Laptop's: what should i be looking for?

[buster_broon]

I've managed to talk the missus into letting me buy a Laptop for an upcoming career course that lasts 20 weeks

now all i need it to do is more or less Microsoft office stuff, with a smattering of watching some movies and TV shows in AVI format

i've got a budget of around ?500 and since this is my first foray into the laptop market, i'm kinda stuck for what to buy

i went to PC World today and they had loads in my price range, but i dont know which company is decent and which ones arnt

i did see a nice Vaio at ?700, but that would only be bought because my desktop is a Vaio and (touch wood) i've never had a problem with it in 3 years

so chaps - lmk what is the best around for what i need it to do

after the course the wife is looking to use it in the living room for net surfing whilst watching soaps

[oblivion_6]

Dell are doing some really good deals on laptops, if your just going to use it to surf the web and do some MS office and things like that then you wont need much

Check them out here, I think the main things really to take into account are battery life and weight. But if your going to mainly use it in the house then these arent that much of an issue.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/notebooks_better?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Looking there I notice that the INSPIRON 6400 seems to offer a not bad spec for your budget

Decent size screen
Good hard drive size
Vista Premium
DVD Burner


Its a shared memory GFX card but then again you get a 1gb and your not really going to be gaming on it.

[Mercian]

Personally I would be after something quiet. It sounds like a stupid suggestion but having used a number of laptops to do work, considerations over memory and graphics pale into comparison if the compromise is that it sounds like a jet engine. Obviously these factors are important but I would also make sure, as an aside, to check whether it has a silent fan or at least 'quiet' technology.

[ascender]

You can't really go wrong with a Dell tbh. We've used them at work for years and they're pretty bombproof.

If it was me, I'd probably go for a Macbook as it sounds ideal for what you're going to be doing.

Like Muppet says, it would be good to check out laptops locally if possible before buying them online as you'll be able to see how noisy they are, what you think of the keyboard etc.

[KJH]

Cheap refurb Thinkpad or a refurb Powerbook/ibook....

Quiet and good battery capacity.

[Magnakai]

If you do get a Dell, call up and order over the phone. The trick is to negotiate a better deal for yeself. Each sales representative has a certain amount of leeway with what they can offer you. If they're refusing to budge, make your excuses and call back to get someone else.

[demon9k]

Total agree with Magnakai.

I can get the Inspiron 6400 for ?330 including del with 1Gb Ram, DVD-RW, 120Gb HD and Vista Premium.

[MJ]

I got a Dell Inspiron 6400 last year and it's been great and is more then good enough for the basics. The price has dropped a lot now and the specs have gotten better. I also bought an Inspiron 1300 and it's a great notebook for the basics too.

[ryodi]

Don't order online from Dell either, call them direct and haggle with them. if you give them a low ball offer to buy it there and then after they email you a quote they will see what they can do to match the price you are prepared to pay for it. When I was looking for a laptop that circumstance meant I couldn't get in the end I got them to quote a laptop worth £1020 on their website down to £850.

[EDDIE M0NS00N]

Total agree with Magnakai.

I can get the Inspiron 6400 for ?330 including del with 1Gb Ram, DVD-RW, 120Gb HD and Vista Premium.

So u got the ?429 6400 for ?330.
****, thats one hell of a haggle!!

[ucci]

Damn thats good. Also if you cant be arsed with Dell, Buyit247 do Fuji refurbs for good prices.

http://www.buyit247.net/acatalog/Grade_2_Laptops.html

[demon9k]

So u got the ?429 6400 for ?330.
****, thats one hell of a haggle!!

We've ordered quite a few of them for friends and family cos its such a good price.