Laptop primarily for Web Design, budget £400?

[rawkinrich]

I'm looking to improve my web design skills and am looking for a quality laptop for around £400.

I spotted a mint one on hukd but the screensize is only 13.3".

Any tips or recommendations?

Cheers

 

[droid]

PC World Refurb Centre

May be worth a look here:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/refur...xx/xx-criteria.html?sSortInfo=topsellers-desc

I have just bought and sold one of the HP Pavilion dv7-4020sa laptops, what a piece of kit that is for the money.

Gary

 

[chrisduggan]

Minimum screen size I would recommend is 15. 13 is way too small, primarily sub noebook sizes are meant for portability, small and light weight. If you are on the move then thats the size you want. If you are looking at development, bigger is better.

Your top players are Dell and HP. Sony are up there but can get pricey.

My recommendation is the new Dell Inspriron 15R. I have used DELL for many years. Their business next day support is good, has been for me anyway I have an account manager in the UK/Ireland and I bipass India.

If you are looking for something second hand, perhaps a Macbook for similar money, maybe a bit more. But worth it if you play with graphics and editing.

 

[Blossom]

Nothing wrong with 13"

But then again I do most of my web design on an 12" and a 10"...

If it's your ideal laptop, buy it and buy a display as well - they're pretty cheap.

 

[chrisduggan]

Nope nothing wrong with 13 at all, even smaller, ocasionally drag out my iPad.
Was working with a specified budget.

 

[rawkinrich]

May be worth a look here:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/refur...xx/xx-criteria.html?sSortInfo=topsellers-desc

I have just bought and sold one of the HP Pavilion dv7-4020sa laptops, what a piece of kit that is for the money.

Gary

Just spotted a dv7-4020sa from the link you sent - I can't go over budget though

I'll keep my eyes out.

Thanks for the link.

 

[chrisduggan]

http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homelaptops/product.php?id=XF332EA&experience=direct

£399 on sale.

 

[rawkinrich]

http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homelaptops/product.php?id=XF332EA&experience=direct

£399 on sale.

Looks good - how about http://h40059.www4.hp.com/uk/homela...230EA&experience=direct&jumpid=reg_R1002_UKEN

£379 + 6% Quidco?

 

[chrisduggan]

Good. Similar spec, less ram and smaller hard drive space. Faster processor. All models in that range have great reviews.

 

[rawkinrich]

Good. Similar spec, less ram and smaller hard drive space. Faster processor. All models in that range have great reviews.

Last question, how does the AMD Turion II P540 Dual-Core processor compare to the Intel Core i3 350M?

 

[DarkSky]

£180 netbook + 27" TFT lol

 

[chrisduggan]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Turion+II+P540+Dual-Core

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3+350M+%40+2.27GHz

 

[rawkinrich]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Turion+II+P540+Dual-Core

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i3+350M+%40+2.27GHz

Many thanks for your time

 

[chrisduggan]

Intel would have the edge but both processors do a good job. Hope you are happy with which ever notebook you decide

 

[julian]

sorry..wouldn't touch HP with a barge pole - build quality is shite - just prosumer tat with a nice looking case.

For that matter would never buy some refurbed heap of junk from PC world to work on either, which has had some newb doing gods knows what with it (dropped it, nicked it, been hammered with mountains of porn downloads with spywarez galore.. the list is endless.)

This is going to open a can of worms - personally would never buy anything with an AMD processor in in it either.

 

[retired_member32]

i saw yesterday at my local ASDA,they were doing deals on dualcore compaq for £277 ,2gb ram 15.6" screen....windows 7...cant go wrong for that money

 

[chrisduggan]

Unfortunately beggars cant be choosers when working to a budget. I have heard some horror stories in the past. Build specs pass much tougher inspections these days, however plastic is plastic. In my opinion besides Apple, Sony build quality is the best. HP not far behind. But that's my experience. Everyone will have different opinions. Manufacturers ship with 1,2,3 year warranties for the exact reason. They break. Some more than others.

 

[DarkSky]

Unfortunately beggars cant be choosers when working to a budget. I have heard some horror stories in the past. Build specs pass much tougher inspections these days, however plastic is plastic. In my opinion besides Apple, Sony build quality is the best. HP not far behind. But that's my experience. Everyone will have different opinions. Manufacturers ship with 1,2,3 year warranties for the exact reason. They break. Some more than others.

Then I'm guessing you werent stung by HP when thousands of their DV range laptops with nvidia chips went faulty, and HP standing by their 1 year only warranty, many lasting just past 12 months and HP saying "FFFFUUUUUUUUU"

 

[chrisduggan]

Indeed I heard and witnessed the issues. I really only use DELL and the ocassional Apple personally, all with their own faults along the way..
I have an iPhone, looks pretty but does not work very well!

 

[Admin]

Get any average laptop and buy a 22" external screen, keyboard and mouse (with a docking station is easier) for when you are doing your web design.

I have a 13" Vaio for travelling and this setup for when I'm at my desk.

Admin