Cheap Lappy thats not a netbook for ?250 - or am I dreaming?

[kernow]

Anyone, I'd like to avoid acer, emachines etc if possible. I'd also prefer intel over amd, but yeah I can't be fussy for ?250, am I dreaming?

I don't want a netbook, but a low spec is fine, something that'll run XP even if it comes with Vista installed as I'll be formatting it, so it must have good hardware or drivers that'll work with XP pro.

I don't want a bells and whistles thing, just something thats alright and will only be used for light computing.

Any suggestions? I might be able to stretch to ?280 but thats really it - my laptop is on its last legs and I can't deal with it anymore.

I could get a used one exactly the same as I quite like the model I have to be honest but for the price ?150ish on ebay, I might as well look for something a bit newer for a bit extra.

Thanks a lot

[abigsmurf]

£279 is a fairly typical price for a celeron/turion system. Be warned they are fairly horrible CPUs. Save for clearance sales, you're not going to get a full laptop for £250.

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?sort=pricelow&store=5&cat=10&limit=10&page=1

http://www.dabs.com/products/dell-vostro-a860-celeron-560-2-13ghz-1gb-160gb-dvd---rw-15-6-wxga-vista-home-5HVJ.html

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5081378/c_1/1|category_root|Office%2C+PCs+and+phones|12108 629/c_2/2|cat_12108629|Computers+and+laptops|12108658/c_3/3|cat_12108658|Laptops|12108673.htm

Faster CPU in return for an especially horrible graphics chip in the last one.

I actually lucked out with my Laptop, got one ex display one for £100 with no charger. £20 charger from ebay, £40 for a 6 cell battery, £50 for the best OEM CPU it could handle, £25 to max out the ram. Relatively powerful laptop for £230.

[Taka]

Is it just the screen size that's putting you off from getting a netbook? I picked up this little number which really is superb. I have a fully functional 15" laptop but I find myself using this netbook far more often.

[kernow]

thanks guys, 10.1" is too small for something I don't move around much. I'm looking at a used HP 6715B at present because its faster than the P-M 1.5 I have now, and I've used them before at work so I know how they are. Keep providing recommendations though, I know its a not a lot of money and I'm quite happy to get something used but in good condition instead

[abigsmurf]

you'll get a decent laptop used at that price but naturally, it'll be used and out of warranty.

[kernow]

Indeed. I'm watching a used HP 6400 on ebay at present, hopefully I'll get it. My NC6000 is on its last legs but I've had it a good few years now.

[EJG1980]

I'm looking at a used HP 6715B

I've had that laptop for almost a couple of years and it's still going strong, haven't had any problems with it. Study and well built, nice screen, and I haven't felt the need to change to a newer model as the performance is still good enough for me (although the most intensive thing I do is a bit of photo editing).

[kernow]

Excellent, unfortunately while those were the ones we were recommending to people at work a couple years back, theres none on ebay at the moment, I'm currently bidding on (and winning) a 6400 which is very similar and ends in 35 minutes mind you it went up 60 quid last night so I don't hold high hopes of winning it. Core 2 Duo 1.83 / 2GB / 60GB which to be honest is fine for me, I don't play games and just use it for firefox, putty and basic OS usage.

I'm too old too do the computing I used to, or something.

Wish me luck! and thanks for the info on that 6715b

[abigsmurf]

Ebay is incredibly annoying with laptops, massive amounts of sniping (sniping is one of the core reasons I use Amazon to sell now). I wish Ebay would do a thing of having bids in the last 2 minutes add a minute on to the auction (up to a max of 30 minutes)

[kernow]

Got outbid by a fiver. CHRIST. :fume:

Theres another I guess but yes I know what you mean, it sucks.

[abigsmurf]

The people buying are probably using sniper software, wouldn't surprise me if a lot of them are bought by indie computer stores to sell at shows for a tidy profit.

[kernow]

I'm looking at a used X or T series thinkpad but the spec for the money is pretty low, the HP 6400 I've used before and is a good spec, c2d 1.66 or 1.83, 1GB or 2GB and a 60 or 80GB drive. That'd be perfect for a couple hundred, as long as its not bashed to feck comsmetically.

[abigsmurf]

Don't forget most laptops let you upgrade RAM really easily (aside from macbooks of course). You can also upgrade the CPU in lots but that can be quite a lot of work...

[kernow]

True, for some reason I've read that the HP has 1GB that you can't even get to though, but it does have 2 slots for sodimms. I checked already and a 2GB module for it is only 20 posted on crucial. not bad

edit: The cheaper, lower spec one has a 3 month RTB warranty, maybe I'll just settle on that if I don't win the higher spec one. Thats almost as important as every other factor really.

[sadat]

May I recommend http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptop...Port-g-R100/p1. I'm using one to type this on now, really lightweight with a good sized keyboard. Got the laptop for £140, and a 5 hour longlife battery for £40 from eBay about a year ago. Good wireless, adequate processor to do day-to-day stuff, can manage video / iTunes / Office / email without any trouble on XP SP3. And looking now there are a few at that price on eBay at the moment.