not another laptop thread..

Going to uni this year, and I need a laptop (UK based). I know enough to not need to ask about specs but don't have a clue where to get one. Apparently most laptops are made in the far east by like 4 companies, so does anyone know where you can get these OEM ones?

if not, where would be a good place to get one? (if anyone from over the pond suggests importing one, you obviously have never been r*ped by Johnny Customs)

I've a budget of about 400 pounds (due to the whole "spent a load on camera stuff" thing)...however I'm not needing it for PP (taking my desktop down for that)...just a portable typewriter and net surfer really, maybe the odd dvd or game of Half Life on the train. I've thought about ebay, but want to see if there are alternatives.

i got mine from MV click cheep very good and stunningly quick very good cs as well

hope this helps

take a look at http://www.laptopsdire​ct.co.uk/

... http://www.laptopsdire​ct.co.uk …ng.asp?band=2&p​roduct=247

cheers for the info above guys, keep it comin'

I suppose I had better ask about build quality etc which people have experienced with different manufacturers.....like I said all of my experience is on the desktop front. Can well imagine same spec laptops from different brands being wildly different.

nb: specifically, does anyone have any experiences with Acer laptops? I always see good deals on them, but that might reflect some kind of general dissatisfaction with them...(the glass is always half empty)

i carnt stand acer people always seam to have problems with them .
my laptop every day between two and 5 hours a day and never misses a beat and i run ps on (athough a tad slowly)

Dom

while we have a desktop as the main computer, we have a Pujitsu that can't be beat. Its a huge one, that can run photoshop and autocad easily, and the most beautiful screen out there. We bought direct from them, and with a 3 year warranty (2 year was normal). They're customer service is unprecidented. You call, you instantly get someone local that speaks your language, who actually tries to trouble shoot, and if not, they're warranty service is top notch and very fast.

this is all really helpful guys, thanks a ton. anyone else want to chip in?

Steer clear of HP/Compaq, especially if you're buying used. Their technology is way behind other vendors (Dell, IBM), such that they only started shipping on-board wireless LANs 18 months ago. Battery life (as in how long it is before the battery has to be replaced, not how long a charge is) is less than two years.

New IBMs are loaded with encryption and biometrics, which totally rocks. I have a T42, and it's the first company laptop I've had (of 8) that I would pay my own money for. It has excellent battery life, excellent wireless reception, is quiet, robust and runs quite cool. It also feels about a kilo lighter than the Compaq it replaced.

The Fujitsu subnotebooks have odd cooling on them. Basically, you're the heatsink.

If you can, buy an IBM.

even the new lenovo ones? Heard the build quality on them has dropped since "pure" ibm days.

I've bought my current Sony Vaio on eBay, but spent like 3 weeks looking for specs and watching various auctions to know what kind of price things were going for. In the end, i saved about £250 on a near new model. I've never been happier, and will be purchasing a new Sony in a month or so.

My brother had always used Dell and has never looked back. I'm sure there is a deal kicking around with them, with a laptop that will fit within your budget.

urgh I've had a dell desktop before....it was so unstable and overheated I ended up cutting a massive hole in the side to put a foot sized fan in the case panel. runs as storage at the moment.

never using dell again. ever. ever ever.

Yeah. My T42 is eight months old and I love it. Great keyboard, and the built-in encryption is very useful for me as I store sensitive client data on mine. The screen is very good, and I am continually picking up new wireless networks that my HP laptop couldn't see. In one of the meeting rooms in my office, I can connect to any one of four unsecured wireless networks. My colleague - with a Compaq of the same age - cannot see any of them.

The IBM T43s add biometrics - I missed out on that by three weeks .

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk …ZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcm​dZViewItem

something like this? could probably slap another sodimm in there too...