Help with a Laptop shortlist

Hen_Dawg · 12 Dec 2009 at 15:24

Hi

My old man is getting a laptop for my mum and would like a little help. I've never bought a laptop, always been a desktop person, so I'm not too clued up on them.
I think £350 is about the top budget plus their basic needs just don't require loads of RAM, massive storage or 3D gfx. They still run a 900Mhz Duron as their main PC!

Dual Core probably isn't essential either but trying for one if in budget

These two I can find for £350
Samsung R519
Celeron T3100 1.9GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 15.6 WXGA, DVDRW, Windows 7 Home Premium

Toshiba Satellite L300-1FS
Intel Pentium Dual Core T3400 / 2.16 GHz, 2GB, 160GB, Display: 15.4" WXGA, Graphics Card: Intel GMA 4500M. Vista (with free upgrade)

Know anything about these machines?
Similar speced Dells seem to cost more than these but any other brands/models I should look for?

Thanks

Nymins · 12 Dec 2009 at 15:32

Dell Outlet has Inspiron 1545's that are better than those. T4200 dual cores, at least 3Gb ram and a decent size hdd. Can be had around £300.

Hen_Dawg · 12 Dec 2009 at 16:28

Cheers. Would they deliver before Christmas? I know the main shop can take a while. I'd not mind a refurb but my dad may not like the idea, will ask. Also, they all seem to be Vista.
So still up for other ideas

Nymins · 12 Dec 2009 at 16:45

They should because they are pre-built machines. I get mine from the Outlet within a week, but i would order right now.

They are basically brand new. If you Google people's experiences, you will see that they are all very good. The laptops come with the same 1 year warranty you get with a new one too. The ones i have got haven't got a mark on them and come supplied in a normal Dell box with all the disks and accessories. Needless to say, i wont be buying new from Dell cause the Outlet is very good and much faster!

Some of them come with Windows 7 too if you dig deep into the site. However, whether its Vista or 7, they will come with bloatware. I always reinstall the OS with my own copy to avoid all of Dell's crap they put on, like any other manufacturer.