Wanting to buy DD a laptop for Xmas

[Dunnhpk]

Hi

Spent the last couple of days looking and reading up on laptops. Want to get DD one for Xmas (golly arn`t I organised)

I need would like to get a decent one that will ``sing and dance``.
I belive Intel Pentium M / Centrino processors are worth looking at and I also need the one we get to have a Firewire Connection, etc, etc, etc,

I have found HP Pavilion Media Center dv6555ea Entertainment Notebook. Has anyone come across this its £599 but I get £40 off first order with HP, so only £559.

Any advice, suggestions, other ideas or comments from all you experts much appreciated.

Also I run a Dell desktop and we have Linskys router and HP printer will these work together`ish.

Can`t you tell I am rubbish at this?

[georgemac]

My advice would be wait until much nearer christmas before buying or looking at laptops as the spec for the price will continually improve, and you want the warranty to start as near to christmas as possible.

I have an HP laptop and am very happy with it, but I also think Dell have very good laptops, as do many other manufactuers.

The laptop will work fine with your linksys router, the printer can be used by the laptop over a home network using printer sharing through the desktop which will need to be setup, unless the printer has a network connection that will allow it to be plugged into your router - if it has this it can be used by the laptop through the router.

Edited to add that for that sort of money you will get a very nice laptop indeed - the budget models for around £400 are incredibly good value now.

[Dunnhpk]

Thanks georgemac, I thought I`d get it sooner rather than later because the prices might go up nearer Xmas. Had not thought about the warranty though.

Its taken me nearly all day to find this one, do you think it might be cheaper nearer to Xmas is that how it works? Never had a laptop before so finding working my way around the different models quite confusing. Did go on Dell as they have a nice pink one, but worked out £800+ for similar spec.

My thoughts are if I can get a decent spec now then it will last her a good few years (hopefully)

[LBV75]

Prices for this spec will go down, but there will be an improved spec at a similar cost. Just to confuse you more.

I would wait until nearer the time for warranty purposes though. Have a price in mind and stick to it. You could try Tesco and get club card points too.

[georgemac]

The prices will not go up.

The price tends to remain the same and the specification gets better - you probably won't be able to buy the same laptop 3 months from now, it will be similar but have a better spec, and there is always good competition at christmas for the laptop market.

The most important thing is not to be wasting 3 month's warranty which you would be if buying early.

Toys R Us are often worth a look at christmas - they usually have good offers on, as will Dell, PC World and all the others.

[essexmick]

i would look around and try and get a core 2 duo is possible

[essexmick]

my uncle got an advent, been really good no problems as yet

saw this in the pcw sale

ADVENT 7203
INTEL CORE 2 DUO T5300 PROCESSOR 1.73GHz LAPTOP £399

personally i would get this one

TOSHIBA A100-02L INTEL CORE 2 DUO T5300 PROCESSOR 1.73 GHz LAPTOP

Key Specification
• 1GB • Genuine Windows Vista (R) Home Ultimate
and all for £499, great spec, best version of vista and its a tosh as well i swear by them

[Dunnhpk]

Thanks all,

I`ll hold on, the reason I was looking at the hp one was because of the Firewire connection (they don`t all seem to have them and it will save me having to mess about with my desk top to get one) think it had to 2 core thingie as well.

I appreciate all the advice, please could I ask if you see anything good around nearer to Xmas could you possibly let me know.

Many thanks Helen x

[Dunnhpk]

Hi,

Still looking round for laptop ideas, I`ve just read the most recent posting and loads of info.

I have come across a Sony Vaio Lapton VGN-CR11S/P and of course its `pink` just suitable for an 11 year old who does `pink` in a big way.

Could I possibly ask for any opinions good, bad or indifferent (I appreciate I will be paying more for the colour) I found it on John Lewis website and it comes with 2 year warranty. £899.

Think it does quite a lot apart from make the `tea`, and think its a reasonable spec. The only things I can seem to find out are: if the battery life is ok and if it can read XD cards.

Thanks all.

[Dunnhpk]

Just found it for same price with 2yr warranty on M & S site, I know they have 10% days coming upto Xmas!

[erniebert1]

Hi Dunnhpk I might be able to help you, used to be in the IT industry for 7 years. A few questions for you as no offence £899 laptop for a 11 year old kid is way over spec for what she will use it for, you can get a far better make than Sony and a laptop that will be great for your daughter hundreds of pounds cheaper :-)

What will the laptop mainly be used for?

surfing / downloading / word processing etc..

Do you want wireless capability ? ie, would you want your daughter to be able to connect to the internet at home with the freedom of no wires.

Are you wanting to burn music/ info / video's to CD/dvd ?

Are there any particular software programs / packages your daughter will be wanting to put on the laptop & use?

[essexmick]

Hi Dunnhpk I might be able to help you, used to be in the IT industry for 7 years. A few questions for you as no offence £899 laptop for a 11 year old kid is way over spec for what she will use it for, you can get a far better make than Sony and a laptop that will be great for your daughter hundreds of pounds cheaper :-)

What will the laptop mainly be used for?

surfing / downloading / word processing etc..

Do you want wireless capability ? ie, would you want your daughter to be able to connect to the internet at home with the freedom of no wires.

Are you wanting to burn music/ info / video's to CD/dvd ?

Are there any particular software programs / packages your daughter will be wanting to put on the laptop & use?


i agree with you ernie, 900 smackers on a sony [and they are quite bad at CS repairs as well]for an 11yo is way over the top ,can get the same for probably half that or a tad more.

what is the reason she will be wanting firewire capability?

[essexmick]

i see these in the workplace more than anywhere, and i swear by the make, its all i would buy if i were looking for one now

this one is a good buy i think

Cashback Offer!

Order today and receive £50! - Click here for details!


Toshiba Satellite Pro A200-1K4 - Pentium Dual Core T2130 1.86 GHz - 15.4" TFT
Dimensions (WxDxH) - 36.2 cm x 26.8 cm x 3.9 cm
Weight - 2.5 kg
Built-in Devices - Stereo speakers, wireless LAN aerial
Processor - Intel Pentium Dual Core T2130 / 1.86 GHz ( Dual-Core )
RAM - 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR II SDRAM - 667 MHz ( 2 x 512 MB )
Card Reader - 6 in 1
Hard Drive - 80 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Optical Storage - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM
Display - 15.4" TFT active matrix 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) - 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Telecom - Fax / modem - 56 Kbps
Networking - Network adapter - Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Input Device - Keyboard, touchpad, multimedia control panel
Power - AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery - Lithium Ion
Operating System - Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Manufacturer Warranty - 1 year warranty

£451

[essexmick]

slightly more but it has firewire which you wanted @ £499

Features for this TOSHIBA A100-02L

- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5300
- 1.73MHz, 533MHz FSB, 2MB Cache
- Genuine Windows Vista (R) Home Premium
- 1GB Memory
- 120GB Hard Drive
- DVD ReWriter MultiDrive
- 15.4" Widescreen Display
- 128MB Intel GMA 950 Graphics
- Wireless Enabled
- Up to 3.4 hours Battery life
- No. of USB Connections 4
- No. of Firewire Connections 1
- Weight 2.75 kg
- Height 267 mm
- Width 360 mm
- Depth 36.8 mm
- Colour Grey/Silver

[essexmick]

probably the best solution for what she could possibly need it for

HP 530 Core Duo T2300E 1GB 80GB DVD+/-RW/+R 15.4"WXGA TFT Vista Home Basic


£365.41 inc vat

[Dunnhpk]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments and advice.

We want the laptop for school work, surfing, some games, downloading, word processing, listening to music and CD`s and playing DVD`s - also making CD`s and DVD`s.

Need it to be able to read XD cards as this is what her camera takes
would also like Microsoft works and Word (quite important) and a good battery - don`t want much really do I?

Need the Firewire connefciton for our camcorder (I`ve not got it on my Dell Desktop and thought it would save messing about having one fitted)

Want the best for the job really, as its got to last her a good few years. (she is into pink so the Sony one of course jumped out)

I also found HP Pavilion Media Center dv6555ea Entertainment notebook (GT446EA~ABU) on the HP.com £599 but think there is £40 off first order £559.

I really though this would be so easy.

Thanks Helen x

[Disneydavey]

I bought this one 4 weeks ago £499

Faultless
http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=405140

Only thing missing is firewire

[georgemac]

The dell inspiron 6400 advertised in the press today for £399 looks good to me also - Dell make good machines

I think you can get a cable or plug to convert from firewire to usb - but others can maybe confirm - have no experience of firewire

for the memory card all you need is a usb multi card reader - these are widely available

for MS word you will be able to buy a student edition of Office 2007 for under £100 that you can load on 3 PC's within the family. Works will be free but not word, although I also think Dell will add word for £35 the Office student deal is better value.

[Dunnhpk]

Still looking!! think I have decided on hp Pavillion Media Center dv6599ea Special Edition Entertainment Notebook - we have gone off the Sony Vaio as din`t like the matt paintwork (its a woman thing!!)

Can anyone comment on the hp, it is a lovely looking laptop, slightly bigger screen that the Sony. Found it in John Lewis and they offer the 2 year warranty, or on the hp site - but can`t find it any cheaper.
I`ve got an hp printer/scanner/copier I have had for about 4 years and its been brilliant.

The spec seems really good.

Any advice appreciated, thanks x

[essexmick]

sounds good to me :) but at £799 id get a toshiba if i were buying one

have a look at this (http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_A200-1DQ_PSAE0E-02S01MEN/version.asp) same spec but £200 cheaper and its a tosh

[Dunnhpk]

Thanks Mick,

If it was for me then the Toshiba would be great and save me a few £`s, its for Katie and she is a girly girl and loves nice looking things! I know I will be paying extra for the hp but it does look really nice.
As long as the spec seems ok then think I`m going to go for it and hope for the best - 2 year warranty in the price which I suppose helps a bit ``just in case``.
Thanks for checking it out for me its much appreciated.

Helen

[Dunnhpk]

Thanks Mick and everyone for your advice, I bought the white hp one yesterday (wanted it for Xmas and was worried they may not have any left as it is a special edition) I know I paid far tooooo much for a 1st laptop for daughter but its so lovely!

Thanks again x