Laptop help for the uneducated

dotsy_

I'm merely a young man looking not to be ripped off in this minefield and searching for a decent laptop that can last me a couple of years.

My budget is about €350-550 but I could stretch to €600 if I felt the deal was right. I would mainly be using it for browsing, streaming, the odd bit of word processing and light gaming (Football Manager, old Final Fantasy, bit of Age of Empires maybe, nothing Skyrim-intensive). I don't think I'll be turning into a developer overnight. I like to keep files so a decent sized hard drive is probably necessary.

I thought I could do research myself but I'm lost. Is HDD the one true King or is the usurper SSD now ruling over all? How is a regular peasant to know? I don't know my Intel from my AMD, where does a good brand name end and a good processor begin?

I don't need it to be super mobile as my college days are now behind me, but equally I don't want a Frankenlaptop. Warranty is nice but it's not a primary concern. Also touch screen doesn't get me all warm and fuzzy, I don't particularly need it.

I've always used Windows, although I found my brief dalliances with 8 to be both baffling and colourful, but I'm sure I could get used to the OS given time.

Please help me kind people. I need direction.

riclad

GO for ordinary hdd 500 gig at least,
ssd is faster re loading os, programs.
but smaller maybe 200gig
Download free start menu,
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-get-the-start-menu-back-in-windows-8/

I Find gaming laptops run hotter than standard laptops,
see what videocard memory you,ll need ,
video ram,
not main laptop ram,

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-645719&pages=1&prod=645719&brands=asus&image=

http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30-C50136&pages=1&prod=C50136&brands=toshiba&image=
6 hours battery life.
use start menu,
ignore all the apps mode.
if you want a really fast cpu,processor it,ll cost 500 euro.
not necessary for the average user.

DUAL core cpu laptop 2.0ghz fine for 85 per cent of users .
i only play old games on laptops,
new games i use 360 console.

Read review before you buy model x,
make sure screen is none glossy.
get at least 4gig main laptop ram.
Ssds too expensive are ,smaller than hdd,s
ignore them,
maybe 5 per cent of people use them.
i never seen a touch screen laptop in a shop.
if i was buying a laptop ,i,d look for video card ram, 100meg at least.video ram.

You can ignore all windows apps,metro,mode, use start menu free download as in link above.
People who do video editing ,gaming laptop users need the fast processors in laptops.
500euro plus models.

bmm

I advise you to find a store such as PC World or Harvey Normans and play with the different laptops . Try the different keyboards as everyone has different tastes. Also the weight is a big factor. I was in PC World yesterday and noticed price and build quality do not go hand in hand.

Processor Type & Size has become a nonsense unless ur a gamer or graphics person.

Screen resolution is important but for some reason 95% of new laptops these days have a crappy 1366 x 768 resolution! The old crts 20 years ago had better resolution than this!! It's just penny pinching and laziness by the laptop industry in general.

It just makes no sense laptops with 17" screens are being sold with 1366 x 768 resolution, meanwhile a nexus 10" tablet has a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels ! For this reason when you go into a laptop shop the laptop screen resolution is hidden on the spec. sheet.

I went into PCWorld looking for a laptop and ended up going for a nexus 10 tablet because the screen was fantastic and it was so easy to use when browsing. Obviously i now need to get a keyboard and cover. It helps that i've been using gmail and google docs for a while. Bye, Bye Microsoft!

riclad

i have a tablet ,takes 4.5 hours to charge,
90 per cent i use my laptop.
IF You have 1 device ,get a laptop,
its a good tablet, on wifi its got about 5 hours battery life.
Tablets are good as a second device .
i removed the battery,
i just use the laptop on external power supply ,most of the time.
as above dual core cpu,is fine for 90 per cent of users .

I charge the tablet once a week.
if wifi is off i can leave it on for 3 days.
not everyone needs 1333 resolution,

I prefer 1280 resolution, easier to read.

runawaybishop

bmm wrote: »

Processor Type & Size has become a nonsense unless ur a gamer or graphics person.

That statement is nonsense.