Cheap laptop recs

[andy831]

Another shout for Lenovo, I have had a T420 and a T520 for a good few years with no problems at all, pretty bombproof.

 

[Rcook]

yeah, I had a very quick look and on amazon you can get an 8gb version for over 100 quid more... this one looks decent too -
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5499317

haven't checked all the specs, but it looks to hit the spots for me... but will be looking in late jan anyway...

That does a look a good deal. Go for the 8GB version if you can run to it, it will make a worthwhile difference, especially with graphics processing

 

[linnfomaniac83]

Ahh, should be fine for that. My only other concern with bottom-end laptops is that upgrading RAM is a pain. Either they only have one slot, or getting to the memory slots is a nightmare because you have to take the whole thing apart. Even mid-range HPs are like this.

One thing I check these days when supplying is does it have a separate 'hatch' to access the RAM slots - Fujitsuusually do, Acer, Asus and Lenovo generally don't at the bottom end of the market.

Non upgradable soldered in ram is becoming ever more common, I expect before too long that practically all new laptops will be this way and those that are not will be uneconomical to upgrade because RAM will take a price hike.

 

[Rcook]

Non upgradable soldered in ram is becoming ever more common, I expect before too long that practically all new laptops will be this way and those that are not will be uneconomical to upgrade because RAM will take a price hike.

It isn't so much that it is soldered in, it is still usually a SODIMM in a socket, but you have to dismantle the machine to get at it, which isn't for the faint hearted. Cheap machines are built down to a price and become disposable, and it is more expensive to put a hatch in the bottom to access it, so they don't. It is an absolute pain in the nether regions.

 

[linnfomaniac83]

It isn't so much that it is soldered in, it is still usually a SODIMM in a socket, but you have to dismantle the machine to get at it, which isn't for the faint hearted. Cheap machines are built down to a price and become disposable, and it is more expensive to put a hatch in the bottom to access it, so they don't. It is an absolute pain in the nether regions.

I know some have SODIMM sockets buried deep inside but soldered in ram is becoming more common.