Maccaman Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Considering buying one of my sons a Laptop computer for his birthday in May. He would use it for downloading music, talking on Facebook, using Skype and various Web sites. Also he may play games, though he doesn't bother with his Xbox much these days. Was wondering what peoples recommendations would be & what level of graphics card should I be looking for. Not sure how much I'm going to spend but it will be swayed by what is available. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zugara Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Acer Aspire 8920.Same as mine, best laptop i ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubis Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Not sure really, probably upto £750. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurrish Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Stick to pen and paper Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shire350Z Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 very strange!! was going to post the same thread as im after one myself!!! but im looking for nothing fancy!! downloading music, keeping work files on there and using the web on it about it not wanting to spend much either as wont be doing much with it and rather spend it on the Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 Stick to pen and paper Keith Only just started to use these new ballpoint thingys, the quill and ink worked fine for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubis Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavili ... 3-pdt.html http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/hp-pavili ... 3-pdt.html http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packard-b ... 4-pdt.html Set asside £70 for Microsoft Office 2007 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) - if you buy it from Amazon they will upgrade you free to Office 2010 (comes out in the summer) so your son has the latest software that'll last him for a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I'm using this one Acer Aspire 5732Z. (note the Z) Liked it so much the wife got one as well. It's a good middle of the road machine. http://www.johnlewis.com/230825409/Product.aspx Used John Lewis because of the 2 year guarantee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubis Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 To be honest don't worry about the brand so much - its only the company that stuck it all together in a plastic case and branded it. All the internal hardware is made by specialist companies such as ATI and Intel, etc. Go for the spec sheet. If your just an average user then don't go for top whack - it's unlikely you'll use all its potential unless playing a seriously top graphical game. Normal stuff like browsing t'internet, etc is a doddle for any machine. Make sure you get Windows Home Professional (not basic / starter). You also get a lot more for your money if it were a PC than a laptop - but you obviously can't take it anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maz0 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I wouldnt ever really recommend a laptop for playing games to be honest if that is going to be the core of his computer use, it would be money better spent on a decent desktop system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxi-glasgow Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 When my Acer Aspire Bluray laptop went up in smoke I went to buy a new one and spotted a touch screen model in Comet for around £650 so bought it there and then. It is superb, the touch screen is amazing, it's supports Microsoft Multi-Touch so you can move photo's about the software and use two fingers to expand and rotate it, just like the iPhone but on a far bigger scale. Makes the iPad look pants as it can't do a fraction of what you can do with a laptop. Model number is Acer Aspire 5738PG, make sure of the letters after the numbers as they have loads of different 5738 models. I got my daughter another 5738 model which I got free with a 3 mobile broadband deal. It works out I am paying something like £80 more than the cost of the laptop over the 2 years, but getting to pay a monthly fee rather than stump up front and also needed to get broadband for my daughter as she stays with her Mum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Look at the DELL outlet store, cant fault my DELL Studio laptop that I currently have... in a few years it's time to change anyway so no need to go mental on a high spec one... think 'consumables' ! Think you guys in the UK can use DELL Ebay, let me have a gander... Gander finished: They must have closed that shop down, used to be called : dellfactory (seller) So I'd go for the outlet instead: http://outlet.euro.dell.com/topics/glob ... INSP&s=dfh They got an INSPIRON/STUDIO XPS 1640 - 700£ !!! IMO You can't go wrong... I'm not saying these lappies will last a lifetime ... they won't and they aren't meant to either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Another thumbs up for Dell outlet. When I was at uni I got a £1400 laptop for £700! Hadnt even been turned on, it was returned as part of a bulk order which wasnt needed so no one had touched it. Just have to time it right to find a laptop that you are after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunGodRA Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Dell Studio probably best value for money at the moment, for what you get in terms of perfomance. I can however get some good deals on HP ;-) Personally I would wait a couple of months until the i5 and i7 processors become more main-stream and come down in price. I have just bought a new desktop PC (HP 8100 Elite) which has i5 processor and it rocks!!! (3.36GHz quad core) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted April 1, 2010 Author Share Posted April 1, 2010 Thanks for all the useful info guys. Will use it when I start looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Having worked in IT for a good while now... Buy a Dell from Dell Don't buy a Dell from anywhere else !!!! An initial purchase from a shop (such as "where in the world" ) may be ok initially , but if you need any support it would be like you asking me to fit a Turbo Charger to your Zed.......... I don't think so. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choptop Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Having worked in IT for a good while now... Buy a Dell from Dell Don't buy a Dell from anywhere else !!!! An initial purchase from a shop (such as "where in the world" ) may be ok initially , but if you need any support it would be like you asking me to fit a Turbo Charger to your Zed.......... I don't think so. JMO Would never touch a Dell ever again..........complete junk! No seriously, maybe I had a bad one but would never actually buy one with my money ever again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maz0 Posted April 1, 2010 Share Posted April 1, 2010 Just bought a Dell tonight from the outlet site posted earlier in here (cheers andlid). Got quite a good laptop for about 200 quid short of list price. Certified refurbished + 1 years warranty collect and return. Happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Just bought a Dell tonight from the outlet site posted earlier in here (cheers andlid). Got quite a good laptop for about 200 quid short of list price. Certified refurbished + 1 years warranty collect and return. Happy days pm me your address and I'll send you an invoice for services provided. What did you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff-r Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Acer's look well priced but to be honest everyone I know who's had an Acer usually ends up looking for a new laptop after about a year and a half as they break. I've had my Sony Vaio for 3 years now and it still works exactly the same as when I bought it and it's had a HARD life and a lot of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maz77 Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 if the laptop is being used for games you will need a graphics card from ATI or Nvidia. they increase the price substantially though. for that budget you may be looking at the bottom range gaming laptops (which are still powerful enough). something like the DELL XPS 16 would be within reach and is a great machine even compared to PC's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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