Another laptop thread - help me find one

[Psyduck]

Hi guys, just looking for some pointers towards a laptop that'll do what I want. I'm wanting it to:

- run football manager decently enough, not in 3d though - the 2d stuff is what I prefer anyway

- play HD films, and blu rays (so a blu ray drive)

- ideally have a 15" or smaller screen, preferably smaller but I don't think they really make em that small with blu ray...

- preferably be intel, though AMD would be OK I guess if it hits all the other buttons well

- cost less than ?500, ideally more like ?400. Though if there's anything great for more then point it out and I can decide to wait if needs be or stretch if I'm really impressed.

Not particularly bothered about the gfx card in terms of 3d stuff, though I guess I might actually need a reasonable one to help with the blu ray? Do need to be able to connect it to HDMI, so a DVI/HDMI output would be a must have too.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[VR46]

Curry's have a couple reduced, wait for someone else to confirm if they're good buys though.

£399

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0712433516.1230398921@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddadegdfjdhhgcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=909576&category_oid=

£499

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0712433516.1230398921@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccddadegdfjdhhgcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&sku=052738

£529

http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/908015

[abigsmurf]

Be careful with that top Advent. That's not a brilliant CPU (1.7ghz) and the graphics chip is a GM965 which doesn't accelerate video playback. I can see that dropping frames left right and center.

I believe the bottom 2, as well as having better CPUs, have graphics chips which can take the load off the CPU to help decode video and should play vids smoothly.

[Psyduck]

Cheers for the help so far. The £499 one looks better in almost every way (except HD size) - what's the drawback vs the £529?

I'd heard similar about that £399 one which is kinda why I started the thread...why would they stick in BR though if it can't handle it?! Stupid...

[abigsmurf]

The £499 one is better specced in almost every way but... It's a 17" screen and 500g heavier. It's not portable really. I'd imagine the battery life isn't too hot either compared to the AMD one.

The first one is bizzarely specced though, I'm not even sure that had HDMI output which means, if it did somehow play blu rays, you'd fall foul of HDCP.

Whichever one you buy, buy from Dixons (they're the same store) and use the code SALE25 to get 2.5% off (works out around a tenner)

[Psyduck]

I always thought a larger screen would cost more but I guess cause of the impact on the size of everything else maybe i'm wrong...happy enough with a 17" then in that case.

Is this not better than that £499 one though? Bigger HD and £50 cheaper...

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1456196005.1230462948@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadegdddefdjcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=709231&category_oid=#productInformationSection

Or this one with a better gfx card (?) for £499

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1456196005.1230462948@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhadegdddefdjcflgceggdhhmdgmi.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=903240&category_oid=#productInformationSection

[abigsmurf]

Dell one's pretty good. Acer have a horrible reputation for build quality

[Psyduck]

Arg, this is why I started the thread rather than looking myself! Google shopping brings up the following...

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_5920G_Laptop_LX.AQB0X.612/version.asp?refsource=ldfroogle

yeah it's an acer but £450, 15", 4gb ram, 250gb HDD...

[abigsmurf]

That's a good spec for the price. Should cope well with things like WoW too.

[Psyduck]

From reading the Q&A looks like it doesn't have the ATI gfx card after all, just some intel one so maybe not so good after all...
Now seen this which looks spot on though

http://www.comet.co.uk/shopcomet/product/483265/FUJITSU-SIEMENS-AMILO-PA-3553/tab/specification#spec

Cheers for the help so far smurf - everyone else: you know you're allowed to comment too!

[VR46]

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500001151&langId=-1&searchTerms=R505

Looks similar spec'd to the Comet Fujitsu one.

[Psyduck]

It does but sadly lacks the blu ray drive, which was one thing I'm after. Can't decide whether to go for one or just wait a while. Seems we've narrowed the search down though - thanks for the help

[VR46]

lol you're right, swear I read it had one. Looks like the Comet ones is teh winner at the moment.

[Extra Terrestrial]

This laptop will cost you ?589 but it triumphs over every suggestion - NO OFFENCE! - in this thread so far.

Sony VGN-NS11J/S

Blu-ray built-in and is fairly portable too.

Oh, it can be purchased for ?549 on the Comet website:

Sony laptop on the Comet website.

[Psyduck]

Thanks, but again no blu ray there...