Laptop advice

[hairyben]

Have used desktops ever since, but fancy one of these instead this time, don't really use it for much beyond browsing/emailing/word processing these days, so performance isn't critical and battery life doesn't have to be class leading, but something tough, reliable with a good screen, with brightness suitable for outdoors would be nice.

Looking at a toshiba satellite C75, anything else I should consider instead?

Thanks.

[skelters]

Acer have been very reliable for me over the past few years.

Processor - i7
HDD - Change to SSD
Memory - Minumum of 8gb and what is the memory limits on the machine?

Check how many USB ports and if there are any USB 3.0 Ports. Also that there is HDMI. Card reader can be handy for reading SD cards.

Toshiba website can be complete fking bks for drivers.

[JimmyTheHand]

I'd take a look at Dell - been happy with mine. I had a HP before which made me realise just how down market HP had gone. Work have provided me a HP laptop - seems OK, but even that has had issues with drivers.

[hairyben]

http://www.ebuyer.com/620261-acer-aspire-e1-771-la...

something like this would be a good bet? Are SSD's that much better? Can't see much in the way of laptops that come with them

I see dell have the same kind of thing for the same kind of money, is there much between them, are screens all much-of-a-muchness or are there some inherently better, and better for using outdoors?

The tosh was rated as having a particularly bright screen in a review but I can't see much in the way of reviews for the others and it seems a minefield (same machines having multiple model numbers?)

[FlossyThePig]

Three of my grandchildren have Acer Aspires which seem to work fine. The only problem they have is connecting to their printer using wireless (USB cable is fine) and I haven't had the time to investigate.

Eldest dropped his and broke the screen. Replacement purchased and I fitted it in about 30 minutes. If I have to do it again it will probably take 10 minutes.

[mike9009]

I would seriously recommend a SSD, if you can find a laptop with one. It is the single piece of technology that has made computers quicker in the last five years. (I cannot justify that statement as I am not qualified to, but they seriously can transform a old laptop or mke a new one quicker than anything I have used before.......)

I now have 3 SSDs in my desktop and laptop....

[grumbledoak]

SSDs are great but they command an eye-watering markup if you try to buy them pre-installed. They are not difficult to fit as replacements, but they are not necessary either.

Never skip a look on the Dell Outlet - I just bought my father a 17"/i5/6GB/750GB laptop for less than that Acer.

[ZesPak]

Yes, SSD's ramp up general performance by a considerable margin. They improve boot times and general smoothness like nothing else.
As echoed above, most of the manufacturers only put them in their high-end devices, so you'll only get them in higher price categories (while a 128GB SSD isn't more expensive than a 1000GB HDD, it just doesn't sell that well in the magazines).
I'd go for an after market install every day. However, some devices are very hard to do and even void warranty (think MacBooks and some Ultrabooks), so best check beforehand if you want to go that way.

[hairyben]

Thanks for the input... I'm thinking someone like http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk will build the laptop to my spec with an SSD rather than buying the acer then ripping it open and binning a part I've just paid for... would this make more sense or is something like an acer a bit better finished/slicker than a small builder?

And is office worth paying the £90~ for? I know there's free alternative and I'm open to other suggestions but want it as hassle free as can be.