Buying a laptop

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Melissalr

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Hi There,

I'm looking at buying a laptop and dont really have a clue where to start.

What specs should I be looking at?
Where can I get the best prices?

I'm looking at spending no more than about R5000 and the laptop is for personal use and I wont reallyu be using it for gaming or anything like that.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Melissa
 
Hi Melissa,

Some basic things you need to consider are:

1) Do you need a full keyboard (Numpad on the side) ?
2) Do you want a small laptop 15" screen or would you like a nice big screen 17" for watching your favourite series?
3) Ensure it has built in wifi/bluetooth/LAN port
4) Find out how many devices you'll be using simultaneously that'll require USB ports.
5) Will this be your main work station? iow, will you need a lot of hard drive space for files etc, or is it just a mobile run around?
6) Is your budget for the laptop alone or all inclusive? Keep in mind that you'll probably want to buy a wireless mouse and carry bag (+- R800 for both)
7) Does it need a built-in webcam/mic for when you're skyping your parents or having sexytime with your boyfriend while one of you is away on a business trip?
8) Does your work focus on graphics or processing speed? Iow, will you be using photoshop etc. or crunching numbers on spreadsheets?

The more you refine your needs, the more refined your options become.
 
For R5000 you can get a nice Intel i3 laptop with 4 gig 1333mhz RAM and a 320 gig hard drive. Perhaps even a i5 lappy at Game, Dions or any IT shop. Most laptops at that price will have wifi/lan. Try to look for a lappy with Wireless N wifi. Most of them will also include a mic and webcam. Some shops include a wireless mouse and bag.

With regards to brands. I had a bad experience with Acer. Dell, Asus or perhaps HP will be better but I guess it's something you can't guarantee.
 
1) Do you need a full keyboard (Numpad on the side) ? Numpad would be nice but its not essential2)
Do you want a small laptop 15" screen or would you like a nice big screen 17" for watching your favourite series? Once again I would prefer the bigger screen but Im willing to look at a smaller screen3)
Ensure it has built in wifi/bluetooth/LAN port Not essential4)
Find out how many devices you'll be using simultaneously that'll require USB ports. I'd say 3 or 4 should be sufficient5)
Will this be your main work station? iow, will you need a lot of hard drive space for files etc, or is it just a mobile run around? Laptop would mostly be used for Internet, movies, photos etc6)
Is your budget for the laptop alone or all inclusive? Keep in mind that you'll probably want to buy a wireless mouse and carry bag (+- R800 for both) All inclusive
7) Does it need a built-in webcam/mic for when you're skyping your parents or having sexytime with your boyfriend while one of you is away on a business trip? Built in webcam not essential either8)
Does your work focus on graphics or processing speed? Iow, will you be using photoshop etc. or crunching numbers on spreadsheets? Wont be used for work, more for entertainment

So basically I dont need anything too fancy, just a decnt computer that isn't a dinosaur either.
 
Melissalr said:
So basically I dont need anything too fancy, just a decnt computer that isn't a dinosaur either.
Click to expand...

This would suit you well at about R5k or less. Nice that it has a 2 year warranty. Most laptops at the R5k mark will be similar, I would put more focus in warranty. Most brands are 1 year. Dell up to 3.

"Asus K52F-EX1289R , with facial recognition + chiclet keyboard + multi-touch touch pad with Palm Proof Technology for automatic palm detection for typing accuracy + sunken hinge for better viewing angle + Altec Lansing SRS speakers + Power4Gear automatically adjusts fan speeds for quiter computing + with 0.3mp webcam
- intel Core i3-370M - dual core+ hyper-threading ( 4-threads ) , 2.4Ghz ( with VT, 32nm , 4.8GT/sec DMi , 17.1GB/sec memory bandwidth ; 3mb L2 cache ) , 1x2Gb DDR3, Intel® HM55 chipset , Graphics Media Accelerator ( 500/766 mhz GPU ) with HDMi+d-sub, 15.6"" Lcd ( 1366x768 WXGA ), 500gb 5400rpm SATA HDD, super-multi dvd+/-RW DL drive , built-in 4-in-1 SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO card reader + bluetooth + WiFi + gigabit lan , built-in numeric keypad - with windows 7 home basic 64bit + Office Ready ( professional with 60 day free trial ) - 2 years international warranty with local pick up and return"

http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=QAVTJThr36Jox9Cf
 
+1 re warranty. Laptops cost a bundle to repair, so the longer the warranty - even if you have to pay extra for an extended warranty - the better.

Personally I wouldn't consider anything with a warranty less than 3 years.
 
If you are going to use a laptop for personal use (no gaming at all), then get an entry level laptop. Try see if you can get one that has an i3 maybe for R5000, Most entry level come with 2GB of RAM and at least a 200GB HDD.

I would recommend you get a Dell, I have one and I have a 4 Year warranty on my dell (3 years from dell + 1 year from Incredible Connection). HP Has a 1 year warranty apparently, and that scared me from buying an HP.
 
Ja, go for something like a Dell which has good onsite warranty support.
 
Melissalr said:
Ensure it has built in wifi/bluetooth/LAN port Not essential4)

Is your budget for the laptop alone or all inclusive? Keep in mind that you'll probably want to buy a wireless mouse and carry bag (+- R800 for both) All inclusive

So basically I dont need anything too fancy, just a decnt computer that isn't a dinosaur either.
Click to expand...

No trust me, the wifi/etc. IS essential. It was a statement, not a query. :)

So you don't need a full keyboard and a 15" screen will be big enough for what you want to do, without being a log to drag around.

Try your best to find a lappy with at least an i3 processor. Anything less will be too sluggish when you're using multimedia.

This acer is R5.5k http://www.incredible.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?SKU=77343

This HP is also R5.5k http://www.incredible.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?SKU=77333

Then again, this is Incredible Connection prices, so I'm sure if you shop around you'll manage to find something similar for a little less.

I'm an Acer fan, but last month I got myself an HP pavillion entertainment notebook. Dell is very decent quality, but like lego, you pay for the name.
 
Hi Everyone, THanks for all your input. What do you think of this?

ACER eME732G-374G50Mnkk, Intel Core i3-370M (2.4GHz, 3MB L3 cache), 15.6 inch 16:9 HD LCD (720p, 1366x768),ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 512mb , 4GB DDR3 RAM (2x2GB), 500GB HDD, DVD-Super Multi DL drive, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, eMachines webcam, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
 
Melissalr said:
Hi Everyone, THanks for all your input. What do you think of this?

ACER eME732G-374G50Mnkk, Intel Core i3-370M (2.4GHz, 3MB L3 cache), 15.6 inch 16:9 HD LCD (720p, 1366x768),ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470 512mb , 4GB DDR3 RAM (2x2GB), 500GB HDD, DVD-Super Multi DL drive, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, eMachines webcam, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Click to expand...

1yr warranty.
 
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