�300 laptop

[realaleman]

Can anybody recommend a reasonable laptop for �300? I've had a look at an Advent 5611 in the local PCWorld shop and it seems to have a good spec and a decent keyboard for �299.99, but I noticed in an answer last week ACthetroll said do not buy PCW own brand and I always find his advice to be good. I want the laptop for web browsing and some spreadsheet work etc.

Thanks in advance. Geoff

[johnpol78]

$ 300 is not sufficient for the good laptop . you are going to buy a laptop so just invest some more money for a good laptop

check the configuration according to your needs and than try to buy the laptop.

[realaleman]

Ah yes. The thing is I have been given a grant for this purchse and I have to produce a receipt for �300 (not dollars)

By the way are yiu not going to suggest I use yogi to get my answer?

[chickx]

Acer do really good laptops for around �300

[ChuckFickens]

Either Yogi, or maybe wait until you have an answer and then post an identical answer two days later.

Anyhow.... try either tesco, or Dells website... the small/medium sized business range is really good value for money

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/cat egory.aspx/vostro_nb?c=uk&l=en&s=bsd&cs=ukbsdt 1

I'd be tempted to add in the little extra and go for the 17' screen one!

[ChuckFickens]

17" screen even (a 17foot screen would be a rather large laptop ;))

[VHG]

As has been said, �300 is a bit tight for a laptop.

Can you stretch to �329?

Someone posted this as a deal from Morrisons

http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/383601/toshiba- laptop-l300-1aq-core-2-duo-/

If you can find it then it is a good deal for the money.

[realaleman]

Thanks for your link Chuck , the Dell Vostro looks pretty good and its a name you can rely on, but once I'd gone through all the customising pages I had a price that is �67 over the amount I have to give a receipt for. I just really want to know if there's anything wrong with Advent laptops or whether it's PC World that should be avoided.

BTW my reference to yogi was simply that every other answer from Jonpol1978 has tried to flog it!

[realaleman]

VHG...you are relly very helpful. That is indeed a very good deal. I must try and find a Morrisons where they have it.

[ChuckFickens]

When going through the process of buying dell online you have to read every page very carefully and make sure you don't get any of the extras (like extended warranties) then it should only have postage over and above the quoted price.

Advant are not particularly well made laptops and often seem to have a very plasticy feel to them that just doesn't inspire confidence that they will last anytime at all, also they are fairly well known for having abysmal customer service and after sales support.

[VHG]

Here is a HP laptop for under �300.

Very basic specs (as you would expect) but it does meet the criteria of being under �300

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152309

[VHG]

>I just really want to know if there's anything wrong with >Advent laptops or whether it's PC World that should be >avoided.

Advent laptops are usually sold through only PC World or Currys (who are the same company anyway).

I dont believe there is an actual "company" called Advent.

Advent is just a label stuck on a laptop that could have been made by any one of a number of generic laptop makers.

So when you buy an Advent you really dont know who has made it, how good it is, if it is reliable, or how good the build quality is.

So there is a certain amount of pot luck about it.

At least when you buy say a Toshiba you are pretty certain they have made it, and they are confident enough of its quality to put their name behind it.

I have no doubt some people have been "lucky" and got a good Advent, others unlucky and got a poor Advent, but do you want to trust that you will get a good one?

There is nothing wrong with PC World per-se (I have bought stuff there) but you do get the impression the sales people are more likely to sell you a laptop that is best for "them" (bonus etc) than is good for you.

It is the people who dont know anything about computers I l feel sorry for..."yes sir/madam, Advent are one of the best known brands in the marketplace, very reliable, I dont think you can do better".

If you know want you want, and PC World are selling it at a good price, then go for it, but dont let them talk you into buying what THEY say is best.

[ACtheTROLL]

real
With a little bit of google you can almost always match the price with one of the more "accepted" brands.

�300 it really pushing it though - there are so few machines available that I think its a sellers market

given the budget you don't have the choices that another few quid would give
PC world or argos can certainly deliver the goods now - the may day sales could have some good offers ... everyone is desperate to sell ...certainly worth waiting

the other option is refurbs - although the savings are pretty slim
http://outlet.dell.com/Emea_Dfo/EuDispatcher?c ountry=GBR&target=InventoryPage&lob_constraint =VOSNB

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Refurbished_Lap tops/cat.asp