Find me a better Laptop for my buck

rgrebby

rgrebby

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Name
Richard
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Yes
you dont have to, im not demanding that you do, but im interested in finding out if I can get this laptop spec cheaper. ;)

£740 including VAT and postage

Thanks in advance.

17" Laptop with 1900x1200 resolution
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8600 (2.4GHz, 1066MHz FSB,3MB L2 cache)
Genuine Windows Vista® Business SP1 - English
Integrated 1.3 Mega Pixel Camera
4096MB 800 MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM (2x2GB)
320GB (7,200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive
Deep Cherry Red
512 MB NVIDIA® GeForce™ 9600M GS Graphic Card RED
Internal 8X DVD+/-RW
1Yr CAR Warranty
Wireless 1510 Half Mini Card (802.11n) European
 
i'm sure spec wise it will handle ps no problem. Personally speaking if I was going to be spending nearly 800 quid on a laptop, I dont know if it would be a dell.

Have you checked out the HP stuff ?
 
I had a look at HP and couldnt find anything even close to the spec.
They whole layout of the HP site is hard to follow and find which spec has what and it doesnt look like they do high resolutions.
Plus I have always found dell to be very good but why wouldnt you?
 
rgrebby said:
I had a look at HP and couldnt find anything even close to the spec.
They whole layout of the HP site is hard to follow and find which spec has what and it doesnt look like they do high resolutions.
Plus I have always found dell to be very good but why wouldnt you?
Click to expand...

I'd agree Dell is very good. I work in IT and have to say I've been converted - I almost exclusively used HP in the past but in the last 18 months or so have moved to Dell for all machine purchases. I also have had a 17" HP laptop and have been desparately disappointed with the screen - absolutely useless for any photo editing because of very poor colour representation (although no laptop screen is perfect as we know). Thankfully it's died.

As for your Dell spec, I would guess it would be difficult to beat - the hi-res 17" screen alone is a £175 upgrade over the standard 17" screen so it looks good value to me. I note that you have Vista business as the o/s - this suggests (if you used the Dell website to spec the laptop) that you're in the Small Business part of the site. I'd have another look but go via the home & home office part as I have in the past found better value there (unless you have a need to use the machine in an office network).

It may be of no use to as your clearly after a non-standard spec but you may be able to save some money by finding a similar spec through Dell Outlet - this is where over orders / returns etc are sold at significant discount but with full warranty. This may seem a bit iffy but in fact I buy virtually all our machines this way and have never been disappointed. You don't of course though get to specify any customisations so unless someone has ordered and returned the higher spec screen, you'll be disappointed. The same stock is available from other places as well - a few links below:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/dfo/df.aspx?refid=df&s=dfo
http://www.europc.co.uk
http://www.deane247.com/

Hope this helps some.
 
Thanks for that, i'll look into it. I have bought from dell before and usually through the business side simply because the home laptops do not even compare.
I'm pretty sure I have requested vista home instead of business a few times and there hasn't been any problems.
 
rgrebby said:
Thanks for that, i'll look into it. I have bought from dell before and usually through the business side simply because the home laptops do not even compare.
I'm pretty sure I have requested vista home instead of business a few times and there hasn't been any problems.
Click to expand...

In the past you're right - the home models were plastic rubbish in comparison. I think it's less of an issue now. I'm guessing you're looking at the Studio model in which case it would be the same anyway. We've recently bought a Studio 15 and have been impressed.

I mention the vista business only because the home version should be cheaper.
 
im looking at the deane website and there seem to be some good offers on the studio laptops, but im not sure on whats better where the cpus are concerned. Plus I really was after the high resolution of 1900x1200.

Its odd because I look at this one which says only 1440x900 but then lists higher resolutions on the techspec section, plus the process is different....
 
Product Description

This feature packed notebook comes with Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium, Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor T5800, 320GB HDD, 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, 18.4" TFT widescreen display, blu-ray ROM drive and a Dolby Home Theater® certified sound system.



**SAVE £80**

WAS £779.99

NOW £699.99



PC Advisor online Jan. 2009 # 4 out of 5

Computer Shopper - Apr. 2009 # 4 out of 5

Computer Active - Apr. 2009 # 4 out of 5





Features
Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium
Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor T5800
2.0 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, FSB 800 MHz
18.4" TFT widescreen display
HD supporting 1680 x 945 pixels
NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600M GS
DirectX® 10 graphics with 512MB GDDR2 graphic memory, Hybrid SLI® with HybridPowerTM support and digital HDMI audio/video output
2 integrated loudspeakers and 1 subwoofer
Dolby Home Theater® certified
320GB hard disk
4GB DDR SDRAM
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g Draft-n up to 300 Mbit/s
Blu-ray ROM Drive/Multi Standard DVD-/CD- writer
with blu-ray disc, DVD-RAM and Dual-Layer support
Integrated 1.3MP webcam and microphone
GBit Ethernet LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbit/s)
Express Card DVB-T TV Tuner incl. remote control
4-in-1 Memory card reader (SD, MMC, MS and MS Pro)
Keyboard with integrated numeric keypad
Multimedia control via backlit sensor keys
Software
Windows Vista® Home Premium
with new Media Centre interface incl. Service Pack 1
64-Bit recovery DVD included
Medion Home Cinema Suite incl. Cyberlink Power DVD 7 BD Edition
Nero Essentials
Nero Burning ROM 8 and Nero Recode 3
Bullguard Internet Security
incl. 90 days online-update (cost free registration required)
Included in the box
Medion Akoya P6810 Notebook
Lithium-Ion battery
USB Notebook mouse
Notebook carrying bag
Express Card DVB-T TV Tuner incl. remote control
External AC adapter
User manual
Warranty Card
Windows Vista Home Premium Recovery DVD
Medion Application and Support CD
Interfaces
4-in-1 Memory Card reader
Express Card Slot 54
HDMI out
VGA out
1x eSATA/USB 2.0
3 x USB 2.0
LAN (RJ45)
Microphone in
Line Out
S/P-DIF out
6-channel audio out (analogue + SP/DIF)
 
Chaz Photos said:
Product Description

This feature packed notebook comes with Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium, Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor T5800, 320GB HDD, 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, 18.4" TFT widescreen display, blu-ray ROM drive and a Dolby Home Theater® certified sound system.



**SAVE £80**

WAS £779.99

NOW £699.99



PC Advisor online Jan. 2009 # 4 out of 5

Computer Shopper - Apr. 2009 # 4 out of 5

Computer Active - Apr. 2009 # 4 out of 5





Features
Genuine Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium
Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor T5800
2.0 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, FSB 800 MHz
18.4" TFT widescreen display
HD supporting 1680 x 945 pixels
NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600M GS
DirectX® 10 graphics with 512MB GDDR2 graphic memory, Hybrid SLI® with HybridPowerTM support and digital HDMI audio/video output
2 integrated loudspeakers and 1 subwoofer
Dolby Home Theater® certified
320GB hard disk
4GB DDR SDRAM
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g Draft-n up to 300 Mbit/s
Blu-ray ROM Drive/Multi Standard DVD-/CD- writer
with blu-ray disc, DVD-RAM and Dual-Layer support
Integrated 1.3MP webcam and microphone
GBit Ethernet LAN port (10/100/1000 Mbit/s)
Express Card DVB-T TV Tuner incl. remote control
4-in-1 Memory card reader (SD, MMC, MS and MS Pro)
Keyboard with integrated numeric keypad
Multimedia control via backlit sensor keys
Software
Windows Vista® Home Premium
with new Media Centre interface incl. Service Pack 1
64-Bit recovery DVD included
Medion Home Cinema Suite incl. Cyberlink Power DVD 7 BD Edition
Nero Essentials
Nero Burning ROM 8 and Nero Recode 3
Bullguard Internet Security
incl. 90 days online-update (cost free registration required)
Included in the box
Medion Akoya P6810 Notebook
Lithium-Ion battery
USB Notebook mouse
Notebook carrying bag
Express Card DVB-T TV Tuner incl. remote control
External AC adapter
User manual
Warranty Card
Windows Vista Home Premium Recovery DVD
Medion Application and Support CD
Interfaces
4-in-1 Memory Card reader
Express Card Slot 54
HDMI out
VGA out
1x eSATA/USB 2.0
3 x USB 2.0
LAN (RJ45)
Microphone in
Line Out
S/P-DIF out
6-channel audio out (analogue + SP/DIF)
Click to expand...

where is that then?
 
another plus vote for dell over here. 99% of our kit at work is dell (workstations, laptops and servers) and hardware failures are extremely rare. to the point i cant remember the last hardware failure that wasnt down to the user..

for example me spilling an entire mug of coffee into my latitude D820.. lol
 
Chaz Photos said:
sorry its
http://www.medion.co.uk/
I have a tower of thers and it been very good
Click to expand...

Thanks, im just not sure if the processor is as powerful, intel put so many numbers next to their speeds and I have no clue.
But im guessing the # Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo processor T5800
2.0 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, FSB 800 MHz is slower than the P8600 (2.4GHz, 1066MHz FSB,3MB L2 cache)

ugh why cant it be simple, its so frustrating not know whats quicker and more powerful
 
That processor was slow when I bought my laptop (over a year ago). It also only states 320GB HDD, not howing the speed, which almost certainly means its a 5200rpm drive, which you really don't want!

If you do buy a new Dell make sure you get a discount code for it, there are loads of sites specialising in them, and they will give things like 10% off certain models. :)

EDIT: You can also get 6% back from quidco. :)
 
Amp34 said:
That processor was slow when I bought my laptop (over a year ago). It also only states 320GB HDD, not howing the speed, which almost certainly means its a 5200rpm drive, which you really don't want!

If you do buy a new Dell make sure you get a discount code for it, there are loads of sites specialising in them, and they will give things like 10% off certain models. :)

EDIT: You can also get 6% back from quidco. :)
Click to expand...

I have a 10% code already but it wouldnt take it at checkout online so hopefully I can use it on the phone. The laptop also has £70 off anyway right now and free shipping. Not sure I can get much else off it but whats the quidco thing? Is that an extra 6% on top of other offers?
 
rgrebby said:
I have a 10% code already but it wouldnt take it at checkout online so hopefully I can use it on the phone. The laptop also has £70 off anyway right now and free shipping. Not sure I can get much else off it but whats the quidco thing? Is that an extra 6% on top of other offers?
Click to expand...

Hello again.

Quidco is a referal type scheme where you can earn money back from purchases. Lots of online retailers will be referers for referals that then result in a sale so Quidco passes that on to you.

Regarding the earlier question re Deane and the screen spec - It's not really clear is it - you'll have to ask. The second harddisk built in is a good bonus though. I had this on my otherwise poor HP and the extra storage was invaluable.

I personally would pass on the Medion - in my experience (and the circles that I float around in) the kit is at the poorer, budget end of the market and I sense that's not where you're looking. PC manufacturers work on fairly thin margins and for a manufacturer to undercut the big boys some compromises have to be made. Any computer is the sum of it's parts and one poor component can ruin a machine. The Medions, Packard Bells et al that I've come across have been poor and generally struggled to last the course - you get what you pay for.
 
Thanks a lot for the help, Although the studio machines on that other website do seem a bit cheaper and I would have the added bonus of another disk and blueray. I would loose out on some processing power and the gfx card isnt as powerful. Although I believe the ram is slightly slower although it wouldnt effect it all that much.
 
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