Hi there

I'm looking for a new laptop. Mainly just for photo's, Skype, email, etc although I may in future use it to run my MYOB for the business. Can anyone recommend a good website to find one ?

Also, if you have a preference for which laptop you think is better, I'd like to hear your views.

Amazon.com

They are much cheaper ex the US. You just need an Australian charger. Keep it below $1000 and you don't pay import tax.

HP Pavilion Touchsmart 11-E004AU Laptop - $379.99

Harvey Norman Online - $527

cheers

I run this website off a $300 netbook (not the actual hosting of course). They are good enough for streaming video, so should handle skype OK. Apparently they don't do dual screens. They are very handy if you have a commute on public transport. They are also fairly rugged, probably because they are light.

muso wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 9:38pm:

Amazon.com They are much cheaper ex the US. You just need an Australian charger. Keep it below $1000 and you don't pay import tax. HP Pavilion Touchsmart 11-E004AU Laptop - $379.99 Harvey Norman Online - $527

I've now tried 3 different laptops and it keeps telling me 'cannot ship to this address'. 

Do they even ship to Australia?

John Smith wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 10:18pm:

muso wrote on Nov 3rd, 2013 at 9:38pm: Amazon.com They are much cheaper ex the US. You just need an Australian charger. Keep it below $1000 and you don't pay import tax. HP Pavilion Touchsmart 11-E004AU Laptop - $379.99 Harvey Norman Online - $527 I've now tried 3 different laptops and it keeps telling me 'cannot ship to this address'.  Do they even ship to Australia?

Oh, maybe they don't now. I ordered one from there about 5 years ago. I didn't realise that.

Ah, I have heard from the US they don't ship stuff with batteries in it.

I might have misheard.
last time I bought one I googled for the most reliable brand, bought one of those.

I never buy the cheapest anything.

muso wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 10:21pm:

John Smith wrote on Nov 3rd, 2013 at 10:18pm: muso wrote on Nov 3rd, 2013 at 9:38pm: Amazon.com They are much cheaper ex the US. You just need an Australian charger. Keep it below $1000 and you don't pay import tax. HP Pavilion Touchsmart 11-E004AU Laptop - $379.99 Harvey Norman Online - $527 I've now tried 3 different laptops and it keeps telling me 'cannot ship to this address'.  Do they even ship to Australia? Oh, maybe they don't now. I ordered one from there about 5 years ago. I didn't realise that.

Ok. their loss.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 10:21pm:

Ah, I have heard from the US they don't ship stuff with batteries in it. I might have misheard. last time I bought one I googled for the most reliable brand, bought one of those. I never buy the cheapest anything.

Makes sense, I suppose.

so how do we import batteries?

no idea, I bought mine from a real shop in aussie

Sprintcyclist wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 10:25pm:

no idea, I bought mine from a real shop in aussie

I went to a real shop to buy a laptop today, spent over 10 minutes waiting for the salesman who pretended not to see me, so I went home to find one online.

I'll bet I'll save money too.

the customer service in some shops is terrible.
It is as though they want me to NOT buy anything.
In one shop this young guy reeled off all his jargon till I left.
He did not listen a bit, did not see my eyes rolling or my hands rise to try to make him shut up.

Yes, prob be cheaper online.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Nov 3^rd, 2013 at 10:49pm:

the customer service in some shops is terrible.It is as though they want me to NOT buy anything. In one shop this young guy reeled off all his jargon till I left. He did not listen a bit, did not see my eyes rolling or my hands rise to try to make him shut up. Yes, prob be cheaper online.

then they blame the internet  :-/ :-/

There's always Ebay. You can get a new computer from there.

muso wrote on Nov 4^th, 2013 at 8:29am:

There's always Ebay. You can get a new computer from there.

cheers .... I've had a look ....there are also a couple of good deals on the Dell website.

Dell hmmm ok.  Some people have had good experience with Dell.

I quite like Office Works as they will under cut the cheapest and offer free next day delivery if it's in stock.

I'm an Acer user myself.

I have four, and they've all been very good.

This laptop (Acer AS8951G) is an absolute mind-blower, but was VERY expensive.

Yep... Acer here too. Acer Aspire V5 touch screen with Windows 8... but not that expensive.

I had an acer once, it had 12 months warrantry on it, at 12 months and 2 weeks it completely died on me ... never again

Never had a problem with Acer's. My son is desperate for his to die so he can upgrade, but it refuses to die... dropped it many a time, but it doesn't care... he's had it 4 years now.

I have had a toshiba satellite for four or five years! still works fine. I bought my son a toshiba for his birthday, he is in to gaming so it was a good for graphics and cost about a grand.
But I actually use my iPad for most things nowadays, though it's a bit of pain posting with it as it's not great for copy and pasting. I was in dick smiths this arvo and I reckon I might get me a MacBook Air, I used to think Macs were for wankers but the iPad had changed my mind I'm about to buy an iPhone too I just love how simple they are.

I'm a bit of a Nexus convert myself... Have the tablet and seriously considering the Nexus phone as it's bigger than my mini Samsung. Like apple, android technology is very user friendly.

John Smith wrote on Nov 5^th, 2013 at 7:47pm:

I had an acer once, it had 12 months warrantry on it, at 12 months and 2 weeks it completely died on me ... never again

My newest (this one, the AS8951) is 18 months old and running Windows 8.1 like new.

My oldest (an SA10 Pentium 4 desktop machine) is around 7 years old, runs Vista/XP, and has never missed a beat.

The older laptop (AS5735) is my Windows 7 machine.

Obviously, YMMV.

skippy. wrote on Nov 5^th, 2013 at 8:32pm:

I have had a toshiba satellite for four or five years! still works fine. I bought my son a toshiba for his birthday, he is in to gaming so it was a good for graphics and cost about a grand. But I actually use my iPad for most things nowadays, though it's a bit of pain posting with it as it's not great for copy and pasting. I was in dick smiths this arvo and I reckon I might get me a MacBook Air, I used to think Macs were for wankers but the iPad had changed my mind I'm about to buy an iPhone too I just love how simple they are.

My Android phone is on its last legs, so am in the market for a replacement.

I'm going with a Nokia Lumia 520 with Windows 8.

My brother has run Toshiba laptops for years, loves them!

I use nothing but DELL

I browse their online website then give them a call for a better deal.

don't be scared to push them around a bit.  >:(

;D

if you are an RACV member you'll usually get a bit more off.

I've purchased them for business and personal and only upgrade when something better and faster comes out, not because they have broken down.

I saw this all in one 27" apple the other day... the screen was magnificent!

but for what you get for the $$$ was pathetic in terms of hardware and speed.

welfare payments must be good kat...

laptops and internet plans

phone and phone plans

maybe its time to cut welfare payments

True Blue... wrote on Nov 9^th, 2013 at 7:22am:

welfare payments must be good kat... laptops and internet plans phone and phone plans maybe its time to cut welfare payments

Why don't you go someplace quiet, and self-immolate?

I paid for this, asshole, with MY WAGES.

AND the plan. AND the phone (a cheapie basic pre-paid smartphone for $80.00, if you MUST know)

YOU ASSHOLES DID NOT! Not ONE penny!

You people do NOT pay my way, despite what you may think.

I 'owe' you nothing.

Offensive prig.

Nokia Lumia 520s sell for around $180

did you miss a digit in your last post?

True Blue... wrote on Nov 10^th, 2013 at 7:34pm:

Nokia Lumia 520s sell for around $180 did you miss a digit in your last post?

Not at all.

I'm well aware of the price of a Lumia (actually $149 if you get it from Telstra).

But I was referring to my current phone (the one that's dying).

The Lumia will be a 'chrissie present' for myself.

Kat wrote on Nov 11^th, 2013 at 6:52am:

True Blue... wrote on Nov 10th, 2013 at 7:34pm: Nokia Lumia 520s sell for around $180 did you miss a digit in your last post? Not at all. I'm well aware of the price of a Lumia (actually $149 if you get it from Telstra). But I was referring to my current phone (the one that's dying). The Lumia will be a 'chrissie present' for myself.

the 520 or 525 are an excellent budget iphone...

the windows tiles are easy to use and organise... the texting word suggestions are excellent making SMS's a breeze...

be careful of data usage...

make sure you fire up the wifi...

I've got Windows 8.1 on the laptop, so I figured I may as well get a Windows phone. I'm finding
that Android as an operating system leaves a LOT to be desired.

A mate has recently bought a Lumia and is very happy with it, and it's well-specced for the price.

Bugger paying through the nose for an iPhone...

My pre-paid plan gives me 400mb /month of data on a $30 recharge, which I seldom exceed
and I have wifi at home so can use my main internet connection when home.

I don't tend to 'do' a lot of internet via the phone. That may change with the Lumia.

they take mini SD cards for extra storage for pictures etc so if you have an old one of them lying around stick it in when you get it...

I found one in an old mini video camera I don't use anymore when I needed one once...

the Telstra ones are locked into Telstra Plans only but if you get one from say - Harvey Norman - they are unlocked..

an Optus $30 plan will give you unlimited SMS and I think 500 MB of data...

also check out ebay for "clear" screen covers and leather protectors...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Flip-Leather-Case-Cover-Nokia-Lumia-520-521-Free-Screen-Protector-/300925162482?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories&hash=item46108993f2

True Blue... wrote on Nov 11^th, 2013 at 8:31pm:

they take mini SD cards for extra storage for pictures etc so if you have an old one of them lying around stick it in when you get it... I found one in an old mini video camera I don't use anymore when I needed one once... the Telstra ones are locked into Telstra Plans only but if you get one from say - Harvey Norman - they are unlocked.. an Optus $30 plan will give you unlimited SMS and I think 500 MB of data... also check out ebay for "clear" screen covers and leather protectors... http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NEW-Flip-Leather-Case-Cover-Nokia-Lumia-520-521-Free-Screen-Protector-/300925162482?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories&hash=item46108993f2

Thanks for that link, will do.

A cracked screen is just one of the issues with my current phone.

The new one will definitely be getting a case/cover.

My last 2 laptops were dells.
I thnk they are overrated now, toshibas have good ratings.