Cheap Laptop?

[manureid]

What do the experts reckon on this deal (will stipulate - for my daughter who starts High School next year - required for mostly Net connection and Office stuff etc. Not expecting it too play high end graphics games), but would like it to not be a slow beast of a thing.

$774 with $150 cash back (I am assuming these cash back things are legit).

Compaq Presario C710TU Notebook
Intel® Celeron™ processor 530 (1.73GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, DL SuperMulti DVD burner, 15.4" BrightView widescreen display.
Features:

• PROCESSOR – Intel Celeron processor 530 1.73GHz
• MEMORY - 512MB DDR2 (1 Dimm)
• HARD DRIVE - 80GB 5400RPM
• OPTICAL DRIVE - Super Multi 8X DVD±R⁄RW with Double Layer Support
• COLOUR DISPLAY - 15.4" WXGA high-definition BrightView Widescreen Display
• RESOLUTION - 1280 x 800
• VIDEO – Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 64MB shared with 256MB system memory
• TV-OUT PORT – Yes
• LAN - Integrated 10⁄100 LAN; 802.11b⁄g WLAN
• MODEM - High speed 56K modem
• SPEAKERS - Altec Lansing speakers,
• USB PORT - 3 USB 2.0
• SOFTWARE – Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Works 8.5, Roxio Creator Basic, Muvee AutoProducer Basic Edition (with 20 Day Trial Full version), Adobe Acrobat Reader 7, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus (60 days live update), Symantec Norton Internet Security (60 days live update), Compaq DVD Play, HP Games by Oberon Media, HP PhotoSmart Premier, SoftThink HDD Recovery.
• WEIGHT - Approximately 2.99kg with 6-cell battery
• WARRANTY – 1 year warranty
• CONTACT NUMBER FOR WARRANTY, SERVICE & SUPPORT - 13 10 47, Option 3

or

 

[Underdog]

I'm no laptop expert but it looks pretty good to me. Appropriate for her purposes no doubt.

I'd suggest discarding or uninstalling Norton's though...poor program. Head here http://www.techtalkwiki.net/favourite_software?DokuWiki=082fd0cf6dacffb3bf29cfeda7f63001 for a list of quality programs to use instead

 

[jim boy]

agree about Norton's - dump it and go witrh AVG.

Personally I'd recommend a second hand laptop. You can get pretty good models for around the same price and they will have a proper processor, not the celeron crap. Also they tend to be a lot more sturdy rather than a bottom of the market brand.

I've bought three second-hand for use in the house over the years and I've been happy with all of them. Plus they haven't missed a beat over the years.

 

[mighty mick]

What do the experts reckon on this deal (will stipulate - for my daughter who starts High School next year - required for mostly Net connection and Office stuff etc. Not expecting it too play high end graphics games), but would like it to not be a slow beast of a thing.

$774 with $150 cash back (I am assuming these cash back things are legit).

Compaq Presario C710TU Notebook
Intel® Celeron™ processor 530 (1.73GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, DL SuperMulti DVD burner, 15.4" BrightView widescreen display.
Features:

• PROCESSOR – Intel Celeron processor 530 1.73GHz
• MEMORY - 512MB DDR2 (1 Dimm)
• HARD DRIVE - 80GB 5400RPM
• OPTICAL DRIVE - Super Multi 8X DVD±R⁄RW with Double Layer Support
• COLOUR DISPLAY - 15.4" WXGA high-definition BrightView Widescreen Display
• RESOLUTION - 1280 x 800
• VIDEO – Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with up to 64MB shared with 256MB system memory
• TV-OUT PORT – Yes
• LAN - Integrated 10⁄100 LAN; 802.11b⁄g WLAN
• MODEM - High speed 56K modem
• SPEAKERS - Altec Lansing speakers,
• USB PORT - 3 USB 2.0
• SOFTWARE – Windows Vista Home Basic, Microsoft Works 8.5, Roxio Creator Basic, Muvee AutoProducer Basic Edition (with 20 Day Trial Full version), Adobe Acrobat Reader 7, Symantec Norton Anti-Virus (60 days live update), Symantec Norton Internet Security (60 days live update), Compaq DVD Play, HP Games by Oberon Media, HP PhotoSmart Premier, SoftThink HDD Recovery.
• WEIGHT - Approximately 2.99kg with 6-cell battery
• WARRANTY – 1 year warranty
• CONTACT NUMBER FOR WARRANTY, SERVICE & SUPPORT - 13 10 47, Option 3

or

i sell these and my main opinion is that i would not get a celeron as this is old technology and would not cope well with office.

an intel core duo processor at least
1 gig of ram
80 gig or above
the rest is pretty standard but buying a celeron is like buying the first generation ipod. its out of date, and you can get better for 999 and cashbacks

 

[manureid]

agree about Norton's - dump it and go witrh AVG.

Personally I'd recommend a second hand laptop. You can get pretty good models for around the same price and they will have a proper processor, not the celeron crap. Also they tend to be a lot more sturdy rather than a bottom of the market brand.

I've bought three second-hand for use in the house over the years and I've been happy with all of them. Plus they haven't missed a beat over the years.

Where do you get your second hand ones from? Reputable dealer or eBay?

 

[mighty mick]

Where do you get your second hand ones from? Reputable dealer or eBay?

try the green guide on thursday for a wide choice, as for internet security packages ive been running a copy of mcafee internet security and its slower than nortons.
at least it was a free copy.