My new laptop

[Clive]

I haven't ordered it from PC Specialists yet but this is the specification I am considering.  I want a laptop that is futureproof but I've probably gone way over the top and look forward to receiving your advice.  But I *do* want to end up with a superfast machine! 

   
Chassis & Display
Optimus Series: 17.3" Matte Full HD IPS LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
   
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i7 Quad Core Processor 6700HQ (2.6GHz, 3.5GHz Turbo)
   
Memory (RAM)
12GB Kingston SODIMM DDR3 1600MHz (1 x 8GB, 1 x 4GB)
   
Graphics Card
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM - DirectX® 12
   
Memory - Hard Disk
960GB KINGSTON V310 SSD, SATA 6 Gb (450MB/R, 450MB/W)
   
DVD/BLU-RAY Drive
Ultra Slim 8x SATA DVD±R/RW/Dual Layer (+ 24x CD-RW)
   
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
   
Thermal Paste
STANDARD THERMAL PASTE FOR SUFFICIENT COOLING
   
Sound Card
Intel 2 Channel High Def. Audio + SoundBlaster™ Cinema 2
   
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® AC-8260 M.2 (867Mbps, 802.11BGN) + BLUETOOTH
   
USB Options
4 x USB 3.0 PORTS AS STANDARD
   
Battery
Optimus Series 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (62.16WH)
   
Power Lead & Adaptor
1 x UK Power Lead & 120W AC Adaptor
   
Keyboard Language
OPTIMUS SERIES BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD WITH NUMBER PAD
   
Operating System
Genuine Windows 10 Professional 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence (£109)
   
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft® Office® 365
   
Anti-Virus
NO ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
   
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
   
Webcam
INTEGRATED 2.0 MP FULL HD WEBCAM
   
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)
   
Insurance
1 Month Free Laptop Insurance inc. Accidental Damage & Theft
   
Delivery
STANDARD INSURED DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND (MON-FRI)
   
Build Time
Standard Build - Approximately 9 to 11 working days
Quantity   1

Quote Value:   £1,148.00

[Simon]

I'm quite out of touch these days, but I would have thought for that sort of money you would get a pretty good machine.

[Clive]

Well I remember paying £1500 for Time machines in the early 90's and we bought two at a time. 

[nowster]

Well I remember paying £1500 for Time machines in the early 90's and we bought two at a time. 

Time... ugh. Not my favourite firm.

[zappaDPJ]

That looks like a very good deal. The only thing that stands out to me is I think the graphics card chip set is a little old. Not ancient but not the most current. Probably only an issue if you were using it for competitive, on-line gaming.

[Glenn]

On the memory, why 1 x 8 and 1 x 4gb, personally I would go with 2 x 8gb?

[Clive]

OK, I've upped the RAM to 2 x 8Gb which has pushed the price up to £1172 inc VAT.  It's Hobson's choice with the graphics card.  I'm going for Win 10 professional because I apparently have more control over Windows Updates which are allegedly a nightmare on 10.  And I intend to install Kapersky instead of my usual Avira.  PC Specialists only option is Bulldog.   

[Simon]

Bullguard.   

[peterbeaumont]

Clive

I bought a custom-built Laptop from PC Specialist earlier this year and their service and support has been excellent.

Regarding your chosen spec: I would untick the Office 365 Trial if you don't plan to use it.

And I'd order quickly if you want it in your Christmas stocking, I know they're crazy-busy at present.   

[colirv]

Looks good to me. You might, however, reconsider whether you need a separate anti-virus program. I've ditched mine in favour of the included Windows Defender. And yes, ask PC Specialists to leave it out the Office 365 trial (they may not be able to) unless you intend to take it up permanently.

[Clive]

Yes, Bullguard.      I will try the unchecking Office 365 free trial as I won't be using it.  I have Office (starter) 2010 on CD which will serve my needs.  Windows Defender comes out very badly in the tests, not much better than Bullguard whereas Kapersky comes out top.  And I don't mind the Russians knowing all my secrets.  Oh wait.....

Thanks for confirming PC Specialists are a good company Peter.  I intend waiting until just after Christmas in the hope of getting a better deal.  The operative word is 'hope'. 

[Den]

As far as the antivirus goes I agree with you with your choice of Kasperski. I use Norton 2015 and am thinking of changing to Kasperski as it has won every award going for the last two years. I would not use Windows Defender as it a awful reputation and came bottom in most tests as did Bullguard which I used before Norton and it caused all sorts of problems when I changed to Windows 8.

[Clive]

Clive

Regarding your chosen spec: I would untick the Office 365 Trial if you don't plan to use it.

I've successfully unticked the Office box so I can have a clean start with my Office 2010 Starter CD. 

[stevenrw]

I know Computer Active mag pushes Kaspersky, you can get it off their website for £19.99 for a year. (www.snipca.com/17874) But be prepared for problems with it. I've heard of people being unhappy with it. What I didn't like is that you get no reassuring splash screen showing that it has loaded on boot.
Much as I like the magazine I'm always a tad suspicious when it pushes it so hard, but then I'm an old cynic.
Take a look at a free alternative like Libre Office, you don't need MS Office these days (and you certainly don't need to pay a subscription for it, which is what Office 365 is)  and even if you wanted PowerPoint for presentations, Windows 10 comes with SWAY, which is another presentation software, and its free..
As far as Windows Updates in Windows 10, you don't have the options you used to have with previous Windows versions. Its take all of them or leave all of them.

[Clive]

Thanks very much for those observations Steve.  I'm just as cynical as yourself as far as CA is concerned.  I already have a copy of Office Starter which is adequate for my needs.  I've slightly changed the spec on the laptop I will order at the end of the month.  I've reduced the RAM to 8Gb because that, apparently is the optimum amount to have.  I've also changed the SSD from Kingston to Samsung as Samsung has a five year warranty and comes out better in reliability tests.  So the price has come down to £999.

[Gary]

Thanks very much for those observations Steve.  I'm just as cynical as yourself as far as CA is concerned.  I already have a copy of Office Starter which is adequate for my needs.  I've sligh the spec on the laptop I will order at the end of the month.  I've reduced the RAM to 8Gb because that, apparently is the optimum amount to have.tly changed  I've also changed the SSD from Kingston to Samsung as Samsung has a five year warranty and comes out better in reliability tests.  So the price has come down to £999.

My new iMac has a 1TB SSD its a 4 lane PCIe Samsung model, not SATA 3 though so its a bit faster, read and write speeds are so fast. Write speed is 1416.7Mbps and read is 1335.9Mbps, so you will enjoy the ssd in your new laptop.  I did go for a hard drive based model but sent it back, SSD's are so much faster and its silent too.

[Clive]

Having the SSD was the most important consideration as far as I was concerned.  I'll be ordering it as soon as I return from London at the end of the month. 

[nowster]

SSDs are nice and quick, but don't forget to take backups. SSDs have some interesting failure modes, including dropping dead with no warning.

[Gary]

SSDs are nice and quick, but don't forget to take backups. SSDs have some interesting failure modes, including dropping dead with no warning.

While thats true, you should always back up anyway, the latest SSD's will probably out live your computer anyway. Most should hit ten years, unless there is a failure.  As long as you don't fill it up and it has enough cells to heal you are ok. The way I see it with the size of SSD's now even for a 256GB one to hold the OS its the way forward, spinning rust is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

[stevenrw]

I agree with the others - get an external drive to create a drive image image and backup. Do the image soon, before the drive starts to fill with junk. Samsungs M2 drives would be an elegant solution here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Slimline-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B008PABFX8
I've got a couple of them and can recommend them for value for money, speed and ease of use.
The drives come with software called Drive Manager which has a secure zone where you can password protect files.
Samsung SSD's come with useful software called Samsung Magician where you can easily optimise your drive.

You dont mention the chipset supplied on your board. I found on my old board the Intel Z77 chipset USB controller was a bit flakey on the USB3.0 side but I've upgraded to a Z170 Skylake board and the USB3.0 performance is much better.
It even came with the new USB3.1 port which I've not been able to push hard yet.

[Clive]

Now that I have completed my weekends away visiting family and undertaking intense babysitting duties I have a window of opportunity to order the machine and be at home when it arrives!  So I'm ordering the machine tonight.     The chipset is Skylake Steve. 

[Technical Ben]

That looks like a very good deal. The only thing that stands out to me is I think the graphics card chip set is a little old. Not ancient but not the most current. Probably only an issue if you were using it for competitive, on-line gaming.

If gaming it makes a difference. Otherwise no one would notice between it and an Intel Iris (I'd put money on it ). But eveyones use case is different.

An SSD would be a nice option, as 1tb is not often used, again unless gaming and/or making home movies in HD. A 256 or more SSD would wizz around speed wise.
It is an SSD. Wow, sizes have mushroomed quickly. Really has caught up with spinning metal.

Good price for all that. I paid similar for my Intel P4 512mb HP laptop back in the day.

Again, Ram is down to usage again. 8gb is rather the going rate for just above average for a new top range. 16gb is again only going to be used for pro video/gaming specialists. Even most games top out at 8gb, and with an SSD worry about caching is slightly less. You can always pop another 8gb in later.

[Clive]

Thanks Ben, I've ordered it.  Or maybe I haven't.  It went as far as confirming the card details then the card secure system seemed to crash.    And there has been no e-mail from PC Specialist.  I'll have to phone them in the morning.

[Clive]

Apparently I was timed out through inactivity.     But it's definitely on order now!

[Simon]

Apparently I was timed out through inactivity.   

I've heard that's not uncommon as one gets older.