Buying a laptop, advice needed please

JackD9922

I'm looking to buy a laptop as the title suggests but I'm pretty clueless as to what spec I'd need for my uses.

I'm in college so general browsing online, presentations, watching films ect.
I'd like to edit videos from my action camera, 1080p, and maybe create some highlights.
Some light gaming e.g. total war, age of empires, portal, some steam games, nothing too hardware demanding though.

My budget would be somewhere around the 500 mark, preferably lower though. I don't really know if that is enough for what I'm looking for though.
I have no qualms about buying refurbished if one would be a better option.

Does anybody have any suggestions on what I should be looking for?

The small research I've done tells me I'd need an i5 or higher and an SSD?

Alanstrainor

You're not going to get an SSD with any reasonable capacity for your budget. You'd be lucky to find a current i5 and 8GB of RAM, with whatever capacity HDD you can get. You might struggle to find a 1080p screen too. Dell have decent offerings in the low/mid range laptops, and a 10% off deal at the moment. Worth a look at least!

For Forks Sake

Alanstrainor wrote: »

You're not going to get an SSD with any reasonable capacity for your budget. You'd be lucky to find a current i5 and 8GB of RAM, with whatever capacity HDD you can get. You might struggle to find a 1080p screen too. Dell have decent offerings in the low/mid range laptops, and a 10% off deal at the moment. Worth a look at least!

This HP has 6th gen i5/8gb/256gb SSD €629/PC World

Even with the 10% off, the cheapest Dell is around the same or slightly more on their online store.

Alanstrainor

For Forks Sake wrote: »

This HP has 6th gen i5/8gb/256gb SSD €629/PC World

Even with the 10% off, the cheapest Dell is around the same or slightly more on their online store.

Good to see SSD's are finally coming down in price, and entering lower end machines. But even that machine is pushing the OP's budget. It does seem like a good deal all the same.

For Forks Sake

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Good to see SSD's are finally coming down in price, and entering lower end machines. But even that machine is pushing the OP's budget. It does seem like a good deal all the same.

ah yeah, I know it's above budget, but not by a huge amount.

And being realistic, I don't think you'll find a 6th gen i5+decent RAM+SSD combo anywhere for €500

Actually, same spec from HP online store @ £479/ c.€570. Presume you'd be able to ParcelMotel that across.

JackD9922

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Didn't get notifications for your posts though and ended up going with http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-P50-C-18K-Intel-Core-i5-16GB-256GB-Win-10-15-6-Laptop-TS56-/361645119110?nav=SEARCH

16gbs ram
i5 6th gen
256ssd
Nvidia graphics card (low end but better than regular Intel graphics)
1080p screen

Offered 400 pounds for it and got it, it'll work out at 485 euro including postage.
It's refurbished but it does come with a 3 month warranty.
I'm really happy with it on paper so hopefully it doesn't let me down when I receive it.

Useful.Idiot

JackD9922 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Didn't get notifications for your posts though and ended up going with http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-P50-C-18K-Intel-Core-i5-16GB-256GB-Win-10-15-6-Laptop-TS56-/361645119110?nav=SEARCH

16gbs ram
i5 6th gen
256ssd
Nvidia graphics card (low end but better than regular Intel graphics)
1080p screen

Offered 400 pounds for it and got it, it'll work out at 485 euro including postage.
It's refurbished but it does come with a 3 month warranty.
I'm really happy with it on paper so hopefully it doesn't let me down when I receive it.

Are you sure that's an SSD? Doesn't mention anything about it being a SSD in the specs.

Alanstrainor

Useful.Idiot wrote: »

Are you sure that's an SSD? Doesn't mention anything about it being a SSD in the specs.

In fact it specifically mentions a HDD. But it is a strange capacity for a HDD so who knows. And even if it is an SSD, god only know what brand it is. It could be a risky one.

The ad is lacking in info about what spec you're getting. I'd always be wary about these kind of ebay sellers. Be careful OP.

mordeith

Alanstrainor wrote: »

In fact it specifically mentions a HDD. But it is a strange capacity for a HDD so who knows. And even if it is an SSD, god only know what brand it is. It could be a risky one.

The ad is lacking in info about what spec you're getting. I'd always be wary about these kind of ebay sellers. Be careful OP.

It did come with a 256GB SSD configuration so I would imagine that's the same as the refurbished one.

JackD9922

I was definitely wary. The ad is lacking in detail and the company name StockMustGo doesn't inspire too much confidence.
But the laptops specs are impressive so assuming in refurbishment they didn't switch SSD or RAM it should be good to go (I read somewhere about it being Samsung).
A previous buyer of the laptop left feedback and he was happy with it.
Also, I messaged the seller about the ssd/hdd confusion and yes indeed, there's an ssd in there.

I reckon the purchase will be fine, if not I'll post about my troubles here!

JackD9922

Thought I'd post a 3 month update!

So my warranty is almost up it seems but it sure doesn't matter.

I love the laptop. Currently typing from it right now.
Fast, powerful, big screen, good battery life.
Absolutely no problems.

Checking the same ebay link, it seems they're gone.
But if it ever comes back in stock I'd recommend them.