Laptop info needed

[Stanfordian]

I currently use a HP Netbook as a lap-top. I use it when I go abroad as I like the compact size but I don't like the power/memory. I use the Netbook for Google searches, email and word processing, then I send off articles by email.

I will be grateful if someone will please suggest a new lap-top that I might buy.

[umslopogaas]

I have an Asus X550C which I use for writing, internet searching, email and visiting sites such as this one. It has never given me any trouble. I cant comment on battery power because I always use mains. Dimensions are 37 x 25 cm.

[Anastasius]

Why a laptop? Take a look at Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Or a Chromebook

[Stanfordian]

Thanks very much I'll check those suggestions out.

[arthroceph]

I'll chime in for this one. Iwanted to write tabout about Jennifer Pike tonight Fri 14 Oct 2016, but I'll drop it right now.

In terms of power, some incredible things are happening. The Intel Celeron N3050 processor is now on 17nm process. You don't want to know how small that is. At that size, the power it can get in is microdrops.

The Celeron N2850 the one I'm on now, is 21 or 22nm, it makes no sound. It has 5 hours battery using Wifi (which drinks power in spades). The process size more or less (OK, more) is the size of the transistors. The transistor concept stilll rules us.

These can't be clocked very high. So 1.6GHz is reasonable, and fine. Doesn't matter too much, for this type of usage.

I'm not sure what you mean by memory. The standard nowadays is 1G or 2G on laptops. This is plenty for your applications, unless you are writing A Suitable Boy in MS Word. But Iin that case I would split the files into chapters, one chapter per file. All applications stream nowadays, this means they won't load the entire file into memory and 1G is plenty for streaming FLACs (which I assume you do)

All the brand pretty much produce the same laptops nowadays .. the processors I've mention are really really good for portable computing on the power side. (May i say It's taken a long time to get to this "happy" state of affairs).

The mechanical aspects though are important. Can't comment on that ... to check that out, Currys. Disclaimer: I don't work for Currys.

[Frances_iom]

...

I'm not sure what you mean by memory. The standard nowadays is 1G or 2G on laptops. This is plenty for your applications, unless you are writing A Suitable Boy in MS Word. But Iin that case I would split the files into chapters, one chapter per file. All applications stream nowadays, this means they won't load the entire file into memory and 1G is plenty for streaming FLACs (which I assume you do)....

I must be on a different planet - few modern O/S would operate in 1 GB - the common browsers with several open tabs would need more than that to operate at any acceptable speed if any video (think youtube etc) is involved - even my 10 year old Thinkpad has 4GB

Personally I'd ask around users - Currys are generally at the bottom end of the consumer market and these devices have been thrown together to meet the price - poor batteries, poorer components with lower lifetimes etc - eg bottom end consumer HP devices have a deserved poor reputation - even modern Lenovo machines (they bought out the much respected IBM thinkpads) are now being heavily criticised for reduced quality.

If you want a reliable machine then I'd look for a 2nd hand machine aimed at the business rather than consumer market (older Thinkpads, some Dell models, top of range HP machines - ok the battery may need replacement but these now cost about £20 or less (prices pre recent Brexit fall - expect 10-15% increase on all electronics soon) - for browsing, mail, document processing etc you will find a modern Linux system more than adequate (eg Mint, Ububtu, Fedora or Suse - they differ in the user interface with Mint probably closest to the old classic Windows XP - such systems will handle dvds etc without extra payment