what laptop?

[Big Aura]

Hello all

I need a new laptop and am a bit un sighted on all this, so would appreciate some feedback. PC World are doing a 10% CashBack offer on laptops over £599 which ends today, so time is a bit critical on this!

I need something small and portable – it’s for work, but will frequently travel home with me in my bag, so that makes 13.3 the biggest possible. Smaller, whilst not essential, would be good.

I mainly use it connected to a dock system, and then use a 24” monitor and “normal” keyboard, so 95% of the time the laptop is a second screen. I only actually use it the laptop as a main focus device when I’m working from home (1-2 evening a week, and about one full day a month).

We run Office 365, and I will get a licence from the company I contract to.

In terms of spec, I think I need something with 8GB RAM, 128-256SSD and one of 5th gen i5 or i7, or an Intel M.

Some of the reviews I’ve come across state that the Core M machines are good to a point and then get overburdened and slow. I don’t do anything that I would call demanding, but will frequently have 4-7 web windows open, and be working on 3-5 word or scanned documents, some of which can be 300+ pages.

Does anyone have a view on i5 versus Core-M?

I was considering the following options:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/s_action/compare/10109302-10132414-10108707-10134528.html

Would really appreciate a steer, if anyone is knowledgeable on these.

Thank you!

 

[cheeseboy]

another leftfield option might be the Microsoft Surface pro 3. You can get the i5 version for about 800 at the moment I think.

Would give you the laptop flexibility and the option to use it as a tablet as well.

To be honest, the only laptops I can ever actually reccomend are the Dell Latitude Business series as they are generally built to last and pretty bullet proof. (which in business is a godsend given the crap people put in the bags with their laptops) Most other makes and models are a bit hit and miss and even Lenovo who used to be quite bullet proof have cut costs on the materials So unfortunately I can't help there I'm afraid.

 

[jjbomber]

http://www.ebuyer.com/708897-hp-pavilion-x360-13-s008na-convertible-laptop-m1m12ea-abu

There are several options on the site and you don't have to rush the decision. They are the ones I use for laptops and all have worked fine so far.

 

[abacus]

You're better going to a computer forum rather than a Hi-Fi forum, however, this link might help http://www.alphr.com/laptops/6923/the-19-best-laptops-of-2015-alphrs-ultimate-uk-guide

Bill

 

[Big Aura]

So I bought the Toshiba from PC World, then (like gel!), had a crisis of conscience, and cancelled the order before it shipped.

Reason being - I saw the Dell XPS 13. Lovely, but out of my price bracket, until I saw this (non-touch screen) version on Amazon.

It's sold by amazon, not a market-place seller, so I've more comfort. Long delivery time, but that's a small price to pay for a small price!

 

[cheeseboy]

So I bought the Toshiba from PC World, then (like gel!), had a crisis of conscience, and cancelled the order before it shipped.

Reason being - I saw the Dell XPS 13. Lovely, but out of my price bracket, until I saw this (non-touch screen) version on Amazon.

It's sold by amazon, not a market-place seller, so I've more comfort. Long delivery time, but that's a small price to pay for a small price!

good choice and good price. I tested one of these a while ago and it was really nice

 

[Big Aura]

that link is now showing as a third party seller for £1090, rather than the £864 I bought from Amazon for. None available from Amazon now. I was concerned that Amazon were about send a "sorry, but our Ts &Cs say there's no order until we ship" and then cancel the order (particularly as the delivery time went from 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months from Amazon), but I've had an email from them today saying they're delivering sooner than anticipated, so will have it next Wed. Will update with details of the machine once it's charged and working!