Help me choose between two laptops please.

[OneHP]

Edit: I've now made my purchase so no more help is needed, thanks.

I recently got my first proper job and with the job came some money, so I fancy getting a laptop/netbook.

Trying to decide between these two:

Packard Bell Dot M/U - £350
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0880535047.1262002432@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckadejellfldlcflgceggdhhmdgmh.0&page=Product&fm=null&sm=null&tm=null&sku=888264&category_oid=

Acer Ferrari One 200 - £400
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/product.php?sku=787253&camp_id=kelkoo

My main question is - is the Acer worth the extra £50?

Also - which would you get?

Thirdly, if you must - would you recommend anything other over these two in the same price bracket?

Edit: Little bit of extra info, I require that the laptop can run one or two instances of Eclipse(Java IDE) without too much slow down as I want to do some small programming projects on it.

 

[Cherry Cola]

MacBook Pro

Buy a crowbar and steal one.

Done deal.

If you don't want to, buy the cheaper one.

 

[teisjm]

The expensive has a ATi Mobility Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, whil ethe other have some onboard shared stuff. The expensive one can also double as a DVD player cause it has TV-Out, this should also enable you to watch pirated fims from your labtop on your TV.

Do you plan to use eitehr of them for gaming? cause honestly i think both of them will have a hard time running newer games.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/656598

Thats what I came up with, it is at the high end of your price range, but the specs speak for themselves. The only downside is that it is in the sale so you will have to act fast.

This one looks better at first glance, but it lacks info on the graphics card. Which is pretty crucial info if it's needed for gaming.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

MacBook Pro

Buy a crowbar and steal one.

Done deal.

Reminded me of this: How To Rob An Apple Store In 31 Seconds [http://www.geekologie.com/2009/09/how_to_rob_an_apple_store_in_3.php]

OT: Can't help you I am afraid, at least not without knowing what you intend to use the workstation for. Is it just general office use or more specific (like graphic design), etc..etc..

 

[OneHP]

The expensive has a ATi Mobility Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, whil ethe other have some onboard shared stuff. The expensive one can also double as a DVD player cause it has TV-Out, this should also enable you to watch pirated fims from your labtop on your TV.

Do you plan to use eitehr of them for gaming? cause honestly i think both of them will have a hard time running newer games.

No intention of using it for games I've got a PC and PS3 for that side.

 

[OneHP]

OT: Can't help you I am afraid, at least not without knowing what you intend to use the workstation for. Is it just general office use or more specific (like graphic design), etc..etc..

Browsing and some light software development.

 

[OneHP]

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/656598

Thats what I came up with, it is at the high end of your price range, but the specs speak for themselves. The only downside is that it is in the sale so you will have to act fast.

Ah that one does look pretty good on the specs, being fast is no issue I can go into store later today.

Thanks

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

OT: Can't help you I am afraid, at least not without knowing what you intend to use the workstation for. Is it just general office use or more specific (like graphic design), etc..etc..

Browsing and some light software development.

Well if it's a light load that needs taking care of then the Bell Dot would do fine, it's cheaper and the Celeron processor is nothing to sneeze at. It would run all or most office related software with ease, not that any such tools are resource intensive anyway. It won't be ideal for gaming but since you got that covered I don't see why not.

The Acer is better but at the end of the day you got to ask yourself, is the cost worth what you're getting out of the laptop.

 

[Pimppeter2]

The Acer is clearly the better computer, but the Bell Dot will suit you just fine as well

 

[Fraught]

This one looks better at first glance, but it lacks info on the graphics card. Which is pretty crucial info if it's needed for gaming.

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD Graphics chipset

And I'd pick the 350 one, because it's 'good enough'.

Or the HP G61-110SA one.

 

[OneHP]

Right I'm off to PC World now to have a look at them, thanks for the help everyone.

 

[OneHP]

Thanks again for the help everyone, I ended up going for the Dot m/u. Saw the HP in store and it was too bulky for my liking. The Acer is only available on-line and I'm not comfortable buying something so expensive that I've not laid my hands on.