Cheap Laptops, what's good?

[Bearman]

I'm thinking about getting myself a laptop instead of having to share the family computers, it seems we all want to be on them at the same time. The computer I use is an old desktop that's quite old and way under spec. This thing is so old it's steam powered. It's landfill!!

Have been looking on and off at the ones that come up at the major stores for around the $700 mark and was just wondering what's the pick of the bunch?? Just need it for general use, a little photo editing and a little website editing. No gaming or anything else that needs heaps of graphics etc.

Will these fit the bill? Recomendations?

[ch33z1l]

I'd be looking at one of the netbooks, (EEPC etc)...very underrated pieces of gear for the price u pay. If you dont like the small screen, just hook an external monitor up to it.

[Zed7fiddy]

Mate i had the same issue, i went to JB and picked up a Toshiba L300 satelite for $748, and those guys love to bargain. its a ripper lil thing and all i use it for is a few documents and internetting, its gold, cant go past it really, heaps available especially nwo with heaps of sales with the economy the way it is.

[TURBOTAXI]

Yeah any of the sub $1000 laptops are fine. Be careful with the ultraportables if you want to do a decent amount of typing without using a full size USB key board.

Or get a refurbed corporate machine for ~ $350 - they are fine too. I bought an acer 3683wxmi new for about $770 two years ago. Its still a useable machine.

[mongoloid]

Bought a toshiba about 6 months ago. Was $720 at harvey norman with $150 cash back from toshiba (which i got). So $570 for a lap top that does everything i need, watch movies, surf the net etc. Havent had any dramas with it however the two features i would like are a remote control and a HDMI output.

However vista sucks.

[05_ENFORCER]

Clevo and MetaBox are good no name brand alternatives also.


/

[GUTLES]

I brought this Acer Aspire 5315 for $500 12 months ago, does everything I want it too, added an extra 1gb memory I had & it runs heaps quicker. I wasn't expecting too much out of it.

I would of brought the $500 Toshiba but no one had them in stock at the time.

[WILDB]

There are a few decent laptops available (value for money wise anyway).
Lenovo, Toshiba, Compaq and Acer all have a few machines out in that price range. Some of them offer cashbacks, but be aware it does take a while for the cashback to come through.

[GUTLES]

Yeah it takes ages for the cashback, just when I thought they'd forgotten mine & scammed me it arrived in the mail.

[Spudz27]

I have an ACER one net book. Cost me $569. Has 1gb ram, 1.6 atom processor (what they use in these new ones) and 160gb hard drive. It has wireless, 3 USB ports, just does not have a DVD drive, but that is what thumb drives are for.

As for cashback. 8 weeks mine said. Won't have it till march and I chose the games pack anyway.

[charles_wif_xf]

Originally Posted by EDfutura25

I have an ACER one net book. Cost me $569. Has 1gb ram, 1.6 atom processor (what they use in these new ones) and 160gb hard drive. It has wireless, 3 USB ports, just does not have a DVD drive, but that is what thumb drives are for.

As for cashback. 8 weeks mine said. Won't have it till march and I chose the games pack anyway.

I have the same unit (in blue of course : ). Paid $399 before cashback.

It is an awesome little unit; I can surf the 'net, watch my movies and TV shows, do my work on it.

[RG]

I needed something cheap so I went second hand. Got me one of these http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2765 for $450 and added an extra gig of RAM straight away and it does everything I need.

[Spudz27]

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

I have the same unit (in blue of course : ). Paid $399 before cashback.

It is an awesome little unit; I can surf the 'net, watch my movies and TV shows, do my work on it.

mine is in black. How did you get it for $399? seems pretty cheap.

[YoungFordFreak]

My recomendations is try to stay away from VISTA and HP. Toshiba is the way to go.

[Pinch]

My laptop is Compaq that I paid $499 for new from Harvey Norman, but can't seem to find the full size laptops that cheap anymore. These seem to be around $700 now for full size 15.4 screen, DVD burner, etc. My Presario is Vista though, most people hate it but it has grown on me. But I did up the Ram to 2.5 gig.

Just got my wife an Acer Aspire One netbook. Paid $482 from JB Hifi after cashback for the Atom 1.6, 160 HDD, 8.9 in screen. I have a full version of Windows XP, Office 2003 and other usual programs on it and it runs very well, very quick.

She can touch type and the Acer netbook keyboards are not that much smaller than full size. She can still type around 150 WPM on it.

If we end up getting the cashback we will get a 6 cell battery for it, which will be about 7 hours (plus the 3 hours of the original 3 cell).

I'd say the Acer Aspire One would be fine for net, photo's etc but might come up a bit short for video editing and processing - not that I have tried though.

My desktop that I use for video editing burnt out its motherboard the other day, but I ended up getting a new 'box' for only $420 from DigitalStar in Sydney (they deliver elsewhere though). Pentium Dual Core, 3 gig ram, 250 gig HDD, burner etc. Plugged in old monitor and peripherals and extra bits like graphics card etc and a very cheap way out.

[pottsy44]

Originally Posted by Pinch

She can touch type and the Acer netbook keyboards are not that much smaller than full size. She can still type around 150 WPM on it.

umm you sure? because that would mean she would be one of the fastest typers in the world...

!!!

[Geez Louise]

I did a typing test on Thursday...I can type 100WPM...Must admit I have slowed a little in my old age.

[Daymoe]

Holy crap, I only type at 60 WPM, but I only use two fingers.

[vandrsxr6]

I am looking at getting a laptop to. Around the $800 mark.

I see a few people above have upgraded there RAM, is this a hard thing to do in a laptop? Is it expensive?

[TURBOTAXI]

Originally Posted by vandrsxr6

I am looking at getting a laptop to. Around the $800 mark.

I see a few people above have upgraded there RAM, is this a hard thing to do in a laptop? Is it expensive?

Tends to be a vista issue - 1gb or less with vista kinda sux.

[GUTLES]

Originally Posted by vandrsxr6

I see a few people above have upgraded there RAM, is this a hard thing to do in a laptop? Is it expensive?

Easy as, on the bottom of mine I undid 2 screws, took the memory cover off & slipped my extra stick in, you don't have to pull the laptop apart at all. Same with fitting a new Hard Drive.

Not expensive at all, you can pick up a 2gb stick for $42.00.

[vandrsxr6]

^^^ Cheers boys. Most of the laptops around the $800 mark are only 1gig. Would love to get 4 gig RAM in a cheap lappy but 2 will do just fine.

[seduced_xr]

well ive always beleived that you get what you pay for. that being said. most of the laptops we get in here that are screwed are toshibas. id stay away from them, and HP are out to rip u off. i have 2 Asus Laptops both high end and cant say enough about them really have an M50 and a G1. id try to stay with some sort of known brand probably try Acer first. i dont see to much go wrong with them and thats mostly what we sell here at work.

as for the ram, vista uses alot of it so anything under 1gb is pointless. ram is cheap at the moment and very easy to install i have 4gb in the m50 and the g1

[boss-290]

cant go past a compaq

[graham_h]

Toshiba would be the obvious choice
ram upgrade is essential and cheap.
Ignore all the rubbish about Vista, its great

[vandrsxr6]

Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread but I wen't onto the Dell site for a look and I got a price on the foloowing, just wondering if this sounds OK.

DELL Inspiron
15.4in Screen
4GB ( 2x2G) Dual Channel ram
250G HD
8x DVD Burner
Intel Intergrated Graphics Card

Extras:
Wireless Mouse
Carrybag
24 months McAfee Security
All in One Printer

$1,369.50

I ahd a quick look at JB yesterday and the only thing they had was an ASUS with similar specs for $1498 which didn't include the extras.

[ch33z1l]

Originally Posted by vandrsxr6

Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread but I wen't onto the Dell site for a look and I got a price on the foloowing, just wondering if this sounds OK.

DELL Inspiron
15.4in Screen
4GB ( 2x2G) Dual Channel ram
250G HD
8x DVD Burner
Intel Intergrated Graphics Card

Extras:
Wireless Mouse
Carrybag
24 months McAfee Security
All in One Printer

$1,369.50

I ahd a quick look at JB yesterday and the only thing they had was an ASUS with similar specs for $1498 which didn't include the extras.

Sounds good. What processor was it?

[XAGSV8]

Originally Posted by vandrsxr6

Sorry to the OP for highjacking the thread but I wen't onto the Dell site for a look and I got a price on the foloowing, just wondering if this sounds OK.

DELL Inspiron
15.4in Screen
4GB ( 2x2G) Dual Channel ram
250G HD
8x DVD Burner
Intel Intergrated Graphics Card

Extras:
Wireless Mouse
Carrybag
24 months McAfee Security
All in One Printer

$1,369.50

I ahd a quick look at JB yesterday and the only thing they had was an ASUS with similar specs for $1498 which didn't include the extras.

This is what I just picked up from Officeworks for $1399.

Dell Studio 15

15.4 Inch Screen
ATI 3450 Graphics card (256mb)
T8400 Processor (I think)
3GB Ram
320GB Hard Drive
Slot Load DVD Burner

[vandrsxr6]

Originally Posted by ch33z1l

Sounds good. What processor was it?

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6400 2ghz

[Bearman]

Thanks guys but I am looking at around the $700 to $800 mark. Looks like Compaq or Toshiba at this stage but we'll see.

Thanks for the info. Cheers.............