What Laptop?

[randtis]

I need to get myself a cheap (and I mean cheap, cheap as possible really) laptop. I will be buying new since they become out of date in barely 6 months

Will be a Windows Laptop.

I've seen this for about £410, but don't know if it's any good? Will be used for internet, some music, some photo storage, oh and it needs to work with a wireless home ADSL set-up (Netgear), so I assume I need a PCMCIA card? No games use, or at least nothing taxing!

Acer TravelMate 2428AWXMi

Intel Pentium-M 735 1.7GHz Processor
14.1" WXGA Widescreen TFT LCD Display
512MB DDR II RAM
60GB ATA/100 Hard Drive
DVD-RW Dual Drive
Intergrated Graphics (128MB shared)
Ethernet LAN 10/100Mbps
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g
Weight - only 2.35kg
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
Additional software: Acer eManager, Acer GridVista

I've looked at Dell, and my limited knowledge tells me Celeron processors and 256MB ram is to be avoided, and once that is upgraded and a DVD-RW added it ain't so cheap! Other makes to consider? Fujitsu, Toshiba, Compaq, Advent?

I don't need an extra portable laptop, which this is, but the standard size/weight ones seem no better for the price, or are cheaper and have a really rubbish spec.

Can those in the know let me know what they think please?

[TonyToniTone]

This seems a pretty good deal as you get bigger screen built in WiFi (so did one above)

Acer Aspire 5003WMLi

* AMD Turion ML 32 1.8GHz Processor
* 256 MB DDRII SDRAM - Low cost double memory offer – call for details!
* 60 GB Hard Drive
* DVD Dual Layer Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs, DVD+, DVD- and large Dual Layer DVD
* 15.4" WXGA Widescreen TFT with CrystalBrite Technology
* Integrated gigabit LAN
* Integrated wireless 802.11 b/g LAN - Call for advice on Wireless networking
* Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Pre Loaded
* 1 year warranty - upgradeable to 3 years


www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5003WMLi_LX.A5105.670/version.asp

Crucial memory upgrade 1GB £94 512MB £44

Edited by TonyToniTone on Friday 22 September 19:59

[cannedheat]

I got an Acer Travelmate 3201 - 512mb, 60gb, 1.6 0r 1.7 'm' centrino processor (can't remember exactly). It's pretty good in my opinion. Seems pretty fast - faster at times than my parents new dual core 3ghz Dell. Build quality is pretty good, screen is nice and bright. Not quite as good as the Sony 'black' screens or whatever they are called but good enough for me.

Only downside is that it can get pretty hot and after 2yrs my battery is loosing its ability to holf full charge.


edited to add: the one you mentioned says it has wireless lan so no need for a netgear pcmcia card.

Edited by cannedheat on Friday 22 September 22:26

[bez_uk]

If you buy cheap stuff it goes out of date it 6 months... see it as an investment... spend more and oh guess what? It last longer without being outdated.

Example:
Had old dell desktop well over 4 years old and was playing modern games on it till about 4 months ago. It cost £1500 ish at the time and you can buy better for £200 now. But £400 every 6 months? Do the maths.

[momentofmadness]

This is very similar to the Acer, maybe a slightly bigger screen?

www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=44N0&CategorySelectedId=11105&NavigationKey=11105,46180000,15&v=2#infoarea

[randtis]

Much as I’d like to spend more on a computer it just isn’t going to happen. I was initially considering a desktop but have nowhere to put it.

How much better or worse is a Centrino ‘M’ processor than either a Celeron ‘M’ or an AMD Turion? From my (limited) reading, it seems AMD laptop processors are not as good as Intel ones, and Celeron processors are not great either, is that about right?

Is there actually much difference between a 14.1” and a 15”4 screen?

Saw this Dell advertised over the weekend, about the same spec as the Acer, but might be a better bet? It's actually £429 though:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellst

Ooh and thanks for all your responses

[Dogwatch]

I'm writing this on an 18 month old Acer Travelmate 4002. Cost a grand new but no problems. Does push out quite a lot of heated air as posted above, so wouldn't want it on my lap for long!

[Plotloss]

PC World (of all places) have a Tosh at £399

It is only 256mb out of the box but a screwdriver and 10 minutes would fix that.

It all depends on what you want to do with it.

[cannedheat]

randtis said:

Much as I’d like to spend more on a computer it just isn’t going to happen. I was initially considering a desktop but have nowhere to put it.

How much better or worse is a Centrino ‘M’ processor than either a Celeron ‘M’ or an AMD Turion? From my (limited) reading, it seems AMD laptop processors are not as good as Intel ones, and Celeron processors are not great either, is that about right?

Is there actually much difference between a 14.1” and a 15”4 screen?

Saw this Dell advertised over the weekend, about the same spec as the Acer, but might be a better bet? It's actually £429 though:

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dellst

Ooh and thanks for all your responses

I have a 14.1 and it's fine. Can't think or any reason why I'd want an extra inch (requote at will ). Defo go for the Pentium 'M' Centrino option...

[bez_uk]

Centrino can be any of Intels chips if its the M its probably one of the older pentium m processors. The centrino bit means you can intel wireless too. (not a bad thing)

Don't know how much extra it would be but try and get a core solo, core duo or even a core 2 duo. They are the newest of the bunch so will stand you in good sted.

aka Centrino duo for example.