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Author Topic: Cheap laptops?  (Read 18402 times)

  • Offline zpyder

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Cheap laptops?
on: May 24, 2011, 15:02:39 PM
Seeing as I've spent most of my money on camera gear, I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on decent places to get cheap laptops. I'm not after a replacement for my desktop, but I could do with something portable that has a bit more punch to it than my netbook (A mini 311, my most hated computer ever) as I'm spending most of my time round Kathryns, she has no space for my desktop but I need to be able to do some work (so office applications etc).

Any suggestions?
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  • Offline Leon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #1 on: May 24, 2011, 15:05:51 PM
Really that unhappy with the 311? Mine has been going strong for the last 15+ months but slowly dying after all the traveling and abuse.
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #2 on: May 24, 2011, 15:10:20 PM
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/

Nige will vouch/comment about them :P
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #3 on: May 24, 2011, 16:09:42 PM
Quote from: Dooms on May 24, 2011, 15:05:51 PM
Really that unhappy with the 311? Mine has been going strong for the last 15+ months but slowly dying after all the traveling and abuse.

To be brutally honest I was totally surprised by how utterly rubbish my 311 was. I could only imagine/hope that I somehow got a dud. From the get-go it was slower than I'd expected for the spec, even after adding extra RAM. Combined with shoddy build quality (the areas where the screen meets the black surround lift off easily, and the screen constantly flickers - I should have gotten it repaired under warranty tbh). I went for a netbook after my last laptop was a widescreen monster, thinking it would be great and portable, only to rapidly realise just how pants its capabilities were. It was never able to play videos without considerable stuttering too.

Not to lay in to the 311 much of course, I accept it was hugely successful/popular, but my experience of it has put me off ever considering another Compaq/netbook again :(
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  • Offline Clock'd 0Ne

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #4 on: May 24, 2011, 16:13:06 PM
Quote from: Bacon on May 24, 2011, 15:10:20 PM
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/

Nige will vouch/comment about them :P

Some great bargains and excellent service, have had a Toshiba from them on the cashback deal for a couple of months now and its been faultless. Delivery was prompt too.
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  • Offline Leon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #5 on: May 24, 2011, 16:13:55 PM
I admit build quality left a lot to be desired. I have to continually 'pop' my screen back together and both my trackpack and keys are worn / failing but spec wise its always ran well (Running Windows 7 on it now and its fine, even running a full media centre & 1080p content). Sounds like you might of had something wrong? Meh whats done is done I suppose.

Does appear to be some good deals on the website Bacon has posted. I don't know whats good these days though, most of the smaller laptops are enbracing the new Sandy Bridge chips and the netbook market seems to be holding back while seeing what the tablets are doing.
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Server: HP MicroServer .::. 3GB Ram .::. 4x 2TB Storage .::. 512MB nVidia 210 .::. Win7 Ultimate, XBMC 11 (Aeon NOX), Sick Beard & Couch Potato
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #6 on: May 24, 2011, 16:15:49 PM
Yeah, looks promising. I'll have to find some specs/prices I like and then see what a comparable dell machine would cost. My mum's on the market for one too so it's a handy link, thanks guys!

As to the Mini, I'm guessing something to do with the GPU was at fault, would cause both the screen flickr and could be why it sucked at anything graphically intensive.
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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #7 on: May 24, 2011, 17:34:16 PM
I'm kinda hoping this netbook fad dies pretty soon.
Tablets are much more ideal for this.

Get the best Processor you can, as it's a PITA to upgrade.  Some laptops won't allow you to at all.
Memory/HDD is a quick easy upgrade.
Graphics will all suck.

My choices.

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/HP_620_1029900.html

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_B560_1034393.html

Last Edit: May 24, 2011, 17:38:02 PM by soopahfly #187;
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #8 on: May 24, 2011, 17:49:33 PM
Quote from: soopahfly on May 24, 2011, 17:34:16 PM

My choices.

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/HP_620_1029900.html

I was looking at that very same one earlier :D
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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #9 on: May 24, 2011, 18:16:28 PM
You'd want a smidge more ram in it, and not installing bullguard.
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #10 on: May 24, 2011, 22:46:51 PM
Pentium Dual Core, Windows 7 and you can always upgrade the memory :P, should pick something up for £300
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #11 on: May 25, 2011, 13:00:12 PM
Be quick Zpyder!
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  • Offline Clock'd 0Ne

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #12 on: May 26, 2011, 16:27:50 PM
I've found a Bacon beater, get in!

http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/dell-vostro-3550-i5-2410m-2-3ghz-4gb-500gb-hdd-radeon-hd-6630m-1gb-w7-pro-316-80/945979

Ahh never mind, it expired as quick as it came in  :(
Last Edit: May 26, 2011, 16:30:32 PM by Clock'd 0Ne #187;
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #13 on: May 26, 2011, 17:34:37 PM
I had to go into work or otherwise i would have posted it. The original one i posted is still on offer, just a shame Zpyder didn't bother reading this thread yesterday after he posted in Computing & Internet :P
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  • Offline zpyder

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Re: Cheap laptops?
Reply #14 on: May 26, 2011, 19:11:09 PM
:P

I read it, just need to think about it...the other option is to move the computer to Kathryns place...
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