Laptop on last legs

[1monkey1]

Well I think my 7 year old laptop is on its last legs. so time for a new one.
Not to keen on taking the word of salesman in pc world. You never know what shite they want to get shut of!  
I know a few among the collective are techno savvy.
Alas I am not.
So if those that do know could give some buying advice, I would be grateful.
My budget is about £350-£450 (Beeing a tight arse would like to keep it close to the £350 mark)
I only use it for internet emails and the likes.
Store pictures from phone and camera
Misses needs office for some work stuff, nothing heavy just sending and receiving spreadsheets.
I fancy a tablet but misses not keen as she says might be hard to do her work stuff on.
(Not keen on apple do not know why though)
So what about the laptop cross tablets are they any good? Or just stick with a laptop
I have no idea what to look for. All the techno babble just goes right over my head when I read the bumph.
Jelly bean, kitkat. Sounds like the stuff I have in my kitchen draw for when grandkids come round!!
So any advice would be grateful

[MartinW]

I'm interested in the replies too as I am looking for a small laptop (not a tablet) for basic surfing and not much in the way of Office/Graphics type stuff.

Also looking to avoid Windows 8, but it doesn't appear to be easy to get anything with Windows 7 pre-loaded now.

[ProfG]

I personally like Acer products. In over ten years of woking with them and that includes 4 laptops, 6 PCs and a tablet, I still have to find fault with them.

Try http://ebuyer.co.uk (not ebay) for some very good offers. Also you can buy a clean system with no operating system so you can install your own OS.

Also check http://morgancomputers.co.uk for some good special offers.

[Twiggy]

I've just bought an acer, from tesco of all places. Apart from having no idea about Windows 8 it seems very good. 239 pounds.

[1monkey1]

Just been looking again.
What's the difference between

Netbook
Chromebook
Ultrabook
Laptop
windows laptop

OMG its a bloody mine field. Life was so much easier when all you had to choose from was a Sinclair ZX81,Amstrad PC or a Commodore 64. Happy days!!

[ProfG]

Netbook: Small laptop with (normally) a 10" screen and no cd drive

Chromebook: Normal laptop that has Googlr Chrome as its base operating system instead of windows. Fast but EVERY piece of information you have will be collected by Google. You will see your soul to the devil for a third time and it's far worse this time round (the first time was Windows, the second was Apple iPhone and / or Google Android)

Ultrabook: Smaller and very light laptops with run intel processors and motherboards. Something like a netbook (actually a second generation netbook).

Windows laptop: Just what it says on the tin. A laptop that runs windows.

For my money, I'd go with an Acer running Windows 7 (actually I'd prefer Ubuntu but that would be too much for an old fogie like you         )

[SimonW]

Netbooks and Chromebooks usually have slower processors so probably less future-proof. I think you'd have to use Office 365 on the Chromebook if you wanted MS Office, assuming it would work (sorry, don't know anything about Office 365).

I agree with Prof - I'd prefer Linux (Ubuntu, or my favourite at the moment  - Elementary (based on Ubuntu) if it's just surfing, email (do you mean online email -Gmail, Outlook.com etc) or do you use a client (Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail etc), and Office stuff (Libre Office is compatible with MS Office, is very good, and free). But he's right in that it might be too much of a leap. I guess you could always buy a new Windows laptop and then install Linux on the old one to see how you get on. And then install it on the new one if you find you like it.

(Prof - have you looked at Elementary? It's very elegant: http://elementaryos.org/)

[krisv]

If you are looking for a windows based laptop then I suggest the dell inspiron 3000 series. Starting at low prices for what you want. I have a top of the line 5000 series and I am really impressed with the performance. The keyboard is a bit iffy and so is the touchpad. But I always use an external keyboard and mouse while at home. Alternatively you can check novatech which is a small pc company building it in the UK.

With regards to windows 8 it does take a but getting used to but I find it equally good as Windows 7. I use mine for running CAD applications and music production software which were not designed for windows 8 and it runs better on the new laptop.

I always strip and clean the laptop once a year. The advantage with the new Dell models is that you can access almost everything by just removing one panel and not having to take the whole damn thing apart to replace the fan like I had to in my old HP.

[Mick_P]

Hi, read your post and have a few thoughts for you. As a computer repair person (laptop specialist) and sometime salesman may I recommend the following:

A tablet would probably not be capable of what you want - unless you want to pay more than you do.

Chromebook - Several problems here. Usually a small hard drive as they are meant to be used with the 'cloud' to store pics, documents etc. Needs a good internet connection and if the net goes down then no access to your stuff. They are cheap, but imho not worth it.

Laptop/tablet hybrids - These are nice machines, but frankly they tend to be on the pricey side with a decent size screen and a DVD drive.

Windows laptop - Frankly these are the best option for the average user. Windows can be a pain in the bum, but it does work and there is a program you can get that gives you a proper start button so it behaves like the Windows most people are used to. It's called Start 8. For a (very) small cost it's well worth it - I use it myself, and It's something I always recommend to people.

Now, with regards to 'future proofing'. There is, again imho, no such thing. All you can do is to get the best machine you can afford/want to spend. I would recommend a MINIMUM spec as follows:

Core i3 processor
4 Gb ram
500 Gb hard drive
DVD drive
15 inch screen
At LEAST 3 separate USB ports, 1 of which should be USB 3.0 (higher transfer speed)

As for the operating system, unless you can get a machine with Windows 7 pre-installed, make sure you get Windows 8.1 - it is better than 8, even if only a bit.

Anything else is down to personal preference. Try to get a machine with a graphics card that has its own ram if possible - it means the machine will run quicker and better.

Check out any local computer shops as well as the national chains - you might pay a bit more but you are more likely to get better service if anything goes wrong. PC World are great for buying cheaply, but crap for after sales service, and they will try to get you to buy the extended warranty. In my experience, laptops fail on first boot (I.e. dead on arrival) or after 4 years or so, unless there is an accident that damages it.

Always, always, look at a machine you like personally and give it a try. If they won't let you try, walk away. If you've any questions, DM me and I'll try and help.

[1monkey1]

Thanks for all your replies chaps.
Very informative profG  and Mick P. Thanks for the simpletons guide to laptops. Most useful in helping me decide.
My misses is trying to get a laptop out of her manager.
The way I see it they want her to do the work so should supply tools to do job.
If she gets that I am free to get my tablet.
Hello profG  I will give you old fogie   . I prefer cantankerous old git. If u please!!

[Mannakin]

Windows 8 is not being sold now (Microsoft have recently "pulled" it) - it's Windows 8.1 now (windows 8 PCs should be "old" stock only). The difference is that 8.1 is a lot easier to avoid the idiotic Metro interface. I'd avoid windows 7 (not that it's bad, just that support for it will end before support for windows 8.1 and 8.1 is decent).

You might still find Windows 8 PCs - but you want 8.1. You can get a free update from 8 to 8.1 via Microsoft download.

You probably want something with an i3 processor - Acer's are good, but don't ignore models from Asus, Lenovo, HP etc.

Use a decent free anti-virus like AVG when you get it.

Don't forget to use some sort of back-up (usually an external hard drive). Don't have just one copy of your photos/music/files etc. - I.e. don't keep the files just on the external drive - they can fail too!

Probably the most important thing with laptops is check out the screen - is it bright/clear enough, has it got good viewing angles etc. My 5 year old 17in Dell wipes the floor with most of the modern laptops when it comes to screens - its my biggest gripe about laptops nowadays.

[Jay2]

Hello mate, how did you get on with your search for a replacement?

Unfortunately our PC is on its last legs and thinking about a Laptop as a replacement, so would be interested in how you get on.

Cheers
 

[1monkey1]

Hi Jay2.
Have not done anything yet. Been too flat out at work to look around.
Misses has been told she is getting a work laptop. So think I will be going after a tablet.
Probably see what's abt in the January sales.
I hate getting something this time of year then find out same thing is for sale 80 quid less in January