Low cost lap top

[Brent pigeon]

I need a cheap laptop mainly for Excel but also for some web browsing. Ideally I would like one that has louder sound than the laptops I have used so far, I am wondering about the smaller ones but I am worried that they might not be compatible with Office or something. Any advice?

[Ethel]

Any laptop running Windows XP or Vista is compatible with Office or something.

No laptop has fantastic speakers.

[Brent pigeon]

From my current experience Vista seem incompatible with lots of stuff, though OK with Office.
I had a bad experience with PC World which is why I am asking for advice on AB.
I do not need fantastic speakers but loud enough to hear comfortably would be good.
Thank you fro answering.

[Ethel]

Older software and hardware may be incompatible with Vista, but a lot of manufacturers have supplied downloadable drivers to make your printer and so on compatible.

Check online before you rule out Vista.

For sound, I'd buy a pair of Logitech laptop speakers for around �25, or use headphones, and make sure the laptop had all the other important spec I needed. Laptop speakers are mainly rubbish and at the lower price bracket sound is going to be low on the list of priorities for the manufacturer.

Unless you are a hard core gamer, edit videos or you are in to graphic design any of the �300 laptops will suit your needs very well. Decide what size screen you need; the size of the hardrive and so on, and shop around.
Tesco Direct is a good place to start.

If you need to carry it around a lot, go for a smaller screen. If not, get as big as you can find for your money