Buying Today - Any Advice?

rodders999

So my wife is in the market for a new laptop, she has an online business that she runs from home and her 12 old banger of a machine is grinding to a halt and starting to driving her potty as it’s taking ages to do even the simplest of tasks, turning itself off etc. etc.

She’s trying to choose between -

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-330s-15-6-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-grey-10180850-pdt.html

Or

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/dell-inspiron-15-3000-15-6-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-black-10186254-pdt.html


She seems intent on buying from Currys and has asked for my opinion (don’t know why as I haven’t a bulls) so here I am looking for some advice. There are extras offered on each laptop too which she’s unsure if she should go for or even need.

99% of the usage will be for maintaining her website and all that goes on with that and she does want something with a screen size that’s in and around the 15”.

All feedback greatly appreciated.

mordeith

rodders999 wrote: »

So my wife is in the market for a new laptop, she has an online business that she runs from home and her 12 old banger of a machine is grinding to a halt and starting to driving her potty as it’s taking ages to do even the simplest of tasks, turning itself off etc. etc.

She’s trying to choose between -

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/lenovo-ideapad-330s-15-6-amd-ryzen-5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-grey-10180850-pdt.html

Or

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/dell-inspiron-15-3000-15-6-intel-core-i5-laptop-256-gb-ssd-black-10186254-pdt.html


She seems intent on buying from Currys and has asked for my opinion (don’t know why as I haven’t a bulls) so here I am looking for some advice. There are extras offered on each laptop too which she’s unsure if she should go for or even need.

99% of the usage will be for maintaining her website and all that goes on with that and she does want something with a screen size that’s in and around the 15”.

All feedback greatly appreciated.

Both will easily do what she needs. Id probably go for the Dell.

Alanstrainor

Yes both are good value and will absolutely blow her mind in terms of how fast they are in comparison to a 12 year old machine. I think I would prefer the Lenovo, but that's purely a cosmetic choice really, it's a much more modern styled laptop with tiny screen bezels. The CPU on both are good, and both have good sized SSDs.

I would say the best thing to do would be to go to Curry's and try them out, which ever she prefers is a good buy imo.

I would absolutely ignore any of the extras they try selling. Anti virus is included with Windows these days. I don't buy into any of the extra warranties that they sell, and any cases/accessories they offer are often expensive for what they are. Just get the laptop imo. If in the future she needs more accessories she could likely buy them much cheaper online.

rodders999

Cheers, appreciate the reply - will probably pull the trigger on one of them so - just give her the choice. I did read a few of the reviews on amazon about the DELL where people are complaining about its slow speed but as she's not going to be putting it under massive pressure I assumed she should have no worries.

AIB giving a further 10% off any online purchase from Currys made with a VISA card sweetens the deal even further so happy enough to go with them.

If you know of any other laptop they are selling that trumps the DELL for a similar price you can give me a shout back.

Many thanks.

mordeith

rodders999 wrote: »

If you know of any other laptop they are selling that trumps the DELL for a similar price you can give me a shout back.

Many thanks.

There's no doubt there will be cheaper ones that would do just as well albeit lower spec. If you are happy with that budget then the deals you link are grand. As Alan says above avoid the hard sell with AV software.

rodders999

Thanks for all input, she went with the DELL in the end. Couldn't avail of the 10% discount because it's only available to buy in store rather than online which is a downer.

Took your advice and avoided all the added extras, will source an anti virus online as I think it only comes with a 30 day free trial.

Alanstrainor

rodders999 wrote: »

Thanks for all input, she went with the DELL in the end. Couldn't avail of the 10% discount because it's only available to buy in store rather than online which is a downer.

Took your advice and avoided all the added extras, will source an anti virus online as I think it only comes with a 30 day free trial.

Keep in mind that Windows 10 has Defender built in. This is a free and perfectly adequate anti virus solution. There is no need to install any other, or purchase anything else. If I were you I would remove all the pre-installed crap and just leave it as is.

Alanstrainor

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Keep in mind that Windows 10 has Defender built in. This is a free and perfectly adequate anti virus solution. There is no need to install any other, or purchase anything else. If I were you I would remove all the pre-installed crap and just leave it as is.

there is also avast free - the cost for which is annoying prompts to upgrade to paid occasionally

but windows defender is probably adequate and less intrusive.

Alanstrainor

glasso wrote: »

there is also avast free - the cost for which is annoying prompts to upgrade to paid occasionally

but windows defender is probably adequate and less intrusive.

Yeah, I just can't stand messages like that. I've been using the included Windows protection since Windows 7 and I've never had any issues, and it's only improved through the years. From what I've read online it is rated quite well these days compared to the paid alternatives. Given the usage the OP states, it should be more than enough.

yes there was a time a few years ago where defender was not well rated but if this has changed (haven't checked lately) then would stick with defender

but the prompts are like once a week or so on avast free so not too bad. maybe a little more frequent in the early period. you can turn off the beep sound that comes with it also -need to google

riddles

I was thinking of the following:

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/2-in-1-pcs/inspiron-15-5000-2-in-1/spd/inspiron-15-5579-2-in-1-laptop?view=configurations

The extra ram and I7 processor - is it worth the 200€ extra.

I was going to go for this but its sold out seems to get better reviews on battery life than the Dell's
https://www.currys.ie/ieen/search-keywords/xx_xx_xx_xx_xx/HP%2BENVY%2Bx360%2B15.6%2522%2BAMD%2BRyzen%2B5%2B2%2Bin%2B1%2B-%2B1%2BTB%2BHDD%2B%2526%2B128%2BGB%2BSSD%252C%2BSilver/xx-criteria.html

Any opinions.

Thanks,

Alanstrainor

riddles wrote: »

I was thinking of the following:

https://www.dell.com/en-ie/shop/2-in-1-pcs/inspiron-15-5000-2-in-1/spd/inspiron-15-5579-2-in-1-laptop?view=configurations

The extra ram and I7 processor - is it worth the 200€ extra.

I was going to go for this but its sold out seems to get better reviews on battery life than the Dell's
https://www.currys.ie/ieen/search-keywords/xx_xx_xx_xx_xx/HP%2BENVY%2Bx360%2B15.6%2522%2BAMD%2BRyzen%2B5%2B2%2Bin%2B1%2B-%2B1%2BTB%2BHDD%2B%2526%2B128%2BGB%2BSSD%252C%2BSilver/xx-criteria.html

Any opinions.

Thanks,

Honestly, your wife won't see any difference between a machine with an i5 or one with an i7. You only notice the difference at the top end when you are stressing your laptop. By the sounds of it her machine will never really be there. The i5 is a very impressive processor and will do far more than what she would throw at it. The same can be said for the RAM tbh, more RAM is always nice, mostly for futur proofing, but she wouldn't notice the slightest bit of difference imo.

The only bit of spec which would be nice is the larger SSD. But this is not worth it at that price imo. I'd stick with the Dell TBH.

mordeith

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Honestly, your wife won't see any difference between a machine with an i5 or one with an i7.

Don't think it was the OP asking about it this time. :-)