Can someone please recommend a laptop for me?

[BigTeuchLittleTeuch]

I am boggled

Currently have a Toshiba Satellite (problems with overheating and noise, but otherwise a nice laptop).

We use programs such as AutoCAD, MS Office, databases and I like to be able to use Windows Movie Maker.

Require large screen (17"-ish)
Need plenty memory (currently have 300 or something...need about double)
At least 4gb ram or whatever that is...
Need to be able to read and burn DVD's but not fussed about watching bluray or anything.
Budget around £500

And I would prefer if it looked nice

no idea what to recommend - but just wanted to clarify a few things for you :

4Gb RAM - this is the memory of the machine - the more you have the more programs the machine can run at the same time before grinding to a halt.

Need plenty of memory - have 300 or something - I think this is the hard disk you are talking about - you have 300Gb. This is the place were all the program and data files are stored. If you have a lot of music, photos, or movies then you will fill this up, you are unlikely to fill it up with documents or spreadsheets. If your 300Gb is full them maybe look at ones with 500Gb hard disk.

I think maybe the thing that will push the price up is the large screen - maybe see what is available for that size screen (say on amazon), see what else you get given and then compare the options. When you have wittled it down to a few maybe come back and ask if anyone has any experience of x, y or z.

thanks, that's a good start

We bought this in Feb and it's great. DH likes playing games on it and it handles the graphics really well apparently. Does everything else I need perfectly well so no complaints from me (mostly Office, Fireworks and Internet Explore).

By the way I think the newer operating systems are more greedy on the RAM - eg windows xp would happily run on 1Gb RAM, but windows 7 is like a slug at much less than 2Gb.

So if you are going to want to mess around with movie editing maybe you need to head towards more ram - say 6Gb.

I should say, I needed a new one quite urgently for a work trip so I left the investigating to DH who chose it as I would have faffed about and not got one in time

Does it have to be a laptop? Graphic design and movie making are quite resource intensive and you would likely get a lot more for your money in that department if you got a desktop. For similar reasons, I would definitely go with the more=better approach on RAM even if you do get a laptop.

toshiba

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