Laptop buying advice

A

Antony1995

New member
Hello everyone,
I'm wanting to buy a relatively cheap laptop just for internet use and minor coding (Learning C++ atm) on the go.
I'm looking to spend around £200 up to £250 absolute maximum.

Everything comes with windows 8/8.1 so I'm up for trying it out but I can always install 7 or Ubuntu.

I was just wondering for a laptop would an AMD APU be a better choice over an Intel chip?

Plus what things should I look out for when looking at specs?
as I've noticed most laptops come with 5400rpm HDD's.

A touch screen would be nice but not essential.

I'm looking at PC World, I know probably not the best place to go but I can always go in and try out some different systems.

Any advice will be much appreciated,
Thanks for reading,
Antony :)
 
Have a look on PCSpecialist or eBuyer for laptops they are miles cheaper than over priced PCWorld. ;)
 
I think I've found what I'm going for, It's over the budget I set out above but does everything I want so further upgrades may have to wait for my main rig :D

I like the look of the ASUS Transformer Book T100:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformer-10-1-inch-Convertible-Processor-Touchscreen/dp/B00G4E60UA

Amazon is the cheapest place I can find it, but I have a £5 PC World voucher round here somewhere that needs using. So that will make the price the same as Amazon, I think I will pop in and have a look.

And I know it's not really a laptop but should do the same stuff :P
 
Antony1995 said:
I think I've found what I'm going for, It's over the budget I set out above but does everything I want so further upgrades may have to wait for my main rig :D

I like the look of the ASUS Transformer Book T100:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformer-10-1-inch-Convertible-Processor-Touchscreen/dp/B00G4E60UA

Amazon is the cheapest place I can find it, but I have a £5 PC World voucher round here somewhere that needs using. So that will make the price the same as Amazon, I think I will pop in and have a look.

And I know it's not really a laptop but should do the same stuff :P
Click to expand...

10.1" screen for coding? Yikes that'll be a chore. What's unique about the T100/300 series is that they come with Offfice 2013 free. So it doubles up as a student laptop too.

You're going to want to get the 64GB+ 500GB model though as you can not upgrade the internal storage down the road. Also make sure it is the newest model otherwise be stuck with the 1.46ghz dual core intel cpu in there.. Gonna want the 2.13ghz(something like that) bay trial version for much better performance.
 
Xrqute said:
Best advice-

Don't buy one.
Click to expand...

This advice is terrible. It in no way helps the OP. His needs are on the go and only a laptop will provide him that. He only needs to code and browse the internet, not like it has to be a powerful PC.

At least tell him why its bad to get one and provide him with a better alternative. Be constructive and not negative.
 
NeverBackDown said:
This advice is terrible. It in no way helps the OP. His needs are on the go and only a laptop will provide him that. He only needs to code and browse the internet, not like it has to be a powerful PC.

At least tell him why its bad to get one and provide him with a better alternative. Be constructive and not negative.
Click to expand...

Sorry. Was a lazy post based of the thread title.

Maybe a tablet would be better suited? Surely there would be an app that you could do your coding in.
 
Xrqute said:
Sorry. Was a lazy post based of the thread title.

Maybe a tablet would be better suited? Surely there would be an app that you could do your coding in.
Click to expand...

A tablet could work but it would have to be a full blown Windows 8.1 64bit verison. Which doesn't exist in this price range. Not much exists in his current price range and imo the asus t100 is the best laptop period for the low end market with all its features.
 
The CPU is pretty strong for the price range. It just has a small battery and i doubt you'll get much out of it. May need to buy a bigger one or another for a spare?
 
NeverBackDown said:
The CPU is pretty strong for the price range. It just has a small battery and i doubt you'll get much out of it. May need to buy a bigger one or another for a spare?
Click to expand...

Good point, I shall look into that.

Wraithguard said:
I do agree with NeverBackDown a 10" screen will be a pain while coding, I'd say minimum of 15" preferably 17" but at your price point it would be a task finding one.

HP G2 £249

Slightly more expensive the Asus X551CA £280
Click to expand...

I like the look of that Asus.

barnsley said:
Look at reconditioned laptops. How about a first gen i5 with a 14' screen, 4gb ram and a 320gb hdd?
Lenovo T410 refurb at aria for £250
Click to expand...

Not bad.

I might wait until next month and be able to spend a bit more on something that would be better. I'll keep looking though :) Thank you for all the suggestions.
 
You only benefit saving up in this case. No new tech coming in a month so it doesn't hurt to get something much better.
 
Last edited:
NeverBackDown said:
Your only benefit saving up in this case. No new tech coming in a month so it doesn't hurt to get something much better.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's my thinking.

EDIT:
My sister has finished Uni now and doesn't need a laptop now, so is going to get an Ipad. so once she gets that I'm having her laptop, it's a 1st gen i3 3gb ram so will perfectly capable for what I want.
 
Antony1995 said:
Yeah that's my thinking.

EDIT:
My sister has finished Uni now and doesn't need a laptop now, so is going to get an Ipad. so once she gets that I'm having her laptop, it's a 1st gen i3 3gb ram so will perfectly capable for what I want.
Click to expand...

Ugh.. Ipads.. shame..

Well good thing you waited? You could always sell it too and earn a little more money then put it all towards a new laptop. Or just use the current money you have and upgrade to an SSD and maybe more ram if need be.
 
If you take out the main rigs ssd then how will it run? lol

You can always upgrade the ram if you feel the need too as well and save a little bit that way. If possible you might want to do a clean OS install to help keep it performing better and not being bogged down by all the things it has gone through.
 
Going to be getting a new one for my main rig then take my current one and put it in the laptop :P

And yeah I will do a fresh install, might try Ubuntu I've have done before but not used it as a primary OS.
 
Antony1995 said:
Going to be getting a new one for my main rig then take my current one and put it in the laptop :P

And yeah I will do a fresh install, might try Ubuntu I've have done before but not used it as a primary OS.
Click to expand...

You could try and get a dual boot going so you can always have the option to go back to windows?
 
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