Laptops
 

I'm after a new laptop, but only want to spend around £500.
There's loads around, is this one any good for the money?

http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/Lenovo_Z580_1206320.html

There's also a lot of Acer's around for less than that with core i3's and i5's with dedicated graphics. I don't know whether to save some cash and go lower spec or not, for some reason I don't like Acer. It's replacing my really old Samsung R20 which is starting to develop a fault where it turns off a few times when trying to power on. The Samsung still does everything I need it to, but wouldn't mind something that can play a few games if I feel like it. It's main use will just be running Office and streaming video when plugged into the tv. Any ideas welcome.

Edit: It will also be used for multisim, Autocad electrical and PLC programming software such as Logix 5000 and Step 7

low resolution for the size of the screen

100meg nic only


otherwise not bad for the money

for autocad, you'd want to put an ssd in

Check out Asus - pretty decent specs for the price

£500 laptops are often a compromise on screen resolution and hard drive performance even though most put in a decent CPU and amount of RAM. I like 1080P on a 15.6" laptop, and if buying now I would get an SSD.

Asus are probably the best lowest fail rate excellent waranty check Which out,friend of mine owns a computer shop Asus dont ever come in for mech failure always op sys

I did want an Asus, but had a browse at PC world to see what the different laptops felt like to use and the space bar was dodgy on the Asus models I was looking at. You have to give it a firm press, I imagine there would be quite a few times it would not register and would get on my nerves.

Screen resolution is not something I'm bothered about, nor SSD at the moment. Just wanted something better than my current Samsung without spending too much. I'm going back to uni on day release for the next 5 years so want something for doing work on. When playing games or watching video, output will be to a tv anyway. Autocad is just for electrical schematics, nothing taxing. Programming software will be run in a virtual machine, so RAM and processor important.

I decided to go for the Lenovo in the end, I think it will be fine for the next 5 years for what I want from it.

You don't need an SSD for autocad. An SSD is a luxury item so for £500 you'd only be able to afford a small capacity drive.

Lenovo are a good choice, which one did you choose?

I went for the Z580 in the first link.

i5-3210M processor
8GB RAM
GT630 2GB graphics
1 TB hard drive
USB 3

£550