What Laptop is right for me?

[peachybabe]

I'm a bit of a technophobe and only use computers coz I have too! Thing is that I need a new laptop for home. Has anyone got any idea of a website that might be about, whereby I can tick boxes for what I need, and it eventually spits out a name of a laptop that would suit me?

[fo3nix]

Not that I know of.

But if you only have basic requirements, any laptop will do.

Toshiba, Acer, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Apple, all make good laptops.

I wouldn't spend more than �300 on it. Just decide on a screen size (15" is probably best suited), and if possible, buy from Amazon.co.uk or ebuyer.com, or another reputable dealer. If you really want to buy from a highstreet store, then PC World, Comet, etc. do half decent deals. But you will probably pay more; just don't go for their extended offers and other software they try to sell you --- it's not worth it!

[VHG]

I am not aware of a web site like that, to be honest the technology changes so quickly it would be out of date as soon as someone wrote it.

What things do you need in a laptop?

If you tell us we can help you.

If you want a laptop for general use (web, emails etc) then almost any laptop you buy will do the job.

One main thing to think about is screen size (either 15.4" or 17" are the main choices).

Obviously the screen size affects the weight, so if you are going to carry it round a lot go for a 15.4" rather than a 17".

Also battery life if you plan to lug it around a lot.

Graphics card may be important if you plan to play games (sounds like you dont), but if not any graphics will do.

As a general rule the more you pay the "better" the laptop will be. So more money usually gets you a faster processor, more memory, larger hard disk etc.

But as I said, if you just plan to "surf the web" with it then you dont need to pay a lot, �300 or thereabouts.

[betterman]

Try a leap pad.

[ACtheTROLL]

isn't a technophobe someone who's frightened of geeks ...

[tiggerblue10]

I don't know about websites but I bought a Packard Bell from Curry's for �292 a few weeks ago. It was reduced from �399.

[peachybabe]

VHG - I suppose the main things that I would want it to do are to store photos and music, play basic games (i.e. Soliatire etc) play/burn cds/dvds, have Windows XP and access to the internet. I want as large a memory as possible coz although I might not use it all now, it would mean that I don't have to keep updating it (my current museum model, including the HUGE monitor is seven years old!) and runs SOOOOOO slowly! Also it means that I could save some of my daily work that I don't want the company to automatically delete after 6 months. Main reason for a laptop is to free up space. I don't use it on a daily basis but feel lost without one.

Any brilliant ideas???

[fo3nix]

Any laptop will do. As I say, my answer above gives some places to shop (read the reviews), and good manufacturers to look out for.

The only issue I see is that you mention Windows XP. You'll find that the vast majority of computers now come with Vista. It's absolute tripe, but there's not much you can do about it.

If you do have Windows XP install discs from your current machine, you could install it on the new laptop.

[ACtheTROLL]

PC expensive way to store photos