Laptops - help needed as I don't have a clue

[TotallyAngelic]

Hi

I am thinking about buying the kids a (cheap £250 -£350) laptop for Xmas - DD uses the computer mainly for photoshop and the internet and DS uses it for making movies and internet. Unfortunately I haven't a clue about laptops, but I was wondering if laptops actually have the capability for what my kids need to do. Do they have big enough memories etc in my price range. Can anyone recommend a decent laptop which does these things which is within my price range - I know if I go to a shop I will be blinded with science and end up buying the wrong thing. Any laptop advice would be very gratefully received. Thanks.

 

[Netty]

Hi sarah,
i have been told that toshiba laptops are the best and infact i am looking for a laptop for myself at the moment- an xmas pressie of dh !
comet have a great toshiba one in at the mo for £358, but probably cheaper online and then if you go through quidco etc even cheaper- blimey I think i've turned into Wayne!!!

 

[scottish mum]

I just bought one 2 weeks ago from tesco. Its an Acer 5720 and it was £450 down to £350. DH tells me its a good but all i do is surf so anyone would do me but apparently its got good memory etc

 

[scottish mum]

Just checked tescos and they still have them and now slightly cheaper as with the vat reduction

 

[tennisfan]

I can vouch for Toshiba laptops, my dads friend who is very good with computers etc lent me his one & now I have the same one. Its great. I use it for the internet, some games, photo editing. I have had it over 2 years now & it still runs like new, where as my packard bell one that I originally had was slowly dying & its not like I had much on it.

He ordered it from Misco & i'm sure they are on Quidco too

 

[Goofyish]

If you plan to use it for photo and video editing and running Vista then I would try and get at least 2Gb of RAM and a Dual Core Processor

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Thanks - she uses it for graphic drawing - rather than manipulating photos - but I suppose the same level of RAM would be needed for that too.

 

[tennisfan]

In the paper I saw Morrisons have a Toshiba laptop with 2.1 GHz Dual Core processor & 2MB RAM for £350.

 

[Disney Princess Elli]

In the carphone warehouse they have really cute teeny-tiny laptops (like 1/2 size of a normal one) for like £250.. I think they have quite good memory and stuff and they're so cute!

 

[fuse04]

Often the computer magazines have tests or laptops or a top 5 etc which might help. As Tim mentioned minimum 2Gb Ram and dual core is a must