Best laptop within budget?

[Ben10]

I am looking at getting a laptop and have a budget of £450.
i use it mainly for web surfing, storing pictures, watching videos/films and the odd game. I also do a bit of photo editing but not much.
i know I can afford an laptop with an i3 processor, but would you say it is definitely worth trying to fit an i5 in budget or is an i3 suitable enough for my needs? I kept my last laptop for 6 years and hope to do the same with this one.
ive also seen some AMD processors of a decent spec but I'm not clued up on these, would anybody recommend them against an i3 or i5?

Thanks

 

[rdoxenham]

Intel CPUs have considerably outstripped the performance of AMD CPUs, if I was shopping for a laptop I'd continue to buy Intel.

Few options really, I'd consider a second hand MacBook Pro on eBay as you can get a decent bit of kit for that money, especially if you do a bit of photo editing. Alternatively you could buy a cheaper brand new machine, the faster the CPU and the most memory you can get would be advisable. Can't really recommend any though I'm afraid!

 

[Ben10]

I ended up getting a Sony Vaio with an i5 processor... Thanks anyway!!

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Small bump.
How much did you pay for your Sony?

I'm looking at an i5 Dell, but have also seen Lenovo's for pretty good prices (sub £500 I'm looking at)

Only thing thats putting me off a lot of machines is Windows 8. A lot of bad reviews from what I've read saying its more suited to tablets.

Not keen on buying a second hand macbook, I want new ideally. Certainly can't justify a grand for a new one.

Any thoughts?

 

[Darius]

Small bump.
How much did you pay for your Sony?

I'm looking at an i5 Dell, but have also seen Lenovo's for pretty good prices (sub £500 I'm looking at)

Only thing thats putting me off a lot of machines is Windows 8. A lot of bad reviews from what I've read saying its more suited to tablets.

Not keen on buying a second hand macbook, I want new ideally. Certainly can't justify a grand for a new one.

Any thoughts?

Save on laptops dot com = bargains!

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Ended up getting a Dell Vostro for £303 + VAT (in the business section of the website)
Inter i5, 500gb drive, 4gb ram (bought another 4gb from crucial for £25), windows 8 pro.
Fast enough for me, 4 USB 3.0 slots, HDMI output, decent graphics card too.

 

[Darius]

Ended up getting a Dell Vostro for £303 + VAT (in the business section of the website)
Inter i5, 500gb drive, 4gb ram (bought another 4gb from crucial for £25), windows 8 pro.
Fast enough for me, 4 USB 3.0 slots, HDMI output, decent graphics card too.

That's really good could u link me please?

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

The prices have been fluctuating this week, one day it was 369 + vat, then 309+ and now its 349+

http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-3560/pd?oc=sbns5633&model_id=vostro-3560
http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-3560/fs

 

[Darius]

The prices have been fluctuating this week, one day it was 369 + vat, then 309+ and now its 349+

http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-3560/pd?oc=sbns5633&model_id=vostro-3560
http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/vostro-3560/fs

Thanks! And okay I'll keep a watch and try and snatch one for £309+vat