New laptop - don't know where to start

[puddle]

I need a new laptop - no idea what to get (previous laptop was a work one).

Don't want a mac.

Can anyone recommend make/ suppliers?

TIA

[JARM]

ive just got a new one from comet - its a fijitsi siemens or some-such!

love it

was £399 in managers special

[QueenofBleach]

We've recently got an acer one through PC World and its good, it has a large screen so I am finding my eyes aren't getting so strained, we have also gone through their business center and pay monthly and in three years can upgrade.

[pyjamaqueen]

Very happy with my Compaq, but it's getting on a bit now so can't recommend any current deals.

[puddle]

Ooooh thanks for this.

LL no gaming, may want to watch dvds once in a blue moon. Mostly I use for work, but kids sometimes use for games, research too.

These deals you speak of - are they all online?

[mustsleep]

am so glad you started this thread came on wanting to ask for advice about this too

was wondering if anyone could recommend what to llok for in terms of processor and memory etc - i only really use it for the internet and pics and downloading stuff

my pc is about three years old but want a laptop now forthe space and finding the pc a bit slow now!

[themoon66]

Dell have got a deal on the moment... Inspiron 6400 for £375. Mine is being delivered in two weeks

I've been looking on ebay and they normally go for a lot more than that. Bidding gets frantic in the last 20 seconds.

[mustsleep]

whats better intel celeron m440 or intel celeron m 430 or even intel core 2 duo t5300

have absolutely no idea what the difference is

[clerkKent]

In general a higher number indicates a newer/better/more powerful thing. The M430 has a clock speed of 1.73GHz, M440 is 1.86GH - the clock speed is a measure of how quickly the computer can perform operations. For Word processing, browsing the internet, spreadsheets etc any new computer will have ample capacity - so buy the cheapest.

The Intel Core 2 Duo processor is "optimized for multi-threaded applications and multitasking. You can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching programs - while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background". Not (perhaps) something that may of us would need.

The other big factors are memory and disk space. I would recommend you get as much as you can afford e.g. 2MB memory, 160GB disk. Also get anti-virus software and a firewall. There is very good free software (search MN threads for some names). I have Norton, which is good at its job but expensive and it affects performance.

Go for a name you have heard of - Dell, Sony, Compaq, HP. The best prices are on the internet. Avoid Time.