Buying a laptop for my Dad

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  1. frank_drebin's Avatar
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    Buying a laptop for my Dad
    Hi everyone.

    So my Dad asked me to do some research into the latest laptops around as he's thinking of buying a new one, but I'm slightly confused as to which one would be best for him.

    I've had a Macbook for quite sometime now so don't quite know what the scene is with Windows laptops.

    He would use it mainly for the Internet and for doing work on Office. I found the following laptop to be pretty decent:
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsun...86457-pdt.html

    I understand that this laptop is pretty expensive considering what his main use for it will be, but I also want him to have something reliable, and reasonably up to date so that it will last him for a couple of years.

    Would greatly appreciate any information that people may have on the matter.

    Thanks
  2. Hippysnake's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    That will do the trick. If anything, it's overpowered. I don't think Word 2013 is going to require 6GB of RAM unless it's being coded by monkeys.
  3. Elwyn's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    Samsung laptops are very nice. If you want to save a little on that price however this Samsung series 3 laptop is pretty much the same and cheaper http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...uctInformation
    The only difference I can see really is the 4GB RAM instead of 6GB, but if he's only using it for office work 4GB is plenty.
    Also available in pink!
  4. cl_steele's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    god i feel like a broken toy saying this but seeing as i assume it would be for business use if you want something reliable and built like a brick **** house go for the Lenovo Thinkpad range, T series is best for business, Xseries is smallest and most portable and the W series whilst consting a small fortune is like the tank of the Business end laptops its a beast!

    something cheaper though Dells are fairly reliable, or so i've heard, never personally owned one also sony vios - my sisters had hers for 5years now and still runs pretty sharpish and the only fault she's had with it is the battery snuffing it recently but given 5years thats pretty damn impressive
  5. cl_steele's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by Hippysnake)
    That will do the trick. If anything, it's overpowered. I don't think Word 2013 is going to require 6GB of RAM unless it's being coded by monkeys.
    Well given Microsofts truly outstanding reputation for churning out 'good' software i wouldnt be entirely suprised :rolleyes:
  6. Hippysnake's Avatar
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    • Location: Moon
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by cl_steele)
    Well given Microsofts truly outstanding reputation for churning out 'good' software i wouldnt be entirely suprised :rolleyes:
    Microsoft have churned out some programmes that can run stable with 6GB of RAM.

    Windows 98 comes to mind.
  7. cl_steele's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by Hippysnake)
    Microsoft have churned out some programmes that can run stable with 6GB of RAM.

    Windows 98 comes to mind.
    Aye i quite liked 98 and 2000 wasnt to bad, when they put out Vista though urgh useless pile of crap -_-
  8. Iqbal007's Avatar
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    • Posts: 13,386
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by frank_drebin)
    Hi everyone.

    So my Dad asked me to do some research into the latest laptops around as he's thinking of buying a new one, but I'm slightly confused as to which one would be best for him.

    I've had a Macbook for quite sometime now so don't quite know what the scene is with Windows laptops.

    He would use it mainly for the Internet and for doing work on Office. I found the following laptop to be pretty decent:
    http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/samsun...86457-pdt.html

    I understand that this laptop is pretty expensive considering what his main use for it will be, but I also want him to have something reliable, and reasonably up to date so that it will last him for a couple of years.

    Would greatly appreciate any information that people may have on the matter.

    Thanks
    http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_G570_1223730.html

    You can find loads of deals on-line
  9. Sir Fox's Avatar
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    • Posts: 2,055
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by Hippysnake)
    That will do the trick. If anything, it's overpowered. I don't think Word 2013 is going to require 6GB of RAM unless it's being coded by monkeys.
    I don't know about her dad (so no offence intended) but most people in the 45+ range who ask their children or someone else to find them a laptop are not overly concerned with technology and tend to use it until it breaks, only then they get bothered of getting something new. I'd therefore recommend to get a laptop as future proof as possible - sure, CPUs and some other parts get outdated quite quickly but why cut back on something like memory?
  10. Sir Fox's Avatar
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    • Posts: 2,055
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by cl_steele)
    Aye i quite liked 98 and 2000 wasnt to bad, when they put out Vista though urgh useless pile of crap -_-
    XP was easily the best OS they ever build, though 7 is not bad either
  11. Inverse's Avatar
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    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by cl_steele)
    god i feel like a broken toy saying this but seeing as i assume it would be for business use if you want something reliable and built like a brick **** house go for the Lenovo Thinkpad range, T series is best for business, Xseries is smallest and most portable and the W series whilst consting a small fortune is like the tank of the Business end laptops its a beast!

    something cheaper though Dells are fairly reliable, or so i've heard, never personally owned one also sony vios - my sisters had hers for 5years now and still runs pretty sharpish and the only fault she's had with it is the battery snuffing it recently but given 5years thats pretty damn impressive
    NO NO NO NO avoid Dell. xD
  12. DeathByBSOD's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by cl_steele)
    Aye i quite liked 98 and 2000 wasnt to bad, when they put out Vista though urgh useless pile of crap -_-
    Windows 2000? - Epic fail..
    Vista? - Epic(er) Fail.... - My toaster was faster than that...
  13. Hippysnake's Avatar
    • TSR Demigod
    • Location: Moon
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    (Original post by Sir Fox)
    I don't know about her dad (so no offence intended) but most people in the 45+ range who ask their children or someone else to find them a laptop are not overly concerned with technology and tend to use it until it breaks, only then they get bothered of getting something new. I'd therefore recommend to get a laptop as future proof as possible - sure, CPUs and some other parts get outdated quite quickly but why cut back on something like memory?
    Not telling her to cut back, but unless you plan on video editing or gaming, 6gb is serious overkill, even 6-7 years down the line.
  14. frank_drebin's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Location: classified
    • Posts: 361
    Re: Buying a laptop for my Dad
    Sorry for the late replies everyone!

    And thanks a lot to you all for the information.

    (Original post by Elwyn)
    Samsung laptops are very nice. If you want to save a little on that price however this Samsung series 3 laptop is pretty much the same and cheaper http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...uctInformation
    The only difference I can see really is the 4GB RAM instead of 6GB, but if he's only using it for office work 4GB is plenty.
    Also available in pink!
    Thanks a lot for the link!

    Yeah that laptop looks pretty decent, will definitely check it out.

    (Original post by cl_steele)
    god i feel like a broken toy saying this but seeing as i assume it would be for business use if you want something reliable and built like a brick **** house go for the Lenovo Thinkpad range, T series is best for business, Xseries is smallest and most portable and the W series whilst consting a small fortune is like the tank of the Business end laptops its a beast!

    something cheaper though Dells are fairly reliable, or so i've heard, never personally owned one also sony vios - my sisters had hers for 5years now and still runs pretty sharpish and the only fault she's had with it is the battery snuffing it recently but given 5years thats pretty damn impressive
    I was thinking about getting a Lenovo, but they seem to slightly expensive for the same specs as other brands?

    And I have to agree with:
    (Original post by Inverse)
    NO NO NO NO avoid Dell. xD
    I haven't had a bad experience with Dell laptops but I remember when my friend bought a brand new one, booted into Windows, copied some stuff from his external hard disk, restarted it, and it give him the blue screen of death!

    (Original post by Sir Fox)
    I don't know about her dad (so no offence intended) but most people in the 45+ range who ask their children or someone else to find them a laptop are not overly concerned with technology and tend to use it until it breaks, only then they get bothered of getting something new. I'd therefore recommend to get a laptop as future proof as possible - sure, CPUs and some other parts get outdated quite quickly but why cut back on something like memory?
    Thanks a lot for your reply.

    And I'm a he!

    I suppose my Dad is somewhat similar to that description but he knows a lot more about what to look for in the specs than others would. So he wants some decent specs but nothing too expensive.

    As for cutting back on the memory, I think Hippysnake said it quite well when he said:
    (Original post by Hippysnake)
    Not telling her to cut back, but unless you plan on video editing or gaming, 6gb is serious overkill, even 6-7 years down the line.
    And £60 or £70 more for 2GB more RAM seems quite expensive. Ok sure, I might use the laptop myself from time to time, and install some games on it and stuff, but I'm not really at home most of the time so I don't know

    (Original post by Iqbal007)
    http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_G570_1223730.html

    You can find loads of deals on-line
    Thanks a lot
    Last edited by frank_drebin; 12-07-2012 at 16:27.
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