1.6ghz processors that are much more powerful than 4ghz processors. GHz mattered pre 2005 but now the only thing that matters is how the processor is built. That's why the i series is more powerful than nearly anything else available to the public. I have the numbers to prove it. Just check cpubenchmark.net .

By your logic I have a car from 2004, why spend 30k on a 2013 car when I will sell you my 04 for 29k.

GarIT

There is no point in letting this develop into a petty argument. You dont understand a lot about computers, my suggestion was a lot better value than yours. If you disagree, have any questions or have any more suggestions you want me to look at feel free to ask. As I said before you can check the performance of any laptop by searching for its processor on cpubenchmark.net .

riclad

I think The toshiba laptop, is fast enough for email, word processing ,
Simply put not everyone needs the fastest car,
or the fastest cpu,
intel i5 uses more power than the other cpu,
would likely have shorter battery life,
require more cooling.
i had a very fast laptop, it broke down after 6 ,months,
it overheated.
dual core 2.5ghz cpu.
the quote in my previous post explains it quite well.
the price of the car is really irrelevant ,to the point i,m trying to make.
i understand the i5 intel cpu is faster,
if YOU want the fastest cpu.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

I think The toshiba laptop, is fast enough for email, word processing ,
Simply put not everyone needs the fastest car,
or the fastest cpu,
intel i5 uses more power than the other cpu,
would likely have shorter battery life,
require more cooling.
i had a very fast laptop, it broke down after 6 ,months,
it overheated.
dual core 2.5ghz cpu.
the quote in my previous post explains it quite well.
the price of the car is really irrelevant ,to the point i,m trying to make.

The Toshiba laptop will struggle with basic tasks and will slow down quickly. It will work but you will spend time waiting on it to do its work. Nobody mentioned an i5. But the i3 and the celron have a very similar power usage.

Why are you talking about cores or GHz? The only thing that matters is architecture. The price is relevant, you suggested a laptop that is much worse for a small saving.

I wouldn't touch a Celeron with a barge pole. Core i3 with 4GB of RAM at the very least. I'd only accept 2GB if it was running 32-bit Windows, it's just not enough for 64-bit.

GarIT

Riclad you should check Intel's website both are 35w processors, so power is equal. Also by your own bulls**t quote the Celeron isn't good enough as its only 1.8ghz

Snowshower

Thanks so much for that...will have a look at them and may be back with a few more questions. Glad I asked...interesting

riclad

GET the laptop with intel i 3 cpu,4GIG RAM. Make sure you get windows os 64bit,
version, so you can add on more ram if needed.
MY point is not everyone needs an ,intel i5 cpu .
MY cpu is single core 1.5ghz.
i,ve never find it slow,
I use laptop for music,podcasts, youtube,webrowsing, email.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

GET the laptop with intel i 3 cpu,4GIG RAM. Make sure you get windows os 64bit,
version, so you can add on more ram if needed.
MY point is not everyone needs an ,intel i5 cpu .
MY cpu is single core 1.5ghz.
i,ve never find it slow,
I use laptop for music,podcasts, youtube,webrowsing, email.

Not this again. Please read up about computers before you keep giving very bad advice. 1. What do you mean by windows os 64bit version? 2. What is up with the GHz? Why do you keep going back to it? For a similar example in a car the colour of the car does not make it faster. GHz has nearly nothing at all to do with performance. Maybe name the processor and you might start making some sense but what your saying currently makes no sense at all.

riclad

NO point in getting win8 32 bit, it only use,s 3.5gig ram,max,
windows 64bit os can use 8gig ram.
I think most laptops ,pcs are sold with windows 64bit os anyway.
I bought hp pc win7 64bit dual core cpu,in pcworld in 2011.
it had 2gig ram,i put in another 2 gig myself.
see http://www.computershopper.com/feature/2010-ultimate-shoppers-guide-to-laptop-processors

I agree ,The actual cpu you get ,is the most important thing.
http://www.computershopper.com/feature/2010-ultimate-shoppers-guide-to-laptop-processors/(page)/8

talking in terms of ghz is not so relevant anymore.
so in terms of price ,performance,
I,d buy an intel i3 laptop with 1gig video ram graphics card ,at least 4gig ram.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

NO point in getting win8 32 bit, it only use,s 3.5gig ram,max,
windows 64bit os can use 8gig ram.
I think most laptops ,pcs are sold with windows 64bit os anyway.
I bought hp pc win7 64bit dual core cpu,in pcworld in 2011.
it had 2gig ram,i put in another 2 gig myself.
see http://www.computershopper.com/feature/2010-ultimate-shoppers-guide-to-laptop-processors

I agree ,The actual cpu you get ,is the most important thing.
http://www.computershopper.com/feature/2010-ultimate-shoppers-guide-to-laptop-processors/(page)/8

talking in terms of ghz is not so relevant anymore.
so in terms of price ,performance,
I,d buy an intel i3 laptop with 1gig video ram graphics card ,at least 4gig ram.

Why say pointless things to confuse the OP? Learn terminology before you try to give advice on it to other people. What is a "1gig video ram graphics card"? The amount of ram a graphics card has is for the most part irrelevant to its performance. The OP does not need any graphics card as they are looking to browse the internet, not play graphically intensive games.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

NO point in getting win8 32 bit, it only use,s 3.5gig ram,max,
windows 64bit os can use 8gig ram.
I think most laptops ,pcs are sold with windows 64bit os anyway.

If we are stating the obvious the OP should also make sure you get a screen and keyboard those can be useful too.

Why don't we go and list off every single component a laptop has using incorrect terminology so we can confuse them more?

The OP has their recommendation, you have accepted you are wrong by copying my suggestions and abandoning your own. Can we not just leave it here?

riclad

MY main point is not every buyer needs to buy the laptop with an i5 cpu,
and a graphics card ati with 3gig video ram.
For doing email, word processing .
I see no point in paying 100 euro plus for extended warranty either.
i Don,t think thats obvious to every potential buyer.
every person who buys a smart phone doesnt need an iphone.

GarIT

riclad wrote: »

MY main point is not every buyer needs to buy the laptop with an i5 cpu,
and a graphics card ati with 3gig video ram.
For doing email, word processing .
I see no point in paying 100 euro plus for extended warranty either.
i Don,t think thats obvious to every potential buyer.
every person who buys a smart phone doesnt need an iphone.

Nobody has suggested an i5 so were all good here. ATI? That company that is gone a good few years now? For web browsing you don't need any dedicated graphics card so what you have suggested is way more than the op needs.