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by Chris4 on 12-28-2008 at 09:48 PM
Hey,
It's January sales time 
My sister, who's 13 years old, is buying a laptop. She has £400. I'm trying to find her the best I can find for that price.
The main uses are: internet, Office, WLM, webcam, music, etc.
Opinions on the best one out of the list? .. or if you can find a better one, be my guest. 
- The hard drive size doesn't matter much, as she's currently sharing a 75 GB with ease.
- Some say Intel > AMD, I'm unsure.
Acer Aspire 5920 G1 - Cdiscount UK £399.99 (£50 cashback to spend on their website)
Screen size:
15.4 inches
Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo T5750
Memory (RAM):
4 GB
Storage (hard drive):
250 GB
Dedicated graphics:
NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT 256 MB
Acer Aspire 5735 - Comet £388.00
Screen size:
15.6 inches
Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 (2 GHz)
Memory (RAM):
4 GB
Storage (hard drive):
160 GB
Shared graphics:
Intel GMA X3100 252 MB
HP 6735s - ebuyer £399.99
Screen size:
15.4 inches
Processor:
AMD Turion X2 Dual Core RM-72 (2.1 GHz)
Memory (RAM):
4 GB
Storage (hard drive):
250 GB
Onboard graphics:
Intergrated Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200 512MB
Samsung R505 - Argos £399.99
Screen size:
15.4 inches
Processor:
AMD Turion RM-72 (2.1 GHz)
Memory (RAM):
3GB
Storage (hard drive):
250 GB
Dedicated graphics:
ATI HD 3470 256 MB
FUJITSU SIEMENS AMILO PA 3553 - Comet £399.00
Screen size:
15 inches
Processor:
AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual Core (2.1 GHz)
Memory (RAM):
3 GB
Storage (hard drive):
320 GB
Dedicated graphics:
ATI Mob RadHD 3470 256 MB
Thanks 
by MeEtc on 12-28-2008 at 10:11 PM
I would recommend staying away from the 'shared' and 'onboard' graphics if possible, unless video performance not something shes going to need. For the Aspire 5735, I have never heard of a memory size of 252MB. Might want to stay away from that one.
by Chris4 on 12-28-2008 at 10:19 PM
quote:Ok, thanks. I'll keep that in mind.
Originally posted by MeEtc
I would recommend staying away from the 'shared' and 'onboard' graphics if possible, unless video performance not something shes going to need. For the Aspire 5735, I have never heard of a memory size of 252MB. Might want to stay away from that one.
quote:When are January sales? - The Student Room
Originally posted by NanoChromatic
But....Its december still....
by Nathan on 12-28-2008 at 10:33 PM
All in all I'd say the aver g1. Keeping it short because I'm on my iPod
by NanoChromatic on 12-28-2008 at 10:36 PM
quote:You mean acer XD
Originally posted by Nathan
All in all I'd say the aver g1. Keeping it short because I'm on my iPod
And yes, it looks the best.
by Th3rmal on 12-28-2008 at 10:48 PM
Acer always looks the best in terms of value, but I must say their build quality is really bad.
My friend bought his acer less than a year ago, already the screen has a "black spot", the laptop lid creaks and cracks when moved and at certain angles the screen goes completely white. Also in other places around the keyboad, if you push down on the casing of the laptop, it also creaks.
My $0.02
by Chris4 on 12-28-2008 at 10:59 PM
Hmm, my girlfriend has an Acer and she's happy with it. Maybe just got unlucky?
by prashker on 12-28-2008 at 11:07 PM
quote:gogogogogogogogogogo, it's basically the best one in your list
Originally posted by Chris4
Acer Aspire 5920 G1 - Cdiscount UK £399.99 (£50 cashback to spend on their website)
by Th3rmal on 12-28-2008 at 11:07 PM
quote:Im not sure, Ive heard other stories about Acers build quality being bad (some were on this forum, maybe you could still find them), but i guess if she takes very good care of it, those things might not happen.
Originally posted by Chris4
Hmm, my girlfriend has an Acer and she's happy with it. Maybe just got unlucky?
by user27089 on 12-28-2008 at 11:15 PM
Personally, I'd stay away from Acer... I've had nothing but trouble with them when I've been sorting them out for people, saying that though... Most peoples' computers etc are pretty messed up anyway.
I'd either go HP or Fujitsu though, however Sony are definitely the best notebooks out there by far.
I managed to grab a decent Sony Vaio from Comet for £399 (they chucked in a 500gb External HDD too to 20 quid).
Then they gave me the wrong laptop, they get me one worth £550
by absorbation on 12-28-2008 at 11:41 PM
There are some great specs for the prices there, but build quality is just as much an important factor. I'm on my MacBook at the moment, and it blows away any other laptop I have used. I'm not staying you should get one (£400 is not realistic) but look up reviews and see how what the experts have to say about their overall polish to the product .
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 12:21 AM
Well, my sister doesn't like the look of the Acer, even after trying to convince her it's the best one. She prefers the HP.
by prashker on 12-29-2008 at 12:26 AM
If she is really basing it on design then she does not deserve a laptop
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 12:55 AM
Acer Aspire 5920 Laptop Review - CNET.co.uk
The design sucks.
We're going to order the HP.
Edit: Done. 
by Thor on 12-29-2008 at 01:25 AM
quote:I hope it's really cold where you live.
Originally posted by Chris4
Acer Aspire 5920 Laptop Review - CNET.co.uk
The design sucks.
We're going to order the HP.
Edit: Done.
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 01:29 AM
Whys that? 
by Thor on 12-29-2008 at 01:34 AM
quote:Because all HP laptops with AMD Turion processors I've touched get insanely hot - didn't both me until the summer when I realized it was kind of too hot.
Originally posted by Chris4
Whys that?
Apart from that it's great to use outside when it's been snowing and the minus degrees starts crawling up your thies.
by prashker on 12-29-2008 at 01:34 AM
Turion 
by Thor on 12-29-2008 at 01:41 AM
quote:[off topic]
Originally posted by SonicSam
Turion
Reminds me of the Onion.
[/off topic]
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 02:01 AM
quote:Well, you should of said that before I ordered it
Originally posted by Nitro
Because all HP laptops with AMD Turion processors I've touched get insanely hot - didn't both me until the summer when I realized it was kind of too hot.
It'll be fine (touch wood).
by toddy on 12-29-2008 at 02:18 AM
quote:best not do it with the laptop, may catch on fire
Originally posted by Chris4
touch wood
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 02:37 AM
I think someone's trying to be funny. 
by MeEtc on 12-29-2008 at 02:53 AM
quote:Its not far off from the truth. I wouldn't be surprised if that laptop hits 60C
Originally posted by Chris4
I think someone's trying to be funny.
http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Notebooks/HP-Compaq-6735s.html
Basically says its not very attractive, and the screen half is flimsy. Screen is very glossy/lots of glare. Keyboard takes some getting used to.
http://apcmag.com/hp_compaq_6735s_notebook_pc_review.htm
"There’s another very good reason why this laptop is better suited to being tethered to your desk – battery life. At only 97 minutes during our DVD test, it doesn’t have the battery life to keep you going all day."
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 03:20 AM
Well if it does anything like that, it's just going to get sent back.
Everyone said the Acer was best, then I was told it was rubbish, so I went for 2nd best: the HP, now I'm being told that's rubbish.
So.. what laptop do you suggest is better? Good luck finding one, because I can't.
by MeEtc on 12-29-2008 at 03:36 AM
Well, you get what you pay for. If you want to buy a cheap laptop, expect it to be cheap quality. I'm not recommending anything, only giving guidance and suggestions.
Battery life is always going to be an issue, no matter what laptop you get. AMD processors are generally quite a bit hotter than Intel.
Anyway, if I were out shopping for a laptop, I'd probably get something by either Dell or IBM
by Chris4 on 12-29-2008 at 05:23 AM
quote:Sister was originally going to go with Dell, but thought I could find better specs for the same price.
Originally posted by MeEtc
Anyway, if I were out shopping for a laptop, I'd probably get something by either Dell or IBM
by Adeptus on 12-29-2008 at 05:52 AM
quote:Specs isn't everything. Good design and quality are at least as important.
Sister was originally going to go with Dell, but thought I could find better specs for the same price.
At least you didn't get the Acer.
by Underlord on 12-29-2008 at 06:03 AM
quote:I have three Acer laptops and they are all perfectly fine. Don't see what the issue is with Acer laptops...
Originally posted by Adeptus
At least you didn't get the Acer.
by Kenji on 12-29-2008 at 07:14 AM
quote:Terrible build quality, bad cooling, cheap parts, ugly as fuck, etc.
Originally posted by Underlord
quote:I have three Acer laptops and they are all perfectly fine. Don't see what the issue is with Acer laptops...
Originally posted by Adeptus
At least you didn't get the Acer.
quote:http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152652
Originally posted by Chris4
So.. what laptop do you suggest is better? Good luck finding one, because I can't.
by Nathan on 12-29-2008 at 10:56 AM
Yeah I've had an acer, and it had bad build quality, but that was definitely because I didn't look after it, its been nearly 3 years, and its survived 2 drops down 2 flights of stairs, dropped about 1.5 metres, swung around, and everything. It's still working
by Chris4 on 12-30-2008 at 07:06 AM
quote:T3200? 2GB Ram? Isn't better than what I found.
Originally posted by kenji
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152652
by Kenji on 12-30-2008 at 10:41 AM
quote:The T3200 will kick the arse of that crappy AMD CPU in the HP, and since this laptop is around £60 less you can bump the RAM up to 4GB, even though it is overkill for what your sister wants to use it for.
Originally posted by Chris4
quote:T3200? 2GB Ram? Isn't better than what I found.
Originally posted by kenji
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152652
by user27089 on 12-30-2008 at 05:36 PM
HP are better laptops, way better than Acer...
Sony are still the best though .
by Adeptus on 12-31-2008 at 01:31 AM
quote:Acer was fairly prominent as a retail computer brand in the U.S. in late 90s, but completely disgraced itself here and mostly retreated from the U.S. market. They went on to acquire several low end consumer brands in the U.S. that had equally disgraced themselves -- eMachines and Packard Bell are among those. Talk about a steaming pile of sh*t.
Originally posted by Underlord
I have three Acer laptops and they are all perfectly fine. Don't see what the issue is with Acer laptops...
As I understand it, they learned many of their early lessons here and do not carry so many negative connotations in other markets. They are only now making feeble attempts to reestablish themselves here, but I seriously doubt anyone who's been in the business since their original debut ending in a fiasco will ever trust Acer enough to even bother to take a look at what they offer now.
by Chris4 on 12-31-2008 at 04:32 AM
I'm talking to someone who just bought the same HP laptop and he said he's impressed with it so far, hasn't over heated or anything.
I'll post after I receive it, which should be soon
Thanks for all your help.
by Nathan on 02-01-2009 at 02:06 PM
Have you receieved it yet?