New Laptop 2

Den · Dec 31, 2007, 09:55:38

My HP laptop is playing up and I don't know whether to persevere and try and fix it or to buy a new one. PC world have a Toshiba with £100 off down to £399 with Pentium dual core and 120gb hard drive. Any thoughts before I rush out, I do not use computers for games and a laptop is more for back up, or Linda likes to take it into the kitchen and go on ebay or I take it to alarm installations for upload/download of settings (easier to type than on a alarm keypad). I have Office 2007 with two licences one not used so I would be OK for programs'.

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 10:16:17

Laptops are generally not user-serviceable to any extent, Den, so you'd be looking at a bill if it's out of warranty. What's the nature of the fault?

How much RAM is on the Tosh, which processor and what's the spindle speed on the HD? Recommending that people buy from PC World is always something I find difficult to do though.

Inactive · Dec 31, 2007, 10:24:38

Agreed Rik, I will not deal with companies like PC World / Currys / Dixons. ( all the same box shifting outfit )

Den · Dec 31, 2007, 10:28:40

Prosessor Pentium T2310 1.46Ghz 533Mhz FSB 1mb cashe
Memory 2gb DDR2 667 Mhz
Hard Drive 120Gb
Screen 15.4 WXGA trubrite
Vista Home Premium

and extra battery offer direct from Toshiba on application.

I normally don't shop at PC world (I agree with Inactive on this) but this seems a lot of Laptop for the money.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:31:07

I saw one with 2gb ram mentioned on the pc hell tv ads but no idea about HDD spin speed, a friend of mine got hers through Novatech, they are at least a small company based down south near where I live and can actually build their own units, and it did not come with the usual laptop multicoloured ten deep icon hell in the system tray, oh and she could have XP Pro as well for no extra cost

I have used this company a lot and can highly recommend them http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/home.html

Inactive · Dec 31, 2007, 10:33:56

Agreed Gary, a first rate company.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:34:47

Quote from: Den on Dec 31, 2007, 10:28:40
Prosessor Pentium T2310 1.46Ghz 533Mhz FSB 1mb cashe
Memory 2gb DDR2 667 Mhz
Hard Drive 120Gb
Screen 15.4 WXGA trubrite
Vista Home Premium

and extra battery offer direct from Toshiba on application.

I normally don't shop at PC world (I agree with Inactive on this) but this seems a lot of Laptop for the money.

My wife had a Toshiba it worked well but battery life was scary and with Vista you do need a fast HDD really from what my friend at MS says to get decent performance, also it does chew batteries as an OS I am led to believe but maybe someone with a vista laptop would be able to shed light on that

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 10:39:36

Ideally you want a SATA HD with a spindle speed of 5400 minimum.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:40:31

Quote from: Inactive on Dec 31, 2007, 10:33:56
Agreed Gary, a first rate company.

They have always been first rate and do great mobo bundles as well, currently running through new pc/or upgrade my Voodoo in the new year, if I do the latter it will be Novatech for parts and I know the staff actually know what they are talking about which helps, and no rubbing of hands while pushing for that extra extended guarantee, and do you need a mouse and a highly expensive carrying case sir routine,

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:42:38

Quote from: Rik on Dec 31, 2007, 10:39:36
Ideally you want a SATA HD with a spindle speed of 5400 minimum.

For Vista I think SATA II with NCQ and 7500rpm is more like it Rik

and for a desktop 10,000 rpm raptors!

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 10:43:29

Are there any laptop drives with that spec, Gary.

Inactive · Dec 31, 2007, 10:45:14

Quote from: Killhippie on Dec 31, 2007, 10:40:31
and do you need a mouse and a highly expensive carrying case sir routine,

Read " You do need "...

Oh and how about one of our Flash Memory sticks that are on offer this week, only £29.99 for 1GB.

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 10:47:56

Quote from: Inactive on Dec 31, 2007, 10:45:14
Oh and how about one of our Flash Memory sticks that are on offer this week, only £29.99 for 1GB.

I wonder just how many people will be suckered in by that?

Talking to Sue's hairdresser before Xmas, when I was rescuing her video files, she wanted to pay me for the DVD, as she was convinced they cost £1+ each. I've introduced her to SVP.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:50:02

Quote from: Rik on Dec 31, 2007, 10:43:29
Are there any laptop drives with that spec, Gary.

You can get 7200rpm ones Rik http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5053

Inactive · Dec 31, 2007, 10:51:54

Indeed Rik, I wonder just how many of these punters actually get away with buying the required item with no extra's added on?.

TechGuy Support package Sir?.....Extended warranty Sir?

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 10:54:19

Quote from: Inactive on Dec 31, 2007, 10:51:54
Indeed Rik, I wonder just how many of these punters actually get away with buying the required item with no extra's added on?.

TechGuy Support package Sir?.....Extended warranty Sir?

Your bargain laptop comes to £1000 by the time you leave

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 10:57:24

Quote from: Killhippie on Dec 31, 2007, 10:50:02
You can get 7200rpm ones Rik http://www.yoyotech.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5053

Know of any models using them, Gary. The best I have seen, though I haven't been looking too hard of late, is 5400/SATA150.

Lance · Dec 31, 2007, 11:40:19

Quote from: Killhippie on Dec 31, 2007, 10:34:47
also it does chew batteries as an OS I am led to believe but maybe someone with a vista laptop would be able to shed light on that

Well, my HP Vista laptop lasts for 2 and a half hours or so on batteries. When you consider the high spec of the machine I hink that is pretty good! I can't compare to the same spec running XP though.

Quote from: Den on Dec 31, 2007, 10:28:40
Prosessor Pentium T2310 1.46Ghz 533Mhz FSB 1mb cashe

Whilst a dual core processor, it is only a low spec one. Fine if, as you say, you are only using the laptop for occassional use, but something to bear in mind should you want to start using the laptop more.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 11:50:47

Quote from: Rik on Dec 31, 2007, 10:57:24
Know of any models using them, Gary. The best I have seen, though I haven't been looking too hard of late, is 5400/SATA150.

You can get the dell XPS M1710 with the option for a 7200rpm drive Rik, specs are here

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 11:55:46

That's a beast of a laptop, Gary. I wonder if I could persuade Sue.

Gary · Dec 31, 2007, 11:58:34

Quote from: Rik on Dec 31, 2007, 11:55:46
That's a beast of a laptop, Gary. I wonder if I could persuade Sue.

I'm sure you could, after all its almost 2008 Rik and technology does grow old quickly, best to keep ahead of the game

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 12:16:10

I'll have a chat over lunch.

Den · Dec 31, 2007, 14:08:32

Now here is a strange thing. When I turned my laptop on (I thought I should re-install windows XP) I lost contact with the net and the router re-synced at a lower speed. I turned laptop off and rebooted router and it re-synced at the higher speed again. It then dawned on me that this is exactly what happened yesterday only this time the laptop went to dreaded blue screen. I will take the laptop away and take out the wireless card before I turn the darn thing on again.
I had holding sync well over Christmas but had not used the laptop.

Looked at the Toshiba in PC world and did not like the look of it and there was a Advent for £440 aprox with a higher spec

Inactive · Dec 31, 2007, 14:17:09

Quote from: Den on Dec 31, 2007, 14:08:32

Looked at the Toshiba in PC world and did not like the look of it and there was a Advent for £440 aprox with a higher spec

I'm no expert on laptops Den, but the Toshiba is a far better brand than the Advent, which is I think a PC World label.

Did the Toshiba like the look of you Den....?

Rik · Dec 31, 2007, 14:31:15

I'd tend to avoid the Advent too, Den.

If you're laptop took the ADSL down, I'd wonder about its power supply, they can get very noisy.

Den · Jan 01, 2008, 16:10:52

My local shop Microplus sell Asus laptops, had a look on the asus website and they look quite tasty even at the sub £400 range. Will check the shops prices against buying direct as I like to look after local shops. Any opinions?

Rik · Jan 01, 2008, 16:13:49

I've only got experience of Asus mobos, Den, but I like them.

Den · Jan 01, 2008, 16:17:04

Take a look at asuslaptop.co.uk and see what you think , they also use SATA hard drives.

Rik · Jan 01, 2008, 16:23:22

They look good on paper, Den and the review I found was quite favourable.

Gary · Jan 01, 2008, 16:50:16

Quote from: Rik on Jan 01, 2008, 16:23:22
They look good on paper, Den and the review I found was quite favourable.

I only know about Asus mobos as well but from looking around the net it seems they get good reviews for laptops