Which of these laptops is better?

[shopaholic84]

I need a new laptop for uni and need to be able to use it for the internet, coursework and for my photos. Could anyone please check out the following links and tell me which one is the best?

http://www.acernotebooks.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_571 0WLMi_LX.AHB0X.093/version-1.asp

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_pag e.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0016152708.1187902906@@ @@&BV_EngineID=cceiaddlklidmdicflgceggdhhmdgmk .0&sku=266893&tabIndex=1&page=Product

[vehelpfulguy]

It is very close and there is not much in it. They are both about �399 give or take a few pennies.

The CPU in the Toshiba (T2080) is slightly faster than the Acer CPU (T5500) but there is so little in it to be not worth bothering about. But the Acer is a Core 2 Duo CPU which is better

The Toshiba has a 120Gb harddrive as opoposed to the 80Gb in the Acer.

Apart from that they are exactly the same (1Gb of memory, Vista Home Premium, 15.4" screen etc)

Both makes are well known so there is not much in that, and they both weigh about the same.

I cannot see what software comes on the Toshiba but the Acer comes with MS Works 8.5 AND a *trial* version of MS Office Home and Student Edition.

So not much in it either way, with the Toshiba seeming to be slightly better (but not by a lot, mainly hard disk size).

So it comes down to which one you fancy, and which one is easiest to buy - the Toshiba you can buy in store I think, the Acer I think is delivered so there may be a delivery cost.

Toss a coin.

[Annlinda]

May not be of much help to you but my Acer notebook was rubbish.....got a Toshiba equium now....brilliant

[beryllium]

Hi shopaholic :)
I have it on good authority that Dell for the same price is a better deal for you.

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/cat egory.aspx/notebooks?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

They give a long warranty aswell :)

[sleepyj]

i have a acer lap top it has cracked across the top where it gets open and shut ............ not very happy about it

[vehelpfulguy]

beryllium, I just went to the Dell site and tried to get a laptop for �400 with the same specs as the Toshiba and could not do it.

I would be interested if you can find a Dell with the same spec as the Toshiba for �400.

Nearest I could get was �437 but with an 80G disk not a 120Gb disk like the Toshiba.

With a 120Gb disk like the Toshiba the Dell came to �472.

[shopaholic84]

vehelpfulguy that is very true. Dell sent me a quote and it came to 472 for the same specifications as the Toshiba. The only thing that has swayed me towards the acer is the microsoft works etc but having heard that one person wasn't happy with theirs and another person has a crack on theirs, the toshiba is starting to look the better option. Plus, I can view it in the shop before I buy it.

[wirraldene]

I have Dell at the moment and it has been trouble free, My last was an Acer with nothing but trouble At first the hard drive was replaced, and then problems returned. Acer would not return phone calls, persons whom I did contact were never there afterwards, and promises to ring back were ignored. Letters were ignored. In the end I had to go to the small claims court to get my money back. Do not touch!

[beryllium]

Warranty. Easy to replace parts. Availability to those parts.
I apologise for not adding in my first post that for an extra 50 quid you can get Dell. :)

[shopaholic84]

Can I just ask about the norton anti virus, when you buy it does that stay on your computer and work constantly without paying any more extra payments or do you buy it in the shop, put it on computer and only get certain amount of months of use before renewing it at extra cost?

[beryllium]

Hi,
I have AVG. It's free.
Not very compatible yet with Vista.
I also understand that Vista causes trouble with recieving emails. (stay with tried and tested maybe?) you don't need any computer stress at uni.

[zig_zag]

norton slows everything down
except my "new" laptop lol

[vehelpfulguy]

>microsoft works

The Toshiba may come with MS Works.

And even it does not you can pick a copy up for under �10 as many PCs come with it and often the people just sell their CDs as they dont want it.

[vehelpfulguy]

>Can I just ask about the norton anti virus, when you buy it does that stay on your computer and work constantly

Some Laptops come with a certain length of time for "free" (6 months or a year) and this entitles you to all the updates (very important with anti virus)

At the end of that time you can either pay for another years subscription, or go and buy another box of the product from say PC world and that usually comes with a years subscription.

If you decide to not pay the subscription then your updates stop and the product gradually becomes worthless as it will not hunt for the latest viruses.

As others have said, there are plenty of free anti-virus and firewall programs out there so you dont have to pay for Norton to get the protection.

[TEAK36]

Shopaholic,

I have been buying Acer Laptops for years and have never had a single problem, even though I leave my laptop turned on 24/7 as I do a lot of downloading.

I would personally go for the Acer.

[Beads]

When I went to purchase a laptop I was told by someone that knows about IT that a Toshiba is a really good reliable model - the recommended a Toshiba or a Sony. The shop that I purchased from had an Acer and a Toshiba around the same spec/price and the people in the shop told me to go for the Toshiba. They said that out of the two brands people will more likely return an Acer due to problems rather than a Toshiba. I bought a Toshiba and it is very reliable and does what it says on the tin. I would recommend a Toshiba, I really like them.

I'd definitely shop around and see what's on offer, also on some bank holiday's you get deals (I got mine on a bank holiday and it had �100 off). Also play the Uni card (do you have a student card?) to see if they will do you a deal (say that you'll recommend them to anyone else who wants to get a laptop). It's all about the Del Boy!