sorry not really bookkeeping but I am in need of getting a 2nd laptop. My current one is a Toshiba Satellite L350. I have had it for a few years but lately its had a couple of hiccups, and I really do need to get it serviced. The problem is I can't be without one for a couple of days. My hubby's old one (which was my original one) is on its last legs and fit for the bin and has no memory and no numbers on the right hand side so I hate using it for anything to do with numbers as I have to use the ones across the top which takes longer!
Can't use my sons as he uses it all the time for sch and i-pod tunes etc and don't really want my stuff on there even if its protected with a password.
So my question is what are the good ones on the market at the mo?
Preferably a laptop although I haven't ruled out a desktop PC with one of those fancy screens, as I have noticed the laptops don;t seem to have the larger screens anymore. Mine is a 17inch screen and is fine for spreadsheets but I wouldn't want to go any smaller. I don't know much about the desktop/tower PC's so any info would be great. (Probably called them the wrong thing!
My budget is about £450 - £550.
Any help as always is greatly appreciated, my knowledge of computers is rubbish, I'm one of those people who like to just switch it on and use it!
cheers,
PS not interested in gaming on it, its purely for work.
-- Edited by Amanda on Thursday 7th of June 2012 02:30:19 PM
-- Edited by Amanda on Thursday 7th of June 2012 02:30:39 PM
-- Edited by Amanda on Thursday 7th of June 2012 02:35:20 PM
It is my main computer so the negative reviews you'll see on that site about size don't worry me. I particularly love the large screen.
Previously I was using an Acer which I hated and was very glad when the motherboard went when it was a year old, giving me an excuse to get a new machine.
I got the emachines G420 as an interim measure but realised very quickly that I absolutely loved it!
-- Edited by Mad Liz on Thursday 7th of June 2012 03:04:12 PM
The issue with laptop advice is really that by the time I hit the submit button the information will already be out of date (or at least it feels that way!).
The key differentiator really is dependability and screen quality.
Don't consider anything with less than a 320gb hard drive or 4gb of Ram. The more Ram that you have the faster the paging so if you can swing 6gb or even 8gb that going to give much better performance.
Your probably going to want multi monitor support so make sure that it is has that capability. Surprisingly one or two out there don't have the facility to have an external monitor.
I prefer AMD chips to Intel but such is personal choice and both are good. Just make sure that you get at least a dual core processor. Intel I5-2450m and I3-380m based rigs are quite good value machines at the moment.
As for manufacturer I always go for either Toshiba or Dell both of which you can go and try in PC world before buying from somewhere else where the receipts don't disappear on exposure to even the least amount of light.
If you go for a desktop then even if you don't want games I always buy Dell XPS's for quality, robustness and all round excellence as a professional workhorse... And they can play games as well!
With Laptops you may find your final decision down to the keyboard that feels best as some of them, even the more expensive ones can feel really cheap.
Don't under any circumstances be tempted to be an Advent machine regardless as to the spec. I know several people who have ignored my advice and all of them have regreted the purchase.
HTH,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I replaced my Toshiba laptop with a Sony Vaio and never looked back. It has never let me down, good clear screen and plenty of umph. I use to use it at clients and my desktop at home but this is so good to see the screen and easy keyboard, I have made the desktop redundant (and saved on my electricity bill as they goble the units).
Thanks I will be researching it on the net. Liz we had an emachine a long time ago, it was when they first came out. A thunderstorm followed by a neighbour putting in a new fence and hitting a power cable causing a major powercut, blew the motherboard up so had to get a new one after that. I haven't tried Sony Vaio, think I need to go to comet to have a play with them.
Quick fix for laptop number keys is a USB number pad. My other half was a bank cashier and couldn't get used to the top line on her laptop - Not seen my USB number pad since inadvertently letting on that I owned one lol
Actually, following on from Tims suggestion, I always use external keyboard and mouse so why not just go down that route?
Thinking about it my laptop goes from external keyboard, mouse and monitor in the home office to external keyboard, mouse and monitor in the office.
Makes it seem like its not so much a laptop as an easily tranportable desktop!
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Yep, I've had two screens on mine from time to time. Talking of pads, 'er indoors was never off her Ipad till I tuned in her laptop to the wireless network. It now functions as not much more than a Kindle. Still, helps keep the bookshelves tidy.
And whilst we're talking about PC's, a big well done to Mesh Computers who have bucked the trend of being embarrased to push "Made in England" with their new range of PC's.
The Spitfire, The Harrier and the Hurricane. See here : http://www.meshcomputers.com/Default.aspx?PAGE=PRODCATEGORYVIEWPAGE&USG=APPLICATION&ENT=APPLICATION&KEY=1019455&utm_source=MESH+In-touch+Newsletter&utm_campaign=7eb2e7ea52-070612&utm_medium=email
The email campaign very strongly emphasises :
Created in the UK Built in the UK Supported in the UK
Nice one Mesh... But sorry to say that I haven't actually bought any PC's from them since 2001! (although it was a fantastic machine and still works now although I only ever use it for Excel 2000 support work).
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Its for the best as wouldn't want an EMP blast to eradicate all human knowledge!
There's always a good home here for good quality accounting books... And seemingly a couple of not so good quality ones as well.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Alas, she devours a book a day but doesn't know where the charity shop is, so the Kindle app. is a god-send. I'm 1 up at the moment though because she couldn't plough through 'Heart of Darkness'. No, nothing to do with ACCA but nearly as tough lol. Luckily only 100 pages of turgid prose.
I was under the same impression Tim so thanks for the update.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
A personal tax return client was in last week and mentioned me a Youtube clip of the biggest lathes in the world he'd been helping to build in the 60s. Damn shame.
I used to have an Acer laptop - this was very unreliable and kept breaking down.
Now I have a Sony Vaio and have never looked back - screen is a good size therefore easier to view the data. Keypad is particularlu good, which makes it much easier to type (also has the number pad on the right hand side - makes life alot easier)
Apart from that, I don't really know much about the technical side as my other half is the nerd when it comes to that area. However, when we were looking for laptops at the time, we were told to either buy an 'i5' or 'i7' - as these have the latest technology whereas whilst an 'i3' is good but is likely to become redundant in the next year or so
Whatever laptop you decide to buy in the end, I would recommend that you purchase a cover on the laptop therefore if it breaks down, you can get it fixed or have it replaced with the latest laptop (in the future) for the price you pay today.
Thanks I will be researching it on the net. Liz we had an emachine a long time ago, it was when they first came out. A thunderstorm followed by a neighbour putting in a new fence and hitting a power cable causing a major powercut, blew the motherboard up so had to get a new one after that. I haven't tried Sony Vaio, think I need to go to comet to have a play with them.
Manay thanks
A little unfair to write off a type of machine because of an Act of God, don't you think?
Liz - Where do you get the emachines from? I haven't discounted it yet, I assume they are still a tower and a screen? I am leaning more towards this as oppose to a laptop, as I want a bigger screen, I currently have 17" screen but could do with an even bigger one. Also I don't take my laptop to clients anymore which I thought initially I would more often.
This would be a 2nd.spare machine for me, I know some of my old programmes won't run on windows 7 so I would have to keep the old laptop and get it serviced which it desparately needs.
From experience some of the better brands out there that won't cost an arm and a leg are Acer and Asus. I would certainly look at these brands and the models they offer. Also make sure your purchase has windows 7 installed as it is far superior to vista. Hope this advice helps.
My second PC was advent and it lasted 10 years! First was Dell - never again - lasted the whole of 3 months and got sent back for a full refund and a goodwill cheque.
Bought a Sony Vaio 4 years ago. Cost half the earth and it overheated within 13 months - just long enough for the warranty to run out.
Replaced immediately with a 17" Toshiba which is still working but much too big/heavy to take everywhere.
Recently got a core i7 Asus as I needed a more portable machine (great for heavy software bundles and the screen is crispy as well). Asus is undoubtedly one of the best on the market. The only size-wise machine I'll rate higher is the MacBook.
There are still a lot of very affordable 17" and 19" laptops out there. Toshiba is probably your best bet.
