GRcade

I'm on the search for a budget laptop and I have some very basic requirements. I've started writing for a website and I need a reliable computer that isn't going to take 8 minutes to flick between internet tabs, or freeze for half an hour while I'm trying to open MS Word (these are just two of the horrendous things my current laptop does on a daily basis).

All I need to be able to do is move around the internet quickly, use Textpad and Skype messenger (not video), and type up news stories on the website's basic content-management system. I need to be able to do these things with the minimum of fuss.

And because this writing job doesn't pay much, I don't want to shell out loads for a computer - as it'll take me ages to break even. I want as low an initial outlay as possible.

Thanks for your help!

Off the top of my head I'd say the HP Stream 11 but I think that's around the 170 mark.

Thanks, I forgot to mention that I'm find with second-hand, so I can look on eBay, too.

I wonder if I'll need more than an 11-inch screen. All the scrolling up and down may be a bit fiddly with the content-management system. But I guess for my price range I can't expect a big screen.

For that price range there are some tablets with keyboards which may offer more than a ultra-budget laptop.

I haven't looked into it enough to recommend any particular models though.

If you want a decent laptop it will probably cost around £200 at the low end.

There are a lot of really good second hand laptops available at auction houses if you fancy the effort.

Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

Gario wrote:Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

If you can do a clean install of Windows then do it, aslong as you've not got any data on the drive you are installing to you don't have a lot to lose.

Otherwise you could go with something like this...

http://www.ebuyer.com/665844-lenovo-b50 ... op-mca2wuk

The fact you can buy a laptop like that for £180 is insane.

Gario wrote:Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

What do the errors say? If they are software releated then if you don't want to do a complete re-install as HSH suggested, see if there is a "repair" option. If hardware related you may have to buy a "new" one.

Death's Head wrote:

Gario wrote:Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

What do the errors say? If they are software releated then if you don't want to do a complete re-install as HSH suggested, see if there is a "repair" option. If hardware related you may have to buy a "new" one.

The errors say all sorts of things and they crash the computer themselves as there are so many of them. I then have to switch it off.

You can get pretty good deals on chrome books.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-13-3-inch- ... Chromebook

There is an 11 inch chrome book in the US for 150 that's meant to be usable.

Gario wrote:Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

Could always try the windows 10 preview. For a clean install

Gario wrote:

Death's Head wrote:

Gario wrote:Alternatively, might it be possible to salvage my current laptop? It's actually a pretty decent machine, but there's something wrong with it. I keep getting an infinite amount of error messages that pop up all over the screen.

What do the errors say? If they are software releated then if you don't want to do a complete re-install as HSH suggested, see if there is a "repair" option. If hardware related you may have to buy a "new" one.

The errors say all sorts of things and they crash the computer themselves as there are so many of them. I then have to switch it off.

Sounds like you've been infected with some kind of malware/spyware crap. They can be a pain to get rid of (you might want to try booting into safe mode), sometimes it is easier just to reinstall windows and start from scratch.

Thank you, only problem is I don't have any discs here. Could I borrow a friend's Windows install disc? Maybe one of you boys if I reward you handsomely? (no homo)

I'm just doing a disk clean-up and defrag now.

No repair option? Might not need the disk for that if certain parts are installed.