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Buying a laptop for parents, surface 3 could be good?

  • 27-11-2015 01:59PM
    #1
    arleitiss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,512 ✭✭✭


    Hey, so I am buying a laptop for parents.
    Budget is 600-700 Euro.

    Their main usage on computer is:

    Watching videos/movies online.
    Using Microsoft Word and Power Point.
    Reading.

    That's it really, they also are considering buying tablet in future to just lie in bed and read something so I thought should I get them MS Surface 3?
    I mean essentially it's a tablet that is convertible to Laptop?

    Does MS Surface handle 1080p videos well?


Comments

  • #2
    riclad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,184 ✭✭✭riclad


    look up surface 3 review,s video resolution
    its a tablet .
    i think you be better off buying a new laptop .
    4gig ram,500gig hard drive .At last dual core cpu.
    i remove the battery from my laptop .that way i can just turn it on,off like a pc.
    A Laptop is stronger will last much longer than a tablet .,
    It has more storage .
    i,d hate to be relying on a delicate tablet as my main computing device .
    a Bit like paying for sky tv and watching it on an old 21 inch crt tv.
    Any one of the laptops in this link would be worth buying .
    http://www.powercity.ie/?par=10-30&brands=toshiba&action=brandstory
    spend 400 plus on a good windows 10 laptop .
    and maybe buy a 200 euro samsung tablet , for casual ebook reading .


  • #3
    ED E
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,094 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Riclad I still wonder if you're a bot some days...


    Surface Pro3 was the first real success of the line, 1 was very 1st gen, 2 was ok. Pro. The "non-pro" and RT lines aren't so hot. Weaksauce as a laptop and no benefits of battery life/apps of a real tablet.

    Dont try and buy an ultrabook with a laptop budget, you just end up with a poor all round device. Grab a decent midrange i5 based machine and if they really need a tablet once they've started using it they can pickup an older galaxy tab for a few bob in a few months.


  • #4
    riclad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,184 ✭✭✭riclad


    i Think the surface 3 is a good tablet,
    for older people any 8-10inch laptop samsung tablet would be a better buy .
    And then buy a 350-500 euro plus laptop as the main web acess device .
    movies are not great on tablets,
    make sure laptop has a hdmi port for easy connection to a tv for film viewing.
    or get a chrome cast device around 35 euro .chromecast device
    Sends video signal, from the browser . from laptop to tv via wifi network.
    ITS called the surface pro its aimed at the pro user
    or business user who wants a tablet to run windows apps .
    its very expensive its not aimed at the more casual user who buy s
    200-300 euro tablets .

    ie its not ideal as the main web acess device for older users .
    its aimed at a niche market ,
    for someone who wants a high level powerful device
    not like a samsung tablet .
    The surface 3 is a good tablet, for specific market its aimed at .


  • #5
    shanec1928
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,286 ✭✭✭shanec1928


    Just bear in mind that the surface pro 4 is out now


  • #6
    arleitiss
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,512 ✭✭✭arleitiss


    Ended up buying Lenovo G70 which has SSHD + 240GB SSD.

    Not sure if I should put SSD straight into it, I've never dealt with transfering Windows from default laptop drive to SSD.


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  • #7
    riclad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,184 ✭✭✭riclad


    Buy a Samsung tablet 9 or ten inch next ,200 euro approx
    or just a standard ebook reader
    get one with hdmi out .

    if you think they need a tablet
    AS well as a laptop
    90 euro approx.
    I,m glad you went for a real laptop .




    SEE below

    First, make sure you have your windows 10 creation media with you. If not then you can download it from Microsoft.

    2nd, boot to the USB/DVD that has the windows 10 installation on it. From there, it's pretty self explanatory.
    Use the Windows media creation tool here to create a USB installer:

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windo...

    Windows 10 will self-activate after installation, because it activates using the identity of your computer's components and its particular configuration.
    image can also be used to create installation media using a USB flash drive or DVD.
    dealz sell dvd r disk pack 4.7gb 4 for 2 euro .




    http://www.cnet.com/uk/topics/ereaders/best-e-book-readers/


    Do not delete any files or drivers on the laptop drive until maybe a week or 2 After windows 10 shown to be working fine on the laptop
    ssd drive .


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