min. 15.6" laptop / notebook wanted

[atomcrusher]

I am in the market for a laptop/notebook with the following:

min. 15.6" screen
full QWERTY keyboard
min. 350GB HDD (SSD would be nice, but this will push price up/)
min. 2GB RAM
min. 3 x USB ports (a USB3 port would be nice)
Must have an HDMI port
Must have wifi
Must have webcam
Must have Ethernet LAN port
Would like a price option with, & without, a WIN OS loaded (thinking about using an Ubuntu OS)
Would need to be couriered to a small dorp in WC

I really do not need a top-end $$$ unit, but I need a good quality unit, with reasonable battery life. It will be used for mainly web access & email in the home, and during occasional travel in SA

 

[ebendl]

I bought an ASUS N53S last year - really pretty sweet!

Main selling points:
- Full HD screen, 15.6"
- USB 3
- Good battery life (4 hours or so)
- Core i7
- 650 GB harddrive (not sure about SSD options)
- 4 GB ram
- Windows 7 pro
- Full QWERTY keyboard with numpad (although the separation between different sections of the keyboard, such as the arrow keys and numpad, are a bit too little, thus my fingers occasionally falls on the wrong keys. I do touch type, though).

All the specs you mentioned are there. I paid R12,500 when I brought it, but it was the cheapest system with a full HD screen. I also extended the 2 year warranty by a year.

How much are you willing to spend?

 

[atomcrusher]

I paid R12,500 when I brought it

...and

How much are you willing to spend?

Ouch .. certainly not R12.5K
Budget probably around R4K max
My needs are pretty simple, and it's just so I can access web, including video Skype, and my e-mail, and have access to a few spreadsheets & docs when I am away from home. May also want to store some 'tunes' on it, and transfer photos from my Canon DSLR when not at home. I'm not into gaming, nor watching HD movies, on it.
If I decide I want the Win OS on it, a basic Win 'Home' version will do, although I will most likely not use Windoze, and load an Ubuntu version as the OS

 

[Ratwiz]

Hi atomcrusher,

If you haven't yet come right, one option that you could consider would be the following:

Asus X54C-SX329R X54 Series Intel Pentium Dual Core B940 2Gb DDR3 500Gb HDD W7 Home Basic 15.6" Notebook
Estimated Stock Level: In stock with Supplier
QTY: 1 Price (Each): R4052.00 Incl. VAT Price (All): R4052.00 Incl. VAT


min. 15.6" screen - YES, 15.6"
full QWERTY keyboard - YES, Full QWERTY, incl. num-pad
min. 350GB HDD (SSD would be nice, but this will push price up/) - YES, 500GB HDD, you could replace this with an SSD at a later date should you wish to upgrade
min. 2GB RAM - YES
min. 3 x USB ports (a USB3 port would be nice) - 2x USB Ports (1x USB2.0, 1x USB3.0) - A USB hub will inexpensively provide additional connectivity should it be required
Must have an HDMI port - YES
Must have wifi - YES, 802.11n
Must have webcam - YES, 0.3MP Webcam
Must have Ethernet LAN port - YES, Gigabit Ethernet
Would like a price option with, & without, a WIN OS loaded (thinking about using an Ubuntu OS) - Includes Windows 7 Basic 64-bit, not possible to quote without including OS
Would need to be couriered to a small dorp in WC - PM me with suburb and street code and I'll be able to provide delivery rate for you

Hope this helps! Feel free to PM me if there's anything that I can assist with.

 

[atomcrusher]

@ ratwiz .. your info is appreciated . .that sounds like just the job. My Post code is 6740 (Swellendam). What would extra RAM cost? (If it could be installed prior to shipment)

 

[Ratwiz]

Always a pleasure!

Could upgrade by adding one of the following modules:

Corsair CMSo4GX3M1A1333C9 Value Select 4GB DDR3-1333 Laptop Memory - Retail
Estimated Stock Level: Contact for Availability
QTY: 1 Price (Each): R237.00 Incl. VAT Price (All): R237.00 Incl. VAT

Corsair CMSO2GX3M1A1333C9 Value Select 2GB DDR3-1333 Laptop Memory - Retail
Estimated Stock Level: In stock with Supplier
QTY: 1 Price (Each): R137.00 Incl. VAT Price (All): R137.00 Incl. VAT

Our rate for installation, configuration and stress-testing of the memory to ensure error-free operation would be R100.00 including VAT. We could do this for you, before shipping. Delivery to your area (Swellendam) would be R175.00 via FedEx (Regional Area).

 

[Ratwiz]

Is it possible to have the 500GB and the SSD installed at the same time. Can you guys install it ? Do you have some kind of pricelist or website ?

It's not possible for that particular notebook to have both an SSD and HDD installed, since the unit can only physically accommodate 1x 2.5" drive as standard. A hybrid drive though may be an option though if you're looking at combining the speed-boost of solid-state storage with the cost-effectiveness of disk storage. That unit has 8GB of SLC NAND storage that functions as a cache, speeding-up the performance of the 500GB 7,200RPM drive. We would also be able to clone and switch the existing HDD to the hybrid or SSD if required.

We do have a site : www.wootware.co.za

Feel free to contact us through our site or PM me if there's anything else that we can assist with.

 

[bullzeye.za]

It's not possible for that particular notebook to have both an SSD and HDD installed, since the unit can only physically accommodate 1x 2.5" drive as standard. A hybrid drive though may be an option though if you're looking at combining the speed-boost of solid-state storage with the cost-effectiveness of disk storage. That unit has 8GB of SLC NAND storage that functions as a cache, speeding-up the performance of the 500GB 7,200RPM drive. We would also be able to clone and switch the existing HDD to the hybrid or SSD if required.

We do have a site : www.wootware.co.za

Feel free to contact us through our site or PM me if there's anything else that we can assist with.

Many laptops have after-market HDD "Caddys" that replace the CD/DVD bay with a second hard disk port. Is that an option?

 

[Ratwiz]

Many laptops have after-market HDD "Caddys" that replace the CD/DVD bay with a second hard disk port. Is that an option?

That may be a possibility, though we do not source the caddys. Changing the RAM and HDD doesn't void the warranty for the notebook, those are classified as user-upgradable parts. Changing the ODD for a caddy may void the notebook warranty, however.

 

[atomcrusher]

Could upgrade by adding one of the following modules:

Corsair CMSo4GX3M1A1333C9 Value Select 4GB DDR3-1333 Laptop Memory - Retail
Estimated Stock Level: Contact for Availability
QTY: 1 Price (Each): R237.00 Incl. VAT Price (All): R237.00 Incl. VAT



Our rate for installation, configuration and stress-testing of the memory to ensure error-free operation would be R100.00 including VAT. We could do this for you, before shipping. Delivery to your area (Swellendam) would be R175.00 via FedEx (Regional Area).

Thanks ... how would we proceed with order now?.. would want the

4GB DDR3-1333 Laptop Memory

upgrade done before shipping

@ R237 inlc of VAT

Can you send me a pro-forma invoice with the unit as specified, and inclusive of the in-house Install / congig / stress-testing you would do? Please put all detail on the pro-forma, inclusive of all and every charge, and VAT.

I will PM you my e-mail address, and delivery address details / phone number

 

[Ratwiz]

Thanks ... how would we proceed with order now?.. would want the upgrade done before shipping

@ R237 inlc of VAT

Can you send me a pro-forma invoice with the unit as specified, and inclusive of the in-house Install / congig / stress-testing you would do? Please put all detail on the pro-forma, inclusive of all and every charge, and VAT.

I will PM you my e-mail address, and delivery address details / phone number

Will do! As soon as I get the PM, will get on it right away.

 

[atomcrusher]

@ Ratwiz .. PM sent

 

[Ratwiz]

@ Ratwiz .. PM sent

Thanks! Just replied.

 

[Dylan_G]

It's not possible for that particular notebook to have both an SSD and HDD installed, since the unit can only physically accommodate 1x 2.5" drive as standard. A hybrid drive though may be an option though if you're looking at combining the speed-boost of solid-state storage with the cost-effectiveness of disk storage. That unit has 8GB of SLC NAND storage that functions as a cache, speeding-up the performance of the 500GB 7,200RPM drive. We would also be able to clone and switch the existing HDD to the hybrid or SSD if required.

We do have a site : www.wootware.co.za

Feel free to contact us through our site or PM me if there's anything else that we can assist with.

Aha, thanks for that.

Lol, My bad. I didn't bother to check the link out. Thought you were from a shop and was sourcing parts from elsewhere. Was comletely dumb of me to even ask if you had a website, hence the post delete.

 

[atomcrusher]

I hope I am permitted to feedback here on a recent buying experience from Wootware (aka Ratwiz as reporting here) ...

I collected the laptop I ordered from Wootware's offices in Somerset West last Friday. The entire ordering process, mostly via this thread, but also via phone & email, was a pleasure. I received constant feedback from (mainly) Rory at Wootware, and when I collected the unit directly from their offices, I walked out as a very satisfied customer.
What also impressed me was the fact that they could not source the originally ordered RAM upgrade, and sourced an equivalent make ... which was a few Rand cheaper. They insisted I take the R10-odd refund when I collected the laptop. Altogether a very easy, fast, and happy on-line shopping experience. I will definitely source any future needs from them.

 

[Ratwiz]

Thanks for the feedback. Very happy to hear it and hope that you're enjoying the new purchase .

I hope I am permitted to feedback here on a recent buying experience from Wootware (aka Ratwiz as reporting here) ...

I collected the laptop I ordered from Wootware's offices in Somerset West last Friday. The entire ordering process, mostly via this thread, but also via phone & email, was a pleasure. I received constant feedback from (mainly) Rory at Wootware, and when I collected the unit directly from their offices, I walked out as a very satisfied customer.
What also impressed me was the fact that they could not source the originally ordered RAM upgrade, and sourced an equivalent make ... which was a few Rand cheaper. They insisted I take the R10-odd refund when I collected the laptop. Altogether a very easy, fast, and happy on-line shopping experience. I will definitely source any future needs from them.