Cheap laptops - Page 2

**David Bailey** · 4th-September-2007, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missy D

The teacher asked us to get laptops and even offered us them last year Vat free too!

Bloody hell

I feel a "When I was a lad..." moment coming on, I must be getting old.

That's a bit harsh on people who can't afford laptops innit?

(like, most of us)

I reckon you can probably get a bottom-of-the-range laptop for about £300 - £350, but what about software? That starts to add up...

Looking at SB's links, there's one here for £250 + VAT:
Morgan Computers

I doubt you'd get much cheaper than that.

Oh, and definitely go for XP not Vista.

**Dreadful Scathe** · 4th-September-2007, 09:35 AM

I'd disagree and say go for Ubuntu. Nothing you can't do on that - and any schools that advocate the use of expensive software such as MS Office, need shot.

There are lots of laptops at the £300 mark, but you would struggle to get a new laptop WITHOUT the dreaded Vista virus. You can try here of course.

**David Bailey** · 4th-September-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe

I'd disagree and say go for Ubuntu.

Ah, you're just a geek.

As for software, I'd always recommend OpenOffice - download here.

**Twirly** · 4th-September-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missy D

The teacher asked us to get laptops and even offered us them last year Vat free too!

Have you talked to the school about whether this is still available? Or if arrangements can be made? They might also have recommendations as to what to get (or not to get).

I do agree with DJ though... these kids, don't know they're born!

David Franklin · 4th-September-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Looking at SB's links, there's one here for £250 + VAT:
Morgan Computers

I doubt you'd get much cheaper than that.

Dell Vostro range starts at £199+VAT (and that's a new machine, not a refurb).

Unfortunately, Dell are charging £60 for shipping! I don't know if there's any way round that.

Quote:

Oh, and definitely go for XP not Vista.

The XP/Vista thing is getting to be a pain: Dell advertise a lot of models as shipping with a choice of XP / Vista, but then it turns out the high spec ones are all Vista. (I'm looking for a Quad-Core machine and it's looking like I'm going to end up building it myself).

**David Bailey** · 4th-September-2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Franklin

Unfortunately, Dell are charging £60 for shipping!

60 quid, to ship a laptop?

They're having a laugh...

David Franklin · 4th-September-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJames

60 quid, to ship a laptop?

They're having a laugh...

Ridiculous, isn't it? (Unless I'm missing a shipping option).

Making a large %age of the profit on shipping costs seems to be an increasingly common ploy, however. It pretty much makes it impossible to return the laptop under DSR, for example.

**Lynn** · 4th-September-2007, 01:03 PM

Is Vista really that irritating that people are trying to find places who will sell without it?

I bought my laptop pre Vista, sent off for the free upgrade, but haven't downloaded it so still on XP.

**Dreadful Scathe** · 4th-September-2007, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn

Is Vista really that irritating that people are trying to find places who will sell without it?

Oh yes. The thing is - vista gives you some bells and whistles that you can get elsewhere on xp. ObjectDock for example for a mac style icon system, emerge desktop for transparent user defined windows etc.. Vista is bloatware for most people.

Quote:

I bought my laptop pre Vista, sent off for the free upgrade, but haven't downloaded it so still on XP.

If you want your desktop to look different but run slower...you could install it

Is there any point though ?

**DavidY** · 8th-March-2008, 06:52 PM

I see that ebuyer are currently selling a laptop with 120Gb disk and 2Gb of memory for £290, including VAT and delivery. It's a special offer, and it looks like you have to install the extra memory yourself, but it seems like a good price to me.

It has Vista

, but I think it's getting harder to find a laptop with XP these days.

**StokeBloke** · 8th-March-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Franklin

Dell Vostro range starts at £199+VAT (and that's a new machine, not a refurb).

Unfortunately, Dell are charging £60 for shipping! I don't know if there's any way round that.

The XP/Vista thing is getting to be a pain: Dell advertise a lot of models as shipping with a choice of XP / Vista, but then it turns out the high spec ones are all Vista. (I'm looking for a Quad-Core machine and it's looking like I'm going to end up building it myself).

Morgan Computers have a laptop this month for £245 including VAT AND Delivery

Intel Celeron M 350 (1.3GHz) processor, 256MB DDR RAM

40GB hard disk and combo CD-RW/DVD ROM

14.1" TFT colour display (1024 x 768 resolution)

Touchpad pointing device, integrated sound and speaker

4 x USB 2.0 ports, parallel, serial, VGA and PS/2 ports

Internet and e-mail hot keys, Kensington lock security slot

Supplied with MS Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works 8.0, NTI CD/DVD Maker and Bullguard Anti-Virus (trial version)

Ditch MS Works, download OpenOffice and AVG Free Antivirus then you're good to go

**DavidY** · 9th-March-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StokeBloke

Morgan Computers have a laptop this month for £245 including VAT AND Delivery

Intel Celeron M 350 (1.3GHz) processor, 256MB DDR RAM

40GB hard disk and combo CD-RW/DVD ROM

14.1" TFT colour display (1024 x 768 resolution)

Touchpad pointing device, integrated sound and speaker

4 x USB 2.0 ports, parallel, serial, VGA and PS/2 ports

Internet and e-mail hot keys, Kensington lock security slot

Supplied with MS Windows XP Home, Microsoft Works 8.0, NTI CD/DVD Maker and Bullguard Anti-Virus (trial version)

Ditch MS Works, download OpenOffice and AVG Free Antivirus then you're good to go

Yes but 256Mb is going to be slow- even though Windows XP is less memory-hungry than Vista, it does need some.

Better (IMO at least) to spend another £45 with ebuyer to get 2Mb of memory, 120Gb of disk, WiFi and a DVD writer.

**StokeBloke** · 9th-March-2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidY

Yes but 256Mb is going to be slow- even though Windows XP is less memory-hungry than Vista, it does need some.

Better (IMO at least) to spend another £45 with ebuyer to get 2Mb of memory, 120Gb of disk, WiFi and a DVD writer.

True perhaps. But this thread is about CHEAP laptops. I'm sure anyone who has purchased a PC (lap or desktop) has been caught in the "for just £50 more I can..." debate.

**Martin** · 9th-March-2008, 07:09 PM

Have you thought about 2nd hand laptops?

One of the dance companies I know of, have bought a second hand laptop for each of the venues - I was impressed with the spec and very cheap price, coupled with a guarentee.
They were bought from a shop dealing in second hand computers.

**Mr Darcy** · 9th-March-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin

Have you thought about 2nd hand laptops?

I've bought lots of nearly new/refurbished Dell's from here with no problems at all. His stock changes frequently and you have to add vat to the prices shown though.

**philsmove** · 10th-March-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin

Have you thought about 2nd hand laptops?

.

might be one going in Pauls soon

BBC NEWS | England | Bristol | Laptop is taken in street robbery

**Gav** · 10th-March-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Missy D

I do wish I could put MSN and My Space on timer

Thank you for all your reponses.

When I got my kids a new desktop each, networked them and got them all on the internet, times spent on them, safety etc were big concerns.
I installed NetNanny on them which allowed me to set the times they could use them, which sites they could/couldn't go on, which programs they could use and so on.

**thainmaggiet** · 10th-March-2008, 06:17 PM

If you subscribe to AOL at the moment you receive a hewlett packard laptop free of charge. My three year old grandaughter has grown out of her Dora one and wants mine for her games!!Eek!!.{

**StokeBloke** · 10th-March-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thainmaggiet

If you subscribe to AOL .......

AOL is one of the most appalling service providers it has ever been my misfortune to come across. If you are on AOL I would seriously implore you to look around for a better alternative. I guess this is a whole other thread!

Robin · 11th-March-2008, 02:31 PM

Just to throw some more wood on the fire ....

Firstly - even though there's loads of reasons not to have Windows Vista, it is actually reasonably stable. It also has the built in protection stuff you want - I set my nephews up so at 10pm it logs them off. You can restrict programs that they can use, websites they visit and you can log it all .

As far as Dell laptops are concerned, loads of my clients buy them simply because they are reliable. The delivery bit is an issue, but if you keep an eye on their website at the special offers, they do throw in free delivery a lot. I missed a business special the other day - £99 + del & vat fro a base laptop.

Do avoid celeron processors like the plague. Core2Duo is a good standard - even the bottom end ones are reasonably quick.

4th-September-2007, 09:35 AM	#22 (permalink)
Dreadful Scathe Papa Smurf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Planet Scathe Posts: 10,483 Status: Head Groupie of the SWP fan club Blog Entries: 4 Rep Power: 8 Rep.: 2567	Re: Cheap laptops I'd disagree and say go for Ubuntu. Nothing you can't do on that - and any schools that advocate the use of expensive software such as MS Office, need shot. There are lots of laptops at the £300 mark, but you would struggle to get a new laptop WITHOUT the dreaded Vista virus. You can try here of course. __________________ "defiantly a pork soared" -fletch "This is a discussion forum, not some sort of hippy poetry-reading commune" - TAFKADJ

4th-September-2007, 01:03 PM	#28 (permalink)
Lynn Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belfast Posts: 8,053 Status: Looking forward to new challenges. Rep Power: 7 Rep.: 2636	Re: Cheap laptops Is Vista really that irritating that people are trying to find places who will sell without it? I bought my laptop pre Vista, sent off for the free upgrade, but haven't downloaded it so still on XP.

8th-March-2008, 06:52 PM	#30 (permalink)
DavidY Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,224 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 785	Re: Cheap laptops I see that ebuyer are currently selling a laptop with 120Gb disk and 2Gb of memory for £290, including VAT and delivery. It's a special offer, and it looks like you have to install the extra memory yourself, but it seems like a good price to me. It has Vista , but I think it's getting harder to find a laptop with XP these days. __________________ Love dance, will travel

9th-March-2008, 07:09 PM	#34 (permalink)
Martin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gold Coast, Australia Posts: 2,067 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 424	Re: Cheap laptops Have you thought about 2nd hand laptops? One of the dance companies I know of, have bought a second hand laptop for each of the venues - I was impressed with the spec and very cheap price, coupled with a guarentee. They were bought from a shop dealing in second hand computers.

10th-March-2008, 06:17 PM	#38 (permalink)
thainmaggiet Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: dundee Posts: 508 Status: No Status Rep Power: 1 Rep.: 20	Re: Cheap laptops If you subscribe to AOL at the moment you receive a hewlett packard laptop free of charge. My three year old grandaughter has grown out of her Dora one and wants mine for her games!!Eek!!.{ __________________ THE ABILITY TO QUOTE IS A SERVICEABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR WIT!

11th-March-2008, 02:31 PM	#40 (permalink)
Robin Ceroc DJ Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: londonish Posts: 604 Status: No Status Rep Power: 3 Rep.: 160	Re: Cheap laptops Just to throw some more wood on the fire .... Firstly - even though there's loads of reasons not to have Windows Vista, it is actually reasonably stable. It also has the built in protection stuff you want - I set my nephews up so at 10pm it logs them off. You can restrict programs that they can use, websites they visit and you can log it all . As far as Dell laptops are concerned, loads of my clients buy them simply because they are reliable. The delivery bit is an issue, but if you keep an eye on their website at the special offers, they do throw in free delivery a lot. I missed a business special the other day - £99 + del & vat fro a base laptop. Do avoid celeron processors like the plague. Core2Duo is a good standard - even the bottom end ones are reasonably quick.