OT - Computer (laptop) Question

[guest18]

Ok it's looking like I may be in the market for a new laptop in the next couple of months. Obviously I want to spend as little as possible and unfortunately I don't know much about computers!

So here's hoping some of you guys know where the best deals are these days...

I need it to run normal desktop stuff (should be compatible with XP pro so I can do work stuff)
Play cd's/dvd's, have a graphics card and enough performace to run basic computer games (eg Silent Hunter 3), be wireless internet compatible, in a perfect world have a serial port as well as usb ports, oh and if there's a way to plug an antenna in and use it as a tv as well that would be neat (dunno how it's set up but I've seen someone doing it!!  )
Oh yeah, and a decent amount of memory for all the junk they accumulate 

erm... think that's it?

Anyone know? 

[Bill Rutter]

There's an Acer laptop heavily discounted (£600+ down to just over £300) advertised on TV. I'm not sure where though, maybe PCWorld but again I'm not sure. I've tried a search without success but if I see the ad again I'll let you know. A £600 laptop should have all you need.

[Paulgertie]

What's your budget? As Bill says you can get a good one for less than £600, to do what you want.
This would suit, has the advantage of 17" screen for gaming http://www.pcwb.com/catalogue/item/A0430542
 Then add a usb tv stick, http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/TV+Tuner+Cards/Pinnacle+PCTV+DVBT+USB+stick+Solo+?productId=30969, you'll probably need a better aerial, though has digital TV and timeshift. You may need to add XP pro yourself though, or upgrade Vista.
Paul

[guest18]

Good point on the tv usb stick  Budget will probably be up to about the £400 mark ish ish, is PC world the way ahead or are there better deals available online 

Also are the rumours I've heard about vista true? eg takes so much memory it slows down a fast pc and still has all it's MS gen1 bugs to be sorted....
If so I can probably source a copy of XP at the right price 

[pigafetta]

I do the occasional laptop repair and Dell are by far the best for build quality, stability and general sturdiness. If you're going to be carting it around with you you might want to bear this in mind. Dell are expensive though. Not sure about the lower end of the market but I'd suggest avoiding Fujitsu Siemens, they're crap.

Dave

[Steve H]

We use Dells in work, apart from batteries going duff and not holding any charge, they seem pretty reliable.

[themoudie]

Aye Smudge,

DELL are the defacto supplier for us and are loaded with XP pro as a standard platform. Vista is another name for 'bloatware'. Very memory and processor 'hungry', with no improvement in reliability. Our IT technicians don't recommend it. Also I know of system conflicts on an Intranet between XP pro and Vista printer/copier drivers!

I also use a 'Toughbook' by Panasonic for 'fieldwork' same as your lot do and having fallen on one with the screen face down onto a scree slope whilst running Arc9 GIS, only to pick myself and the machine up to find it still running. No rain, so backed everything up and continued using it for a further 4 hours with a punctured screen skin. In the office, downloaded the data and sent the beast back to Panasonic in S.Wales for repair and checking. Returned within 7 working days with new screen skin, full check and remaining warranty guarenteed.

Pays your money and makes your choice mate, laptops always cost more for the miniturisation and cost more to fix when compared with a desktop bits. I wouldn't buy a laptop of my own at present, and if you need to carry data or programmes, portable data storage is 'dirt' cheap.

Tip, tip, tap, on , Bill.

[guest18]

Yeah a toughbook would be nice but too much money for what I use it for!!
Whilst pc's are better value they're not practical for my use, we have a base pc here (the one I'm using now!) but I need a tool/entertainment centre no bigger than a decent sized briefcase, otherwise I just can't transport it along with all the rest of the gear. In use it's fairly sensibly treated and in transit a decen case works wonders, (you should see some of the dents and scrapes on my current case  )
Will keep looking and listening, SWMBO has a Toshiba that has been not bad so far...

[Steve Lake]

right.....one of my customers has bought a fujitsu laptop in for repair....and the quote was for £120 + vat
He decided to buy a new one instead

If it's of interest, i can get the laptop repaired and you can pay us just what it costs to repair plus the carriage...if you want more memory....and a few more bells and whistles then you'd probably be looking at bout £200

(oh, the fault was a knackered charging circuit, so battery wouldn't charge ....a common problem...see SteveH's comment)

it has windows XPhome on it, thats about all i know until i get into work tomorrow

it's about 18 months old

very rare to get a serial (RS232) port on new laptops, but you can get usb to serial adaptors
also usb/tv adaptors are readily available

cheers SteveL

[beeman]

Not so toughbook, used them at work. The rep said you could run an ambulance over it with no problems, but he wouldn't let us try. About a year later set off on an e call left the tough book on the roof. It stayed on the roof for about a mile before falling off outside hillsborough stadium. Apparently the first hgv fliped it open and the second hgv destroyed the screen and key board. O how we laughed when we saw the damage, NOT!!!
Free interview with the management etc.
Still the rest of the crews thought it was funny.

[guest18]

SteveL, you have a pm 

[Steve Lake]

it's in hand smudge....will get back to you when i have pc in my hand and can tell you more about it
SteveL

[guest18]

Cool  I have an extended period overseas coming up so I need to sort something out!