Custom Built Laptop
hbk
I would like to know of any places around the UK that build custom
laptops (you tell them what you want in it and they put it in)?
Do you think i would get a laptop with these specs for a decent price
if it was custom built, say a max budget of �350?
I'm trying to keep to an Intel processor and a 32bit OS so there is a
lot of program compatibility. Here are the specs i would like:
*_Processor_*
Intel Core 2 Duo T####
-It doesn't matter what four numbers come after the T, as long as the
speed ranges from 2.0GHz to 2.6GHz.-
*_RAM_*
SDD2 RAM
-2GB would be ideal but i would like it to expand to 4GB, unless it's
just easier/cheaper to just add 4GB anyway.-
*_Harddrive_*
-I'm not too concerned about the speed, whichever you think would fit
with my budget. The size can be 120GB, 160GB or 250GB, again considering
the budget.-
*_Optical_Drive_*
DVD Super Multi Double Layer
-I'm not bothered about blu-ray discs, as we're getting a PS3 for them,
but i would like something that can both read and write CD-R/RWs and
DVD-R/RWs. Hopefully, not asking for blu-ray playback will save a few
pennies.-
*_Screen_*
1280x800px WXGA
*_Graphics_Card_*
Integrated or Dedicated
-Since the laptop is going to be used for light gaming, such as GTA:
San Andreas and HD movies, i'd like something not too spectacular, but
something that'll do the job, something like an ATI Radeon HD 3200 or
ATI Radeon HD 4200 with 512MB or 1GB of VRAM, considering the budget.-
*_Operating_System_*
-I don't mind if it has Vista Home Premium or Windows 7 Home Premium,
as long as it's 32bit. If i have Vista, i'll probably upgrade to Windows
7 anyway. I don't want the basic OS and i don't need anything full of
crap that i won't use, so the Home Premium versions are just right for
me.-
*_Wireless_*
-I'd like the same wireless as my current laptop has - 802.11n.-
If you need more information, please ask. I really would like a laptop
like this. I've searched Argos, PC World, Comet, Amazon and even eBay,
but no laptops meet these specs, or they're close, but with AMD
processors (most of which don't have 2 cores) or crap graphics cards
like the GMA X3100 or they're simply out of my budget, so i've decided
to go with a custom built, assuming it's cheaper and/or better...?
Thanks to everyone contributing,
Dylan. :)
Don Phillipson
news:hbk.4...@no.email.invalid...
> I would like to know of any places around the UK that build custom
> laptops (you tell them what you want in it and they put it in)?
>
> Do you think i would get a laptop with these specs for a decent price
> if it was custom built, say a max budget of �350?
> . . .
> I've searched Argos, PC World, Comet, Amazon and even eBay,
> but no laptops meet these specs, or they're close, but with AMD
> processors (most of which don't have 2 cores) or crap graphics cards
You searched vendors for a match: it might have been
better to search manufacturers, nearly all of whom (these
days) are likely to be in eastern Asia, not Britain or the Americas.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)
no chance
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
hbk
I was thinking of getting a gaming laptop, but getting it from America,
and shipping it over. But i would like to know if they would charge me
the price it is for them, but convert it to pounds (example: $700 would
be �350) or if they would charge me the same with both currencies
(example: $700 would be �700)...?
Don Phillipson
news:hbk.4...@no.email.invalid...
> I was thinking of getting a gaming laptop, but getting it from America,
Why not ask a vendor who sells in both markets, e.g.
Dell or Toshiba?
Bill
<hbk.4...@no.email.invalid> writes
>i've decided to go with a custom built, assuming it's cheaper and/or
>better...?
I think you can cut the "and" from those options above and probably
everything after the word "assuming".
My experience has been that the 2 custom built laptops that we have had
were both of rather average build quality. One from a company in London
was faulty on delivery and service was awful. The second from a
different company was not well assembled and flexed in use. Both
companies have now disappeared, so for any information on them you would
have to find which Asian organisation actually built the bits.
My last few laptops (I use multiple machines for different tasks) have
been bargains I just happened on via Dabs or stores like Comet. I'm
currently typing on a Lenovo that I think meets all of your specs, and
was within the price bracket. I also use an Acer refurb machine (from
Dabs) that would be fine. These are both solid, well supported in terms
of websites with driver updates etc. and known entities.
Also importing a laptop would be very likely to involve a huge hit for
customs duty.
--
Bill
hbk
Hi Bill. Any chance you could tell me the model of Lenovo you're talking
about?
Bill
<hbk.4...@no.email.invalid> writes
about?
>
It's a Lenovo 3000 N100. It came from Dabs some time ago (good heavens,
the dates on the files are late 2007!), and I don't see anything
comparable in their lists today, although there is one with a pentium
dual core as opposed to the Core 2 duo. This machine has a T5200, but I
see it's only 1.6GHz.
I paid in the low 300's uk pounds. The machine came with an 80gig HD and
1 gig ram, running Vista Business, but with XP available. I sent off for
the free set of XP CD's and when they came bought a second HD, installed
XP on it and increased the ram to 2.5 gigs. .I have the original Vista
Business still here on the original HD in case I ever need to revert (v.
unlikely now), plus a full proper backup (which you can do with Vista
Business unlike the stupid Home versions). I also have the full set of
XP disks (which turned out to be the Welsh version, but that was no
problem) in case I ever need to do a factory re-install of XP.
The whole operation cost just under 400 ukp, and I got a really robust,
solid machine that I use for about 99% of my internet, paperwork and a
bit of audio work. I have recently had to replace my first XP HD with a
500gig because I ran out of disk space.
I bought this machine because I'd replaced an older IBM laptop with an
emergency purchase Acer (on offer in Comet) running Vista and was not
terribly impressed. One day I saw the Lenovo listed and jumped in to
pick it up. That's the way to do it if possible. Grab a decent just past
state of the art machine when it floats past.
Since then I've bought the Acer 2920 refurb from Dabs, again at a low
price. It has much better build quality than the slightly older Acer,
and friends who tried it shot out and bought the same model.
It looks to me as if the refurbished Acers are old spec returns from
stores that Acer updates with newer components for resale.
Hope this is some help and gives something to think about. I realise it
isn't exactly what you want.
--
Bill
hbk
Thanks Bill. I've seen a few with Core 2 Duo processors at 2GHz on eBay,
so... :)
hbk
I've found 'this Toshiba laptop'
(http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/product/Satellite-A500-17X/1076471/toshibaShop/false/),
with pretty good specs. Does anyone know how much it would cost to ship
it over to the UK from the US?
BillW50
hbk typed on Fri, 1 Jan 2010 02:10:11 -0600:
Usually in the $30 to $40 range.
--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 ('06 era) 1 of 3 - Windows XP SP2
Bill
<Bil...@aol.kom> writes
>In news:hbk.4...@no.email.invalid,
>hbk typed on Fri, 1 Jan 2010 02:10:11 -0600:
>> I've found 'this Toshiba laptop'
>>
>>(http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/product/Satellite-A5
>>00-17X/1076471/toshibaShop/false/),
>> with pretty good specs. Does anyone know how much it would cost to
>> ship it over to the UK from the US?
>
>Usually in the $30 to $40 range.
>
charge for dealing with customs etc. etc.
My advice is don't even think about it.
--
Bill
hbk
Ok thanks mate. :)