LAPTOPDUNCE new here

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

I am a bit of a beginner with computers, can do the basics and am currently using a windows XP laptop which is running very slowly, it is using google chrome since the ie browser is no longer updated, I want to buy a decent laptop up to about £400, size of HD is not so imperative to me, but a good sound for listening to radio is. I have a Toshiba windows 8 laptop in another room hooked up to a printer for my ebays but this has very poor audio, what would you suggest I buy for my main laptop? I have been looking at Acer i5 processor laptops, currently one on sale at Tesco for £349 but currently out of stock, would that be a good buy?? thanks laptopdunce

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

Firstly - no laptop will produce "good" quality sound.

 

I have an Acer and when I want to listen to music I use headphones.

This produces a much better result than listening through the laptop speaker.

 

The quality of the headphones will also have a bearing on the sound quality.

 

A desktop machine can accommodate a sound card. This would produce far better sound output.

Again - sound card quality varies.

A laptop will use an on-board chip for sound.

 

I know you want a laptop - I am just using this as an example.

 

You need to look for a "Multimedia" laptop if you want to play sound through the internal speaker.

 

You could hook up a set of speakers for better sound quality.

 

As I have already said - no laptop will give excellent sound direct from the internal speaker.

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

Hi, thanks for that, well, its not really "concert" quality I am after, my current acer old XP laptop is very good really for BBC sound radio, the toshiba C50 is very tinny, I have been looking at Acer's with the i5 processor, would you say that is very good for speed? I have to say my current acer with the core 2 duo T5500 has been EXCELLENT its just that running Chrome browser on the unsupported XP os is now running v. slowly and I would like to replace it with an equivalent good standard laptop, my toshiba is not very high quality but have to have that set up for ebay labels etc., so its not so "busy" as my main laptop - I always use a seperate keyboard & mouse with the laptops. thanks LAPTOPDUNCE

[KenB]

i5 processor, would you say that is very good for speed?

i5 Processors come in a range - click here [ 1.9 -3.5 GHz ]

 

Also the number of "Cores" influence the speed.

 

But to answer your question - you will find the i5 a very quick processor compared to what you are using with your XP machine.

 

Also RAM influences machine speed.

 

If the Operating System is 64 bit then 6 - 8 GB would be more than ample.

 

This, of course, has no influence at all on sound quality.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, to add my bit, without being a complete pain to the staff in say PC world, and go round asking to listen to every laptop on sale, I cannot say in any exact terms as to which make or model of laptop gives the best sound quality from its internal speakers. :D

 

However, I did once have a Toshiba myself and agree the sound quality left a bit to be desired and that was an older XP laptop that I sold some time since. I now have an Acer Aspire running Windows 7 and can say the sound from that is actually quite good for a laptop so maybe the later Acer models will be hopefully as good.

The best thing is perhaps have a good read of reviews of different makes and models and see what the reviewers say. Or as I said be a real pain in the b** to the staff in a local large retailer, and ask to hear all the models they have on sale. :D

 

Best leave it at that before my sense of humour gets me in trouble.

 

Nev.

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

Hi, thanks for that, I am now looking at an Acer laptop, at Tesco Direct, I have heard it is a good buy for a relative novice, it is a model:- [h=1]Acer Aspire E1-532P 15.6-inch Touchscreen Notebook (Intel Pentium 3556 1.7GHz Processor, 4GB RAM, 750GB HDD[/h]It is a good price (£329) - what do you think?? thanks

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

Thanks for that, I am now looking at a reasonably priced Acer, I have been told it is a good fast processor, and even though it is Windows 8, I can live with that as my Toshiba is windows 8 and its OK really, its just that HAVE to get rid of this old Acer with Windows XP, which is now so slow with google chrome that its just UNTENABLE and jams up if one is watching youtube or anything like that. what do you think of this model:-

[h=1]Acer Aspire E1-532P 15.6-inch Touchscreen Notebook (Intel Pentium 3556 1.7GHz Processor, 4GB RAM, 750GB HDD[/h]thanks LAPTOPDUNCE

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

Hi Nev, I have now found this one:- http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-e5-511-15-6-laptop-grey-10011156-pdt.html#cat-0

its the same price as the other one and has a bigger HD but the processor is an N3530 and has a higher speed, would you buy this laptop based on my basic needs?

it also says it doesnt have a touch screen but that "gesture touch pad" whatever that means. thanks LAPTOPDUNCE

[Plastic Nev]

I tend to agree it looks a better deal, if you can find the same model cheaper on for example Amazon, or other dealer, would of course be better still.

 

Also, as Ken said on the other thread he has now locked, please lets keep all discussion here on this thread.

 

It only gets confusing for everybody when more than one thread is being used and can lead to wrong or conflicting advice from members who may not be aware there is more than one discussion on the same subject.

 

Your other thread regarding the sale of the old laptop is fine as that is a different subject.

 

Hope you understand,

 

Nev.

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

Hi, Yes, I will keep it all on this thread, I am a dunce with all these forums, I can get this Acer with the N3530 processor tomorrow at Currys/PCworld outlet right near me, in fact I think this is the best priced one as Argos have the same model but with a slower Celeron processor (which I have been told to avoid Celeron) and only a 500gb HD, I need to get something to replace this awful XP one, at least I can get it set up tomorrow if I reserve it now. All the ones I looked at at Tesco were not even included in their Black Friday offers, after hours of trying to get in their website I finally got in but the one I was looking at wasnt even in the offer, their Acer with an i5 processor was £449 and as you said it had a much slower. 1.7 Ghz speed processor. thanks LAPTOPDUNCE

[LAPTOPDUNCE]

PS just noticed that argos have the same laptop but with the i5 processor with the 1.7ghz speed, and its £379.99 (50 quid more) so I have reserved the N3530 processor one for tomorrow at Currys, I will at least be able to get it all up and running tomorrow, thanks LAPTOPDUNCE - after waiting all day to get into Tesco's website, none of their laptops were included in this black friday action, typical!! I think these retailers jam up the websites themselves hoping people will make a snap purchase when they finally get in! At least I will be able to see this one in the store and I havent committed or paid for it yet, thanks