New budget laptop advice...

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › New budget laptop advice...

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#173456 24-May-2015 10:53

Hi Geekzoners

My 10 year old HP desktop is due for replacement and I'm on the hunt for a laptop ( I think!)

Budget is $500 up to maybe $700
15.6" screen
Min 4 GB ram
500GB + storage
Quad core processor would be nice

Im not really looking at serious gaming but the ability to, would be good.
Main uses net browsing with a bit of spotify/pandora.

Need advice on screen resolution minimums and graphics cards - integrated or separate.
And maybe best type of processor?

Any advice and help will be appreciated.

Ta,

Rusty

1 | 2

meow
13197 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1310705 24-May-2015 11:02

Honestly I would suggest getting a Chromebook for your use. Sure they're not gaming laptops or anything but you're not going to get a gaming laptop for that price anyway.

15.6" screen - stay away from this unless if it is a 1080p+ panel as you're simply just stretching the image up to 15.6" and not gaining any better quality.

Intel graphics is the only thing in this price to look for. Anything else is a waste of time.

Go have a hunt around for a Chromebook. It'll do everything you need absolutely fine.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? Please consider supporting us by subscribing.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#1310710 24-May-2015 11:16

Thanks Michael

Hadn't really considered the Chromebooks due to their small screen size and small storage capabilities.
Worth investigating further tho .
Cheers!

gzt

16921 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1310817 24-May-2015 15:07

I have seen some absolute bargains pop up in this category recently. Advertising in the Saturday herald.

This isn't one of those but it meets and exceeds your technical requirements easily. I've seen similar pop up for 600 recently.

gzt

16921 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1310827 24-May-2015 16:20

Just looked at herald. Warehouse stationary has almost same model for 700. Difference may be 500GB instead of 750GB HDD.

Btw HN has a 4gb/1TB/quad/15.6 Acer for 499

getting closer but maybe not this week. Queens birthday coming up..

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#1310830 24-May-2015 16:32

If you can go down in screen size and up in budget a bit consider a Surface 3 and use microSD cards for expanded storagr

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#1310847 24-May-2015 16:56

Thanks guys

I know Ill probably have to sacrifice something but theres always great specials coming up.
Theres no big rush so Im happy enough to sit back and be patient and wait for the right deal.

The Surface looks an interesting option but the necessary accessories seem to take it out of my price range unfortunately.

Asmodeus

1015 posts

Uber Geek

#1314109 29-May-2015 13:31

This is available at Dick Smith

ACER Aspire 15.6" E5-571-551U W8.1 Notebook $699

15.6" HD Widescreen Display
4th gen Intel® Core™ i5 Processor (Up to 2.70GHz)
4GB RAM
1TB HDD
Intel® HD Graphics 4400
Windows® 8.1

And if you buy it today online and use the promocode latenight14, you'll get 14% ($98) off making it $601

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#1314131 29-May-2015 13:59

Queens Birthday specials! Sweet!

I've been looking and also found these :

http://www.warehousestationery.co.nz/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WSL-B2C-Site/en_NZ/-/NZD/ViewOfferDetail-Product?ProductRef=216984@WSL-B2C&utm_source=Big+Blue+Sale+Webtiles+B2C&utm_medium=Webtiles&utm_campaign=Big+Blue+Sale+Webtiles+B2C&utm_content=HP+Notebook

HP 15.6"
8 GB RAM
500GB HDD
Dedicated Graphics Card
Quad Core AMD Processor
$699

and

http://www.warehousestationery.co.nz/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/WSL-B2C-Site/en_NZ/-/NZD/ViewOfferDetail-Product?CatalogCategoryID=1zMKBTFwK0oAAAEue3tAPZw7&ProductUUID=ww0KBTFw9d8AAAFLSrJNalAs&JumpTo=OfferList

Acer 15.6"
4GB RAM
1 TB HDD
Quad Core Intel Processor
$499

Some good options!

Asmodeus

1015 posts

Uber Geek

#1314164 29-May-2015 15:00

That first one looks good, especially if it really is worth 1199 and down to 699.

The second one you posted says out of stock :(

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#1314174 29-May-2015 15:12

Agreed Asmodeus!

First one does look the go.

Making a trip to the big smoke tomorrow so I can see if theres store stock of the second one too.

Cheers

Stan

929 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1314275 29-May-2015 18:32

I would go for this
Take out the 2gb stick replace it with a 4gb add 256gb ssd.

gzt

16921 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1314295 29-May-2015 19:12

It supports that?

Rustee75

32 posts

Geek

#1314299 29-May-2015 19:20

Good suggestion but a 14" screen is a fair big drop from my 20" monitor I have now .
My concern about moving away from the desktop is the screen size drop but I suppose you sit closer eh?

Stan

929 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1314323 29-May-2015 19:52

gzt: It supports that?

Yes it does, the CPU is almost as good as that $499 Pentium

es1-411 by David Bennett, on Flickr

gzt

16921 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1314328 29-May-2015 20:01

Monitors are cheap. Upgrade or use the same one with the laptop.

1 | 2