Advice Please!

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BoBo

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Hello,

I am thinking of buying a laptop to use at home basically for:
  • Downloading photos from my digital camera and burning them on to CD
  • Saving/ managing my music for my i-pod.
  • Connecting to the Internet
I have been advised not to go for Celeron and to stick to Athlon or Pentium.

I have found this Sony model and was wondering if anyone is able to advise on it's suitability for my needs (and also if you know anything about the reliability of any of online providers shown here on Kelkoo):

http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/sbs/113501/12140628.html

Thanks.
 
If you are not into gaming ( I did not see any mention to that in your post) you could easily acomplish all the tasks with almost any laptop you buy, but, the ripping speeds on laptop CD/DVD Roms are slightly slower compare to a desktop drive. However, you get portability and the system is usually very well put together especially if it is from a reputed manufacturer.

I would personally go for either IBM or Toshiba Laptops if it were my own money. I am using IBM T41 at the moment and it does everything very well, it is a bit higher and may not be in your budget but the R Series from IBM should fit the bill.

I say IBM becuase of a number of reasons, reliability, excellent support, well made machines, Linux compatible (in case you decide to take that route) and above all one of the best put together laptops that I have had the pleasure of using. Their keyboards are considered the best, and I am sure it is one thing used more than anything else.

You can also buy direct from IBM online and need not worry about any reliability issues.
 
I'll nip in here before KGB...

Stay away from Celeron. They suck.

The Centrinos are good, get one of them if you can...

BUT

I think you should take a look at www.novatech.co.uk and look at their range of laptops. Probably better spec @ lower price than Sony.

Regards

Chris

btw, you say use at home.

Why not a desktop? It will be much faster and you say you want to store your photos and music files, you would have a much larger hard drive.
 
Thanks for that. Unfortunately I do need a laptop as I don't have much space at home so a desktop is no good..

What about Dell laptops.. do you think these are good value for money?
 
Comparing Dell to IBM is like comparing apples to Oranges. Dell have always had issues with their Laptops and their support is not the last word I am afraid.
 
Ok, so I have been persuaded into looking at what IBM has to offer!...

Can someone help me with the difference between Intel Pentium and Intel Centrino?
 
Centrino has a more efficient core (like comparing AMD to Intel) and also Wi-Fi is built in as standard.

A 1.7 Centrino is comparable to a P4 of a MUCH higher clock speed.
 
Well... i have only just seen this post!

If you want reliability... i reccomend:

1) Sony (viao)
2) Dell (what i have)
3) Toshiba (been told they are good)

But to beet all the rest... I think for what you want it for, you shoud go for an Apple!

As was said ealyer... Pretty much any laptop will do...

DO NOT GO TOO CHEAP!

Steer clear of:

Time
& Tiny

I would also reccomend that you should not buy a Packard Bell Laptop

If you want more info on the Dell i have... there is a review in the "user reviews" section

For processor... I would say P4 or Pm
Ram... 256 (maybe 512)
CD-RW drive... HIGH SPEED (maybe a DVD+RW)
14 / 15 " screen
40GB HD

But above all things i can reccomend, just get an apple, it has all you want, but better than windows!

Hope this helps

KGB
 
Don't be silly.

Unless you are a graphic designer, steer clear of Apple Mac systems, they are not worth it!

My advice is get what looks best for a good price, but as suggested, stay well away from Time/Tiny
 
Apple/Schmapple :mad:

No, no, no.

Unless you've researched Apple and are absolutely sure it will meet all your needs.

I know not a lot about laptops, but I almost bought a Sony VAIO, I liked the look of them, although they're a little pricier than most.

And a guy I know with his own business uses Toshiba laptops exclusively, he swears they're good.

There, that's my sum knowledge on this here subject ;)
 
I looked it up ages ago on "which?" laptop reliability:

1) Apple
2) Sony
3) Dell
and so on...


Apples are good
 
KGB-911 said:
Apples are good
Click to expand...
Good they may be but if the average user wants to interface with the world outside and be able to swap work files with his/her colleagues, then, sadly, it has to be a Windows based system.

I don't like it any more than you do, but that's the way it is.

No point joining an exclusive club if you don't know no members.
 
As flops said - yeah they may be reliable but if you can't use it to its full potential, whats the point!
 
I am inclined to agree .. for my basic needs surely an Apple is unnecessary? I think I will stick with the Sony/ Dell / Toshiba ...
 
OK... it is just an apple will do all you wanted too

Plus... on Mac word... you don't need to save in a differant format... it will work with a windows PC anyway
 
A mate of mine has now actually recommended the new i-book, so I am being swayed back towards the apple way of thinking. Only thing is, will it take me a while to become accustomed to the apple equivalent of window etc.. as I am only familiar with Microsoft ?
 
I used apple back in 1992 and was very impressed with its advanced OS, many of the features later were incorporated in Windows :eek:

The graphics on an apple is leagues ahead compared to an IBM compatible. If you can get a good demo you will know better. Seeing is believing!
 
BoBo said:
A mate of mine has now actually recommended the new i-book, so I am being swayed back towards the apple way of thinking. Only thing is, will it take me a while to become accustomed to the apple equivalent of window etc.. as I am only familiar with Microsoft ?
Click to expand...
"will it take me a while to become accustomed to the apple equivalent of window etc.. as I am only familiar with Microsoft"

Not really, you should master it quite quickly, after all, MS nicked the GUI from Apple. :D

You will have no problems "talking" to any PC ... I don't like laptops/notebooks, but if I had to buy one I think it would be from Apple. ;)
 
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