Best laptop for �700

[bossychloe]

Can anyone recommend a laptop for around �700 - it is simply to be used for surfing, storing photo etc., no heavy downloading of music/films etc.,
I have been looking at the Sony laptops but every shop (apart from the Sony shop itself) attempts to steer me away recommending instead an Acer or Toshiba - and then anything else - why?!
Are Sony laptops unreliable or something?
Do the sales assistants gain a higher comission from other makes or are they truly better, more reliable, faster etc.,
Please help as I keep getting conflicting advice from every shop I visit.
Thanks.

[fo3nix]

Sony are known as being a bit unreliable, but they're especially known for being expensive.

My choice would definitely be an Apple MacBook. If you're a student you can save �100 or more too.

[Ethel]

You're using a sledge hammer to crack a nut.

A �400 laptop is more than sufficient for your needs

[Velvetee]

My Toshiba Eqium cost �499 and I'm very happy with it.

[ACtheTROLL]

agree with ethel and Velvetee - for a surfer - �700 is over the top. but set a budget 400 - 550 is probably closer
if the extra money is burning a hole .... get a memory upgrade (2Gb is good) and if storing pikkies is a factor get the biggest external HDD you can find

agree with fo3 about sony .... but not about the mac - too niche and just as (if not more) expensive to run as a sony (in my opinion) - windows rules ... love it or hate it ... 99% of the kit out there is built for window .... and might work on a mac...

acer have been getting good reviews
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/archiveproductsearch/9/ Laptops
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/alist/

I'd recomend reading the reviews get a shortlist - a trip to pc world ,,, have a touchy feely session .... find one that feels right and then a google session to find a good price

[fo3nix]

I agree with the above that you are buying a machine that's too expensive if your needs are simple.

My sister has recently purchased a laptop, with similar needs to you. I steered her towards this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0010X74AU/ ref=s9sims_c3_23_img1-rfc_g1-frt_g1-3215_p-310 2_g3?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-3&p f_rd_r=1J1SQ9692Q9G35XASX6B&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_ p=218347191&pf_rd_i=468294

For �299, you get a machine that does everything you want and probably more. Just don't expect it to be able to play the latest games at their highest detail levels.

[legrande758]

nice hp in pc world which plays blueay discs too

600 quid if youre keen?

[sandmaster]

I agree with nearly all the above. A friend of mine about 3 years ago bought a Sony - the highest spec he could find. He threw it away after a year because it was unreliable, kept overheating and crashing - and Sony did not help.
I have an Acer and it is great.

[bossychloe]

Thank you all for your advice, I really appreciate your time and effort...

[ACtheTROLL]

Fo3
that's a good looking machine! - only thing I can see that I don't like is the wallpaper ;)