Laptop advice please?

Question

I am thinking of buying a laptop, but need to know some things first. I am something of an amateur when it comes to laptops...please excuse the lack of knowledge!

* Which are good makes to buy? (I am after a reliable make and a company which gives good customer service)
* Where are good places to buy them?

I am not after anything excessively technical, but one with the following:

* A word processing function
* Broadband internet
* WiFi connection
* A music download program (ie Lime Wire etc)
* A photography function (ie Photoshop)

Which laptop brands have just these programs?
Which types of these functions are worth getting?
Do I need to get them put on myself, or do models come with them already installed?

Thank you for your replies

Answer 1

As you are new to computing you do not need to go for top of the range. I should go for one of the packages from PC World, the Advent range are pretty reliable. You will get WFI but as for the other software, although you will have Works installed which will include a basic word processing package, spreadsheet and database, something like Photoshop you will have to buy unless again you go for something basic like Picasa2 which you can download for free from Google. If you are using an imaging program for basic editing only you will already have Office Picture Manager I think pre=loaded.

Answer 2

An Apple MacBook comes with all of these things. Apple just updated the macbook and it is now more powerful and includes iLife '08 which has complete multimeida tools.
* If you want a good word processor you can either buy iWork '08 which is Apples answer to Microsoft Office, (In my opinion it is more user friendly) Or you can go with Microsoft Office for Mac which will run seamlessly on your MacBook.
*Just for future reference broadband internet is something you pay for monthly. It is a service provided by an ISP (internet service provider) What comes on a computer is a web browser through which you acces broadband internet. But all Apple computers come with Safari, which is proven to be one of the most powerful web browsers available. (much much better than internet explorer)
* Almost any laptop has a wifi connection and a MacBook is no different. But I would suggest you get the Airport express it makes wifi sooooo easy and its only like 60 bucks.
* iLife '08 which comes on every MacBook includes iTunes to download music, iMovie to easily create movies, iPhoto to work with pictures, Garageband to create music, iWeb to create websites, and iDVD to create DVDs. This has both the photography function and the music download program that you want. And it comes free on every MacBook.

Apple.com will get you started, and you will see just how awesome their products are.

Now, if you do not want a Mac I can not help you. But if you simply are not familiar with Macs all you have to do is go into the Apple store and there the Mac Experts at the Genius Bar will show you how to do everything. I hope you found this helpful, if not then I am sorry. But, in my opinion, Mac is def the way to go.

Answer 3

ok,

i personally like HP because of there quality ( compaq is the same now)

id buy these in large stores which are really well known like future shop and staples because if anything happens, they wont really try to rip you off or else lots of people would be sueing them.

usually word comes with all computers,

u need to buy internet and get a D-link or some thing like that for wireless internet and also a wireless internet reciever,

im noit sure about wifi

i can tell you that no camputers come with built in lime wire so what you hae to do is get it online at limewire.com or kazaa.com there is always a free version available
( WARNING-- limewire and kazaa slow down your computer exponentially )

im not sure about that one

Youve got to check and ask people about which programs are on it but i can promise you that lime wire will not be in any because it will slow down the computer.

Answer 4

PC world is really good for computers. If you go their website and look in clearance at their refurbished laptops, they have some very good bargains in there. My friend told me when I was looking for laptop go for something that has fast processor, mine is 1500MHz, something with more than 500 MB of Ram, I think even faster than that like 1000MB and plenty of memory. I think Word processing programs usually come ready installed, usually for broadband you find a broadband provider and the will send you a broadband modem that you attach to your laptop but USB or ethernet (it have instructions telling you what to do) Limewire you have to download form the Limewire website but some computers come with Itunes ready installed, photoshop you might have to buy. This is the link to PC World refurbished laptops.

Answer 5

You can download photoshop here: http://bitly.com/1p34dM9


I'm a graphic designer and photoshop is my loyal buddy when I am at work. It's the leading software for photo editing and I use it to for all my projects. With photoshop you can to edit images, retouch pictures, make photo collages, apply effects, filters, add frames, text, etc. It can be difficult to use it if you are a newbie, but if you just need to do simple editing (e.g. resize and crop images, change colors) it's still the best tool to use.
You should definitly try it
Bye

Answer 6

I bought a Dell Inspiron 6400 recently and seems to conform to your specifications.

The machine came Microsoft Works preinstalled, thus you have word processing capability.

The machine has Intel Centrino Duo technology thud is wifi ready.

Their was an option when i was customising my order on line to add photo software, i did not, but any software you add to your order will be installed in the factory for you.

You may download music software yourself once you've connected to the Internet.

Buy Dell.

Answer 7

the link below is for a review site it'srun by normale people who use laptops for home use and work.we talk to each other
and review laptops.
as for music download programes you need to do that one yourself.
photoshop is a good programe but will only work as good as your laptop CPU,Memory and graphics will allow.
so as you can see you have lots to think about and a salesman will try and sell you stuff you will pay for but never use.so be careful mate and good luck.

Answer 8

A Laptop or any computer won't have much software pre-installed you will have to do it your self but it won't require Pentium 4 for all of that aim for Celeron M or a Pentium 2 Processor.

Answer 9

This is probably the best deal on sale this week:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Acer-Aspire-15-4-Widescreen-Notebook-PC-5100-5674/sem/rpsm/oid/185212/catOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

And as you can see:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=laptop+RAM+install&search=Search
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208300
Upping the 1gb of RAM to 2gb is only $38.

For word processing and photo editing, you can spend $500 on Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop or download OpenOffice and Gimp for free,

Answer 10

Most laptops come with these features. The more it comes with the more it's gonna cost you. Just go to Tiger-Direct or Dell sites and look around.