Sub-£500 laptop. You're going to love this question

[fractionMan]

I've got a 12" acer 2920.

The newer 2930 looks good to me if the op fancies a smaller sized but fully featured laptop. Much easier on the shoulders.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Most Acers don't come with bluetooth, but if you need it then you can buy a bt dongle from ebay for about three pounds

Not really sure what I'd need it for, although my phone has bluetooth. Not sure what else

But who knows what I'd eventually need

 

[subversplat]

Oh and the current range of Acer gemstones have genuine optical digital audio out! And 6.1 sound from the internal sound card! They really are nothing like the Acers of past.

e2a: Sorry, make that seven dot one

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I've got a 12" acer 2920.

The newer 2930 looks good to me if the op fancies a smaller sized but fully featured laptop. Much easier on the shoulders.

Too small, and I really don't want to have to get used to a smaller keyboard. Was hard enough going from a full-sized to this one

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Oh and the current range of Acer gemstones have genuine optical digital audio out! And 6.1 sound from the internal sound card! They really are nothing like the Acers of past.

They means absolutely nothing to me

 

[ChrisFilter]

Far too big. I struggled with the weight and size of this one when I went to Ireland - not that I plan on taking new one to Ireland, but think I'd prefer to stick with similar size screen ie. 14/15 inches.

Don't worry, I wasn't suggesting it for you

Personally, I couldn't live with a smaller screen. It's actually not all that heavy, I walk 4 miles a day with it strapped to my bag. But then I am a big beefy fella.

 

[subversplat]

They means absolutely nothing to me

Optical sound connectors mean you can connect the sound card to your digital audio HiFi for high quality, multi channel sound everywhere.

7.1 out means that you can plug seven speakers and a sub into the laptop and have true Dolby Home Theater just for watching YouTube videos

 

[fractionMan]

Too small, and I really don't want to have to get used to a smaller keyboard. Was hard enough going from a full-sized to this one

I'm pretty sure they're normal sized keyboards. Just. Anyway, they used to stock them in comet, so you can try before you buy (from somewhere else probably)

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Optical sound connectors mean you can connect the sound card to your digital audio HiFi for high quality, multi channel sound everywhere.

7.1 out means that you can plug seven speakers and a sub into the laptop and have true Dolby Home Theater just for watching YouTube videos

I just use a pair of headphones when using VOIP. We sometimes get echoing. Would that stop?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I'm pretty sure they're normal sized keyboards. Just. Anyway, they used to stock them in comet, so you can try before you buy (from somewhere else probably)

I'd look in Currys but they don't have a huge choice do they?

Will have to find somewhere else near to Brixton

 

[subversplat]

I just use a pair of headphones when using VOIP. We sometimes get echoing. Would that stop?

Echoing is down to the VOIP software, servers, etc. I doubt having a better computer will help - even multi thousand pound corporate systems have echoing problems sometimes (I know a guy who works with Cisco voice/data packages, it's a terror apparently)

Personally I'd do the VOIP through my broadband modem. The Thompson Speedtouches have sockets where you can plug a phone straight in and the router deals with your login and password But that's a whole nother level of stuff to learn about!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Personally I'd do the VOIP through my broadband modem. The Thompson Speedtouches have sockets where you can plug a phone straight in and the router deals with your login and password But that's a whole nother level of stuff to learn about!

Noooooo, stop scaring me, I'm stressed enough

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Right, another suggestion

Would a Dell D600 be sufficient for my needs?

 

[Leafster]

Right, another suggestion

Would a Dell D600 be sufficient for my needs?

I thought you were buying a new laptop?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I thought you were buying a new laptop?

Yes, but I've been offered the Dell D600 for £250 so I'm not sure what to do at the moment.

 

[ChrisFilter]

Yes, but I've been offered the Dell D600 for £250 so I'm not sure what to do at the moment.

Total, total rip-off. Who's trying to mug you off with that!

 

[twistedAM]

I think you need to start a mini-forum and merge ALL the threads.

Buy a cheaper sofa and get this:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTAyNTM5ODc

You'll never go back

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Total, total rip-off. Who's trying to mug you off with that!

b/f's brother's selling them

He said I can go ahead with something else, but if I wanted something cheaper, then I can have one of those.

I told him about dual core thingies and he's asked me why I need that. Obviously I don't know. He said it's a P4 (whatever that is).

Asked about Windows 7 and he said it's got XP and that Windows 7 is shit, like Vista.

Said I had to clear out over 40GB of photos/docs from this machine and he said that's got 60GB but he could upgrade it to maybe 80 or 100. Still doesn't sound as good as 160GB and other stuff that I may have available on a more up-to-date machine

 

[fractionMan]

a p4 laptop is really really out of date now.

avoid.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I think you need to start a mini-forum and merge ALL the threads.

Buy a cheaper sofa and get this:

http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook?mco=MTAyNTM5ODc

You'll never go back

I know, I'd like one, but I wouldn't expect himself to pay out for one.

You do know the 3-seater sofa was under £300?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

a p4 laptop is really really out of date now.

avoid.

That's what I suspected, but as far as he's concerned, why do I need something fancy for what I use this for. It's perfectly capable of doing the job.

 

[twistedAM]

That's what I suspected, but as far as he's concerned, why do I need something fancy for what I use this for. It's perfectly capable of doing the job.

In time software and peripherals will not run that effectively on it. Best to get a top chip cos that's the standard people are designing programmes, printers and other stuff in mind.

tarannau said that early on; it's good advice.

The P4 (i thought that was a bus that took pensioners round south London rather than a computer) will run slower and slower once adobe bring out the next version of Flash etc.

 

[twistedAM]

You do know the 3-seater sofa was under £300?

wow, that's good value but it means my Mac argument entails you sitting on the floor

 

[boskysquelch]

 

[ChrisFilter]

b/f's brother's selling them

He said I can go ahead with something else, but if I wanted something cheaper, then I can have one of those.

I told him about dual core thingies and he's asked me why I need that. Obviously I don't know. He said it's a P4 (whatever that is).

Asked about Windows 7 and he said it's got XP and that Windows 7 is shit, like Vista.

Said I had to clear out over 40GB of photos/docs from this machine and he said that's got 60GB but he could upgrade it to maybe 80 or 100. Still doesn't sound as good as 160GB and other stuff that I may have available on a more up-to-date machine

He's wrong about Windows 7 and whilst he says about the rest isn't totally inaccurate, why buy a machine that will just scrape by? As has been said, what'll 'do' now will be rubbish pretty soon.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

In time software and peripherals will not run that effectively on it. Best to get a top chip cos that's the standard people are designing programmes, printers and other stuff in mind.

tarannau said that early on; it's good advice.

The P4 (i thought that was a bus that took pensioners round south London rather than a computer) will run slower and slower once adobe bring out the next version of Flash etc.

You mean what tarannau said here?

In future proofing terms, as long as you get a Core 2 Duo processor (not older dual pentium or celeron models) and enough memory, I reckon you'll be sound with your choice for some time

 

[spanglechick]

minnie - i'd ignore the advice of anyone who has a potential financial gain. i'm sure your bf's brother isn't deliberately trying to con you, but he'll not be giving objective advice.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

He's wrong about Windows 7 and whilst he says about the rest isn't totally inaccurate, why buy a machine that will just scrape by? As has been said, what'll 'do' now will be rubbish pretty soon.

I know. His logic is that this has lasted me since 2006 and it's only me that's causing it problems.

Said however, that if I was buying a new one to avoid the Celeron business and that a lot of what I do look at might have Vista on it (which he says is shit) and that I'd need to check compatibility of all my other hardware (ie. printer, scanner etc.) to make sure they'll all be ok with XP (which I'm guessing they will as it's all been brought in the last couple of years).

 

[twistedAM]

You mean what tarannau said here?

Yeah that's what i think but does that weigh in at over £500? Fraid I don't know a lot about the PC world but have learned about obselesence (sp?) over the years.
As Chris Filter says, what'll scrape by now will be a bit useless in a year or two.
If that's your budget, I'd really spend the inevitable £499.99 - of course the same thing will cost £350 in a year's time but that's the way things go.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yeah that's what i think but does that weigh in at over £500? Fraid I don't know a lot about the PC world but have learned about obselesence (sp?) over the years.
As Chris Filter says, what'll scrape by now will be a bit useless in a year or two.
If that's your budget, I'd really spend the inevitable £499.99 - of course the same thing will cost £350 in a year's time but that's the way things go.

Yeah, I want a new one and himself has said he'll buy me a new one and to ignore him, but it's very difficult saying no, when it's someone close to you