Your advice would be appreciated, my sister would like to buy a laptop computer. We are able to give her advice on which specifications it should have and which makes to look out for but have absolutely no idea of where to suggest she get it from.
Do forum members have any preferred computer supply companies? Computers rarely go wrong but good after sales service makes a big difference.
:thankyousign:
I gave up keeping up with PC specs etc. and reading mags for best deals etc. ages ago. PCs are a commodity item these days unless you're into creating super-speedy gaming systems.
In years gone by I nearly always bought direct from Dell anyway as I wanted systems without all the games and other junk software pre-loaded, but now I just wander into PC World and buy off the shelf or buy online from Amazon when it's time for a new box.
I used to use a laptop for work, so always went to Dell and took out the on site warranty. However, these days, look on Amazon for laptops and pick sub £300 as the price range. Pick one with the most RAM and biggest HDD.
I get ny computing stuff from Ebuyer, good prices, quick delivery, they take Paypal and cards.
https://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Laptops (https://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Laptops)
I bought a laptop from Novatech in Portsmouth.
Absolutely stonking machine...
...however, it developed a screen fault two years into a three year warranty, returned it for repair FOUR times, they eventually paid me £400 to compensate me for the lost year as I refused to return it for the same fault a fifth time.
Took the machine to the local PC fixer in Banbury who had it back to me in 24 hours after soldering a fractured ribbon cable. A £30 repair. Still working faultlessly seven months later.
Wouldn't EVER recommend them.
:poop:
If she doesn't want Windows I'd look at a MacBook.
John P
QuoteIf she doesn't want Windows I'd look at a MacBook
And then theres the cheaper 3rd option,Linux,dosnt need the latest wizz bang specs to run smoothly.
QuoteI bought a laptop from Novatech in Portsmouth.
Wouldn't EVER recommend them.
Used them several times ,but only for components,not complete machines and not had any problems.
Quote from: jpendle on October 22, 2019, 12:06:18 AM
If she doesn't want Windows I'd look at a MacBook.
+1 for looking at Apple's machines. They're well-built, reliable, and famously easy to use.
The flip side is, of course, they're not cheap, and in terms of raw speed and technical specifications you can often buy a similar PC for less. They are also frustratingly difficult to open up and fix, which means repairs need to be done by Apple or their appointed service agents, except at the most basic level (such as adding RAM or increasing storage).
Apple have a 'refurbished' outlet on the Apple Store that can be very good value. I routinely buy machines that way because I'm less worried about having the latest specs but more interested in saving money! There's no real different in the look and feel of the machine (it's not like it's obviously used) and you get the same 12 month warranty. Apple also offer interest-free 12 month payment plans which are a lifesaver if you need to spread the cost.
Oh, and just be sure about something: Apple laptops can run Windows or Windows software without problems. You can install the Windows OS in a variety of ways, such as Parallels or Bootcamp, and there are also programs like WINE that allow you to simply install Windows games and run them like a Mac application without installing Windows.
Cheers, NeMo
Quote from: NeMo on October 22, 2019, 06:44:58 AM
Quote from: jpendle on October 22, 2019, 12:06:18 AM
If she doesn't want Windows I'd look at a MacBook.
+1 for looking at Apple's machines. They're well-built, reliable, and famously easy to use.
The flip side is, of course, they're not cheap, and in terms of raw speed and technical specifications you can often buy a similar PC for less.
The flip flip side is that though they cost more, they generally tend to have a longer working life and higher resale value. I have a 2011 Macbook Pro which has been on pretty much continuously since 2011 and has circumnavigated the globe a couple of times, excellent value for money and though I have recently retired it to secondary duties, I expect to get a couple more years out of it.
I swear by Dell. Go for solid state drive at least 250GB as windows and office will take about 90GB.
My HP Envy was very pretty - but it overheated and was irreparable 13 months old after a 12 month warranty.
Always best to get a 3 year warranty as by the end of that the laptop will be "out of date".
HTH
Bob
If i were buying a laptop today, it would be a chromebook.
We have a small tablet computer each, it can do everything a laptop can do. They get used much more than The PC. A chrome book is just a big tablet computer, with or without a keyboard as you require.. It can run MS Office if you require, there are plenty of free equivelents as well, that are just as good.
I bet the OP is confused now, I know I am! ;D
Personally, I'd just go to a chain store (we have several here that sell furniture, kitchen appliances, TVs, cameras, carpets, barbecues, and...... computers :confused1:
I'd look at them, and pick one that takes me fancy in me price range. As has been noted in this thread, they're just an appliance these days.
That's how I got my laptop... an Acer, circa 2010, running Vista, and still going! :beers:
It's a little hard to know without understanding what she'll be using it for: Is it just for emails, browsing and documents? Or will she be doing video editing, gaming, coding, artwork and photoshop or something more intensive?
Macs, as others have mentioned, are great if you have money to spend and are generally very well built. The resale value is also high. Chromebooks are cheap and cheerful but fine if you're just checking emails and browsing.
Regarding PC laptops, my only universal advice is: Don't go ultra value. The £300-£400 systems you see in PC World and elsewhere which look cheap for the specifications *are* cheap. They cut costs on cooling, batteries, motherboards, assembly and other very important aspects which don't get stamped on the box. They use cheap, slow hard drives, and the speedy SSD hard drives on some of them are cut price unreliable models. The best money I've spent recently was on updating my laptop to a high-end model - not because I needed the power, but because it works day after day! I use a Dell XPS 15, it's been three years now and it's as reliable as ever despite being bruised, battered and lugged around all over the world. My old £350 laptop died after two years.
If you want to save some money, buy last year's model from a company with spare stock left over - you'll save a couple of hundred quid.
To answer your original question, buy from John Lewis (they do good warranties) or the manufacturer direct (they are easier to complain to and have more knowledgeable support staff). I would steer clear of custom builders, they are good value but I've had problems in the past.
Quote from: Capri_sam on October 22, 2019, 09:35:31 AM
It's a little hard to know without understanding what she'll be using it for: Is it just for emails, browsing and documents? Or will she be doing video editing, gaming, coding, artwork and photoshop or something more intensive?
The OP says she doesn't need advice on what to buy, just where to buy it.
IMO if you want decent sales and after service care then buy from John Lewis. Anywhere but Curry's PC World.
Otherwise buy online from whoever's cheapest. Kikatek have been good for me, including returning something faulty which was very hassle free.
The thing with computers is they're a bunch of components bolted together, so in the event something fails, it's usually not all that hard to get the requisite spare parts. Laptops are a bit tougher due to more integrated and proprietary components.
On Apple; I'm a huge fan and iOS user, had a first generation iPod, 7 different models of iPhone, iPads etc, but I aboslutely hated Apple computers! I bought a Mac Mini as a nice gateway and it was so infuriating! I was desperate to like it, but everything was just sufficiently different from a PC as to be really annoying. The final straw was that the software for my touchscreen monitor I use on the layout didn't work unless I bought some £80 drivers.
They are very good, but they're also crazy expensive. A lot of people unfairly compare a £1500 MacBook Pro to a £300 laptop. If you look at comparable laptops the specs are closer, battery life, longevity etc. Resale I will definitely give the nod to Apple though, they do retain value very well.
i recycle old pPCs & laptops for Charities / good causes.
Modern laptops (£3-400) are built to survive a warranty, and not much more! they are an absolute :censored: to dismantle, and the build quality is poor.
I agree - get a s/h Win 7 machine - and weigh it! heavier is better! ( more solid construction, bigger battery!) the HDs are usually OK, and an memory upgrade and reinstall of OS usually works wonders! ( and a £20 240GB SSD upgrade as well) .
so lots of conflicting info, but a few common themes - avoid Currys etc!!
Quoteby Apple or their appointed service agents, except at the most basic level (such as adding RAM or increasing storage
isnt everything soldered in /locked in the "bios" now? mate recently bought a mac book pro and was complaining about the upgradeabilaty due to the above issues.
QuoteDell
or more commonly called , Hell
After a lifetime in IT there is only one brand of laptop I would recommend and that is ThinkPad. My brother has just taken over one of my old (7 years) ThinkPad which is an Intel i3. It is dead easy to upgrade the storage, memory and they are built like tanks. They also have wonderful keyboards.
ThinkPads are not necessarily the best looking but they are designed to be rugged, expandable and have lots of connectivity.
Paddy
P.S. Not the cheapest though - a wee bit less than a Mac.
Amazon have quite a few Panasonic Toughbook laptops many refurbs with Windows 7 pro installed some new with Windows 10, prices from £150-£880.