Low End Laptops?

[iChimp]

Hi all,

Firstly I apologise if this is in the wrong forum but thought it was quite a general question ...

I am a long time Apple Mac user so my knowledge of PC's and their specs is quite limited but i am looking for a low cost laptop - such as THIS from PC World.

I want it for basic stuff for work involving Microsoft Office products which i assume even a low end computer can handle BUT ... and its a big BUT ... i was looking for one that can run the game World of Warcraft even on its lowest settings. Its almost 5 years old now so i'm assuming on the lowest settings it wouldn't be to power hungry but i could be wrong ...

So what do you think? Would a £300 - £400 laptop be able to run Microsoft Office apps + World of Warcraft?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Kind regards,

[Haiku32]

World of Warcraft will run on just about anything. I'd be surprised to see any computer that you can still buy today that can't run WoW on even medium settings. Even a crappy old laptop with 128mb memory and integrated graphics chip could run WoW on low for me. I wouldn't even put that in as a factor for choosing a laptop, it's practically a given .

[iChimp]

Excellent thanks for your feedback Haiku32 - thats exactly what i wanted to hear

Now to find a nice cheap laptop ...

[synaesthesia]

Take a look at the HP Compaq 6735s and Toshiba Satellite Pro L300 series. Insight have a £50 cashback on the latter atm, one of the higher spec models (if memory serves me its L300-292) costs £280 with that cashback.

[Ferral]

I would spend a little extra and go for a lappy that has a Radeon or GeForce mobility. Just looking there and came across this that has a GeForce 8200 in it :

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-35054

[iChimp]

Thanks Ferral and synaesthesia for the advice!
That one looks nice Ferral - looks like it may be worth the slight bit extra!

Do you think there would be a chance that PC World will upgrade to Windows 7 if i purchase in store? Is Windows 7 even out? lol

[rushholme]

I would spend a little extra and go for a lappy that has a Radeon or GeForce mobility. Just looking there and came across this that has a GeForce 8200 in it :

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/sto...ory_oid=-35054

A friend got this laptop from Comet for £299. I think it was a special offer. £370 seems steep for single core Sempron....

But, i can confirm that the above lappy plays Half Life 2 with high settings and no antialising.

[rushholme]

Further to my last comment, try PC World's refurbished laptops.

HP G60-213EM is dual core and £270.

Just add a 2GB stick of RAM for ~£20.

There refurbished laptops are a bargain as they come with normal warranty.

[lodore]

why not check out the dell outlet?
it has referbs and some computers that people have choosen custom specs but then canceled so you can get it for cheaper.

[iChimp]

Hey all,

Thanks very much for all your advice and feedback.

I have got myself down to two systems i have my eyes on.

Firstly THIS from Dell

Secondly THIS from Compaq ...

The Compaq has a dedicated Graphics card but the Dell looks nicer and has, i believe better specs right?

Any further advice would, again, be awesome!

[rushholme]

Probably go for the Dell.

Just check that its GFX card - Intel GMA 4500MHD - is OK for your games. Should be fine for WoW.

Personally, I'd still look at the refurbished ones (but I'm cheap)

[iChimp]

Hey rushholme thanks for your response - my main reason for not looking for a refurb is just so once i have decided on one i dont have to order online and wait for delivery only for it to come when im at work, get sent to the sorting office to get smashed about and then collected 2 weeks later!

[Behemoth]

I'm going to give you two very good pieces of Advice regarding Laptops from PC World or Curry's

1) Don't buy an Advent, they are without any doubt the poorest quality Laptops I have ever had the missfortune of working with. On average, every 2 in 5 I've sold have had dead pixels on screen right out of the box. I swear they are also made out of plastic you find in boxes of Cadbury's Milk Tray.

2) Don't buy a refurb from the internet sites. All they do is re-install the operating system and then re-sell them without any proper testing at all. They blue screen after 20 mins or so use. I can't speak for other retailers online, but I know thats all Curry's and PC World do.

Either the Compaq or the Dell the op has linked to will be ideal Although I'd buy the Compaq with the GeForce 8200 to be honest

[Stompy]

Based on return rates I've seen at work, I would definately get the Compaq.
Best budget laptop chassis at the moment are the Compaq CQ60/HP G60 (same thing) or the acer 5735/5535. Steer clear of the dell 1545 (studio models are fine), and as mentioned above anything by advent/EI systems.

[Andeh13]

I know you would have to order online for these but the build quality, specs & warranty beat all of the above, especially if you go for the Studio 17 (a seriously well built & classy machine). Keep in mind they all come with a 3 year dell onsite warranty aswell, compared with the 1 year all of the above come with. That means if the post office do trash it, dell will fix it in your room a day or two later!

Main laptop selection page;
http://www.mcscom.co.uk/section.php?xSec=17

Some that might be of use;

15inch Inspiron with specs & price that match/beat all of the above;
http://www.mcscom.co.uk/product.php?xProd=8462&xSec=67

Studio 17 (ie high quality laptop) with specs, build quality to match all of the above and still within your price range;
http://www.mcscom.co.uk/product.php?xProd=6668&xSec=74
http://www.mcscom.co.uk/product.php?xProd=9716&xSec=74


I got my studio 17 from there and have loved it ever since!

[rushholme]

I can testify that the Compaq above, although being well built, is sluggish in Vista Basic, even with superfluous services disabled and 3gb of RAM.

GET A DUAL CORE

Those MCS deals look great BTW.