2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Sheilaz]

The title says it all. We're getting a laptop to replace the defunct family PC, but I've no idea where to start. For technology advice, I trust Omleteer recommendations more than my own judgement.

 

If it's recommended, we could stretch to an Apple, but I don't know all the pros & cons.

 

If another make, at a third the price, I can't see what tells them apart.

 

A discussion here would really help me, many thanks.

Edited November 12, 2010 by Guest

[Lesley]

I have a Dell XPS M1530 and I love it!

 

I hated every laptop OH had had but this one just felt right. I appropriated it and OH had to get another one for himself

[Geoid]

I wouldn't recommend Apple, expensive, have to go through Apple for everything (repairs etc) I would go for a Dell

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I bought this Dell laptop recently for ES going to Uni. He seems very happy with it - so much so that he's not bothered taking his PC with him .

 

It's a small, portable one though, so maybe not suitable if it's solely for use within the home. I'd recommend Dell as a brand though so you could look at other ones.

[Sheilaz]

Thank you all for the useful comments. It's helped me narrow the field in my search. It'll be a few days before I can get to the shops, so any more suggestions, or points to consider, would be gratefully received.

Thanks trusted Omleteers, I really appreciate your ideas.

[Guest]

Hi again Sheila!

 

I bought my laptop from DELL, where you can pick and mix to suit your requirements and budget. They have help pages and recommendations to help you decide what you need.

My laptop is now nearly 3 years old and I have had no problems with it.

 

We bought one for DD2 about the same time and hers has been fine as well, apart from the bran flakes and cups of tea she has poured over it! It's still going though.

 

DH has just bought one from DELL too

 

Good luck!

[Woodcat]

I've got a dell here and i really like it. I had a slight issue when part of the casing cracked open at the hinge (i didn't drop it or anything it just popped) and they started to say it wouldn't be covered because it wasn't a known fault with the laptop however all i had to do was start the crescendo to hitting the roof and they backtracked and fixed it. However other than that the laptop is brilliant and I'd buy from them again

[WitchHazel]

Another Dell customer here.

 

If you are going to buy Dell, don't' forget to go through Quidco. Cash back is usually around 6%, and there are often discount vouchers as well.

 

Hazel

[goodinparts]

Apple is good if you want to do things with lots of creative graphics etc but for most normal every day purposes you really don't need to go that way...My techi minded son did tons of research when my old lap top died and as a result I've ended up with an HP which I'm very happy with. You'll know, I'm sure, that when you've made up your mind what to get it's well worth looking online - we saved £100 that way.

My Dell desk top was really good for its first couple of years then started revolting...but I may have overworked it We didn't get Dell next time round (and buying online meant that other alternatives were as cheap).

Hope that hasn't confused the situation...Happy shopping!

[Sheilaz]

Thank you so much everyone, your posts and pms are enabling me to focus my search.

I'm hoping to have time to have a concentrated effort and buy one at the end of the week.

I'm grateful for the input, it really helps.

[Geoid]

What do you want your new laptop to do? What will be its primary fuction? Internet and word? Gaming? Creating graphics? etc

[craftyhunnypie]

Toshiba do a mini laptop that is great. Hubby loves his! It's sort of bronze coloured.

 

Emma.x

[Sheilaz]

What do you want your new laptop to do? What will be its primary fuction? Internet and word? Gaming? Creating graphics? etc

Thanks Fred, I think primarily Internet & Word.

It would be good if disc games were OK on it too, as we won't have a PC in the house at all, but this is secondary.

Won't be doing anything creative in graphics.

Thanks Emma, Toshiba is another make I'm considering, having now ruled out Apple. The latter has good reports from family, but I simply don't need it & can therefore do without the expense.

 

I need to decide for myself whether to go small & very portable, or bigger & more game friendly. I don't need to carry it anywhere, but just like the idea that I might want to sometime in the future. That's where I'm getting stuck.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

ES's laptop is tiny . The keyboard seems very easy to use though, with well-spaced out keys. If you like the look of it, measure it out for real to give you an idea of its size. Then you could decide how much bigger you want to go . I don't think I'd want one that small for home use, tbh.

 

I did loads of research and came across a few video reviews which helped make up my mind.

Here's one

 

I'm sure you could find similar reviews for other similar models.

 

Here's its spec:

 

LCD Display

11.6" (29 cm) 1366 x 768 HD TLF WLED

 

Dimensions & Weight

Width: 8.07” (205mm)

Height: 0.95” (24.3) front –1.38” (35 mm) back

Depth: 11.5” (292mm)

Starting weight of 3.44 lbs (1.56Kg)4

[Sheilaz]

Thanks ANH, that pointed me in the direction of some interesting links to help me recognise my specific requirements.

I'm feeling less numptyish now, so will go shopping armed with info.

 

Hopefully going tomorrow, so please do add any other recommendations before I set off. Thank you so much Omleteers.

[Geoid]

If it is going to be a main replacement for your desktop, might as well get one with a 17 inch screen (or larger), this will also mean it will have a full keyboard. Try to get a laptop with at least 2GB of RAM, 3 would be better.

[HappyhenSG]

Dell here too! Which Magazine are currently advertising a new (free?) publication about how to choose a new laptop. Might be worth a look.

[sparkysmum]

My whizz kid Jonathan says MacBook Pro - fashionable, lightweight, easy to use, VG battery life, & really fast.

[majorbloodnock]

I hesitate before posting this, since I have a certain vested interest here. However, my intention is to comment purely objectively, and at the same time have already told Teabag privately what that vested interest is just in case any of my bias creeps in.

 

Nonetheless, it's worth being armed with facts, and reliability is probably the biggest hidden factor. Squaretrade are a company who sell third party warranties, and they have compiled a report on laptop reliability. I've seen several reports like this over the years, but the 2010 report (or rather, the one compiled as of the end of 2009) is here. It's this report that is the basis of a number of articles about the subject, including the top three I found when I googled "+laptop +reliability", and most even reproduce the graphs without modification.

[Sheilaz]

Wow, those are four really helpful posts, thank you so much!

Have had a big read, now off to sleep on it.

Thanks to Omleteers, I've changed from thinking how boring, annoying, and maybe impossible, the search was going to be, to being excited about getting the laptop, thank you!

Off to dream about computers. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Geoid]

My whizz kid Jonathan says MacBook Pro - fashionable, lightweight, easy to use, VG battery life, & really fast.

How long has he had the macbook? I have had mine 3 years, the CD drive doesn't work, the battery life lasts 30 minutes, and it is slow.

[Sheilaz]

Thank you so much everyone who responded

.

I'm now the proud and happy owner of a Toshiba Satellite L650D.

Having been initially overwhelmed by the wide range of products available, Omleteers came up trumps again in helping me reach a decision.

 

I loved the keyboard, size and weight of the notepads but, as well as LSH advising me against one, I could hear Fred's "voice" saying get at least 3GB (I have 4!) and 17" screen (I have 15.5" but that's fine for me). Thank you Fred!

 

All of your posts, and a couple of pms, really helped me in comparing brands, so I felt decisive when it came to weighing up the pros and cons of each model.

 

I'm very grateful, I know I have bought the right product for me, I honestly would still be looking if not for this forum.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

[Geoid]

Toshiba, good choice!