Affordable laptop recommendations: budget £350-£450

[UnderOpenSky]

You probably need to decide what is important to you at that price. You can buy more traditional 15" laptop with a half decent processor, but it won't be small and light or you can find something with a pretty small form factor and low powered chip in there, but to have both would be way over your budget. When you say memory, do you mean storage or RAM? If you're talking about storage then again you need to make a choice. Machines with big conventional are pretty common, but also slower then the more modern Solid State Drives.

 

[Wolveryeti]

I would go for a 2nd hand Lenovo x230 all day long. You should be able to get one with an SSD for around £200 - 250 or without for around £150. I have one and think it is really good - light, good battery life, and more importantly good integral mouse and keyboard. I went into a laptop shop the other day and I was appalled at how shit some of the mice/keyboards on the lower-end laptops were. Would annoy the shit out of me if I was to buy one, despite OK specs overall.

 

[little_legs]

By memory I mean that I want to be able to always have Microsoft office and Adobe. I want to be able to store pictures, but not insane numbers. I can put up with a 15 inch laptop. And will consider paying more.

Can I also mention that until a day ago I had Acer 5733ZG. He was almost 10 years old and he died yesterday.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I would go for a 2nd hand Lenovo x230 all day long. You should be able to get one with an SSD for around £200 - 250 or without for around £150. I have one and think it is really good - light, good battery life, and more importantly good integral mouse and keyboard. I went into a laptop shop the other day and I was appalled at how shit some of the mice/keyboards on the lower-end laptops were. Would annoy the shit out of me if I was to buy one, despite OK specs overall.

That's not a bad idea actually. I've had one second hand thinkpad and they are well built. I've been meaning to replace it as it's showing it's age, but to get what I want is more then I can justify spending on a machine that wont get much use.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

By memory I mean that I want to be able to always have Microsoft office and Adobe. I want to be able to store pictures, but an insane numbers. I can put up with a 15 inch laptop. And will consider more.

Can I also mention that until a day ago I had Acer 5733ZG. He was almost 10 years old and he died yesterday.

Then most modern machines will be a nice improvement. I hope you've got a decent backup if your planning on storing lots pictures on a laptop. Do you know roughly how many GBs we are talking?

 

[little_legs]

No, sir/mam. No back up. I came home yesterday, switched on Acer and the screen wouldn't come on. Just stayed black. I did the usual of talking out the battery, draining out the power, switching on and nothing helped. I took it to the office today to try a dual screen via Fn + F5 that didn't work either. The work IT man came in with a hangover, he said I will need to take the laptop to a repair shop.

 

[little_legs]

We are talking about 200 pictures, each roughly 4mb.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

No, sir/mam. No back up. I came home yesterday, switched on Acer and the screen wouldn't come on. Just stayed black. I did the usual of talking out the battery, draining out the power, switching on and nothing helped. I took it to the office today to try a dual screen via Fn + F5 that didn't work either. The work IT man came in with a hangover, he said I will need to take the laptop to a repair shop.

The pictures may well still be there. Do you know anybody half techie who can take the hard drive out and put it in a cheap caddy?

We are talking about 200 pictures, each roughly 4mb.

That's a pretty small amount by modern standards. I know it's a bit late now, but can I suggest that when you setup again you use something like Google Drive or Dropbox so they are automatically backed up?

 

[little_legs]

The pictures may well still be there. Do you know anybody half techie who can take the hard drive out and put it in a cheap caddy?



That's a pretty small amount by modern standards. I know it's a bit late now, but can I suggest that when you setup again you use something like Google Drive or Dropbox so they are automatically backed up?

I don't know anyone half techie, will try a shop somewhere.

A lot of my pictures are already on Google drive but being the dufus that I am I kept delaying putting everything elsewhere than my laptop. Not even sure how to tell a laptop to sync picture files with my Google account.

Plus, I don't have TV at home so it sucks not being able to watch anything.

 

[little_legs]

Just remembered that my Acer was 7 years old, not 10. Still, he was a good egg.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I don't know anyone half techie, will try a shop somewhere.

A lot of my pictures are already on Google drive but being the dufus that I am I kept delaying putting everything elsewhere than my laptop. Not even sure how to tell a laptop to sync picture files with my Google account.

Plus, I don't have TV at home so it sucks not being able to watch anything.

You install the google drive software and then save all your documents in there. It keeps a copy on the PC and also on Google's servers.

I can see you need a new laptop soon. I'm a bit busy tonight to look through loads of machines...can I suggest as a starting point you look at some machines with at least an i3 or even i5 CPU/Processor which fit your price and people here can tell you if its decent. I suspect performance wise most machines will be a great improvement though.

 

[little_legs]

You install the google drive software and then save all your documents in there. It keeps a copy on the PC and also on Google's servers.

I can see you need a new laptop soon. I'm a bit busy tonight to look through loads of machines...can I suggest as a starting point you look at some machines with at least an i3 or even i5 CPU/Processor which fit your price and people here can tell you if its decent. I suspect performance wise most machines will be a great improvement though.

Thank you very much for your advice so far. I will look into installing Google drive software when I buy my next laptop. So far I've been telling myself but look at the bright side, now you can read and swim more, it's proving to be not very convincing.

 

[yield]

Thank you very much for your advice so far. I will look into installing Google drive software when I buy my next laptop. So far I've been telling myself but look at the bright side, now you can read and swim more, it's proving to be not very convincing.

If I was looking for a laptop I'd be tempted by this.

Lenovo 14" Thinkpad T420 Core i5 Win 7 Laptop Factory Refurbished - £200 from Scan.
Core i5-2520m, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, New Battery, Windows 7 Pro, 12 Mth Warranty *Refurb*

Replace the HHD for a solid state drive. I'll keep looking for any better suggestions

It's worth keeping your eye on Computers, Laptops & Tablets - Cheapest Prices Online - Hot UK Deals for flash deals.

 

[little_legs]

Guys, it needs to be brand new. It's going to be used for watching stuff online, storing picture files, internet, working at home remoting to work desk. Nothing fancy. If the budget needs to increase, then so be it. I can't deal with refurbished and 2nd hand stuff, I won't be able to get over the barrier that someone else has touched it.

Appreciate the link to the deals but luddites like me don't do tech stuff.

 

[little_legs]

And where is editor anyway, he is the one who recommended Acer that died yesterday. Gotta offer something else now.

 

[yield]

Guys, it needs to be brand new. It's going to be used for watching stuff online, storing picture files, internet, working at home remoting to work desk. Nothing fancy. If the budget needs to increase, then so be it.

I can't deal with refurbished and 2nd hand stuff, I won't be able to get over the barrier that someone else has touched it.

Appreciate the link to the deals but luddites like me don't do tech stuff.

Really? I ain't being facetious. Even a new laptop will be touched by those who assembled it.

I'm no techie. Changing the hard drive is easy. Okay new only I'll keep looking.

 

[little_legs]

Thank you, yield
I will clean the new one a couple of times with compressed air and will convince myself it's ok to use it. With the 2nd hand, the thought of it being in someone's bag, car, office will never completely leave my forehead, it'll be there like a blob cloud.

 

[editor]

And where is editor anyway, he is the one who recommended Acer that died yesterday. Gotta offer something else now.

I've been on holiday! Sorry about that laptop. All I ever say is 'get a Chromebook' these days.

 

[yield]

Thank you, yield
I will clean the new one a couple of times with compressed air and will convince myself it's ok to use it. With the 2nd hand, the thought of it being in someone's bag, car, office will never completely leave my forehead, it'll be there like a blob cloud.

No problem little_legs it just isn't an issue for me. Get most my clothes off ebay or from charity shops. Now I know I'll see what I can find.

 

[little_legs]

I've been on holiday! Sorry about that laptop. All I ever say is 'get a Chromebook' these days.

But isn't it true that Chromebook won't let me install Microsoft office?

Btw, welcome back!

 

[editor]

But isn't it true that Chromebook won't let me install Microsoft office?

Btw, welcome back!

You can run a version of Word (I do) or just use alternatives like Google Docs that can open and edit Office file formats.

It may be best to stick with Microsoft Office Online if you already have a lot of Office files that you're bringing over to your Chromebook. There are often formatting issues when importing third-party documents into Drive. Fortunately, Google Drive allows you to save documents to Microsoft formats, so you'll still be able to share files with non-Chromebook users.
Should I Buy a Chromebook? Buying Guide and Advice

 

[Boudicca]

I bought this one recently from Tesco, ordered on line and picked up next day. I paid £320 though, at which price I would be happy to recommend it, but it's now £379. It has reasonable power but it isn't light.

 

[little_legs]

Mr yield
Mr editor
Mr UnderAnOpenSky

Do you have any other recommendations?

 

[editor]

Mr yield
Mr editor
Mr UnderAnOpenSky

Do you have any other recommendations?

Give me a quick synopsis of your main computing needs (including battery life/portability etc) and I'll have another think.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Give me a quick synopsis of your main computing needs (including battery life/portability etc) and I'll have another think.

I've taken from what little_legs has said that they want to watch tv/films on it and have reasonable storage and doesn't change computers that often. Probably needs to run Windows. Is that a fair summary?

From that I've been sort of looking at the standard 15" as that is where the best value lies and what may seem like a more powerful CPU then is needed will last longer.

I've been looking a bit today, but have been kind of manic.

 

[little_legs]

editor
UnderAnOpenSky

Just to recap of what I'd like:

15 - 16 inch screen
Runs on Windows with a built-in mic
Battery life not important
Fit for not very technical person who uses internet to watch videos, stores picture files though not massive amounts, uses Microsoft to create and store Word/Excel docs, and remotes from home to work desk PC.

Don't want to spend more than £500.

Thank you

 

[little_legs]

This is me this evening without a laptop:

 

[little_legs]

The dead Acer was called Acer Aspire 5732Z.
Anything better that that will be fine.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

This has a lot of bang for the buck. Smaller hard disk, but it's an SSD which means the machine should be more responsive and it's got an I5 which for the money is pretty good.

HP 250 G5 i5 Laptop X0Q07ES - Laptops at ebuyer

 

[little_legs]

This has a lot of bang for the buck. Smaller hard disk, but it's an SSD which means the machine should be more responsive and it's got an I5 which for the money is pretty good.

HP 250 G5 i5 Laptop X0Q07ES - Laptops at ebuyer

Ok, this is a start.

Do you mind suggesting an Acer, kind sir? Within £500 - £550 range? Thank you.

ETA: so I just googled SSD, I think I will be ok without it. I need a housewife laptop.