Computer advice | Vital Football

Computer advice

R

Rexn

Vital Champions League
OK, after a lot of my "thump it" advice I don't deserve a reasonable response.

I'm just going it alone again and have some decent work coming in. I need to have a laptop or similar so that I can work on the move and demonstrate to potential customers.

My own feeling is to go with a small laptop that I can load Office onto, having to do a load of spreadsheets and Word being familiar. Powerpoint is also useful.

Because of travel I don't think the remote (Cloud?) thing is for me.

Once I get a few more jobs in, I will be able to afford to upgrade.

Any advice?
 
I use my laptop for demos and using office products including powerpoint. I have tried tablets and nothing beats a laptop if you using it a lot.

I got an HP Probook 650 I think last month with office 2013 HB for around £900. Claimed £150 back by trading in an old XP machine

I use my laptop a lot for connecting to screens etc...

 
Rexn,

A Good windows7 64 bit laptop, still avoid windows 8, even 8.1 is not all it is cracked up to be.

Office 2013, Home & Business, has everything you need, and you are self sufficient.

Would always suggest a Lenovo laptop in these situations, they are bulletproof.

Send me a PM, with what you are looking to do, and will price something for you.

TOTT rates apply!!!!
 
You'll need wide screen just in case you're meeting in a dark shadowy hotel one night plus ports for connecting to a larger screen or OHP.

There's a company that sells cheap refurbs Rex. http://www.elf.co.uk/PriceList.pdf However they're not the only ones.

BTW you cant buy from them unless you're VAT registered.

Most come preloaded with a version of Windows but if you're looking to cut costs then think about a version of Linux in future. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsApplicationsEquivalents
 
Thanks, gentlemen. Better advice than I deserve.

Following earlier advice on here about company formation, I went for what I thought was a Rolls Royce option. Having still not been registered for VAT as promised, I should have listened to the wealth of information on here.
 
In the short term you can always claim you're VAT reg'd ! Like most things in this country, you'll only ever get found out after two or three years of doing something not quite right.

Make up a number, check other local traders for examples, then apply for your own.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/start/register/waiting.htm
 
I use OpenOffice as opposed to MSOffice as its free, and it saves all files in Microsoft format if you want it to.

If you have a valid copy of MSOffice lying around you can just use that, of course; but if you were thinking you needed to fork out for it - the free version does the job just as well, and is very very similar in operation.

 
Yes but there's a whole raft of compatible Office systems out there.

http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/best-free-microsoft-office-alternatives-5-suites-to-save-you-money-1139295

I've used Libre for home use. It reads and writes to existing files plus it will create new ones in Word with .doc or docx options
 
A few more bits of good advice.

I have an old version of Office. It seems to accept newer formats with downloads. There is always the argument of how many copies.

This extra advice is great and thanks.

I suspect that I might have to do the 365 thing from September with another contract coming up.
 
Dell outlet is always worth a look. get some right bargains on there.
I got my XPS gaming laptop from there for £400. It was actually worth £850

I seen an Asus laptop as well a couple of days ago for £320.. in Argos. 750gb hard drive, i5 cpu, 4gb ram. windows 8.1 which is ok. I much prefer windows 7 though.
 
Its an op sys so in theory you shouldnt even notice it. However the problem comes with the number of apps that are available for this brave new world.

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

NTS there is no Microsoft Explorer but there are some very good browsers available including Firefox/Mozilla.

You can of course split a drive with both ops sys if you wish.http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/388261/how-to-upgrade-from-windows-xp-to-ubuntu-the-cheapest-way-to-upgrade-from-xp/3

Mail me if you want to chat about your options ?
 
Thanks, Mac, sounds a bit technical for me. If no Explorer, then I suspect less likely to have what I want.

Your first name isn't Apple, is it?
 
Ubuntu is in effect, an Operating System. Windows is another Operating System - its the underlying 'program' that makes the computer function in a standardised way. Windows, for example, I'm sure you'll be familiar with.

I actually use Ubuntu for configuring servers, rather than for use on a laptop as a machine for general work.

Has advantages as you can 'tweak the engine' if you know what you are doing, but if you're not used to it, would take some time getting used to it, as learning a different OS does.
 
Stick with Windows 7 and Office 2013 HB

Any docs produced on Home come with a Non Commercial use message at the top of documents (did in 2010 anyway)

Also if you making Powerpoints to view on Windows machines, they sometimes don't look correct from Open office. Print and formatting sometimes changes

Its the small things that can sometimes leave bad impressions with customers



 
Agree Bazza - had this issue at first, until I realised I wasn't always saving new docs in the correct format.

Fortunately, I always check things before giving any presentations, if I know I'm showing to people who use MS products, on a work machine running it. No problems since that early hiccup.
 
We came up with a few issues that were common when you searched on Google and no one seemed to have solutions... I think the money is worth it for piece of mind for Business, However on home PC's I recommend open office etc...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.