Best shop to buy a laptop?

lighterthought · 29-12-2011 08:48PM #1

Looking to buy a new laptop. In Galway, we're pretty restricted to PC World/Curry's, which seem to have mostly HP, and then a few other options. WOuld look to shop somewhere with a bit more variety (Acer, Toshiba, Sony, etc).

Am thinking Dublin or LImerick might be the best place to look - but where do I go? What shops would you recommend for laptops?

(For what its worth, am looking for high specs because of translation software I'll need to install, so something akin to gaming specs for laptops - ideally, i'm thinking quad core processor, hard drive 650GB-1TB, RAM 6GB).

Overheal · 29-12-2011 09:18PM

HP Dv series is pretty good. HP has always made good hardware (bar for a class action slip-up - thanks nvidia!) it's just some of their bloatware I take issue with. Sony's are reportedly a major balls to do warranty work with. Our guys hate seeing them in.

If you don't need Graphics dont look for a 'gaming' laptop. Plenty of laptops fit the bill. Core i5, 6GB RAM, etc. without spending a bunch of extra money on BluRay drives or GPUs you wont ever see used.

lighterthought · 29-12-2011 10:35PM

Thanks - yeah, the only HP hardware I've used in the past was a printer, and even that I found annoying to install/maintain, wasn't mad on it. Hate the "bloatware" (good term).

Not looking for gaming software, just something able to process multiple things at a quick speed. Certainly don't require blu-ray players or anything (although good enough memory and graphics for videos, which at the moment my old acer aspire 3050 can't handle anymore)!

Out of curiousity, do you prefer the Intel or AMD processors? Heard the i-series weren't as good as the intel processors.

Overheal · 29-12-2011 10:52PM

i-series is Intel.......... and yes they're good. Only AMDs worth the money are the A6 or the A8. Don't bother with any E-xxx processor. A8 is more what you would want, that or the i5. Both are fairly comparable depending on which i5 it's up against.

partyatmygaff · 29-12-2011 10:56PM

The AMD A8 can only match Intel's i3 in terms of CPU power. When it comes to graphics however, it blows every single Intel integrated chipset out of the water.

lighterthought · 30-12-2011 12:06AM

But no idea on where to go to buy one?

Seems I confused the Intel and AMD there, i5 looks easy enough to find, don't think I need the A8 power!

partyatmygaff · 30-12-2011 12:13AM

Online really is your best bet tbh. Currys/PC World are the only decent bricks and mortar that sells laptops. Argos too at a stretch.

Overheal · 30-12-2011 12:26AM

The A8 is usually cheaper than the i5. AMDs advantage

For Forks Sake · 30-12-2011 02:10PM

AMD A8 6gb RAM 1Tb HDD €479 http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/HP-Pavilion-g61220sa-156andquot-Laptop-Charcoal-Grey/309334/301

Intel Core i5 6Gb RAM 750Gb HDD €499http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/HP-G61240sa-156-laptop-Charcoal/309340/301

You'll be hard pushed to top that in any other retailer tbh.

You've got Harvey Norman and Soundstore in Limerick, I'd have a look at their websites.

Dublin has Harvey Normans and Powercity that aren't in Galway.

Overheal · 30-12-2011 02:35PM

The G Series is one ugly baby though. Those low-end bodies are pretty much fabricated out of plastic and look like junk. Now, the Dv series, that's a haircut you can set your watch to. Just a shame they seem so much dearer.

Ben D Bus · 30-12-2011 08:19PM

For Forks Sake wrote: »

AMD A8 6gb RAM 1Tb HDD €479 http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/HP-Pavilion-g61220sa-156andquot-Laptop-Charcoal-Grey/309334/301

Intel Core i5 6Gb RAM 750Gb HDD €499http://www.pcworld.ie/Product/HP-G61240sa-156-laptop-Charcoal/309340/301

I'm looking for a new laptop that I can occasionally plug into my TV to play high definition movies. Will these be OK?

partyatmygaff · 30-12-2011 08:25PM

Pretty much any laptop you can buy today will do. Just make certain it has a HDMI port.

For Forks Sake · 30-12-2011 09:43PM

Ben D Bus wrote: »

I'm looking for a new laptop that I can occasionally plug into my TV to play high definition movies. Will these be OK?

Both have HDMi so shouldn't be an issue there.

nanook5 · 30-12-2011 10:58PM

I bought a samsung rc520 on st.stephens day in limerick for €680 and got them to throw in a bag worth 50 quid and a 2gb memory stick

heres the specs:

intel core i5 2nd gen 2.3ghz(2.9ghz turbo)
6gbRAM
750GB hard drive
nvidia optimus gt520m
win 7

The battery life lasted me 6 hours once which is great.

Its really good epspecially with turbo boost as i use 3D programs and video editing

Ben D Bus · 31-12-2011 02:51PM

OK, so I just bought the i5 version of the HP in Currys Liffey Valley.

When I power it up it starts Windows Professional (not Home) and goes straight into test mode under username R1. Followed by loads & loads of pop-up windows testing everything from USB to webcam to voice recording. No helpful instructions so I'm assuming this is a factory test mode?

This doesn't seem right! Should I bring it straight back?

Overheal · 31-12-2011 04:53PM

yep

Ben D Bus · 31-12-2011 04:57PM

Overheal wrote: »

yep

Currys replaced it no problem. Cant check the new one for a couple of hours.

Edit: The replacement worked fine and I'm posting from the new machine.

Best shop to buy a laptop?

Comments