New Laptop - Options needed

My Vaio Laptop got recalled and the power adapter strawberry floated up so they're giving me a refund. I'm looking around but everything looks gooseberry fool and I need some options soonish. It needs:
- To be less than 15" (11 - 14")
- Hopefully have a screen higher than 720p
- Be able to push out 1080p video to my TV
- Play the odd game
- Use an SSD rather than a HDD
- Cost less than £600
- Not look like arse, preferable with some metal on the case
- Not be made by Acer

Any options?I'm tempted to get a Macbook air and stick Windows on it. :shifty:

PostRe: New Laptop - Options needed by **Errkal** » Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:19 pm

MacBook Air with windows is a mental option.

Hvae a lookat some of HP's UltraBooks and "Thin and Light" options, they should do the trick in terms of prettiness.

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/List.aspx?sel=PCNB&ctrl=f&facet_name1=HP%20Pavilion%20x360&facet_name2=HP%20ENVY&facet_name3=HP%20Spectre%2013&facet_name4=HP%20Split&facet_name5=HP%20SlateBook%2010&facet_name6=HP%20ENVY%20TouchSmart%2015

Most of those smaller ones actually cost more than a Macbook air (and look worse).

Why is your budget less than £600 if you're entertaining the thought of a MacBook Air?

Dark Dragon 64 » Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:03 pm wrote:Why is your budget less than £600 if you're entertaining the thought of a MacBook Air?

Because I can get an 11" one for £580.

Asus, just watch out for the screen viewing angles and sadly they come with bloatware now.

Can't think of a single Windows OEM that don't make laptops which have a selection of the following:

-Ugliness
-Crap battery life
-non existent driver support post release
-Depreciation to the point of being worthless 18 months down the line
-Poor build quality

I wish I thought there was a real alternative to a Macbook these days, but I don't see it.

Thinkpads are decent. Not what they used to be, though.

Harry Bizzle » Wed Jun 04, 2014 9:48 am wrote:Can't think of a single Windows OEM that don't make laptops which have a selection of the following:

-Ugliness
-Crap battery life
-non existent driver support post release
-Depreciation to the point of being worthless 18 months down the line
-Poor build quality

I wish I thought there was a real alternative to a Macbook these days, but I don't see it.

Thinkpads are decent. Not what they used to be, though.

ASUS make quality laptops, and Lenovo are kicking ass these days too. But I would agree, lots of manufacturers are pumping out gooseberry fool these days.

I went with a Dell. They do get a lot of hate but I've been happy with them in the past and no one could beat them on specs for the price:
£540 for an up to 3Ghz i7, 8Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD and a 1080p screen. It looks pretty tidy too.

But is it massive? What about battery life?

Most laptops are contradictory in my experience.

12" screen :datass:

Just about right size. The screen flips to change it into a 'tablet', but I'm not all that bothered about that.

Magnesium, Carbon Fibre and Aluminium. It's not the prettiest laptop but it's tidy enough for me to not hate it.

PostRe: New Laptop - Options needed by **1cmanny1** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:15 pm

Looks pretty nice! I would much rather get that than an Apple.

I would have gone for one of the custom spec laptops from PC Specialist if I wanted a slim laptop with a full HD screen and SSD without being charged crazy money for such a device.

Fatal Exception wrote:I went with a Dell. They do get a lot of hate but I've been happy with them in the past and no one could beat them on specs for the price:
£540 for an up to 3Ghz i7, 8Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD and a 1080p screen. It looks pretty tidy too.

How did you manage to get it that cheap? Was it a Dell Outlet store deal?

systematic » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:49 pm wrote:
Fatal Exception wrote:I went with a Dell. They do get a lot of hate but I've been happy with them in the past and no one could beat them on specs for the price:
£540 for an up to 3Ghz i7, 8Gb RAM, 128Gb SSD and a 1080p screen. It looks pretty tidy too.

How did you manage to get it that cheap? Was it a Dell Outlet store deal?

Yeah, there were a couple on there. I'll let you know if it's any good. My Sony one this is replacing has been a pile of wank. I got a Viao Fit 11a. Not amazing specs wise but had 8Gb of RAM and a 1080p screen. Soon after buying it got recalled because of an exploding battery problem :lol:

I checked the serial on the website but it said it was OK. Then they called me to tell me it wasn't and not to use it for 2 weeks until they get replacement batteries in. In those two weeks I carried on using it but the connector for the power adapter broke, meaning it would only charge when it was pressed in either with your hand or by leaning the whole laptop on it. Then the touchscreen broke. They are giving me a refund though, so... meh.

And it's arrived. It looks so, so good in the flesh. Much better than the photos. I actually might prefer it to my GF's Macbook air. The carbon fibre and aluminium really give it a nice industrial look and feel.

New Laptop - Options needed

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