Laptops - any suggestions re what type? and where to buy?

[Psyber]

What are peoples thoughts on Windows 8? I struggle with it.

I unpinned all the rubbish on the opening screen trying to get you to join Micro$oft run commercial things and put the link to the desktop top left.
Then I set up the desktop just like for Windows 7.
So one click and I'm on a familiar desktop.

Once you have done that it works as before apart from the log off procedure.

[Dissident]

You don't need a shortcut, you can boot directory into the desktop

[Psyber]

You don't need a shortcut, you can boot directory into the desktop

Yeah.
At the time I was setting it up W 8 was new and I wanted to dabble with both options.
I may get around to changing that later.

[stan]

Hi All, looking at purchasing a new laptop. Rough budget of about 750 - 800. Not looking at anything massively flash as I just use it for surfing, some downloading and just standard activities like that.

No gaming or anything like that.

Any advice for whats good value for money in that market.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Banker]

Hi All, looking at purchasing a new laptop. Rough budget of about 750 - 800. Not looking at anything massively flash as I just use it for surfing, some downloading and just standard activities like that.

No gaming or anything like that.

Any advice for whats good value for money in that market.

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

Just a word of caution, I've had screen issues from both of my ultra lightweight laptops. The screens are just too thin.

So i'd avoid ultra lightweight. Just make sure its got an SDD, then store all your downloads on an external hard drive.

[Psyber]

Apart from the two ASUS laptops mentioned above, I've picked up a cheap Toshiba with a 11.6" screen for when I'm travelling - Satellite NB10 - A
It is a little slow but does the job, fits easily in my hand luggage, and was cheap enough to not worry about it getting stolen.
It has been to Townsville, Perth, Spain, France, and the UK, so far.
http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/products/co ... ifications

Both laptops now run Windows 10, while my older i5 desktop still runs Windows 7, 32 bit*, dual booted with 64 bit Linux Mint.
(*Mainly because I have some older software I can't get to run on 64 bit machines or the newer OS.)

[stan]

Apart from the two ASUS laptops mentioned above, I've picked up a cheap Toshiba with a 11.6" screen for when I'm travelling - Satellite NB10 - A
It is a little slow but does the job, fits easily in my hand luggage, and was cheap enough to not worry about it getting stolen.
It has been to Townsville, Perth, Spain, France, and the UK, so far.
http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/products/co ... ifications

Both laptops now run Windows 10, while my older i5 desktop still runs Windows 7, 32 bit*, dual booted with 64 bit Linux Mint.
(*Mainly because I have some older software I can't get to run on 64 bit machines or the newer OS.)

Psyber my man. In your opinion what are the top brands of laptops. Hp, Dell, Lenevo etc.

Keen on your opinion.

[Wedgie]

IMHO unlike ten years ago there's stuff all difference. Just go the best specs with the least amount of bloatware.

[stan]

Well it would be win 10. Isnt that mostly bloatware?

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Psyber]

Apart from the two ASUS laptops mentioned above, I've picked up a cheap Toshiba with a 11.6" screen for when I'm travelling - Satellite NB10 - A
It is a little slow but does the job, fits easily in my hand luggage, and was cheap enough to not worry about it getting stolen.
It has been to Townsville, Perth, Spain, France, and the UK, so far.
http://www.mytoshiba.com.au/products/co ... ifications

Both laptops now run Windows 10, while my older i5 desktop still runs Windows 7, 32 bit*, dual booted with 64 bit Linux Mint.
(*Mainly because I have some older software I can't get to run on 64 bit machines or the newer OS.)

Psyber my man. In your opinion what are the top brands of laptops. Hp, Dell, Lenevo etc.

Keen on your opinion.

When I was in an IT business in Melbourne our mantra was "ASUS good ACER bad".

We also quit selling any HP products because we found they got troublesome soon after the warranty was up, and HP wanted to charge us money to talk to their techs about issues we needed help with - in contrast to Canon and Brother who just put as straight through. When told this HP just said, "You can pass the cost onto your customer."

So I'd favour ASUS, or Toshiba laptops..
I've never owned a Dell or Lenovo product but they both have a good reputation.

I like Brother printers and Canon scanners. (Brother printers don't nag you about using generic toner or ink cartridges and you can usually get up to dates drivers for new OS releases instead of having to pension off your printer.)

Digital cameras: (for the sake of completion)
Nikon have nice sharp imaging but have had focus issues at full zoom.
Canon usually have better colour reproduction, but imaging is in my view a bit soft.
Pentax may be a good compromise but I've not owned one since digital days.
My current camera is a Sony ultra-zoom with a Zeiss lens (DSC HX-300), but I have had to alter settings to tone down somewhat excessive colour saturation.

[Wedgie]

Well it would be win 10. Isnt that mostly bloatware?

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

That's true, Win 10 is awful

[mighty_tiger_79]

So for a new laptop have we all worked out what's the best out there at the minute?

I'm currently in the market for an upgrade.

I have an Asus and had no real issues with it.
Mrs has a HP and similarly has had no problems.

So I've narrowed it down to those two brands but have an open mind outside of acer.

Really only use it for normal porn web browsing as most people do and will occasionally use the word/excel aspects etc.

Thanks tech gurus

[bennymacca]

I've also been looking, but my price point is likely higher as I can salary sacrifice it.

Love the look of the new HP Spectre x360 but it's not available in Australia. Going to see whether a mate can buy it from the US for me.

Otherwise I'll be choosing between the Dell XPS or MacBook Pro

[Wedgie]

So for a new laptop have we all worked out what's the best out there at the minute?

I'm currently in the market for an upgrade.

I have an Asus and had no real issues with it.
Mrs has a HP and similarly has had no problems.

So I've narrowed it down to those two brands but have an open mind outside of acer.

Really only use it for normal porn web browsing as most people do and will occasionally use the word/excel aspects etc.

Thanks tech gurus

Unless things have changed ASUS were great. HPs used to come with too much bloatware but weren't bad either.

[Corona Man]

Given up on laptops. Surface Pro does the job for me.