Suspicious Laptop/Notebook??

[#1]

Take the money...I'm sure PCW would prefer you to take a "new" PC, it would be financially better for them, no doubt the wholesale price they're paying is a lot lower than the £800 you could get, so rub their noses in it, take the money, but make sure you get it cash/cheque not as credit note(s)
I only wish I'd been around today, had it been the Watford branch of PCW (and having a wheelchair bound wife) I'd have been delighted to escort you (and weigh er! well enough to worry a PCW manager) but it seems you didn't need any old fashioned chivalry...well done.

[#2]

Just wanted to add my tuppence - firstly well done you showed a level head and great determination. I was dismayed to hear re: salesman ask you that you would be prone to dropping a laptop being in a wheelchair!!  I would say they are trained monkeys but don't want to be harsh to the monkeys  ;).
I would take the money, don't forget they still are making a profit from you.
Lenovo make good laptops (with excellent battery life) and if you can you may wish to opt for XP Pro rather than Vista as this still has a fair few problems esp drivers to be sorted.

[#3]

HI kind Chappies, Just thought I would let you know the final outcome of my 'suspicious/dodgy laptop'!
I admit, it wasn't as simple as I had been told the first time I went in to PC World, with a different manager on duty when I went to get the refund, he had different ideas to the previous and was only going to refund half of what i had paid out in the first place! I really can't believe they get away with what an awful service they provide, I've never known a company to lie like they do, one person tells you one thing, someone else tells you another and says their colleagues don't know what they are talking about - its a shambles!
But I held my ground,  and eventually yes I have the full £800 back in my bank - Hoorah! :D, to be honest I think they were as happy to get rid of me as much as I am them!!!
Now all I have to do is get a new one, but I'm rapidly running out of brain cells!  I have found a Toshiba satellite A200-18M that matches my A200-1AI in nearly everyway but is of a higher spec with a Hd-DVD rom, and a remote control!!!!!!! But that would be the full £800, and I wonder whether I'd be buying older technology than available now!
Others suggested include  , -Acer Aspire 5920G (H) Gemstone Laptop at £750, Acer Travelmate 5720G at £680,A Packard Bell MB88-P003, which is £599ish, with this I wonder although the specs are there why it is so much cheaper!
I always believed that to get good machines that the technology will last me a couple of years, I need to pay more. Wanting a 15"/15.4" screen, and dedicated graphics I seem to be really limited -unfortunately a 17" as I would go for doesn't fit between the arms of my wheelchair!!
I always take out an extended warranty, accident cover, tech help access etc, i have been used to 24/7 access to helplines, and would like the same again - does anybody know of anywhere that can provide that service I can buy from! Frustratingly Dell only porvide 8am-6pm for Vista Laptops, for some reason longer hours for PC's and wierdly 24hour for Xp machines, so they look like a no-go although they are very pretty!
So chaps and Chapesses I'm back to asking for your help, laptopsdirect.co.uk seem to have all I'm looking for but having never spent this kind of money buying from the internet, where I can't physically look at the machines, and people I am buying, I also stay to the known brands thinking I am 'safer' that way?? So I am a bit hesistant and would really appreciate if someone knows laptopdirects  repuation! I've also not been able to find any reviews for the Toshiba Satellite A200-18M, and that concerns me, if anyone has one and can they tell me what they think please!
At the end of all this I think I am on more need ot a better processor and bigger memory - anybody know where I can get one!
Thanks to everyone again, without you generous peops I would be in a very different position, you all really, really have made a difference!
Cheers,
sally

[#4]

Hello Sally,
Congratulations!  Well done..... so glad you stood your ground with the "manager"..... I can`t help you with your choice of replacement, other than say I would stick with the "known"! names/brands...... I am sure there are loads of people who will advise you better than I on this point.
Thank you for getting back on the forum to let us know how you got on..... Good Luck in finding a replacement.
Gerry  (shutter)

[#5]

comets seem to sell that model tosiba, it is on their web site, it had a HD read / Standard dvd write
Click to go to Comet
[Moderator's note by Jonathan (chillypenguin):  Long link sorted ]

[#6]

I bought a Vaio laptop from John Lewis - they give you a 2 year warranty, are extremely helpful and they stock Toshiba too.
Don't get Packard Bell - I had awful problems with my desktop and it died on me after 2 yrs, a friend had a laptop and that was always going for repairs.

[#7]

Hi Sally,
If you're really hankering after a 17" screen, there maybe something that would help you in this https://www.mobilitybuddy.co.uk/wheelchair-accessories (it'll only interest you guy's if you're a wheelchair user) My wife uses one of these accessory tables occasionally, in fairness she does find it a little on the high side, and finds herself a bit close to the screen and a bit cramped, but it may vary to the design of your wheelchair arms, my wife's are the half length type so she can get under a table (top...guy's) when in a restaurant etc.

[#8]

JMD, that's good to know, I certainly don't want to buy a make that has known problems, thanks for helping me avoid making another mistake!
John Lewis seems to have some good models, I've just printed some specs to have a better look, and is definitely somewhere I would feel confident buying from!  Not somewhere that immediately pops in my mind for me!
I think I have brain mash from trying to get my head around all the technology and not make a mistake like last time with my choice of retailer, and I do really appreciate your suggestions!

[#9]

Thanks Petlow,
The link about the wheelchair table does really help, and looking at the pictures I think it will open the 17"1 machines up as possibilities, I've tried those beanbag tables but they are more of an nuisance than help!  Its a great little site, seems to have a lot of things that could help me, thanks for taking the time to tell me about it!
I'm glad you responded as I am sure you and your wife will like this!! I didn't forget the pathetic, ignorant comment of PC World about being in a wheelchair! When I went in the store there was a lovely display of Empty printer cartridge boxes sitting nice and tall,  I tried my best but, oooops somehow managed to catch the wheel on one of the boxes on the way out and how awful they all fell over!!!!!! I felt so bad (not), but what do they expect if they are going to let us clumbsy wheelchair users in!!!
Regards to you and your wife, sally

[#10]

I see that LIDL's that famous laptop retailer  are selling a very good spec AMD dual core laptop with 3year collect/return warranty, 15.4" screen, 120GB SATA drive, 4 USB ports, wireless, inbuilt 6100 graphics card, 2GB Ram, DVD burner and Vista all for £499!!
Looks tempting to the financially hard-up let alone a moneybags like you with 800 notes burning a hole in pocket? 

[#11]

as  (had a mental block) would say oooo you are naughty, but I like you
Packard Bell used to be a respected name , but I have a feeling that DSGI  own most of the franchise rights for the UK.  Another thing that PB do is to use non standard motherboards that only take their bits.  I.E. Steer clear.
Lidle and Aldi both sell Medium machines ,  they normally get an exceptional write up from the Magazines,, If you have one near you so do Tchibo
edit just had a look at their current on line catalogues, No laptops up to the end of the month.  is you don't know them they rotate there stock every week, if you are lucky they might have a previous item in stock in some shops, but nearly impossible to find out, no phone numbers etc.

[#12]

Fancy running off somewhere else just because ever body is looking after you - now you know are you happy 

[#13]

Hi Sally,
(Moderators I promise this is the only off post I'll make, but it is relevant to the postee...just)
My wife has only suffered the blindingly crass indignities that can be heaped on disabled people for just over 4 years. She also uses a car transportable electric buggy/scooter (depending on what situation we're in) as it gives her a lot of independence when shopping etc. but has managed to demolish displays in PCW and Currys using it...so you're not alone. You would think in this enlightened age people would be tolerant of the disabled, but believe me they're not, I'm the one (able-bodied) who gets very very annoyed, my wife just becomes rather quiet, and sobs all the way home.

[#14]

Not disabled myself, but have a lot of sympathy for the wheelchair bound.... My coment on Petlew and Bubbalicious, knocking things about...... The law says that the premises should be "accessible to the disabled".... I think that includes wheelchair friendly.... so if the shop managers, wherever and whatever trade, cannot organise their displays in accordance with the law, they deserve to get them knocked about a bit, and in case of Bubbalicious,,,,,  OOOOOOooooops.       
Wish I had been there to see it 

[#15]

A promise is a promise Shutter, so I won't respond at length, but I know exactly where you're coming from. Different retailers interpret "accessible to the disabled" laws in many different and baffling ways.