what should i look for in a laptop??

[natalielongstaff]

i want to buy a laptop, what should i look for as the necessary requirements.
i want to use it for the interenet mostly...i have a pc that i use for paperwork and stuff

thanks

 

[emily1982]

Well it's abit like looking for a man, someone who can be trustworthy, loyal and reliable when you most need it , never answers back and doesn't take up much space....sorry...i couldn't resist answering!

Seriously though lol....something lightweight i'd go for, depends what your using it for games, chatting, work etc...for me i'd go for wireless with word and everything on it.

 

[pokemon_master]

Lots of RAM in case you secretly want to play games.. LOL 512 will do you for most things.

 

[Spook]

Buy it from someone that you know will give good aftersales service. We bought our pc and 2 laptops from a local independent shop and the service he provides is excellent. When I got a parking ticket outside his shop he provided me with a letter to Transport for London and I got the parking ticket cancelled

Jan

 

[Goofyish]

Lots of RAM in case you secretly want to play games.. LOL 512 will do you for most things.

If you are going for Vista would get 1Gb of RAM as a minimum!

Also, go for a Core 2 Duo processor.

Also, if you do want to play games, edit photos or videos make sure the laptop has dedicated memory for its graphics. On some cheaper laptops the graphics shares the system memory.

 

[pokemon_master]

If you are going for Vista would get 1Gb of RAM as a minimum!

Oh Tim, give Nat some Credit, she's bound not to get vista...

 

[alisonbestford]

I'd been advised that Vista isn't too good
Is that not the case?
Thinking about a lap top myself

 

[pokemon_master]

I'd been advised that Vista isn't too good
Is that not the case?
Thinking about a lap top myself

It's alright, but it still has teething problems..

It took ages for my vista laptop to figure out our home wireless network, but we got there.

 

[natalielongstaff]

i can't find one that hasn't got vista !!!

 

[Goofyish]

I'd been advised that Vista isn't too good
Is that not the case?
Thinking about a lap top myself

Vista looks very nice

But there are issued with compatability with some older hardware (although new drivers may be available) and some older software/games. I use AutoCAD at work and can't use it on Vista.

You also need to chck the 'edition' of Vista you are getting. You really need to go for the 'Home Premium' edition and not the 'Home Basic' edition.
The Home Premium edition comes with more multimedia features.

For my DWs new laptop I got XP - I know XP, I know all my software and hardware works with XP - so why change

 

[Goofyish]

i can't find one that hasn't got vista !!!

Try looking here Nat:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/

The ACER (Aspire 5633) I got my DW came with XP Media Centre Edition (with a free upgrade to Vista if required.)

 

[natalielongstaff]

thanks tim, i will have a look at them

 

[bicker]

If Vista works for what you want to do, you absolutely want to buy a computer running Vista. That's because, AFAIC, upgrading the operating system on a computer is like sticking needles in your eye: It's just not a smart idea, and in the end it isn't going to work out for you. It's far better to run a computer with the operating system the computer was designed to support. So if you get a new computer now, with XP, you're effectively relegating yourself to that older operating system, for years to come, or scheduling yourself for a painful upgrade process.

 

[eyoreaud]

Hi Natalie,
My Dh Just bought a laptop from Dell 2 weeks ago. its an inspiron and we have windows vista business, not too sure if all that makes sense I'm not very tech minded He just got connected to our wireless after trying all day and night yesterday Now Dd hass connected her Wii as well, this wireless lark is a bit of allright me thinks! Will let you know how we get on with the Vista. It's only on the laptop tho, our main pc has windows xp.

Hope i havn't confused you

 

[emily1982]

I recommend dell also, we've had 2 pc's off them and they've been pretty reliable.

 

[jns]

what should i look for as the necessary requirements.


thanks

The UK Dis Boards

Good luck shopping

 

[paulh]

weve got the same problem here as well,eldest lad is 18 next week and off to uni in october .Manchester studying computer sience.At moment he has a tosibia laptop but for his birthday we will be getting him a mac book.Due to the fact that programmers love this type and as thats his subject better for him.We will give him the cash as he will get a students discount from apple.His advice is always buy the bigest memory you can aford for the internet use firefox as less problems than explorer
Paulh

 

[Disney-For-Life]

Look for an Apple laptop. If someone in your family is in college/university, you can get a discount from the on-line order just by entering in the student number/school.

 

[alisonbestford]

Try looking here Nat:

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/

The ACER (Aspire 5633) I got my DW came with XP Media Centre Edition (with a free upgrade to Vista if required.)

Thanks for the link Tim

Both the Acer Aspire 5101AWLMi and the 5612WLMi have Windows XP and are within my budget

I'm not too sure though which is supposed to be better when I look at the specifications......duh

Any advice?
I guess that what I 'need' it for is when we go away - to go online , to watch DVDs on and for DD to play her games

 

[DisneyJo]

Hi Nat as you know I got a laptop for my Birthday in February, I did a ton of research and ended up with an Aspire 5610Z and I've been really pleased with it. I bought it at Comet for £500 (Currys was £600 for exact same one!) and it has Vista which I find fine although it didn't come with word etc so I just installed the one I already had from my PC (the shop told me too) My dad has just bought a Dell and I actually prefer mine! One thing to look for is battery life!

Good Luck, let us know what you get, does this mean you'll spend even more time Dissing