Looking for a laptop and want some advice:

[Oneeyedvic]

I have a budget f �600 and want:

1) 2 year warranty (John Lewis & M&S do this as standard)
2) Blu Ray player
3) Decent graphics (not a major game player but would like the option of playing things like Call of Duty) - if COD will work on a 'new type' integrated graphics card then I will be delighted. Don't want to play on line - just against computer.
4) HDMI out

I really like the Acer laptops as they also have a 'cool wall' or something which means that the laptop doesn't burn your lap after it has been on for a few hours.

Obviously want as good a processor and RAM as I can (min 3GB)

As well as games, I will also use a few video and photo manipulation programs.

Long battery life would be obviously better!

Free upgrade to Windows 7 is also needed.

Don't want much do I

[fabemmy]

I got a really good laptop from PC world with the same features are require.

Mine is a toshiba and cost me around �400.

I highly reccommend PC World because they will also tell you what the laptop as and dosnt have,

[hc4361]

http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Aspire_6920G- 593G25Mn_LX.APQ0X.679/version.asp?PID=413

+�40 for extended warranty.

[Oneeyedvic]

Not been wild on PC world service - most people I have seen there don't really know what they are talking about! May have a look on their website though.

hc - I had spotted this one, and if it had Blu Ray built in I would have had it. Just not sure that I want an external Blu Ray drive.

[magicmerlin]

Unknown to a lot of people there is an EU directive that gives all purchasers of new goods 2 year warranty as standard.

Have a look here then delve further if necessary.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/bargains-and-rip- offs/tips-and-guides/article.html?in_article_i d=487339&in_page_id=53954&in_advicepage_id=131

[Oneeyedvic]

Thanks - whilst this is true and I have claimed under this before, it takes an absolute age - and I wouldn't want to be without a laptop for that long - much easier to have a company who provide a warranty and get on with the repair / replacement quickly rather than lots of emails / phone calls.

[ACtheTROLL]

�600 is a healthy budget - does it have to be a lappy?
because it would buy a cracking desktop ... but only a reasonably good lappy

the next generation is already anticipating windows 7 as a 64 bit os - and 8Gb ram seems to be the new starting point ....
1.5Tb disks ... and fast graphics
mesh I have a mesh - they have excellent rep in the mags ... generally v good reviews
http://www.meshcomputers.com/

but the bottom line is that a gaming lappy is <�1000
a gaming desktop is �600+

you said you don't want a gamer specifically - but it illustrates a point ... and these are "Interesting times" second incarnation of the vista/7 kernel - 64 bit OS and more ram than you can shake a stick at

I'd wait until october - new O/s always spawns new faster hardware ... XP got P4, vista got dual/quad .....

as for warranty - I would rather put the money towards the machine - if it lasts 3 months it will live forever (a total lie I know - but I've always found it a decent guideline)

if you buy rubbish - most components will fail in the first year

[Oneeyedvic]

Cheers - the reason for buying the laptop was because my desktop has finally given up the ghost.

However, the desktop is working perfectly now, so looks like I don't need to get the laptop.

Cheers for advice though.