Myself and a few family members are thinking of clubbing together and getting a laptop for my sister for christmas. Doesn't have to be top spec, but want a new one and not a reconditioned one and want a proper laptop and not a notebook.

Anyone know what the cheapest deal around is at the moment to match these criteria?

This site can be useful

HotUKDeals - Deals - Computers

Just search for 'Laptop' if there are no listings on 1st page or two.

Bear in mind that the cheapest one may not be worth having.

Anything wrong with this one?

Buy Fujitsu Siemens Amilo LI2727 Notebook. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

As above, cheap doesn't mean good, the one you link is entry level, if it's running vista then it will be slow, by the time you put av software on there it will probably grind too a halt.

It's very low spec but at that price it's going too be.

I would be aiming a little higher myself .

JMTPW.

I think something like this is a realistic budget laptop

Compaq CQ60 Laptop - Laptops at Ebuyer

I know this is over £100 more expensive but there is a point where so many corners have been cut that the machine really isn't fir for purpose.

If your budget really is in teh region of £250 you might be better looking at a netbook

Samsung N130 Netbook Laptop - Laptops at Ebuyer

These are designed to that budget so fewer shortcuts have been taken. but you do have to remember that there are compromises to get to that price in terms of functionality. the main one being no optical drive.

Personally I rate HP.

My HP is still going after 4 years although the hard drive went once.

My girlfriends Dell is well specced but the build quality is like something out of a christmas cracker.

Quick, mind.

Looking at your requirements, I might consider...

Dell notebook laptop Vostro A860 Celeron 560 (2.13GHz) 1GB 160GB 15.6" Vista Home Basic- microdirect.co.uk

Does, of course, depend on what you're thinking of as 'cheap' and you've not told us that bit

Steve

I could have my Acer up for sale in a few weeks. I don't know if there is any interest from you?

I'll also have an HP appearing on here for sale around the same time, if people want a bit of choice and diversity

Steve