Thetownend.com

Key requirements:

- I want it to run Windows 7 for her
- She only surfs the web, emails and runs some swimming club software
- No gaming
- Useful to watch DVDs
- She wants it to have 'pound' key unlike the US laptop we currently have


Recommendations pretty please?

Does the current one really need replacing? (with those requirements)

You do realise that you can change keyboard maps and regional settings in Windows don't you? They're in the control panel.

Buy her an iPad - bought my mrs one a couple of weeks ago and she loves it - she's stopped moaning at me for spending  my time on a computer and all her iphone games transferred onto it...

We hardly speak now...

If it wasn't for her wanting to watch DVD's then I would suggest a newer Windows 7 netbook like http://www.ebuyer.com/product/193039 , but if thats what you want then just go for the cheapest laptop with the most amount of memory as Windows 7 loves loads of memory.

Tesco or Asda is probably a good bet and under £350 such as http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-7915.aspx

this sounds perfect!

http://www.dabs.com/products/lenovo-g550-pentium-dual-core-t4400-3gb-ram-250gb-hdd-dvdrw-windows-7-home-premium-6N07.html

Except you can't import cd's or watch dvd's as it hasn't a cd-drive!

USB port and say an 8gb usb stick?

Ipad hasn't got usb ports.

I know I've just looked Sippo. I can honestly say I really can't see the point in em

MacBook Pro. Take the hit and never look back!!

No point in paying extra for a pro, may as well just get a normal MacBook. And I agree completely with everything else. :)

Although they've moved the Macbook back to a plastic body?! What the fuck?! Cunty cunts. Talk about giving people a reason to move to a pro beyond the upgrades.

Well, Apple have never been shy about over charging their fans for being a member of the cult.

Is it possible to use a laptop whilst ironing or cooking?

i have an ergo microlite and for the size it does what it says on the box mine is a few years old and has xp pro on it. newer ones have win 7 on it. as a few previous post say look on ebuyer they do good deals.

Then I am  fully fledged member...

iPad for the missus, 16gb - holds movies from itunes
iMac for the office (a bit old now 24" aluminium body bit 3 years old)
MacbookPro 15" with Core i7 processor, 8gb ram, 7200rpm hard drive,  antiglare screen, running Windows 7 through vmWare Fusion for crappy work stuff

Thanks for the tips so far chaps. Am just having a bit of a look tonight. Not worried too much about going for cheapness, more concerned about longevity. Was thinking about 500ukp ish.

Not going to fix the laptop she has at present as its on its last legs. Kids have used and abused it alot. They'll get a little more use of it, but then she can have a new one.

The Acer she has is a cheap 3680 from the US. That runs hot and is pretty slow. A friend has a more expensive Acer which he thinks is...well....Ace !

Also, want to make sure that whatever laptop I get runs cool.

Ref pound sign: How do I change the keyboard setting to get acess to the pound sign?

Hold shift and press £.....its on number 3 on my laptop.

#

Thats what I get.

What OS are you running NMH?

##########

Never used that ever.....what is it and what does it mean?

Oh don't worry I am an owner and user, just not a fully fledged lover of the company. In fact I hate them as much as Microsoft and Google, I'd just rather use something that always works, rather than does for just a few months. :)

Here you go triseros. Maybe you'll meet up with jonny72 and pauld. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9ZnwvyAk8k

Dunno how well it works on laptops, but I've got a few American keyboards which I just set to UK and then just used as normal. I think I might have lost \ doing that, but it's not the most useful of keys.

Well how did you just type \ then?

Maybe Ben meant /

there was quite a lot of past tense in what I was saying.

XP


Have been looking and am thinking of this one:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003L0OYNK/ref=asc_df_B003L0OYNK884708?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=pr-syn1-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B003L0OYNK

In that case, there should be a little language icon in the bottom right of the taskbar. It'll probably be set to EN (US) at the moment. Just click it and change it to EN (UK).

Done that and still have the following for [shift] 123 etc:
!@#$%^&*()_+

Aha! Now its gone to:
!"£$%^&*()_+

Thanks

What's wrong with an iPad?

You might not like it but she'll think it's cool and getting her one will be guaranteed to get you some action.

She's a middle aged technophobe! Bog standard laptop with a keyboard is what she needs.

As for 'action': Christ! Don't want to encourage that at her age!! It would be scary!!

ipad, must be a female thing.
My mother-in-law has one, my wife wants one, but I think they look fucking pointless.
I might buy her an etch-a-sketch instead, a retro ipad.

Exactly what the iPad is aimed at... no virus warnings, no software to 'install', get your emails, and it even fits in the handbag (well most of them anyway..) perfect for all women....

One final thing my missus points out is that it doesn't take an age to boot up - it's on and it works...

She still doesnt want an ipad. She wants a keyboard and something that will enable her to manage registrations for a swimming club. So the laptop needs to be functional.

Some people, more sense than money.

 :D

So, back on topic! Does this one look alright?

Should be fine once you remove all the crap Acer will stick on it for you

Also something to bear in mind

http://tinyurl.com/2fbxtj4