This is the best deal I can find with these specs. PC World have an offer on an HP with identical specs, but John Lewis 3yr guarantee makes this better
Yes its 720p, yes it's 2.1kg. That doesn't make it shit - you can get better with these specs if you spend more.
I'm really torn here. My DD wants a 14" and my budget is £400-500 max for school (and Uni next year)
I'm sold on nothing less than i3, and getting a SSD. Ram is less important because I can upgrade that later. HD would be nice, but it doesn't seem a deal breaker. She stores files and photos online, and doesn't game, so 128 GB is fine.
**I was originally sold on this HP Pavilion (i3, 8GB) long battery) from PCWorld. At 1.58kg the weight is good. £449 after cashback.
**This Ideapad 320 is the same price. Pluses: i5, 3yr John Lewis warranty. Negatives - substantially heavier 2.1kg (wish it were a 320s)
Neither are full HD,
**The Very deal. (Ideapad 510S) Pluses: i5, 1.7kg, full HD, looks like the best - but there's all the crap that comes with catalogues
Have missed anything here? Something I'm not considering? 15.5 is too big, and 13.3 seems too small. And I really don't want to spend any more.
Picard123 to asm80
28 Aug 17#32
Several of your criteria isn't necessarily best suited to a student / teenager IMO.
For the use that you describe, an i3 isn't necessary. 1366 x 768 TN is also far from ideal for photos. Also girls hate lugging around heavy clunky ugly looking laptops. I'd be aiming for an aluminium build, 13.3" (no its not too small - its a perfect size), 1.3kg, SSD, IPS 1080p, min 6-7hr battery life based laptop of which there are many that are less than £400-£500.
asm80 to Picard123
28 Aug 17#33
Well, this has been discussed with friends, daughter (and contributing family members) and we've settled it. It will be used at home mainly, so the 14" is the agreed sweet spot between portability and desk-top alternative. And, there's the odd bit of low-end photo-editing and video work, so an i3 has been agreed. I'm not really in doubt about this - I'm just looking for the best deal.
Picard123 to asm80
28 Aug 17#34
I've owned every single form factor and spec under the sun from 10" netbooks to 17" gaming machines. For the usage that you describe for your daughter, I don't think your criteria are at all ideal. Girls love something like a Macbook Air 13, not some square brick like industrial looking Lenovo 14" with crappy screens etc. You're applying your criteria rather than what she'll like - if she agreed, she's probably doing it just to keep you happy or simply doesn't know much about laptops - most of the ones you've listed are awful!
asm80 to Picard123
28 Aug 17#35
That's an opinion. Trust me, we've lots of them - but in the end, you have to sit down and make some choices. We've done that now. No, these are not my criteria - she prefered the 14".
Picard123 to asm80
28 Aug 17#36
Oh well. Many people make the wrong choices and buy worse because they don't know any better, as is evidenced by all these threads for junky low end Lenovos and HPs.....
At least I tried.
(And yes 1366x768 is shit - it's incorrect to say its 720p - as is a 14" weighing 2.1kg.)
busterdan to asm80
29 Aug 17#41
I'm looking for exactly the same reasons, but Picard makes some very valid points. I was going to get the Acer Swift 3 (i5 variant with 256GB SSD).... the price dropped briefly down to £569 on Amazon Prime Day but they seem to be almost impossible to get now - gutted I didn't buy it at the time.
Further to what Picard said my daughter would absolutely love a Macbook Air, but they are overpriced and under specc'd and seeing as I'm paying I'm not prepared to be sucked into an overpriced Apple lifestyle choice.
asm80
28 Aug 17#4
Brexit and the weak pound are pushing tech prices up. Deals you could get before are no longer available. :disappointed:
pooool to asm80
28 Aug 17#8
That's tellin it like it is bro...
busterdan to asm80
29 Aug 17#40
Indeed the Brexit affect.... for remoaners like myself this is a bitter pill to swallow, but least I know the weak pound is hitting leavers in the pocket as well.
GGMI
28 Aug 17#2
Cold
parasitemol to GGMI
28 Aug 17#10
Why?
GGMI to parasitemol
29 Aug 17#39
Non HD TN panel, low SSD,
Picard123
29 Aug 17#38
If you want an extended warranty, that can be arranged at additional cost.
Picard123
28 Aug 17#17
Wait for the Chuwi Lapbook Air to be released - it will blow the overpriced entry level Lenovo into the weeds...
- 14.1" IPS 1080p fully laminated display
- 320cd/㎡ panel (ie bright)
- Core M3
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB storage
- m.2 SSD slot
- 2 x UBS3.0 and 1 Type-C
- 1.27kg
- 6mm thin at its thinnest point
- Full aluminium build
Etc Etc
jaydeeuk1 to Picard123
28 Aug 17#22
Guess you'll only find that in fly by night places, like gearbest or banggood. I'd be very surprised (but very happy) if there was an amazon fulfilled option for £400
Picard123 to jaydeeuk1
28 Aug 17#23
I've never had a problem with Gearbest and I've ordered from them several times. If you want me to order it for you and charge you 10% on top (my handling fee), I'd be happy to do so :-)
Babbler to Picard123
28 Aug 17#24
Yes but have you had to use any warranty or return an item?
Picard123 to Babbler
28 Aug 17#26
I've never had anything that was faulty. If it's DOA, just send it back to them.
Paying £450 for this Lenovo that's heavier than a paving slab and has a 1366x768 TN panel screen is just nuts.
Babbler to Picard123
28 Aug 17#27
How much will your laptop be and when is release date?
pedant99 to Picard123
29 Aug 17#37
With the 3 yr warranty that JL are offering?
asm80
28 Aug 17#21
THat Very deal is good. Not only is it an i5, it also has 1080p (although probably a hit on the battery life).
I imagine the 510"S" will be thinner than the 320 ("not S") - but I don't know what the model difference will be
Babbler to asm80
28 Aug 17#25
John Lewis have I3 version for 400...tempted.
asm80 to Babbler
28 Aug 17#28
That's tempting, but it's 13.3inch not 14inch, and it has only 4G.
There's specs and specs, there doesn't seem to be a clear winner here. One man's unacceptable compromise is another's great trade-off.
Babbler to asm80
28 Aug 17#29
Yes it's so damn hard... Struggling to buy one with 400 quid. Crazy!! Been looking for 2 weeks thought a good bank holiday deal would appear...
Picard123 to Babbler
28 Aug 17#30
You won't find a UK deal for anything good, anytime soon, or at all. Brexit and the weak £ have put an end to all of that.
As for the Lapbook Air, don't know the exact price - I'd guess around £350-£400. Should be out soon, probably Sep/Oct would be my guess.
If you can't wait, my recommendation would be the 13.3" EZBook 3 Pro. Slower processor but a bargain at £175. Throw in a M.2 SSD and it's still only £235.
linhang90
28 Aug 17#5
i3 for the price of i5. Nahh cold
asm80 to linhang90
28 Aug 17#7
Can you get an i5 on a 14 inch for that price? Where?
RiverDragon8 to asm80
28 Aug 17#20
If you create a new Very account click and get 10% off your first order or pay the extra £20 for an i5. TCB existing customers @ 1% and new customers 2.1%.
DzonAFC
28 Aug 17#19
Thank You for all comments and options. Half a year ago bought Asus360 for £430 now back to ~£900 :neutral_face: Strong and stable all the way...
jonesinamillion
28 Aug 17#18
how do the idea pad 510 stack up agains the 310?
Paid about £350 for the 510 so is the 310 worth the extra?
CraigT
28 Aug 17#16
I like the John Lewis deal and a 3 year guarantee is great. Voted Hot.
As alternatives PC world have: currys.co.uk/gbu…tml (Already mentioned) An i3 with similar specs for £450 after the cashback (banner at the top of the Currys page) OR currys.co.uk/gbu…tml An i5 with otherwise similar spec for £500 after cashback.
Opening post
Yes its 720p, yes it's 2.1kg. That doesn't make it shit - you can get better with these specs if you spend more.
Latest comments (43)
Think one of these is now cheapest or vary offer.
I'm sold on nothing less than i3, and getting a SSD. Ram is less important because I can upgrade that later.
HD would be nice, but it doesn't seem a deal breaker. She stores files and photos online, and doesn't game, so 128 GB is fine.
**I was originally sold on this HP Pavilion (i3, 8GB) long battery) from PCWorld. At 1.58kg the weight is good. £449 after cashback.
**This Ideapad 320 is the same price. Pluses: i5, 3yr John Lewis warranty. Negatives - substantially heavier 2.1kg (wish it were a 320s)
Neither are full HD,
**The Very deal. (Ideapad 510S) Pluses: i5, 1.7kg, full HD, looks like the best - but there's all the crap that comes with catalogues
Have missed anything here? Something I'm not considering? 15.5 is too big, and 13.3 seems too small. And I really don't want to spend any more.
For the use that you describe, an i3 isn't necessary. 1366 x 768 TN is also far from ideal for photos. Also girls hate lugging around heavy clunky ugly looking laptops. I'd be aiming for an aluminium build, 13.3" (no its not too small - its a perfect size), 1.3kg, SSD, IPS 1080p, min 6-7hr battery life based laptop of which there are many that are less than £400-£500.
At least I tried.
(And yes 1366x768 is shit - it's incorrect to say its 720p - as is a 14" weighing 2.1kg.)
Further to what Picard said my daughter would absolutely love a Macbook Air, but they are overpriced and under specc'd and seeing as I'm paying I'm not prepared to be sucked into an overpriced Apple lifestyle choice.
Paying £450 for this Lenovo that's heavier than a paving slab and has a 1366x768 TN panel screen is just nuts.
I imagine the 510"S" will be thinner than the 320 ("not S") - but I don't know what the model difference will be
There's specs and specs, there doesn't seem to be a clear winner here. One man's unacceptable compromise is another's great trade-off.
As for the Lapbook Air, don't know the exact price - I'd guess around £350-£400. Should be out soon, probably Sep/Oct would be my guess.
If you can't wait, my recommendation would be the 13.3" EZBook 3 Pro. Slower processor but a bargain at £175. Throw in a M.2 SSD and it's still only £235.
Paid about £350 for the 510 so is the 310 worth the extra?
As alternatives PC world have:
currys.co.uk/gbu…tml
(Already mentioned) An i3 with similar specs for £450 after the cashback (banner at the top of the Currys page)
OR
currys.co.uk/gbu…tml
An i5 with otherwise similar spec for £500 after cashback.