Markus

Afternoon / Evening all,
My father's laptop has decided to be rather annoying in recent months. USB ports broke (plastic 'tongue' inside the port broke off two ports) then the built-in webcam would not work (remove drivers and reinstall, asks for the cam to be plugged in, which it is as it's built in! I'm guessing the USB port breakage may have shorted something out), Now the screen has died. Connecting to an external monitor works, but that's not elegant.

He has asked for advice in regards to a new device. He asked if he should get an iPad (it'll Skype, which helps mum and dad see their grandson) or a laptop.

I've pretty much vetoed the iPad, strange I know, but for what he'll want to do / plug into it, the iPad simply isn't for him.

I'm therefore looking into replacement laptops for him. I've asked for a price range, but would guess sub £400.

Can someone recommend a good quality laptop, within the budget, and more importantly a good place to purchase it from (store or online).

He'd be surfing the web, viewing photos, watching the odd video taken from a Flip camera, basic accounts (probably in Word).

I think the price range would rule out a Mac based laptop, unless there is a very good deal, or he surprises me with his budget, so it'll be a windows based machine.

Thanks in advance.

ScoobyWon't

Sandybridge i3s are now sub £400, even at Sainsbury's. saveonlaptops.co.uk would probably be a good place to start.

Lenovo had a 6gb Sandybridge i5 for sub £500 earlier this week, on their own website.

Markus

Sainsbury's? You're kidding me, they are selling laptops now? I've been away for far, far too long!

Thanks for the info (Hope all is well with you btw)

ScoobyWon't

I wouldn't come back to the UK just to visit Sainsbury's

ScoobyJawa

Always worth keeping a lookout on the Dell outlet....

An0n0m0us

Seconded. I got the Wife a 2nd gen i3 with dedicated 1gb video card for £287 on the outlet store. An absolute bargain.

Markus

Well I would not come back just for that

Thanks for the advice so far.
As you can probably tell, I'm a little out of touch with the spec of laptops these days.
What do you think would be a good spec for the fathers machine? i3 / i5?

ScoobyJawa

For the things he's likely to do on it you mentioned an i3 will be plenty

ScoobyWon't

Decent i5 for £429.

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Acer_...G_1201803.html