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UPDATE 12/04/2012 – There is a newer version of this post. Check out April 2012′s 17 Inch Laptops post.
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At a time when technology continues to get smaller and smaller, 17 inch laptops may seem a little old fashioned to some.
However, they are perfectly suited to those that are looking to replace a desktop PC but would also like the occasional portability provided by a laptop.
We’ve had a look around the big retailers and picked out several of the best 17 inch laptop deals available in February 2012.
Best Buy»
1) Samsung NP300E7A-A05UK
What we like – Second generation i5 2450M CPU, HDMI, Build quality, Great Value
Best deal – View Deal at Ebuyer.com
Update 28/03/12 – Amazon have now reduced their price on this model, check price at Amazon.co.uk
Details – The Samsung NP300E7A is the best value, i5 equipped laptop we could find and comes in at just over £500. Any less than this and you’ll only find i3 equipped laptops which are considerably slower, it’s worth paying the little bit extra for the additional power the i5 offers.
Key features include:-
Intel i5-2450M – This is a second generation i5 CPU and as a result features the greatly improved integrated HD 3000 graphics set. This doesn’t make the NP300E7A a gaming machine but it does mean that it can easily handle 1080P video playback.
HDMI Socket – HDMI has become the industry standard for connecting devices to modern flat panel displays. As such, this is a nice feature on a laptop at this price point.
Build Quality – Samsung’s tend to be well made and the NP300E7A-A05UK is no exception. It’s nicely finished and feels robust.
17.3 Inch HD+ LED Screen – The screen used in the Samsung NP300E7A is a matte finish panel that runs at a native resolution of 1600 x 900. Whilst it not a full HD display it is higher than the 1366 x 768 resolution typically found on 15 Inch displays which makes if far more suitable as a desktop replacement.
2) Toshiba L775-17H
What we like – i5 2430M CPU, HDMI, USB 3.0, Bluray Player, Nvidia GT525M
Best deal – View Deal at JohnLewis.com
Details – For those looking for a capable gaming machine you’ll struggle to beat the value offered by the L775-17H. At just under £700 it’s £200 more expensive than the Samsung above but has a feature set that justifies the additional cost and is still great value.
The L775-17H is equipped with an Nvidia GT525m GPU which is effectively an underclocked GT540M. If you don’t mind tweaking your laptop there are lot’s of owners running the GT525M at GT540 speeds and beyond. This makes the L775-17H a decent gaming machine, something the Samsung above can’t claim to be.
You’ll also find a Bluray drive and USB 3.0 connectivity.
It’s worth noting that Toshiba consistently feature at the top of reliability surveys and are generally considered to be one of the most reliable laptop brands available.
We also feel that the TWO year guarantee that John Lewis provide as standard should be part of your decision making process. Most retailers only provide the standard one year manufacturers warranty.
