Suggest a notebook for me

[vaio]

Greetings

Unfortunately it seems that I may have to work at least 1 night per week in my new job (trying to avoid nights after 20 years on and off with them).

Anyway, to help while away the quiet time I am thinking of getting a new notebook and I would appreciate some suggestions?

I don't want to spend more than I have to cos I won't use it that often.
But I would like one that is man enough to cope running distributed computing when it is on.

So I spose a core 2 would be my best bet.
Note, graphics not important....priority is cpu power and ram.

Anyway, please fire away any suggestions.......up to say £450.

 

[vaio]

BTW.......disregard my username........new notebook doesn't hafta be a Sony
Open to suggestions from any manufacturer.

 

[floppybootstomp]

This could be a contender.

Dual core, 2Gb memory.

When it comes to laptops in my experience Toshiba make the most hardy models. I would avoid Acer.

Quite a lot to choose from at that site, I bought two Toshiba's for my daughters starting Uni last September from there, they're happy with them.

Only thing I didn't like was they came loaded with a trial version of Nortons AV

Good to see you've landed a job

 

[Anon_F]

I bought my Toshiba laptop last year after owning another one for 2 years.
I bought directly through Toshiba HERE
Or you could try Staples [url=http://www.staples.co.uk/ENG/Catalog/cat_skuset.asp?CatIds=21797,35750,21850&name=UK_SK_Toshiba_Satellite_Laptops[/url]]HERE
Just helped a family friend biy a really good Toshiba through Staples.[/url]

 

[floppybootstomp]

Toshiba Satellite Pro L40-17H - Pentium Dual Core T2330 1.6 GHz - 15.4" TFT – from Laptops Direct.

1.6Ghz Dual Core
2Gb Memory
160Gb hard disk

£410.00

Toshiba Satellite A100-02M from Staples

Processor not actually listed in the spec
1Gb Memory
80Gb Hard Drive

£429.00

Toshiba Satellite A100-596 from Staples

1.73Ghz Dual Core
512Mb Memory
60Gb Hard Disk

£399.00

Toshiba Satellite L30-105 from Staples

Pentium 2060 (that’s all the info we’re given)
1Gb Memory
80Gb Hard Disk

£425.00

 

[itsme]

Here you are cheap to>

 

[vaio]

Thanks guys

I'll work through the options next week.

 

[vaio]

This could be a contender.

That one looks a good contender.

Here is a quick no-so-shortlist:
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/AdvSearch/Compare.aspx?s=21∏=NP-R60FY0E/SUK∏=PSPB5E-003004KS%20∏=X51RL-AP036C%20∏=X51RL-AP030C%20∏=VFY:EM81V5505BS6GB∏=X51RL-AS499C∏=PSL4BE-00T005EN



Any I should immediately discount?

Main use would probably be dvd watching so have included one with a larger screen.

 

[vaio]

Despite the slower processor I find the Tosh P200 appealing.
Given that entertainment is it's priority over crunching I think the slower cpu is offset by the 17" widescreen display.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Despite the slower processor I find the Tosh P200 appealing.
Given that entertainment is it's priority over crunching I think the slower cpu is offset by the 17" widescreen display.

I would agree

I was going to reply as so but was rather hoping somebody else would contribute with an opinion.

Otherwise it may look like I just a Toshiba nut

The others, Asus & Samsung, look good too but I think the 17" widescreen would swing it for me if watching movies was a prime activity.

 

[vaio]

Yup, my youngest could make use of it too when I'm not at work.
Currently she borrows mum's 6" portable dvd player.

The 2 Tosh machines I think are my faves.

Someone suggested Dell to me but somehow it just don't seem right..Dell...ugh.

 

[vaio]

Right, I think I have it down to 2 possibles now:

The Toshiba P200 I mentioned earlier and the Dell Vostro 1700.

The only thing that I see that could really count against the P200 is the (relatively) old/slow processor but I would imagine it's more than powerful enough as an entertainment machine (non-gaming).

The Dell is newer and significanly faster but then, do I need the added speed?

Is Dell notebook build quality ok?

The Dell has Vista business as it's base OS-I think I'll phone them up and see if I can have Home Premium instead as the media centre features could be useful given the machines primary purpose.

Vista Ultimate is listed as an option but don't think it's worth the added cost.

The Dell:--£470 delivered.

Core 2 duo T8100----2.1GHZ.
Vista business.
17"widescreen.
2 gb ram.
250 gb hard disc.
128mb Geforce 8400m GS.
Dvd writer.

Toshiba P200:--£400.

Pentium Dual Core T2310 / 1.46 GHz (looks kinda slow by recent standards----run hotter too?)
Vista home premium.
17" widescreen.
2 gb ram.
120 gb hard disc.
Dvd writer.


Given the significantly faster processor, double hard disc space and dedicated graphics freeing up ram would you concur that overall the Dell is the better choice?

 

[floppybootstomp]

I'd still go for the Toshiba.

You save seventy quid, same screen and extra speed is probably not worth considering if all you're going to is watch movies/office stuff and net browsing.

And the Home Media features are definitely worth having, they're very very good imo.

If you can swing the supplier to supply Home Premium instead of Business I suppose the Dell has the edge (though personally I wouldn't touch anything Dell with a bargepole, lol, but that's just me ) especially considering the bigger hard disk and improved graphics.

 

[Abarbarian]

If you are going for the Dell get them to put Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon on it as the OS . You will have a jolly nice os that is speedy and secure and fun to play with . An it should be cheaper aswell as the os costs nothing .

 

[vaio]

Unfortunately much of the stuff I intend to use it for needs Windows/dot. net etc.
But will probably Windows/Ubuntu dual boot anyway