Advise on buying a new laptop

[filthiestfis]

Hi
We are planning on buying a new laptop and need ideas on a fast laptop that is good value for money (cost between 300-500 pounds). Any recommendations?

[birdie1971]

I would recommend buying a Dell.

I bought one for my wife in September this year – a “Studio 15” - and I have to say, the build quality is superb. I have a Toshiba Qosmio (which is a pretty expensive gaming laptop, at about £1100) and I can honestly say that knowing what I know now, I would have bought a Dell XPS or Dell Alienware.

If you're going to pay about £450 - £500, you'll get a lot of laptop for your money from Dell – have a look the the “Studio” or “Inspiron” range.

http://www.dell.co.uk/

[dizmouk2009]

birdie1971 saved be writing a lot, I will promote dell like he/she has.

[VHG]

The trouble is the range £300 to £500 is too broad so it is hard to give any suggestions. There are hundreds of laptops between those prices.

£300 will get you a basic low end laptop because £300 is just about the low price point for laptops (or maybe just under).

£500 on the other hand will get you a really nice laptop.

As has been said, the Studio brand from Dell is their "quality" brand that do look good, but you could just as easily go for a Toshiba, Sony, HP etc etc

If I was you I would search here on HUKD for laptops, and then keep and eye to see what deals come up over the next few weeks that are voted hot (unless you want it before Christmas).

[VHG]

One other thing, I did see a PC Pro magazine in the supermarket the other day that had a front cover of "Windows 7 Laptops review" (February 2010 issue).

Maybe have a sneaky read of that and see what they say is the "best", latest issue here
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/latest-issue

PC Pro do review some laptops on their web site

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/laptops

[Sputnik]

PART 1:-

As VHG says, for your money, you will have a choice of any number of decent laptops. There will always be recommendations by individuals and from magazines for this make or that, but in all truth there's very little to choose between most of them in terms of performance. As long as you've got around a 3GHZ Processor, 2GB of RAM, min 160GB HDD and a CD/DVD Re-Writer this will be enough for most people. Assuming it's running Windows, Windows 7 is not necessarily a 'must-have'; indeed, you're more likely to see cheaper deails if they come with Vista/XP Home pre-loaded. Wireless capability comes mostly as standard, but double-check in case.

Where a lot of reviews/recommendations fall down is they often ignore the more 'minor' aspects which can be just as important:-

Screen Size: If you're going to play a lot of videos, get one with at least a 17" screen size.

Keyboard: Some well respected brands have real cheap look-and-feel keyboards. Get one with a keyboard that you like the feel of.