I need a new computer

[wanye]

Originally Posted by Claudette

Brands we would not buy again are Sony Vaio and Lenovo. I picked the Sony because it came in pink but it went for repairs three times within months and I think I contacted head of Sony UK before I finally got it resolved (i.e. a refund).

DH is techy and so does a bit more research than me on laptops but has just had to replace his last one, the Lenovo, far more quickly than he should have needed to.

See more...

i'm also a techy and i've been using lenovo laptops for work now for the last 8 years or so and not had an issue. however, i've been using the higher end kit (x201, x220, T480p) - the one time i got lumbered with a lower end lenovo (L480) it was a pile of crap that had such a sharp edge it actually hurt my palms to use it! they eventually relented after realising it wasnt fit for purpose and gave me the t480p, which has been fantastic.

[stupet11]

Originally Posted by wanye

i'm also a techy and i've been using lenovo laptops for work now for the last 8 years or so and not had an issue. however, i've been using the higher end kit (x201, x220, T480p) - the one time i got lumbered with a lower end lenovo (L480) it was a pile of crap that had such a sharp edge it actually hurt my palms to use it! they eventually relented after realising it wasnt fit for purpose and gave me the t480p, which has been fantastic.

See more...

That's what drove us to Macs! Bad experience with cheaper PC's - didn't feel confident and buying more expensive models.

How do you rate the Chrome Books?

[wanye]

at home, i use macs (2011 & 2018 mac mini, 2014 macbook pro) and love them, however macos is an acquired taste, and if you're really used to windows, you may absolutely hate moving to a mac.

i also have a chromebook, which doesnt get used very often anymore, but its a great bit of kit. i also moved my mum over to a chromebook a few years ago, and she is very happy with it too (she still uses it daily) - as long as you dont have to run a specific app, and everything you do is web based, a chromebook could be a good option. moving from ms office to google docs can be weird if youre *really* used to the finer workings of ms office, but otherwise, for most users, i would say a chromebook is a very good choice!

[Bozza]

Genuinely didn't know there were people who don't buy Macs.

Wow.

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by Bozza

Genuinely didn't know there were people who don't buy Macs.

Wow.

See more...

My budget won’t stretch, sadly.😥

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by wanye

before we begin with any advice on replacements, i think you need to elaborate on what was wrong with your cheap laptop, as unless it was severely defective, a cheap laptop should do pretty much what you list perfectly, and theres a good chance you will just be repeating your issues with a new desktop replacement. maybe a ram upgrade on the laptop will solve your issues, or a reinstall of windows. or even using it with an external monitor/keyboard/mouse and treating it as a desktop machine...

See more...

It's just very very slow, from switching it on until I can open anything (docs, websites, e mails etc). At a guess I'd say 20 seconds. Is that normal, am I expecting too much to find anything faster ?

Budget £600-£700 very tops.

[Bozza]

Originally Posted by ERICSMUM

My budget won’t stretch, sadly.😥

See more...

Sorry - I was only joking.

Whilst the up-front cost of a Mac is generally higher, you should more than recoup that with the longevity you enjoy and, even then, subsequent re-sale value.

(But I fully appreciate that the initial outlay might not be possible)

Good luck getting something!

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Claudette

Brands we would not buy again are Sony Vaio and Lenovo.

See more...

Bit off topic, but I'm currently typing this from a Lenovo ThinkPad T440p laptop. I've had it for 4+ years and I inherited it from someone else at work who'd had it for a couple of years before that. It's surprisingly good, it's quick to boot and use, and I've never had a problem with it. Mind you, it is a business laptop.

I also have a (cheap) Lenovo at home. It's ok and quick to boot/use but I have noticed that the battery doesn't hold it's charge.

Originally Posted by ERICSMUM

It's just very very slow, from switching it on until I can open anything (docs, websites, e mails etc). At a guess I'd say 20 seconds. Is that normal, am I expecting too much to find anything faster ?

See more...

Twenty seconds from switching on to being able to open docs and websites? That's pretty quick. That doesn't sound slow at all to me.

Or do you mean it takes 20 seconds from clicking on a program or selecting a document before it opens? That sounds a bit slow.

[WhereIBelong]

I use a USB mouse with my laptop and really love it - my only problem with a laptop as opposed to a desktop was using the touchpad. It is white, so an easy to read keyboard.

I have an HP Pavillion, 17" was bought for £549 a year or so ago. It is SSD so quick to start, 8G memory, the battery lasts ages too - or you can have it plugged in like a desktop anyhow.

I love my laptop and would buy exactly the same one to replace it if I could.

[ERICSMUM]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

... Twenty seconds from switching on to being able to open docs and websites? That's pretty quick. That doesn't sound slow at all to me.

Or do you mean it takes 20 seconds from clicking on a program or selecting a document before it opens? That sounds a bit slow.

See more...

This. It’s long enough to irritate me every time, so it might be more than 20 secs. It’s slower than my desktop ever was.