Off Topic New laptop advice

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askewshair said:
My usage is very general, so don't need specific strengths. Just a good value pc, with a reasonable spec for that price. As Dennis alluded to, three of us tried a virtual jam the other night. The camera, speakers and microphone were useless (probably for the best). It's not something we're likely to do regularly (actually never, after the lockdown), but reminded me how old and limited it is.

What should I be looking for? I understand rams and roms. What processors are good at entry level?
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Any built in speakers, camera and microphone will be useless even in a new top of the range laptop (barring perhaps the camera in a top spec one).

In order to get good sound you need a proper interface (like a focusrite scarlet), proper speakers and a proper mic.

A webcam can be picked up for £20 that will give spot on video.

Don’t let things like that make your decision.
 
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Now is not a good time to be buying.All the best spec. Laptops have been snapped up for home working.Try to stay away from Curry’s etc as they are offloading old stock.
Agree with cable v WiFi....significant difference for me.
 
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I've just purchased a MacBook Pro costing me 2.5k. Horrifically expensive but part of my job is video and image editing, so it's an investment for my career. I'm making good use of it during COVID.

If all you need a laptop for is for browsing the web, emails, using Word and Excel, I would recommend HP or Dell.

Something like this

Or this
 
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Bloke from Peckhams had several reconditioned ones in when I was last in there. He’d put oodles of big remembering stuff boxes and fast doing stuff bits in them.
I’d definitely give him a ring and see what he has, or can cobble together.
 
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dennisboothstash said:
Bloke from Peckhams had several reconditioned ones in when I was last in there. He’d put oodles of big remembering stuff boxes and fast doing stuff bits in them.
I’d definitely give him a ring and see what he has, or can cobble together.
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Yeah, I've messaged him, suggested I ring in morning. They seem reasonably priced on his fb page. Are these refurbished laptops?
 
Chazz Rheinhold said:
stop been all techy and put it in layman’s terms ffs den
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Became a recluse
And bought a computer
Set it up in the home
Elusive big one
On the screen
Saw the Holy Ghost, I swear
On the screen

Where's the cursor?
Where's the eraser?
Where's the cursor?
Where's the eraser?

G-O-H-O-H-O-9-O
G-O-H-O-H-O-9-O
G-O-H-O-H-O-9-O
H-O-9-O-G-O-H-O

What's a computer?
Eat y'self fitter
What's a computer?
Eat y'self fitter
 
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If your budget really is £300 I'd seriously look at a used job. Lots of people are saying Peckhams are good, try them. I think if you go too budget you might be disappointed in 6 months time.
 
Another option depending upon what you need it for is to go for a Chromebook. These are kind of like a hybrid tablet-laptop. They won't run Windows apps since almost everything runs in the Chrome browser but you've got most things available - office apps, video streaming etc.

Battery life tends to be better than Windows and updates are done automatically, like iPads etc. I notice Currys selling an HP with 1 TB HDD for £299 although they don't generally need that much disk space.

As I say, just a suggestion which may or may not work for you.
 
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Forgot to say re. Chromebooks... these days they generally run most Android apps too but confirm the specific model if that's of interest.
 
You could also repurpose your old pc as a Chromebook using Neverware Cloudready. I did this with a 2016 Lenovo netbook and also changed the hard drive for a £25 SSD and it's given it a new lease of life. Updates are quick and easy and I can still use MS Office via Office 365 online.
 
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GlassHalfHull said:
You could also repurpose your old pc as a Chromebook using Neverware Cloudready. I did this with a 2016 Lenovo netbook and also changed the hard drive for a £25 SSD and it's given it a new lease of life. Updates are quick and easy and I can still use MS Office via Office 365 online.
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Yeah Askew
Do that
Can't believe you hadn't thought of it already to be honest

* Not taking the piss GHH. I just, despite being reasonably intelligent I think, don't understand any words when they are used to describe computers. Its more than a foreign language, its like I don't even know how the individual letters sound anymore!
 
moonray said:
Forgot to say re. Chromebooks... these days they generally run most Android apps too but confirm the specific model if that's of interest.
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This all the way. I have used a Chromebook for a couple of years and probably wouldn't go back to another system. Apart from being cheaper (other than top-spec Chromebooks) they start within seconds, have fantastic battery life, don't need any security protection, update automatically and, as already said, there are apps for virtually anything you want to do. I use my 'ordinary' work laptop (Dell - v.good btw) and it is incredible how quickly the Chromebook is ready to go in comparison.

I'd thoroughly recommend them for general daily use.
 
Uncle Z said:
This all the way. I have used a Chromebook for a couple of years and probably wouldn't go back to another system. Apart from being cheaper (other than top-spec Chromebooks) they start within seconds, have fantastic battery life, don't need any security protection, update automatically and, as already said, there are apps for virtually anything you want to do. I use my 'ordinary' work laptop (Dell - v.good btw) and it is incredible how quickly the Chromebook is ready to go in comparison.

I'd thoroughly recommend them for general daily use.
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What about downloading stuff?
 
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