Choosing a computer

[groundhog]

My laptop has died. It is an ex laptop.
I need to replace it, but have been told in no uncertain terms that I am not allowed to buy a new one until April.
That would suck, so am looking at second hand -

What's the lowest spec I can get away with in a laptop for the following:
Streaming video
Watching films from hdd
Downloading from newsgroups
Managing home network.
Apparently I need to be looking at second hand or refurbished. (I knew there was a catch to the shed!).

Ideally would like something that has replaceable Ram, rather than fixed onboard - so the same thing can't happen again!

I have a chromebook, but it can't do the above except for streaming video.
And although I can watch films on it, the screen isn't big enough for wife and I to watch while we're away at the hospice.
So I need something with at least a 15" screen, I think.

And it needs to be cheap! (Apple is not cheap - I am most definitely not looking for any Apple based products - nope, not even second had....).

[ValeTudoGuy]

Are you comfortable trying a new operating system? If so Lubuntu will do that On a surprisingly old system. If not you can get a reasonable i5 with 4 or 6 gig of ram that will do that without breaking a sweat. Heck I do all of that and more on a Core2 Duo with 4 Gig ram without any issues.

[cigarmo]

none of the things you want to do are demanding, so even a basic laptop will do. I would suggest anything with a dual core cpu and 4GB of ram. but be warned many of the recon laptops on ebay are not good, they have normally had a very bad reflow job done on them and break after a month or so.

try here if you really must buy used. but the price deference these days can be very small, when pc world (chokes on words) often have laptops for around ?200

http://www.morgancomputers.co.uk/

[ValeTudoGuy]

Sorry I can't say if the ram is inbuilt but it has an i3 which should be powerful enough to decode HD content.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/lenovo-g500-15-6-laptop-black-10022716-pdt.html

[groundhog]

I've been eyeing that one up on amazon with 1tb hdd and 8gb ram - 330? though, so :-(
Have found this, but know nothing of amd processors:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/laptops/toshiba-c50-d-amd-windows-8-4gb-500gb/1087410054

[ValeTudoGuy]

To put it bluntly, I think that processor is shit. It's not even Celeron level.

[cigarmo]

no they are terrible

[groundhog]

Blunt is good.
I have no idea when it comes to amd stuff.

[Ross.Co]

Blunt is good.
I have no idea when it comes to amd stuff.

Aloha. You thought I would start a thread and not come back to check on it? So long as it gets peoples asking questions, then we are all the much better for it.

As I am just getting up to speed, you are getting a BSOD on boot up. I can see that thoughts were then aligned to it being memory. Is there no way for you go go into post (the terminology of post is typically when your OS (Operating System) takes over)?

If that is a no go and the fact it is fixated RAM (really pisses me off), then I would say good night old faithful, unless you can get me into a safe mode on there? Anything?

Next, what is your absolute top level spend for a new laptop? Remember, every Great British Pound you can give me, gives you less load times, less boot up times, less waiting for programs to run and a decent warranty to boot....You catch my drift!

Look forward to hearing from you

Ross.Co

[groundhog]

It's worse than that, it's dead Jim!

So onto pastures new.....

http://www.ebuyer.com/645880-lenovo-b50-laptop-mca28uk

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Toshiba_Satellite_Pro_C50-A-1MM_4GB_500GB_Windows_8.1_Laptop_in_Black__PSCG7E-038041EN/version.asp

Two contenders.

[cigarmo]

The Lenovo mate

[ValeTudoGuy]

Hmm, are you seeing something I don't Mo? The Toshiba has a quicker processor and a bigger hard drive..... Though all the Lenovo hardware I have seen has been top notch.

[cigarmo]

The cup is slightly faster but would not be noticed with the use he intends. The hard drive although a little bigger will be a toshiba drive one of the worst brands. Toshiba has no dvd drive he wants to watch movies. They are the same price so I would go Lenovo better build quality too.

[butternutsquashpie]

I bought my spare parts and assembled it myself. 700 for the build of a 900 dollar computer. but on top of that, I bought customisability.

In other words, if I wanted to add 2 more CD drives, I could do that without issue in 10 minutes. If i wanted to increase RAM, I just stick another 2GB stick into the slot. When the computer becomes outdated, I just have to change one part every 1-2 years and it'll keep up with the advances of the modern age. Very well.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Butters, groundhog wants a laptop.