Minimum Spec For A Laptop

[Admarlow.]

I'm going to buy my girlfriend a cheap laptop as a present. What are the minimum specs I should get her? All she does is go on the web and use excel and word, oh and watches BBC iplayer.? plus what should i look to pay for this spec on ebay?

[VHG]

You dont say if it is new or second hand. A Windows Vista laptop needs more power than a Windows XP laptop.

There is no such thing as a miniumum spec, laptops just get slower as the spec goes down, but they are still usable.

For the interent and iplayer the broadband speed is probably more important than the laptop spec.

And word and excel on their own dont use a lot of memory.

If you can tell us if you want to buy new or second hand, and also an idea how much money you wish to spend, we will try and help more.

Also, I would not buy a second hand laptop, it is too risky and not easy to spot if something is wrong with it (may have had liquid spilled on it which has rotted the inside for example)

[Admarlow.]

I think ill get XP and second hand does this help?

[VHG]

If you are looking for a new laptop, this is about a cheap as you will get a new one.

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/463477/hp-compa q-cq60-305-sl-42-1gb-160gb-/

The specs are not great, but sort of usable.

If you can spend another �30 or so you will get a better laptop.

[VHG]

To run XP you need:

Any Intel or AMD CPU (within reason)

Minimum 512Mb of memory (1Gb is better)

100Gb hard drive (depends is she plans to download any films etc, a smaller drive will be ok if not)

Remember Windows XP has been out since about 2001 so an XP laptop could be 7 or 8 years old so dont buy one that old or the specs will be awful compared to todays laptops.

But as I said, I would not buy a second hand laptop anyway.

[ACtheTROLL]

I almost agree with VHG - second hand is dodgy ...
however - dell have a very good option that is better than average

at work we get kit sent for evaluation - some we just keep - some has to go back
dell servers (as well as hp etc) are sent, played with for a couple of weeks/months ... and then couriered back - and then sold on for a pittance.

have a look at these
http://www1.euro.dell.com/uk/en/dfh/Laptops/ct .aspx?refid=notebooks&s=dfh&cs=ukdfh1

there are some cracking deals - but it's constantly moving stock - luck plays a part