Laptop - Non-gaming - Fast startup and web browsing/ downloading only

baperi on 23/07/2013 - 11:54

Hi there,

Would apprecitate some advice and direction as I'm not too tech savy.

I need to get a new laptop urgently for my partner which is primarily for fast web browsing/research studies and perhaps watching TV/movies.
Won't be used for gaming or any fancy graphics work. Just need fast startup and browsing/ downloading.

I've seen some similar forums about this and have got some sort of idea so far. A couple of must haves would be to have a reasonable SSD and with WiFi capability.

Budget would be upto about $800 approximately.

Need it fairly urgently and would appreciate any good deals around.
I'm in Perth.

Thanks in advance.

Computing

Comments

  • _Bruce_ on 23/07/2013 - 12:48
    +4

    Anything with an SSD will work very well. Also good luck finding a laptop that doesn't have Wifi.

    Really you should have a think about the size of the laptop and screen, type of screen, keyboard and mouse/trackpad/touchscreen you want. These days this is more important than any technical specs.

    In summary: Get any laptop you like the look/feel of that has an SSD.

    • bich.light on 23/07/2013 - 15:14

      When said reasonable WiFi capability I think he meant a reasonable connection not the possibility of a laptop having the WiFi itself.

  • p1 ama on 23/07/2013 - 21:35

    Go for a laptop with an Intel Wireless NIC if that's important to you, I tend to find they are better than the typical Ralink or Realtek ones.

    But for $800, that's a massive budget, pretty much any $800 laptop would suit your needs. Alternatively, pick out a $700, replace the hard drive with a 128GB SSD for $100 and chuck the HDD in an external enclosure.

  • fjanon on 24/07/2013 - 07:26

    No SSD but 100GB Google Drive, unbeatable package for the price and excellent service.

    Pick Samsung, HP or Acer. Samsung is probably the best choice for now.

    https://www.google.com.au/intl/en/chrome/devices/chromebooks…

  • baperi on 24/07/2013 - 14:24

    Is this a good deal? And should I be worried about it being 'refurbished'?
    I'm not too fussed about the Windows 7!

    http://factoryoutlet.acer.com.au/acer/afo/index.php/aspire-s…

    • p1 ama on 24/07/2013 - 21:18

      not bad, but you can probably get a better deal from MSY, brand new.

  • srhardy on 24/07/2013 - 21:31

    http://www.msy.com.au/Parts/notebook.pdf

    Buy and replace with whatever SSD you want is my advice.

    The basic Acer v5 is some $439 with mail in rebate it comes down to $359 or there abouts, plenty saved for a SSD but with all win8x's power saving modes and faster boot i dont know if its worth doing.

    Inc touch screen, back lit keyboard and even in the dual core 997 its plenty fast enough. Yoi can go i3/i5 but i woudnt bother

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