Buying a new Laptop

Needatv

Hi as the title suggests I am in the market for a new laptop
and I am looking for some advice on buying

(Mods If this is in the wrong place or should be on another thread please delete)

Not very well versed in the current specifications out there / recommended or what is best suited to my needs.

(I currently have a dell inspiron 1720 and its well past its prime - runs windows vista , 1.6 Intel dual Pentium and 2 GB ram but constantly gets a blue screen and memory hangs)

As some of my friends and family also want a laptop (same reason - 3+ years old laptops currently) I will be trying to take the recommendations here to the shop and look for a discount . Between them it will be 4-5 laptops including mine. All will be used for similar functions - family based laptops for day to day general use - internet , music , writing documents

In keeping with the sticky on the forum the following is the criteria

Budget: Pre discount (if I were to achieve one) 400-500 euros

Intended use: College work, internet, e-mail, Word processing, Spreadsheets, music
general family computers , no heavy use eg graphics or programming

Mobility: Not necessarily important would prefer 15.6" + because of dvd watching, streaming etc

Warranty: Would a 12 month one be standard ? Extended one not a issue

What Operating System do you use? Windows currently - given budget MAC not an option and even with that may be a bit much for parents etc to switch to

So my question is
do you have any suggestions
or
could someone guide me on a min spec - which I will used as a wishlist for the best deal when comparing prices across the shops
eg min 3 GB ram
does Intel or AMD based matter
should you insist on Windows 8
what type of processor

Thanks in advance for any replies

areyawell

http://www.dell.com/ie/p/inspiron-15r-5520/fs

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5089057/Trail/searchtext%3ELAPTOP.htm

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5087781/Trail/searchtext%3ELAPTOP.htm

http://www.currys.ie/Product/LENOVO-Z580-156andquot-Laptop-Metal/315723/148

http://www.currys.ie/Product/SAMSUNG-Series-3-3530E-156andquot-Laptop/316181/148

Not sure about the warranty on the argos ones though! Ideally would want to be getting an i3 processor.

Needatv

Hi Thanks for your reply Areyawell

I know you have said should be an i3 processor but would this be a good deal

Its AMD A4 and says its 2.5 ghz so dunno if that is much worse than the I3

just seems a good price (if you can believe it ever was over 600 quid)


http://www.currys.ie/Product/HP-Pavilion-g62215sa-Laptop-Purple/316200/148

Thanks again for your help