Do you use a Laptop?

[bdw]

I use an Acer Aspire 5630 laptop which I have networked via a router to my main desktop PC. I use it mainly for backup and my wife uses it for shopping and email. I also take it on business and on holidays as I have to keep in touch with stuff when I am away.

Recently it has started to really slow down and since I bought it back in September 2007 it does not owe me anything. I have decided to replace it.

What do you guys use? Any recommendations at about £600?

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[Rudi]

Without going for a high end laptop my recommendations are fairly limited, I'm using a laptop from 2007 at the moment, a Dell XPS M1530. Top of the range for it's time, Dual Core, 4GB RAM, etc. The body is gorgeous too, if you can pick one of those up I'm sure you'd do well, and I'm sure you could find them cheap enough!

For a more modern high-street laptop I'd look at a Sony Vaio. I got my girlfriend one last Christmas for £450-500 I think and it's a Dual Core 4GB RAM machine also, very pretty to look at to, and very new.

Only problem is the crapware they put on it, but I'm sure you can remove that easy enough.

EDIT: The more I think about it you could get a cheaper one like this (the 2GB model) and simply upgrade the RAM in it for about £30. The module is extremely easy to get to by just removing one of the panels off the bottom. Depends really what you want, if you want to get your hands dirty to save a tonne of monies. The modern computers sell for around £600 and still can't match the old high-perf machines like this (not much has changed in regard of laptops, remember).

 

[bdw]

I have just been looking on the Which website (forgot we had a subscription!).

There is a machine on there that is very highly rated. This is the Acer Timeline x4830T - available at not much more than £500.

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[Rudi]

Would certainly do for general computing usage, i3s are very energy efficient.

But this is exactly like I said before:

Acer Aspire Timeline X4830T Laptop
Intel Core i3 2330M 2.2GHz
320GB HDD
4GB RAM
14.1" HD LED
DVD±RW

All of that (with a bigger 15.3" screen) is available in the older high-performance laptops like the M1530 probably for a lot less. Depends what you're looking for, guess if you want the warranty then paying that bit extra is worth it

EDIT: That said, this is much better value for money: http://www.ebuyer.com/337144-asus-x53e-laptop-x53e-sx1136v
Quad Core, faster clock, bigger screen, almost £200 cheaper.

EDIT: http://www.ebuyer.com/279517-acer-aspire-5750-laptop-lx-rly02-152 1TB Disk, better - Uglier, though.

 

[Websitehandyman]

Perhaps first you should take a look and see why it's slowing down ?

One place to look is the grill were the hot air is dispiresed from the CPU. Undoing a few screws and blowing the dust out of that grill might save you a lot of money. Normally the is a sign of higher heat when a CPU slows.

Could just be you have too many programmes starting at startup, look in the program tab STARTUP and remove anything you don't need.

For surfing you really only need something a bit more then a toaster so it's pointless buying new just for that.

 

[bdw]

The Asus is certainly tempting but it does not do as well as the Acer in Which tests.

Perhaps first you should take a look and see why it's slowing down ?

I think the main reason is that it is getting on for 5 years old. Anyway I have a ten year old grandson who has been promised it. I can't change my mind now.

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[Rudi]

Yeah ASUS would never do better in a test against Acer or another competing brand, it's the same as what Dell used to be.

That doesn't make it a bad product, though. On specs alone (not talking build quality as I've never seen one, which is usually what laptops are marked down for!) the ASUS kicks the Acer out of the water on both price/performance

 

[Websitehandyman]

The Asus is certainly tempting but it does not do as well as the Acer in Which tests.

I think the main reason is that it is getting on for 5 years old. Anyway I have a ten year old grandson who has been promised it. I can't change my mind now.

.

Then I would say get a second hand Tosh and ramp up on harddisk and memory or get the cheapest i7 you can afford. This i7 I got is just over a year old and cost £430 back then. It's earn it's place in the family album next to my ZX Spectrum, comadore 16+, M300 and my Gateway about 5 others inbetween them have not

 

[Bowroofingandlandscaping]

type in the makes and models that catch your eye and put into google with the word review after the make and model and try ang get as many opinions on the make and model as possible as some laptops offer highspec but still perform badly so get as many reviews as possible..theres a site called reevoo that offer reviews by the people who brought the product which offers invaluble information before you buy

 

[TechKing]

I will suggest Toshiba laptops because they are more stable in comparison to DELL(at same price). and with following configurations

Core i5
RAM:4GB
WIndows 7 Premium
500GB Harddrive
Graphics Card 1Gb
& much more..

all that will comes under £450-500.
Good Luck.

more on
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/72049.aspx

 

[Rudi]

Actually the two manufacturers I have had issues with are Toshiba and Gateway. Obviously Gateway went away, Toshiba just continue to manufacture crappy plastic products with (surprisingly) less quality control than that of Asus, which is saying something!

 

[TechKing]

Toshiba is much better in quality in comparison to acer,dell .just search google with any keyword "toshiba v/s dell" or toshiba v/s hp" ,most of the result will be in favor of Toshiba .
Toshiba is stable brand ,but due to lack of publicity ,some of the peoples thought that its a bad quality laptops !
I have found some results :
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/47630-35-toshiba-dell
http://www.brighthub.com/computing/hardware/articles/72049.aspx
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100921205051AAJ1CdB
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111210051822AAjos3S
http://forums.cnet.com/7723-21579_1...aptops-please-help-me-choose-dell-vs-toshiba/

more than 80% are in favour of Toshiba ...

 

[Rudi]

I had a quick look, one of them was in 2006 when yes, Dell's service was horrible.

The others are comparing 2 completely incompatible laptops, they may be the same price but you're paying for the warranty etc. with Dell.

I've seriously never had a Toshiba laptop that hasn't fallen apart, my Dells, well, like I said before I'm still using my Dell XPS M1530 from 2007, no slowdowns, no degradation and the hardware (Metal casing!) is seriously superior to anything you could find today (excluding Macbook). I'm happily comparing this to my girlfriend's Sony Vaio and I'm sorry but this kicks it's ass.

Perhaps that's just my experience, but Dell's support (particularly their XPS support) is amazing. On the flipside, my mother had a Toshiba laptop with which the screen literally fell off, the support line didn't want to hear about it and wanted to charge for an engineer to come out... Found that quite hillarious

 

[TechKing]

I had a quick look, one of them was in 2006 when yes, Dell's service was horrible.

The others are comparing 2 completely incompatible laptops, they may be the same price but you're paying for the warranty etc. with Dell.

I've seriously never had a Toshiba laptop that hasn't fallen apart, my Dells, well, like I said before I'm still using my Dell XPS M1530 from 2007, no slowdowns, no degradation and the hardware (Metal casing!) is seriously superior to anything you could find today (excluding Macbook). I'm happily comparing this to my girlfriend's Sony Vaio and I'm sorry but this kicks it's ass.

Perhaps that's just my experience, but Dell's support (particularly their XPS support) is amazing. On the flipside, my mother had a Toshiba laptop with which the screen literally fell off, the support line didn't want to hear about it and wanted to charge for an engineer to come out... Found that quite hillarious

agreed with your last point that now Dell support is good because you already paid for it ..
Both comes with 1year warranty (both have nearly same terms&cond),but overall as per my experience,toshiba always win(might be your exception) in hardware/quality/price,but not in support ...I would give B+ to the support of toshiba and A- to dell.

Overall :
Toshiba :B++ ,
DELL=B--,
HP:B--,
SonyVAIO:A-

 

[bdw]

I have to say that my only experience with a Toshiba laptop was not good.

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[Rudi]

Toshiba :B++ ,
DELL=B--,
HP:B--,
SonyVAIO:A-

Wait what is happening here? What does a Sony Vaio have that others don't, apart from the brand?

 

[TechKing]

Wait what is happening here? What does a Sony Vaio have that others don't, apart from the brand?

1.support
2.stability
3.look
4.Design
5.Positive reviews
6.technology
7.Worldwide known brand

 

[Rudi]

1.support
2.stability
3.look
4.Design
5.Positive reviews
6.technology
7.Worldwide known brand

Have you dealt with Sony Support? I mean seriously? They're not helpful in the slightest and always refer back to their (****) on-board diagnostic software for pretty much everything.

With regards to the look/design, I don't class sparkly/glittery plastic as a good eye catcher, but I guess it's good amongst the women.

5/6/7 don't warrant a response as they're completely irrelevant, in my opinion.

 

[TechKing]

Have you dealt with Sony Support? I mean seriously? They're not helpful in the slightest and always refer back to their (****) on-board diagnostic software for pretty much everything.

With regards to the look/design, I don't class sparkly/glittery plastic as a good eye catcher, but I guess it's good amongst the women.

5/6/7 don't warrant a response as they're completely irrelevant, in my opinion.

As per me ,the sony support(in US/India) is better .sorry,but,If you are non-technical person or always intention to disturb support,then DELL is much much better option (for installing antivirus,checking DVD,etc),but if you are professional or just want to use laptop as laptop only ,not as football ,Sony/Apple is much better option..
nodoubt,both will replace your laptop parts (under warranty ).No one will say "NO"

 

[Rudi]

It's true, I'm not technical so can't really have an opinion on bad tech support

(and for anyone still remotely serious reading this thread - my actual issue with the Vaio was battery charging related. They assumed that on board diagnostics could find the hardware issue... Yippeee...)

 

[liongroup]

I use two, 2005 MacBooks (black). They still work, they offer me both OSX and Windows, an optical drive, good battery life, a dependable keyboard and track-pad and redundancy and backup easily.

 

[giffgore]

I still use a 2007 MacBook but am seriously considering an upgrade to a MacBook Pro sometime this year providing I can afford it.

 

[Jacob F]

Surprised the OP has had issues with Toshibas, I've always seen them as the "workhorse" and the "steady eddie" which is why I use them. Had one for 4 years which I still use now and is really quick and have another a year old (which I'm on at the moment).

 

[bdw]

This is all down to personal experience. I have had my Acer for almost five years and it has never given me any problems. My opinion of them is based on this.

 

[Jacob F]

Indeed, get another Acer then, obviously works to your requirements and you know your way around one.

 

[360interactive]

This is all down to personal experience. I have had my Acer for almost five years and it has never given me any problems. My opinion of them is based on this.

Have to agree with you on Acer products, when i was starting my business I used an Acer desktop and an Acer laptop. I was putting them through their paces, they were doing this that really should have been done on a much faster system, but they never let me down.

About 6 months ago i bought an ASUS, I was amazed at the cost compared to other comparable spec systems. I can honestly say it was the worst piece of carp i have ever owned. Unreliable, constant blue screens due to poor construction and poor incompatible hardware used within it, a USB system that chose when it wanted to work, a DVD drive that only worked on the odd occasion. I couldn't even take it back as i'd installed a backup drive to it.

That is now used as a door stop, and i have an Apple iMac and a MAC air. LOVE the mac air for general web browsing, the iMac however is no better than the PC equivalents i've had. Not in the least bit more 'user friendly' than windows, in fact i think the mac has slowed me down in terms of productivity due to not being able to do the simple things without knowing any cryptic keyboard shortcuts or having to go into folder options to do something that could have been done in one click on a pc. Poor mouse design (great if you want RSI) and a keyboard that deliberately has a caps lock button that you have to press twice as hard to get it to work (it's meant to be like that according to Apple, so that people don't press the shift key by accident). It is nice and shiny though.

Edited to add: i'd go for another Acer if I was choosing a system again, whether it's laptop or desktop.

 

[giffgore]

I had an Asus before, and it was indeed terrible. I had an Eee PC though, but it wasn't like it needed to do much, I just wanted to use it for internet browsing... It just kept going wrong.

 

[bdw]

Starting to go off Asus.

They do have one machine in the Which top ten but it is about £1K.

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[360interactive]

Starting to go off Asus.

They do have one machine in the Which top ten but it is about £1K.

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The one I bought was £500, and 'proper' brands were around 1k for the same spec. I should have known really.

Maybe the more expensive versions are more reliable? Maybe I just had a dud, i'm not sure. All I know is that it has put me right off them.

 

[mobyme]

I would go with the Acer 5750 i5 6gb ram 500gb hd £499 from Comet.

To this I would add a external hard drive for backup; but that's me because I'm always doing brutal things to my laptops.

I'm recommending the above because it's what I use and Acers come out top for reliability and more crucially ease of repair among those involved on that side of things.

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

I had an Acer which lasted years, battery remained good too. In that time my ex went through a Sony Vaio and an HP which both developed faults.

Personally I would go and have a look in Tesco, if you have any problems with it you can just take it back no questions asked. No leaving you without for weeks whilst their not-very-technical support team try to fix it (PC World!).

 

[Larry L.]

I have Acer and I will not change it to any other. It works perfect!

 

[123Simples]

I use Novatech for PC's and Laptops (have done for many years). Within your price range you quoted you can get:

Elite Optima 2450
17.3" HD Screen
Intel i5 2450M Mobile CPU
3MB Cache
4GB Memory
500GB Sata Hard Drive
NVIDIA GT520M 1GB Graphics

Link: http://www.novatech.co.uk/laptop/range/eliteoptima2450.html

You do have to add on your operating system - I prefer to buy mine separate rather than have it pre-installed - but Novatech don't bundle their systems with stuff that just clogs up a PC before you even start using it!

 

[bdw]

Good spec but the screen on the Novatech is a bit large. As I say I have to take it with me when on holiday and business so size and weight are important. With charger and accessories my current machine is bordering on the total 5Kg hand luggage allowance that some airlines allow. I got caught out by this a couple of year ago. cost me £54 to take my laptop with

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[leemason]

Before you buy a new laptop try re-installing XP on the Acer. Windows has a nasty habit of getting slower and slower over time as the registry grows. Re-installing from scratch will sort this out so if you only use it for the odd bit of web browsing and normal office work it should still work well.

If you really want a new laptop then have a look at this Toshiba: http://www.dabs.com/products/toshib...00gb-15-6--dvd-sm-w7hp-7RBS.html?fb=540&src=2. It's pretty good value at present as there is £100.00 cash back and DABS give you a trade-in on your old laptop as well if you want to.

 

[giffgore]

Screw reinstalling XP. A friend of mine has an old Dell with 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM and I just spent a bit of time installing Debian on it for him. It's now a lot snappier and it even plays YouTube perfectly smoothly with both Flash and HTML5. It runs Chrome very well with no lag too.

If you want to bring an old computer back to life, stick a low-power Linux distro on it. I personally like Debian because it's solid and basic out the box.

 

[jamhot]

I use an Ipad for many of my tasks now coupled with a VPS running windows that I am able to connect should I need a task running. I have a Zagmate Keyboard which is great for getting things typed up nice and fast

 

[leemason]

Screw reinstalling XP. A friend of mine has an old Dell with 1GHz processor and 512MB RAM and I just spent a bit of time installing Debian on it for him. It's now a lot snappier and it even plays YouTube perfectly smoothly with both Flash and HTML5. It runs Chrome very well with no lag too.

If you want to bring an old computer back to life, stick a low-power Linux distro on it. I personally like Debian because it's solid and basic out the box.

I totally agree that Linux is a far superior operating system and provides vastly more flexibility and control. And it much more solid and doesn't have the in built obsolescence that Windows suffers from. However I was trying really to be pragmatic and not force a completely new O/S onto someone who already probably knows XP pretty well.

I have used Linux as my O/S of choice on my laptop for over 10 years now and would never go back. But I do see that it's not for everyone.

 

[bdw]

Thanks for the suggestions but actually I have no interest in messing around with operating systems, etc. That is not my thing.

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[MaxDaniel]

I am using Compaq presario c773tu . It has 2GB ram 1.83GHz processor and 160 GB hard disk. I installed Ubuntu 11.10 on it and it is working great.