Laptops netbooks tablets - a discussion

[PeckhamRose]

This MAY get moved to the wanted section as it is advice I am after, but rather I am asking for a discussion and opinions on what sort of devices are best for what sort of occasion.

The laptop is dying. I am forced to consider buying something new and lots of fancy new fabulous tricknology has come since I bought this high end Toshiba made up laptop from E&M computers in Grays Inn Road. (Sadly, after a hundred or so years of this family run business ("E&M" stands for electric and manual!) they have had to close their business. I always relied on them for all my computer needs since the 1980s. I know.

Anyhow, so the question is for this thread is, who has what. Why did you choose that? What is your ISP or connection choice. If I get a notebook or tablet can I use my BTInternet or how do I connect? Do I have to buy a dongle.

I am not into games and need my future device for emails and internet explorer. I am not into Apple so don't want - nor can I afford - an iPad. (I admit to having entered competitions to WIN one, mind you!)

Is a note book just a smaller laptop or does it have any other deficits to it? I suspect it is, and yet has just as much capacity as my laptop. I won't (yet) touch cloud technology. I need full Office facilities so something that that runs on. I suppose I want the same again but willing to be persuaded of something lighter and smaller but just as useful! In pink*

There is so much information out there, and I read as much as I can and learn and try and keep up. But getting all your thoughts and opinions would be useful too, because you lot come without baggage and no advertising!

*Just kidding.

[acm]

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[DonkyOne]

Hi! Peckham Rose

I have some devices I don't need them anymore and a laptop Toshiba. PM me if you would like to have them.

[ianr]

A question ...

What do you mean by 'dying'?

[maxxi]

do NOT pm donkeyone - it's a bot (thought it had been eliminated in last purge but there are always one or two that get missed)

[PeckhamRose]

Thanks maxxi, boy was that tempting!

Right:

In order of being asked:

(But remember I am hoping for a discussion of what they are about and what they mean to people, I still don't understand why some folk are almost religious about Apple).

Windows xp (but I don't care long as it's not Apple. It's like cooking with gas or electric. I'm just used to electric / Windows!)

Don't care about version long as its the latest when I buy something new.

My current laptop is a Toshiba but was put together by E&M as above; ie 6 month old versions of various bits all put together in one laptop at about half the price (maybe that's why they went out of business!) I think they call it 'reconditioned'?

Budget - maybe ?500.

Microsoft Office but willing to learn others long as all my current documents in Word and Excel can be opened read and worked on still.

DVD

Webcam - yes but I have one I attach for Skype so not a problem.

I am with BT Internet and connect to them via HomeHub, wirelessly. I am very happy with them (Have BT Vision too, it's really good!) and can connect around the country using BT Fon.

I have never bought (or needed) a dongle.

Thanks acm!

Would I be able to connect to BT Internet on a tablet? And which tablet? I rather like the idea of something smaller and lighter to carry around long as I can connect via BT Fon when I am not at home.

[ianr]

> Microsoft Office but willing to learn others long as all my current documents in Word and Excel can be opened read and worked on still.

Are you not able to transfer your version and licence from your present machine to any new one, or are you set on buying a new version or upgrade?

[PeckhamRose]

I Do Not Know That.

[Loz]

Notebook and laptop are pretty interchangeable terms. Netbooks are lame. Most laptops now are built down to a price, so as long as you stick to a 'name', you should be OK. Unless that name is 'Packard Bell', in which case put it down and move slowly away. PB is PC World's own brand.

Dell do pink laptops!

A current decent spec for a laptop is 3 or 4 GB RAM and about 300GB hard disk. Unless you are going to use the laptop for something processor-heavy like gaming or video editing, the CPU doesn't really matter a lot, but a dual-core is pretty standard now.

I think most laptops now come with a wireless LAN adapter but check (look for some or all of IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n in the specs). That will connect you to your ISP's router.

Other things you might want: bluetooth (for skype headsets and hooking your mobile phone up), Firewire connection (for connecting video cameras), S-video TV-out (for connecting to your TV and watching iPlayer).

Head to dabs.com or dell.co.uk. Dabs have HP and Toshiba (both reliable) and Dell has, um... Dell.

Happy hunting.

Edited: to put the '4' in '3 or 4'

[PeckhamRose]

Thank you.

BT Vision has iPlayer / playback on all the channels. It's why I love it!

But tnanks for all the other hints.

I would rather go in to a shop than look on line, actually ask a human specialist.

That's why I am asking you lovely lot.

But I would go ANYWHERE but PC World for this.

[DJKillaQueen]

What you buy depends on what you want it to do. My advice is always to buy the best processor you can afford....because that is what costs most to upgrade.

[BasemCigar]

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

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> What you buy depends on what you want it to do. My

> advice is always to buy the best processor you can

> afford....because that is what costs most to

> upgrade.

PMS

[PeckhamRose]

Hi BasemCigar I hope you can add to the discussion. I also hope other folks can talk about them here so we can all share experiences and opinions.

[Peckhamrye]

I amfairly unliterate about computers too. Took advice from super techie ex and he recommended an Acer - I have an Acer Aspire 5741, comes with Windows 7 operating system, Intel Core i3 processor 3mb, 2 gb memory. I had Office 2000 so installed that but a new MS Office is out. I bought mine from John Lewis as it comes with a 2 year guarantee and you can take it back and talk to someone.

[DJKillaQueen]

Dunno what Basem's point is...lol.

Buying the best motherboard and fastest processor you can afford is sensible. Ram can always be added, sound and graphics cards can be upgraded.

Sounds like a good aftercare package you have from John Lewis Peckhamrye.

[Loz]

DJKillaQueen Wrote:

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> Buying the best motherboard and fastest processor

> you can afford is sensible. Ram can always be

> added, sound and graphics cards can be upgraded.

This is where opinions differ. I would say, given what PR wants to use it for, that she should spend her budget on as much RAM (memory) and disk as she can. The difference between the processing power lower and upper end of the currently available chips is not a lot, especially given Moore's Law, but the you pay quite a premium for the cutting edge products.

So I'd say grab as much RAM and disk as you can, and then buy the best chip you can afford with whatever is left in your budget.

[mockney piers]

For the 98% of people who aren't comfortable with the ins and outs of SDRAM vs DDR/2/3, ram hz, motherboard fussiness and balancing ram, I'd say buy a solid system by someone reputable with enough power to do what you need to do well, and be happy with that. Forget about upgrading.

In your case PR your requirements are pretty limited if it's just browsing and email. Get something modest, light and well built, you probably won't need to spend more than ?180-250. You really don't need a powerful processor, but make sure you have enough RAM to make your OS run smoothly. If it's windows 7 you need at least 3GB, ideally 4GB.

If you go with a linux based laptop you'll get away with less and consequently get it cheaper.

[PeckhamRose]

Grateful to everyone.

Not just browsing and email, but certainly don't need it for games.

I think a visit to John Lewis is on the cards. Get their thoughts, then buy cheaper on dabs and the like.

[acm]

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[acm]

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[womanofdulwich]

god that is cheap- i'm sure we bought one like this last year form john lewis for a lot more ???

[Loz]

A Tosh with Intel Dual core, 3GB RAM, 320GB disk and wireless support. Nice choice, acm. That'll do PR nicely. No Bluetooth, but you can pick up a dongle for a tenner if that's needed.

PS I think the pink thing was a joke.

[Loz]

Just found the same model for a touch under ?520 on Dabs. That Insight deal is a bargain.

[acm]

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[Undisputedtruth]

Hang on PR, the latest AMD mobile processor, code name Llano, should be out shortly. It's a very energy efficient processor with built in graphics capability (Directx11), has the most bang for the buck, and best of all their laptops would have an up to 10 hour battery charge. Now if you can get this to go with 8gb ram (memory is very cheap these days, ensures a zippy system) and SSD then you have an ultra fast pc without hardly any lagging issues. So fast that you could use your system in 20seconds from switching on.