Anyone know about laptops? If so please help me!!

[WynneWoodles]

I need to get a laptop tomorrow from currys. I have vouchers.

I need it for internet browsing and to connect to my vinyl cutting machine and i need to use it for design work/art

My budget is 350. Can stretch to 400.

Any recommendations please?

I really have NO idea about specifications and all that. Im worried I will get taken for a ride if I ask instore.

Anyone 😩

Why do you have to get it tomorrow when you don't know what you need?

Could you post on a forum for people who use vinyl cutters for whatever reason you do and see what they have? Any laptop will do internet browsing but it's your cutting and design specifics that are going to be the key requirement for you.

My DH is is a tech geek and it's also his job so I hear a lot about these kind of things especially as he's just trying to decide on a new laptop for himself too I don't remember much of what he's told me about the specs not that I don't listen because it's too boring or anything but I do remember him going on about RAM storage and that it should be at least a minimum of 8GB?Don't ask me why

Because I can get a lift there tomorrow.

Nearest store is ages away.

The design programme doesn't t need anything special, its just an add on.

As long as it runs smoothly and isn't slow I'll be happy.

I just dont understand the jargon at all

Sometimes software or peripherals like printers etc have specifications for minimum requirements. For example it might say to run this you need at least Windows 10, 4gb RAM, etc. If you check your die cutting machine, it might help?

I don't know anything about vinyl cutting but yes as pp said you should try for 8GB ram minimum.That's probably the most you will get for that kind of money. For long term a push up to £500/600 would be better. From my looking at laptops (6 months ago) HP's are good but not as cheap as some other brands such as Lenovo. There may be some offers going at the moment. Take your time that's the main thing. It might get a bit confusing (a bit like trying loads of perfumes!) There are a couple of other things, I'll refresh my memory and post again.

Design\art work usually needs quite decent graphics specifications and i'm not sure that you would get that for £400.

how does this one look?

Its only a hobby. Just art for my own joy, not for work or anything :)

or this one?

Dobt know if theres any difference. Has slightly better views

Those both have very little storage on them my daughters laptop has 8GB ram 1tb storage on it costs around four hundred pounds

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/acer-aspire-3-a315-54-15-6-intel-core-i3-laptop-1-tb-hdd-red-10193912-pdt.html

An i3 processor isn't that great. I would go for an i5 or i7 but I don't know if that will be within your budget.

Go for more RAM than storage space, you always need more than they have and external several Gb or even Tb discs are coming down in price all the time and you can buy cloud storage too.

Yes I would go for an i5 minimum with 8GB RAM. SSD is great for fast start up but I would pick a better processor over SSD.

www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/laptops/hp-14s-dq1504sa-14-laptop-intel-core-i5-256-gb-ssd-silver-10203705-pdt.html

This would be a better buy if your budget can stretch to this. Better processor i5 with 8GB RAM and a SSD which will make it run faster.

Yes as a poster mentioned it does have limited storage, but the SSD will make it more resilient (no moving parts so less damage risk) and also faster. As mentioned you can buy separate external hard drives to store extra bits that you don't need to access as much.

I don't know the requirements you actually need for what you want to do, but apart from the 8GB ram, you are best getting as much storage as you can (think it's something like 256GB min), and intel processor if you can it's intel core i5. Have a look on Curry's site to get familiar with them before you go. It may be worth it if you get the choice between two, paying an extra £50 for better specs. You might get more knowledgeable people on the technology/geek section on Mumsnet (not sure exactly what it's called off hand).

My budget is 350. At a push 400, id have to borrow 50.

I genuinly cant afford 530.

Is it all vouchers or are you putting cash towards it?

Cheapest i5 with 8GB is 499 :/

Probably then best to make a note of the key things, the Ram, storage, intel i5 preferably and SSD (think that means solid state drive) then try to get the best you can afford.

Can you tell us the design software you'll be using, and the make of the vinyl cutter?