Laptop recommendations

[ColdPhoenix]

My sister-in-law wants to buy a laptop for internet, ipod, and maybe a bit of word processing.

I was going to recommend her this one :http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.205-3557.aspx (she's loads of Tesco vouchers to use so want to get from there) but realised that it has an integrated graphics card. I haven't had an integrated graphics card for years and so don't know the limitations (the most system intensive game she'll play will likely be solitaire...). Will it be jerky watching tv shows on BBC iplayer?

Does it look like it will be suitable for her purposes?

[DaShi]

She should buy my netbook for $200+shipping.

But seriously, if she's only looking for internet, ipod, and some wordprocessing, she should look at netbooks. They are far cheaper, smaller, and have a longer battery life. And Dells are poo.

[ColdPhoenix]

The problem with netbooks would be the smaller screen. She will be using it to watch tv shows she's missed and so wants a decent sized screen.

I've got a Dell and it does the job!

[DaShi]

Then she should just buy a desktop. A 17" screen on a laptop is going to be a pain to lug around. Or get the netbook and hook it up to an external monitor. She can travel with the netbook and use the external monitor when watching TV shows at home.

[ColdPhoenix]

I'll suggest it to her. I think she doesn't want a desktop as it takes up to much room but won't be taking the laptop outside the house so being too hefty isn't such an issue.

[Wiglaf]

Does your sister in law have any developmental issues? Tell her to get a Mac Mini and a 22 inch $200 monitor. Total cost, cheaper than the **** you picked.

[ColdPhoenix]

She wants to get it from there as she's got vouchers to use. Even the one I picked can be bought with more RAM, faster processor and separate graphics card for the same price from Dell. I don't know why she doesn't use the vouchers for her standard grocery shop but have already recommended she go elsewhere to buy it so she probably won't get from them.

She'll occassionally bring Word documents home so it'll be easier for her to use them on Windows. She's not savvy when it comes to computers. Also she's never used a Mac (neither have I, aren't they for "trendy (pretentious) people") so may not want to get one.

Either way, I basically wanted to know how powerful a laptop would need to be to suit her purposes.

[Wiglaf]

So, we're buying a computer for an irrational person who wants to spend more money than is necessary just to open Word documents and we aren't considering a Mac. This thread is ****ed

[SlowwHand]

Take your pill, Wiggy.

[onodera]

Buy a large flatscreen display, wireless KB and mouse, and a netbook. One that can render video fast enough.

[Japher]

Mac Mini

Not a laptop, but is really tiny and powerful. We have a few here at the office and they do alright. We are screwy here in the we have both Apples and Macs and no one seems to use the same one for everything.

[Blaupanzer]

Take your pill, Wiggy.

Cyanide, maybe? One can only hope.

[Wiglaf]

Just so you don't embarrass yourselves in the future: cyanide doesn't kill you unless you bite into the pill, actually. This is why Hitler had to shoot himself.

[ColdPhoenix]

I just looked at the Apple website, the Mac Mini is more expensive, doesn't come with a monitor and has less RAM. If a £400 laptop does what she wants there's no reason for her to spend £500 before she's even got a monitor.