Can someone look at this spec and give me their opinion on it. I will be using it mainly for word/excel, internet and email (broadband) and photos. I would want to use it wirelessly. All help appreciated.

P4, 2.8GHz
512Mb, 80Gb
Onboard graphics
CD-RW/DVD
56Kbps modem V92
14" screen
Soundcard with Firewire

I'd say that'd do just fine, except I'd look for one with wireless built-in

Thanks Hotphil. If I can't get it built-in what does it ental externally ? I realise I'd need a router from my broadband PC>

It will need a network card for the Broadband, and/or a wireless device for using it wirless.

I would go for a bit more ram if i were you as When Microsoft release the newer excel and word, expect them to be that little more power hungry!

Other than that it should do its job... How much is it?

complete overkill for office apps.
Maybe consider a larger screen if you want to do lots of work with photo's.

built in wifi is more convenient, but a pcmcia or usb adaptor is an easy addition afterwards.

Thanks lickable. Not sure about the price yet, it is being provided under the Govt's Home Computer Initiative by Sheffield City Council (see below). The scheme allows employees to purchase computer equipment paid from their salary so national insurance, tax, is not deducted from the monthly figure before the payment is made. At the end ofthe 3 year period there is a small one off payment.

The Council will be introducing a Home Computer Initiative (HCI) scheme available to all members of staff. Employees will have the opportunity to lease computer equipment over a 3year period, paying for this through their salary. I'm not expecting to be paying any more than £25 per month but that's a guess.



Employees will have the chance to take part in the scheme between the following dates:

1st November 2004 to 31st January 2005

1st July 2005 to 30th September 2005



Three computer options will be on offer:

Option 1: pc with mini tower with 15” flat screen

Option 2: pc with tower case with 17” flat screen

Option 3: laptop



Two printer options will also be available:

Option 1: A4 colour inkjet

Option 2: A4 black and white laserjet



Further information will be available after the contract has been awarded, at the beginning of October 2004.

Thanks Cyclone, not sure if I'll have the option of the larger screen.

i've seen these sorts of schemes before, make sure you compare what they are offering and the price it comes at (taking into account your tax break) against what the marketplace is offering. You might find that you're better off buying privately and that privately also gives you the freedom to get what you really want.

Good point.Now that I know the spec is good I'll wait until I see the price then compare.

I have a laptop from a similar scheme with my company, it's good as you the money it taken from your wages before tax and national insurance so you save quite a bit of cash.. more info on the machine would be good but its quite hi spec, should not cost you more than 500-600quid in my opinion with the savings in tax and NI as I got mine a year ago and it was higher spec than that. As a comparison the machine they are offering us now is a 3.4Gh P4, 533FSB, 1Gb RAM, Radion 9700 128mb, 11g wireless, dvd-rewriter, 15inch widescreen display, modem, ethernet, 80gb hd, sd slot, 3 year warranty. retail is 1600quid, with all the savings it would cost someone 1000quid. pretty high spec machine.

The laptops the scheme is using are Dell's, or were last time the scheme was ran. I know lots of people with these laptops and they all seem happy enough with them.

i have a dell as of about 2 weeks ago, very good machine.
i was just saying not to assume that what you are offered is good value or what you need, be cynical, it can't hurt.

It would make sense that they are Dells as Dell will build to any spec, the ones we got and the new ones available now to us are Fujitsu Siemens..

I am using my laptop for the same reasons as you and i only have:
P3 600mhz
244 mb RAM
6 Gig HD
CD/DVD ROM
sound card and firewire

I have a wireless network card inserted into a pci slot and it only sticks out 2cm.
For what you are using it for it is more than fast enough!

a pcmcia slot i expect, i've never seen a laptop with a pci slot.

I have never seen a laptop WITHOUT a PCMCIA slot!!

The Council will be introducing a Home Computer Initiative (HCI) scheme available to all members of staff. Employees will have the opportunity to lease computer equipment over a 3year period, paying for this through their salary. I'm not expecting to be paying any more than £25 per month but that's a guess.





Any thoughts on the government scrapping this ??

It will cause huge problems for some companies, there are a fair few companies that only do HCI, job losses on the way.

Can someone look at this spec and give me their opinion on it. I will be using it mainly for word/excel, internet and email (broadband) and photos. I would want to use it wirelessly. All help appreciated.

P4, 2.8GHz
512Mb, 80Gb
Onboard graphics
CD-RW/DVD
56Kbps modem V92
14" screen
Soundcard with Firewire

the battery will probably last about 1-2hr, you should get a Centrino if possible, Pentium 4's are too power hungry for laptops.

I have never seen a laptop WITHOUT a PCMCIA slot!!

Mine doesn't have PCMCIA. Just USB and firewire.