Your help please FC

@fat controller, you said if I had computer issues you would be happy to give me a hand. Can I now take you up on that offer please and anyone else that may have ideas. I decided to post on the forum and not PM as other members may find what is said useful.

Okay, on Friday my computer finally died and this is one of some brief interludes via my other half's machine.

At the moment I have three new laptops in the pipeline to choose from and wondered if you would have a look and see what you think please. Also any others that you think would suit would be welcome. My old machine is the Acer Aspire 7715 with Windows 7 and I'd like to move to Windows 10 not 8 if possible.

Here's what I've come up with and I'm looking to spend up to £300-ish.

Acer Aspire NX.MNYEK.004

Acer Aspire ES1-512

Lenovo G50-45 - 80MQ0014UK

Also, what's your opinion of buying online regarding after sales service etc. please.

 

I can't speak for those specific Acer models but I have two and they have not let me down. One is a laptop about 2 years old and the other is a 4 year old netbook. I have an Asus with windows 8 and yes, don't go with 8, it is a pain so I just use it to stream coronation street.

 

@Sheal , I'll be looking for a new puter this christmas . As my Dell of 9 years running XP is having a few senior moments . I prefer a desktop PC to a laptop . On another post FC advised me to go for an Intel processor over AMD and not to ignore the "lesser" makes. My current short-list is a ®Zoostorm with a hybrid hard drive. Surprisingly at the moment very few computers ship with Windows 10 , which really you must have to go for . All the sites say you can "downgrade" to Windows 10 . Downgrade confused the heck out of me But it means a downloadable-upgrade - you gotta keep up with the kids
The two on-line sites I am considering are ....
http://www.dabs.com
and
http://www.ebuyer.com
They seem very price savvy and I can almost understand the specifications !

 

Thanks all for your thoughts. Sitting here typing on other half's machine (Aspire 5552) and I really don't like the keyboard, it's a 'chiclet' and the letters are in the corner of the keys, I find that so off putting and I keep typing a load of rubbish. I know.....no different to usual!

I don't need anymore than 4GB FC I barely used what I had on my machine. The only thing I really store on it is photographs.

My son has a second HP so I know they're good but they tend to come up a bit pricey, I'd like to keep it under £300 if possible.

Okay, I've taken on board your advice FC, thanks. I'm out tomorrow to have a look at a local computer supplier, one of only two here and I'll see what they have but unfortunately their prices are a bit over the top. The other one is Curry's and they have a terrible reputation, so a non-starter.

 

Just remembered. I was having a look at Tesco's Direct earlier and their prices are quite competitive.

 

Please don't use Currys. You are right! Just look on their Facebook page as to bad practice regarding faulty goods. I too, have experienced an awful dealing with Currys and would avoid at al cost.

 

Tesco Direct can occasionally have very good deals, for example they were selling the ES1-512's you mention for £179.99 in May earlier this year, and some Asda stores have recently had them reduced to only £100!

For a short time those were £100 less at JL about a week ago.


To summarise, if you live on an island without several major stores nearby, and wait until your laptop dies before looking at replacements, you may end up paying about £100 more than if keeping an eye open for bargains and getting it earlier, plus if you don't get to see/try it you before ordering could end up getting stuck with a keyboard you hate the look and feel of. I've walked away from loads that seemed perfect but realised I couldn't live with them only when I saw/touched them.

 

I couldn't agree more @Rustler, Currys are the most useless shop in the world in my opinion! They couldn't even manage to deliver an oven to me on the correct day! I cancelled the order, threw my dummy, blanket & toys out of my pram & promised I'd never walk into another 'Currys' ever again! & to this day I've never been back! It's not often that I get really mad but their customer service & delivery service are useless!

 

We have one local to us that is amazing for both customer service and prices www.cclonline.com
If you already have the screen,keyboard,mouse etc you could just buy a desktop pc.
I have the advantage of being able to see these guys and talk to them, they really know their stuff. They should really as that's all they deal with all day every day.
I'm sure they post too

 

@Scrungee, I've said before the island has got very few shops. The only computer suppliers here are Curry's and a local shop that I visited today. That shop has now reduced it's stock to a bare minimum, just four laptops and they were all Acers, two of which were way out of my price range. I will now be buying from Tesco's because I can return the computer to the shop if it's faulty without having to pay postage off the island. They also have a good after sales service which I can also access through the shop here.

My laptop was old yes, but died without warning, nobody can foresee that and to be honest I'm not really in the financial position at the moment to replace it at all, but needs must.

 

I've discarded Acers @fat controller because I really don't like the newer keyboard and they all seem to be the same across the range.

I have three in mind now.......

HP255 G3 Windows 8

Asus X553MA Windows 8

HP355 G2 Windows 7...........this last laptop I suspect is a much older model because of Windows 7 but it's still a consideration.

 

If you're intending ordering from Tesco Direct and have Clubcard Points, wait until 19th November when you'll be able to double up your points at Tesco Direct.

We're classed as being in poverty, but maintain 1 laptop each (3 including daughter's at uni) + >1 spare, achieved by mainly buying during with Tesco Clubcard points during double up promotions and using extra money off codes. Simply buying one of our car/house/pet insurances each year using TCB (for £52.50 p.a. in points) plus some wangle such as buying 100's of noodles for the points [1] ensures we can get a new lappy every year for pennies and even old retired ones pay their way [2].


[1] http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/easy-way-to-get-t-m-or-vm-£15-vouchers.103780/ Cor, you should've seen the binnies struggling to push away my recycling bin with over 100 Tesco mags in it!

[2] We use each device to get around printing limits per machine, so we can keep buying our shopping for pennies, such as this shop today, only 30p for £9.77's worth of shopping, only put that 30p loaf for the ducks in my basket because Morrisons often get a bit 'funny' about giving you all your shopping for nothing.