Notebook/Netbook for $500

arthurbach4 on 27/12/2010 - 12:04
Last edited 27/12/2010 - 12:14

I am a primary school teacher and I am in the market for a new notebook/netbook.

I am prepared to spend up to $500. 

I find the 10.1" netbooks to be just that tad too small (screen wise) and the 14" notebooks to be slightly big.  I know 12"-13" screens exist and these would probably be ideal, though if you know of a system which fits most of my NEEDS and WANTS I would love to hear about it

NEEDS
-snappy word processing
-snappy Internet browsing
-inbuilt wireless access
-plays SD DivX files
-USB input
-weigh less than 2.1kgs

WANTS
-windows 7 starter OS (or other snappy OS)
-plays 720p DivX files
-DVD drive (read only)
-aesthetically pleasing to look at

Any ideas?

Thanks. 

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • issh on 27/12/2010 - 13:40

    These are what i recommend
    http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Technology/Com…
    Pros: 13.3", 2GB RAM, 1.7GHz, 320GB HDD, Wireless, Windows 7 Home Premium, 1 year warranty, Close to you(Melbourne)
    Cons:No Optical Drive(CD), Over cost limit($643)
    .
    https://www.mln.com.au/product/?itemID=950&typeID=special#
    Pros: 11.6", 2GB RAM, 250HDD[70GB less than other Toshiba], Wireless, Windows 7 Professional, Within Pricing Limit $498[RRP $958], 1.58kg, Close to you(melbourne)
    Cons:No Optical Drive(CD), 70GB less HDD than Officeworks, Bit Slower by 0.3Ghz(not a great deal, as it will still handle your processes)
    .
    BLACK http://www.onlinecomputer.com.au/product_info.php?products_i…
    WHITE http://www.onlinecomputer.com.au/product_info.php?products_i…
    Pros:12.1", 2GB RAM, 250HDD[Again 70GB less than Officeworks Toshiba], Wireless, Windows 7 Home Premium, Within Budget $479, 1.5kg
    Con: No optical drive, 1.2GHz[Tad slower than MLN processor], you have to pay for shipping($13-14)
    .
    All have webcam, wifi, weigh less than 2kg, have USB input, Has Windows 7
    All do not have Optical Drive, ?pleasing to look at?
    .
    .
    .
    .
    This netbook http://www.onlinecomputer.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=4342 has all your needs and wants but with a tad over budget($697) probably a high, range non-10.1" or 14" netbook, it is the only one with an optical drive, it also has a fingerprint reader, HDMI 1080p[HD videos better than SD].
    However with this price you could probably buy an entry level notebook or a high-high-end 10.1" with i3, but as this has an optical drive and other features that make it more costly

  • arthurbach4 on 27/12/2010 - 15:31

    Hmm, talk about wants and needs…

    I really like the one from MLN but after some research I have settled on a different setup.

    With Dick Smith's 15% off laptops (and a further 15% off if you pay with paypal) it would be silly of me not to at least consider laptops which exceed my weight and screen size requirements (a bad thing), but which also exceed my speed and general performance requirements (a good thing).

    I am finding it hard to choose between these two laptops:

    http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XC8945/compaq-presario-cq62-…

    Around $400 after both discounts

    http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XC8927/satellite-c650-01m-no…

    Around $435 after both discounts

    This is my thinking:

    1.The Compaq appears to either best or at least draw level with the specs of the more expensive Toshiba across the board

    2.I already have a Compaq and whilst it's been great, I have heard that Toshiba are superior in general

    3.The Toshiba has an extra 2 gig of ram (but only Windows 7 32bit?)

    4.I wonder whether Dick Smith give you a ram upgrade option during check out? If they did I might have to go with the Compaq…

    Does anyone have any thoughts to add? Am I missing something in the head to head comparison? I must say I don't really understand the video card head to head if someone could help out with that comparison that would be great. If I went with the Compaq and couldn't upgrade my ram online what would be the cheapest method for me to get the extra 2 gig installed (I am a ram installation noob).

    Thanks.

    • issh on 27/12/2010 - 16:28

      1) Agree, Compaq has to be the best of the 2
      2) The reason why HP has a high failure rate is due to its sub-company-Compaq(high failure rate), toshiba is a fairly reliable brand
      3)Toshiba does have 2GB extra ram with Windows 7 32bit, but 4gb is not necessary for you work and also, whenever you need you can upgrade the Compaq to 8GB
      4) No idea, give it a go
      .
      Lol, i choose netbooks, but i guess you wanted the notebooks now
      Take into comparison
      FEATURE….TOSHIBA…….COMPAQ……RESULT
      Processor..2.0GHz……..2.3GHz……COMPAQ
      RAM……..4GB………..2GB………TOSHIBA
      USB PORTS..2………….3………..COMPAQ
      OS………W7 32bit……W7 64bit….COMPAQ->64bit more common
      HDD……..320GB………500GB…….COMPAQ
      .
      Compaq has HDMI, which is useful
      I'll go with the compaq

      • arthurbach4 on 27/12/2010 - 16:36

        Thanks issh.

        For memory the Compaq has the following specs:

        "2048MB 1066MHz DDR3 (1 Dimm). Maximum Memory: “Max supported = 8GB"

        Excuse my ignorance but does that mean that it has 2GB in one slot which leaves an extra slot for upgrading - or does it mean that there is 2GB in one slot and that there is ONLY one slot available?

        Also, the Compaq has the following info regarding the video card:

        "Experience your games and movies in Full HD with up to ATI Mobility Radeon&trade HD 4250 Graphics with up to 1 GB dedicated video memory"

        This sounds like it might be a cut above the Toshiba - what do you think?

        Thanks.

        • issh on 27/12/2010 - 16:41

          The RAM on the Compaq has "1Dimm" which means that it has one slot ram extra for you to upgrade
          in other words the compaq is using a 2GB RAM on 1 RAM slot

  • ozhunter on 27/12/2010 - 17:11

    I'd get this, http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?sort=2a… or this http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XC8865/aspire-as5741-352g50m… they are a bit more, but it's i3 which replaced core 2 duo, and core 2 duo replaced dual core. What I'm trying to say dual core is quite old.

    I wouldn't get compaq, they are one of the cheapest brands, if not the cheapest, but have the worst reputation.

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