Re: Home access laptop grant
 

It's not an Office trial. Looking at the Zoo Storm (£370)here, the 'bare machine' (i.e. no internet) comes with Office standard, 3 years AV and 3 years parental control, as well as service and support. They may be overpriced, but there is a cost associated with them. And the flip side of it is that if you're going to give these machines to 'the needy', you need to make sure that there is support and some half decent software/ security.

Re: Home access laptop grant
 

My apologies I was talking about the laptops :p:

Actually that machine is close to a decent pricing.

1GB ram may not seem like much but like you have stated the extras add up

Not to mention the 19'' flat screen with built in speakers. Proccessor is a let down but still a decent machine compared to the awful laptops they are handing out.

Re: Home access laptop grant
 

Ah. Perhaps the laptops are worse. I just took a random offer to make the point about the extras. However, looking at the Toshiba L450D (here) at £370, this also comes with office, AV and support. That machine (or similar, I haven't checked the detailed specs) retails at £330 from Dabs.

Re: Home access laptop grant
 

Well with the option of a desktop which you have shown us and this laptop I think its fair to say its the desktop all day. It will last longer, More storage, same speed and you could say better processor not to mention the Monitor as stated above.

The ones ive come accross are months old now so judging by the evidence you have provided there has been a vast improvement from the crap they were shifting months back.

It also seems (Could be wrong) Netintelligence does not come installed with these newer systems.. Maybe they learned from the past.

Still all in all nice to see these laptops/desktops actually coming close to the price tag now.

But thanks for giving me details on the new systems, will come in handy now I know what to expect :)