Asus X5DIJ Laptop, Intel Core 2 Duo T5870, 3GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 15.6 TFT, DVD-SM, GMA X4500M, WLAN, BGN, Webcam, Vista Home Premium £389.99 @ Ebuyer

The processor is nice, 3GB RAM is sufficient for everything besides heavy video editing and hardcore gaming. 320GB storage is plenty and seems to be the laptop standard nowadays. 15" laptops are the best for portability. There's also a free upgrade to Windows 7 and a 1.3MP webcam with it too.

The only let down is the graphics, I'd recommend getting something with a dedicated graphics chip rather than onboard.

It's not guaranteed, but usually Dell have a really good laptop offer at the top of their 12 Days of Deals - if you're not in a rush it could be worth waiting a month, otherwise keep a look out for similar specs but better graphics.

the graphics chip is fine. good for battery life and heat which are often more of a concern on a lappy. Asus are a good brand. I'd pick them over sony and acer etc

This has been at this price for a few weeks so might get even cheaper soon as laptops with windows 7 pre installed are appearing fast
the windows 7 upgrade is not free as you pay 18 pounds and is in the small print

very nice spec for the money though and the graphics will be fine unless your a gamer and asus have very good build quality

good deal

for £60 more there is a model with a graphics nvidea chip

For £90 less you can get a laptop with same Nvidia gfx as the macbook air

brightstar mentioned a forum where vista upgrades had booting up problems
may be best to wait for windows 7 installed

Also been looking around at laptops recently. Asus are everywhere and often seem to offer the best spec for the money but I was put off by their reputation for problems and, of most concern, poor customer service backup. This is more than rumour as it's supported by the findings of a Which? survey.

I went for Toshiba in the end as spec for spec they are only a little more and their reputation is far better.

I have had a asus laptop. I dropped a glass of wine over it. Not under warranty, of course. I contacted their customer service center (which is based in the Netherlands, they speak good english there. I should know, I am dutch myself). They sent me packing material, and arranged a courier to pick it up. Was sent to Reading for repairs. They contacted me first with a diagnosis and exact repair cost. Had my laptop back within a week. I cannot fault them - at all.

I think your getting ASUS mixed up with ACER there mate. ASUS generally have a solid reputation.

Please explain how you get dedicated graphics that are NOT onboard on a LAPTOP like this!!!!!

Seems like a good deal, I've noticed a lot of laptops have been downgraded in the CPU area due to Win7.

Just got this laptop as a replacement on an insurance claim. Chuffed to bits with it. Just ordered my copy of Windows 7 online which cost 18.99 Euros - Not sure what my credit company will charge me at current exchange rates but anyway...

All in all a class laptop. The casing is a glossy carbon fibre like finish - picks up fingers prints a bit but looks the biz. The screen is glossy too but not one of those super glossy finishes that pick up all the reflections. The battery life is much better than anything I've had before. The graphics is Intel onboard graphics, but I'm amazed by how good it is. Put it this way, it runs Half-Life 2 at full detail, full resolution, no probs... I'm very impressed.

Oh and it has wireless N and a lightscribe 8x DVDRW (dual layer compatible) and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.

Class laptop!

Just for info, the battery lasts about 4 hours from full charge, on balanced settings with screen at 60% brightness and just surfing the net... that's real life usage as tested by myself not those fictional benchmarks!

I'd personally go for the compaq for a tenner less with 1gb more ram but 160gb hdd (from ebuyer, on HUKD). Speed>Space meets my needs but hot either way as decent spec.