Help me choose a laptop quickly (Student UK)

April 13, 2013 1:03 PM

So I stupidly dropped my laptop and whilst the data on it was thankfully recoverable (teach me to back up more often!), the machine itself is done for. I'm more technologically minded than a lot of my friends but it isn't really my area and I always take forever to investigate and weigh up the options, but I really need to order it quickly since I go back to university next week! So please, some recommendations or pointers to help me make a quick and sensible choice. (Some basic personal requirements/details below.)

Mid-size (15.6"?) since it'll be my main media device but I'll need to carry it about sometimes, although portability (weight, battery) isn't really a major concern.
I'll use it A LOT - for work (word processing) , heavy internet use, watching movies and music but not gaming really. And I'd rather it didn't get too slow too fast!
Large library of files so big hard drive.
And I'm pretty sure I want to keep with Windows 7 (I've got a smartphone if I want to play around!)

Basically, I don't need and can't afford anything really high end but I think I use it enough and intensively enough that I don't think a really cheap machine would do - so if we said I can manage up to £500 (about $750) what is the best I can do?

If there is any significant factor I've missed out then of course ask me. Thanks very much.

posted by an opinicus to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Hi. I use my laptop basically constantly for work and the same things you do - move viewing, etc. I know it's not a popular answer because it's mass-consumer and not in anyway cool or "I will hand-pick every component down to my fan!" geeky but I just take the amount of money I have and go to Dell. Here are the current deals. We have 3 laptops in this house at the moment, two of them Dells. One is 18 months old, one is four years old, both are used heavily, neither has any hint of the OMG DON'T BUY A DELL issues people bang on about but I've never experienced. This is our 3rd generation of Dells, each one lasting 5+ years.

I'd get the Inspiron 17R (and in fact I have an earlier version of that.) It's on sale, I <3 my swappable lid, it's in stock, it ships the next day, and the extra roomy screen is really, really nice. I am totally happy with my 4 gigs of RAM for both movie watching and gaming, but if you want more RAM get one if the Inspiron 15s and never mind the lid.

There is a point at which you are choosing between different coloured Smarties. These six Dells are that point. ANY ONE is fine and will serve you well. Don't let MeFi overclock your geek needs.

Caveat: I do live in a house where before I get my hands on it, my partner completely de-crapifies my laptop and removes of all the "on board Dell" shit. I don't think you can buy from a big-box online retailer or store like PC World these days without all that cruft, though it's easy enough to uninstall if initially tedious to do.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:37 PM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

The above answer is pretty much what I've always done, as a non-hardware-caring person. I'd just like to add that if you are considering buying a Dell, it's definitely worth taking a look at the Dell Outlet.

Despite its terrible, terrible interface, you can get some pretty good deals on there. Unlike the main Dell site, prices exclude VAT and delivery - but it looks like delivery is free from the outlet at the moment anyway.

The cheapest Inspiron 17R I found on there just now is £325.70 all-in. (This is without the graphics card from the one on the main site, and with a different processor.)
posted by smcg at 2:02 PM on April 13, 2013

When I was looking for a laptop I found HotUKDeals fairly helpful.

It's like a forum where people post things you can buy and then vote on them and argue about it. Even though I ended up buying second hand, browsing laptops on there gave me a rough idea of what I ought to be getting for my money.
posted by PJMcPrettypants at 4:02 PM on April 14, 2013