Anybody know about laptops please ?
I want to replace this Dell one ( the one which has had a new hard drive ) which my OH can have, and get a new un', I'm tempted by the offer on in PC World just now on Hewlitt Packards and Packard Bells ( are they the same company ? ) or even a different make, but which make would be the best choice ?, I mainly surf t'internet, do a bit of on-line banking and watch some dvd's and the odd tv prog, oh, and download pics from my camera.

Mines an Acer, never had any problems with it. :-)

Last 2 laptops have been HP, current one the fans gone so it overheats & grinds to a halt it's probably less than 2 years old. Having to resort to iPhone but not the same!

I went through this and really wanted a Sony, which are brilliant, however Argos had a sale on but didn't cover what I wanted at the price. I have ended up with a Samsung and very happy with it, so far..

You may be able to find a good deal on Dells here.
http://www.dell.co.uk/outlet

If you can reach that bit more look for the new sandybridge chip sets as they run cooler and are more efficient.

i wouldn't touch HP with a barge pole. I had one through work which began failing the week after it arrived. There was an extremely irritating delay between hitting the keyboard and seeing the characters come up and well as a dead battery from Week 2. It blew up whilst in for repairs a year later and I was very pleased to see the back of it. I always used my own instead--I know the Sony Vaios are pricey for what they are, but I've had two now, and one lasted 5 years, the other 4. They were between £1,200 and £1,400 new, but you could buy the same spec for around £750 now, or less if you are not planning to lug it about and don't mind a 3kg machine.

Some good reviews here at all price ranges...

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/top-laptops-the-20-best-laptops-in-the-world-706673?artc_pg=5

apple macs the best ( i cant afford one obv but my kids have one!) no viruses and they picked up and fixed  and returned for nothing when my son spilt yogurt on it

LOL Tina, I bought one for my son a couple of years ago when I had a decent contract pay off...he was thrilled, but rather less so when it dawned on him that the Mac was his payoff and the puppy I turned up with the following week was mine!

Oh bought an acer last year after lots of research he is very pleased with it

Ive had Acer and HP(2 of each over the last 7 years or so).They seem to gang up on me and wave good bye afte 2 years.My new one is HP,got it in July and so far happy with it.Was something like £400 off in Comet.Best part and never mind the specifications its Purple :)

Thanks for the ideas
I've ended up with a Packard Bell which was on a half price offer, seems decent enough for what I do, and I ended up having to get one today after a stupid mistake I made last night and got partially hoodwinked on a scam !!