Laptop Buying Advice Please

[phleb]

I am looking to buy a laptop for my children, only one to share. I don't want them to use mine :P. Which one would you recommend? where is the cheapest place to buy from? I have a budget of £200. I know there are some places that we can buy them cheap, but don't know where. thanks.

[Buenchico]

What is the laptop to be used for?

If it's only for internet browsing, school work, social media, etc, then almost any cheap laptop can do the job (although wireless capability, so that it can connect directly to your router, would obviously be an advantage). But laptops which can play the latest 'all action' games require a lot of computing power, with fast processors and top-of-the range video cards; they don't come cheap.

So we need some more information from you. In the meantime though, I'll recommend a company which I have total faith in. They sell both new and factory-refurbished laptops at very reasonable prices, and they've got excellent customer service:
http://www.accomputerwarehouse.com/products/computing/laptops-notebooks

[ll_billym]

Nice link, a laptop for less than £150 delivered is a bargain especially if the service is all there...

[Hymie]

If your budget will stretch to circa £250, then you can buy new – and know exactly what you are buying:-

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?sort=price+ascending&price=0+TO+400&cat=10&page=1

[Alston]

Buenchico, as always, has given a good link. However, even 'Factory refurbished' items for prices up to £200 appear to have small screens.

Accordingly, I am with Hymie and would wish to see the OP stretching the budget. However,perhaps I am being ridiculous, because I would wish the budget to be set, if at all possible, at up to £300.

As Buenchico has said "we need some more information". Another factor which might be important ....How old are the children.?

Al.

[phleb]

Children are 9 and 6, just need it for browsing, childs games on cbbc etc, homework help. Downloading learning materials for them. I will get them a dongle from t mobile as monthly contract. We don't have landline anymore, due to family issues. So they only need it for basic stuff hence my budget of £250. thanks everyone, the links are fab.

[Alston]

I must admit that it is your budget that is causing me a problem. There are lots of refurbished items within your budget, but none that I would recommend. New laptops below £250 are going to be small..e.g. 11.6inch screens; but for up to £300 there are a number of 15inch plus items on the market.

Perhaps the time has come for you to get yourself a new laptop/comp and pass your old machine to the children who, at their ages, only require what is tantamount to a toy/plaything.

You could transfer all you need to from your present equipment to a new laptop/comp and take your present item back to factory set-up for your children to use.

Al.

[daffy654]

That is too low a budget in my opinion. If you could allow £300 I could find dozens of links for decent laptops.

[phleb]

£300 it is then ;-)

[WyeDyed]

For me (3 pence under budget), one of the 2 Acer Aspire V5s at the bottom of the page - one has a faster processor, the other has more RAM, toss a coin or choose a colour.
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/products/finder/89200000-00000000-00000000-80000000/page/2
Others may have different recommendations...

[Alston]

Good morning phleb. A couple of good laptops have been recommended by WyeDyed.

I think if I were buying one of them, I would opt for the Acer Aspire V5-531. It does have a 'slower' processor but I doubt whether you would notice. However it does have the advantage of a bigger screen than that of the

[Alston]

Sorry..To continue what I was saying.

than that of the ACER V5-471. Furthermore it also has a lot more RAM which I understand is useful if one is playing Games.

If you don't like the colour, it is possible to get it in Black; if you look around the Internet .

Al.

[snags]

As an alternative to a single laptop, your revised budget of £300 would get each of your kids a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0.