Buying a Laptop: The current Generation

Dr.Winston O'Boogie · 06-10-2021 11:16AM

Hi Glasso looking for a new laptop just for general use, browsing, a bit of work etc. Nothing too intensive. Budget would be 500 and under. Would like something thats quite quick.

Any recommendations?

cullenswood · 06-10-2021 02:56PM

One of these three might suit your needs Doctor, but @glasso probably better qualified to let you know which is best....

One, Two, Three

06-10-2021 03:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117984088#Comment_117984088

yes worth spending a little more for the metal build, better screen, better cpu and 16gb ram like in either of those vivobooks (14 or 15.6 model)

It will pay you back easily over the years instead of "saving" 100 to 150 euro getting a slower cpu, creaky plastic build, low ram, dim non-colour accurate screen, possibly sup-par trackpad and keyboard.

what you get for 500 euro vs the Asus vivobooks above really.

it's a real false economy

Those two Asus's offer good value for money and are well reviewed but the 15 inch size may be better overall I think (brighter better quality screen). it's still pretty portable at 1.7kg

Dr.Winston O'Boogie · 06-10-2021 08:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117984281#Comment_117984281

Cheers to both!

07-10-2021 04:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989227#Comment_117989227

try to find reviews either text or on youtube for the exact model

if it's false information on the Amazon Asus blurb that's grounds to send it back if required for "not as described".

07-10-2021 06:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117989758#Comment_117989758

well it's still a budget to low-middle range laptop.

it has 16gb ram and a reasonable cpu in a metal body.

400 nits screen is not something you'd expect in that price range but the ad does say it.

as said, you could easily return to amazon free of charge if you get it an if it's obviously not "bright enough" by quoting the description on the Amazon listing.

look at the amazon questions on the item - some of them say 250 nits and that it's the N156HCA-EAB (CMN15E7) panel

dublinman1990 · 12-10-2021 01:54PM

Hi guys. I just want to share you a little email that I made yesterday to DID Electrical to see if there is any new Windows 11 laptops for sale.

hello (dublinman)

thank you for contacting us,

at the minute we do not have any windows 11 laptops we only have windows 10.

kind regards

Kind Regards

DID Electrical Tullamore

Unit B, Tullamore Retail Park, Portarlington Road, Tullamore, Offaly

057 932 8282

Hi there,

I have suffered a major issue with my Toshiba Satellite laptop since last night. I downloaded a media creation tool for Windows 10 21H1 from Microsoft's website. As soon as I tried to install it on the machine; it went through a big error and installation of the OS on the machine had wiped off my previous installation of Windows 10 from it.

The error that was present on the laptop was described as a ntosextrnl.exe error. It had an error code as well which was 0x00000185.

The internal battery of my laptop has not been functioning properly either. The internal battery has been zapped out of the machine. If I had to use the laptop for day to day usage; I use a battery charger to plug it into a plug socket the whole time when I get to use it.

There was a warranty on the laptop which was given to me by did in 2014. It expired in July 2019. However; when I had the opportunity to get the laptop repaired; you guys give me an AIG warranty & new phone number to get it. Although if my current laptop is not in warranty. It may render the repair of the laptop to be useless & not eligible for repair.

If I being realistic at this point; would I need to buy a new laptop that may preferably be pre-installed with Windows 11. My current toshiba laptop is not eligible for an upgrade for Windows 11. I had discovered this issue when I downloaded the PC Health Check app from Microsoft up until very recently. I'm also making the assumption here that if I can't get future installations of Windows 10 on it. That would be a big security risk because malware & viruses could spread onto my Toshiba current laptop.

Do you sell Windows 11 laptops in your stores because I would like to purchase one if my other laptop is not eligible for a repair?

Thanks in advance

Yours sincerely

dublinman1990

Any comment on my situation will be welcome.

GBX · 18-10-2021 11:47AM

Will be on the lookout for a new laptop soon enough.

What would be minimum specs needed for Win 10/11?

Is 4g Ram enough these days? 256gb storage - would this fill very quick with updates. - Can add a Ext HD to the fray after.

Whats the opinion on something like this?

https://www.currys.ie/ieen/computing/laptops/laptops/asus-vivobook-f515ea-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i3-256-gb-ssd-grey-10224576-pdt.html

JoyPad · 18-10-2021 04:22PM

It depends a lot on what you need it for.

I have a small factor desktop, running an i3 CPU with 8GB of RAM, Windows 10. It's great for Internet browsing, media consumption, but not much else. I don't use MS Office at all, but even when opening Google Sheets, it's having a bit of a hard time. I know, because I know how quick my other computers are when handling Google Sheets. I assume it would struggle mightily with Microsoft Office.

If you intend to use it for more than the above, look for at least i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM. As for the SSD, 256 could be OK, as long as you don't handle any massive files.

GBX · 19-10-2021 01:04PM

Dont have a Studentbean or Unidays account but would be grateful if anybody had a discount a spare code available for Acer or Lenovo. Thanks.

GBX · 21-10-2021 10:09AM

Got sorted with a code from Banie. Fair play. One other question, Im likely going to pull the trigger on the Acer Swift 3 Intel. Looking around there is an AMD version for similar money. Would there be much in the difference between the 2 versions:

Ryzen 5 4500U v Intel Core i5-1135G7

JoyPad · 21-10-2021 03:21PM

I always compare CPUs on this website.

22-10-2021 08:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118052110#Comment_118052110

Intel is better here if you'd make use of graphics e.g. games

Ryzen if pure cpu needed but not by much

if similar price I'd go for the intel here

but also depends on how many watts (TDP) the cpus are running at in the latptop

I do know that the acer swift runs the i5 11th gen at a high TDP and gets a lot out of it

e.g. it's up to 28 watts where other laptops could have it at 15w

GBX · 22-10-2021 08:25PM

Thanks @glasso and @JoyPad I've pulled the trigger on the Intel i5 model. With the discount code from @banie01 came in at €680. Definitely good bang for buck. 👍

dublinman1990 · 08-11-2021 06:33AM

Some media reports were going out yesterday were suggesting that if Article 16 was triggered by the UK later this week to signal renegotiation of the NI Protocol. There was some alarming talk being reported by RTÉ's The Week in Politics yesterday that there could be a potential export ban for products coming out from the UK into the EU including Ireland later on in the future.

That sort of development to me sounds like quite damaging news for people living here who want to import new laptops that are being delivered from the UK into Ireland. Will that serious development cause a huge amount of damage to the Irish economy here if I.T products were banned from coming into the UK into Ireland.

I would be thinking that courier services based here like AddressPal could become seriously affected with this problem if an export ban comes into effect from the UK.

If you were an I.T. expert based here hearing about this latest news on Brexit; What be your general view on it because it does appear to be very unsettling news for this industry.

whowantstwoknow · 13-11-2021 12:03AM

Looks like @glasso Swift 3 recommendation is nolonger available, Better half has asked for 2 (yes 2!!) laptops for the kids at school this xmas. Any good alternatives, budget €500ish but prepared to stretch for robust units (ie metal cases). For example typing on a yoga slim 7 which he recommended earlier in the year.

Thanks in advance

W.

13-11-2021 12:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118158868#Comment_118158868

could take a look at this

metal case, decent i5, 16gb ram for future proofing, 512gb ssd- £580

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-VivoBook-15-i5-1135G7-Keyboard/dp/B08CKXSM6J/ref%3Dsr_1_3?keywords=asus+vivobook&qid=1636760428&sr=8-3

Meanman · 13-11-2021 12:12PM

I see current ACER offers end on tomorrow 14th November. Might they launch Black Friday deals next week and if so Glasso et al might Might recommend something in the 700 euro range similar to ACER Swift 3 .Tks

Neames · 14-11-2021 01:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118160035#Comment_118160035

https://store.acer.com/en-ie/black-friday

looks like the black Friday deals are starting next week ...looking to pick up the Acer Swift 3 myself

Neames · 16-11-2021 02:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118164444#Comment_118164444

So it doesn't look like the Acer Swift 3 is part of the Black Friday sale.

Looking for a laptop for light photo editing and want to get back into programming ( again fairly light nothing too intensive)

Anyone see any good value out there. Happy to pay about €800

Lord Spence · 17-11-2021 02:33PM

Hi All,

Any thoughts on this laptop from Lenovo, it will be for some very light gaming as I mainly use console anyways and I will also be looking to do some podcasting on it.

Coming in at under €800 on the student site https://www.lenovo.com/ie/en/laptops/ideapad/500-series/IdeaPad-5-Pro-16ACH6/p/88IPS501619

17-11-2021 08:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118180589#Comment_118180589

looks alright but look at reviews

could well be worth spending a bit more to get the 16gb model (which also comes with a better cpu but ram would be the main reason as you can't upgrade it after)

Lord Spence · 18-11-2021 12:34AM

Thanks I'm probably already going over budget at under 800, but an extra 100 for double the ram and better cpu is a good deal I suppose... the Mrs will kill me lol

fugyvuhgvhbjb · 18-11-2021 02:08PM

10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H Processor (4 Cores / 8 Threads, 2.50 GHz, up to 4.50 GHz, 8 MB Cache)

NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6

256 GB M.2 2242 SSD

675 Euro

Thoughts?

Neames · 18-11-2021 02:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118185846#Comment_118185846

Have you got a link to that deal?

Irishder · 22-11-2021 05:17PM

Hi,

The young lad wants to get a laptop for Christmas. He has a dedicated PC for gaming and animation but would like to have a laptop for portability and school, he is 15.

After reading the threads here i have it narrowed down to these 2:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medion-Crawler-I5-10300H-256SSD-Gaming/dp/B09K14XZKW/ref%3Dsr_1_10?crid=2XTTDDMOO4LIO&keywords=gaming+laptop&psr=EY17&qid=1637535902&s=black-friday&sprefix=gaming+la%2Cblack-friday%2C278&sr=1-10

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HUAWEI-MateBook-2021-Intel-Laptop/dp/B0953YT2F2/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=16gb%2Bram%2Blaptop&psr=EY17&qid=1637506390&s=black-friday&sr=1-6&th=1

Is the first worth the extra case, from a build quality perspective which would be better?

Thanks

Irishder · 22-11-2021 08:58PM

This looks decent as well. My head is wrecked

https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/9569614/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7COffice%2C%2BPCs%2Band%2Bphones%7C14418968/c_2/3%7Ccat_50000560%7CLaptops%7C50000564.htm

22-11-2021 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118207865#Comment_118207865

The first one is that fair bit cheaper and with decent spec. The lad already has a gaming pc and to have his school. The gaming ready might not be exactly a good idea when it’s meant for school work and learning.

banie01 · 27-11-2021 12:23PM

This is very much a question for all contributors but, @glasso is the guy 😉

My current laptop is very much a tank. It's a Lenovo w520, i7, 32gb ram and a quadro 2100m

In most uses I have, office, spreadsheets, 3D design and slicing and remote working it's still an absolute beast. Thing is I've started to play some games again and have gotten into a little bit of VR. Now I want to add VR to some flight summing and see how it goes 😉

My main flight sim is the venerable IL2, old I know but the mods are brilliant and it's still got quite a community. I'd also like to give war thunder and some other games a try.

I'd like good performance and VR capabilities but I'm not a bleeding edge gamer. My main games are still the GTAV era, RDR2 on stadia and the main "gaming" need for me is decent VR performance on an Oculus Quest 2.

My current laptop is a bit of a behemoth, it's chonky boy but the screen size is IMO my sweet spot so 15.6" or thereabouts.

Portability and battery life would definitely be an asset. I'm back to being a student. In 3rd year and lighted keyboards and such are not wanted 😉 No need to have a disco in my backpack 🤣

27-11-2021 01:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231365#Comment_118231365

Shocked that you got to include budget.

Buying a Laptop: The current Generation

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