Novatech laptops - any good?

[G.T]

I am seriously considering getting a new Laptop computer in the near future, as this Dell is getting on a bit in age now - and my patience with it is getting thin.

Basically, I'm deciding to go for Novatech over getting another Dell because of the experience I've had with them, especially this one. They have been/are near ridiculous reliability wise, and from what I remember in my current one's early days, the customer support being pretty poor with the "overheating" issue. People like Toshiba, Sony, etc, although good, seem to be a couple hundred pounds more against similarly specified Novatech laptops. HP laptops look good value, but not as cheap as the Novatech ones... I would go Mac, seeming as everyone praises them, but that's a totally different road I'd rather not go down at this stage. Looking around the 'net, there isn't much on the Notatech laptops themselves. From what I've seen, they seem to get pretty good reviews, one comment from a user being: "overall being better than Dell on various forums I've visited".


I'm looking into getting this expensive version of the Titan T2. Specifications and prices of it may change due to Novatech keeping up with the latest equipment:

• Screen: 17" X-Brite Widescreen
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2.0GHz Processor
• Memory: 2048MB DDR2 667MHz Memory
• Hard Drive: 160GB SATA Hard Drive
• Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon x1600 256MB PCI Express Graphics
• Optical Drive: DVDR Multi Burner
• Features:
• 3 x USB 2.0 Ports
• Built in Gigabit LAN & 54g Wireless LAN
• 56K Internal Modem
• Glidepad with 2 buttons & scroll button
• 2048MB DDR2 667MHz Memory (Supports up to 2GB)
• 1 x Type II PCMCIA Slot
• 1 x IEEE 1394a Firewire Port
• 1 x Mic-in,1 x H'phone/Speakers
• DVDR Multi Burner
• 1 x S-Video Out Port
• 4 in 1 Card Reader
• Weight: 3.2Kg with battery
• Dimensions (mm): 33h x 395w x 278d
• 12 Mths RTB

All of this, after adding XP Home and the optional 2 year Service Pack, is £1036.39. I don't have to pay postage, as, conviniently, there is one of two of the factory outlets in the country literally a few miles away from here, which helps significantly anything were to go wrong.


Are Novatech any good? Does this deal sound any good? If so, can you lend me some money?

Many thanks if you can give me some answers.

 

[Jondot]

No experience personally, but my brother swears by them for his job. Well, not the laptops but the desktops. Google "novatech" and "reviews" and see what you get.

Looking at the specs that all looks very good. The one concern I have is the apparent lack of USB ports. Then again, I've managed with only 3 working ones on my laptop, so... If you can't find the money for the more expensive one, the lower spec one will do exactly what you want. It's an upgrade on everything you have now with some handy other features that yours should have (like wlan, 120gb hard drive and lack of nickel chrome heating element...). If you feel you need to upgrade the ram, you can for around £50, but you probably won't want to.

 

[PLmatt91]

Looks uber ugly.

If I were to get a laptop, it'd be a Mac

But for Windows and crap, I'd get a Dell or Sony. It's just me.

 

[DuckRacer]

Get. A. Mac.

That is all, young padawan.



...Then again, for a Windows laptop, it seems pretty good. Never heard of the manufacturer, though.

 

[ExigeEvan]

How big is the laptop you have now? My sisters 17nch Toshiba is an absolute nightmare to carry round so I wouldn't bother getting 17 inch if you want it to be portable.

I wouldn't worry about having only 3 USB ports, adapters are cheap and effective.

The company though... Never heard of them personally, but if they have a factory outlet it atleast means you can talk to someone who knows something to get if fixed, rather May-Ark from Bay-ern-sly.

 

[G.T]

No experience personally, but my brother swears by them for his job. Well, not the laptops but the desktops. Google "novatech" and "reviews" and see what you get.

Yeah, I did that with "Novatech Laptop Reviews", and not much popped up.

Looking at the specs that all looks very good. The one concern I have is the apparent lack of USB ports. Then again, I've managed with only 3 working ones on my laptop, so...

I'm running on 1 USB port at the moment, because the other one went bust. I'm using an adaptor for it so now, so I have 5 available. 3 will be more than plenty.

If you can't find the money for the more expensive one, the lower spec one will do exactly what you want. It's an upgrade on everything you have now with some handy other features that yours should have (like wlan, 120gb hard drive and lack of nickel chrome heating element...). If you feel you need to upgrade the ram, you can for around £50, but you probably won't want to.

Good idea. You did the same thing with the RAM as well, which was pretty good.

Looks uber ugly.

It does look quite ugly, but function over looks.

Get. A. Mac.

That is all, young padawan.



...Then again, for a Windows laptop, it seems pretty good. Never heard of the manufacturer, though.

No Macs. Yet. Although boot camp sounds interesting to make various windows programs work on it, it still doesn't convince me.

How big is the laptop you have now? My sisters 17nch Toshiba is an absolute nightmare to carry round so I wouldn't bother getting 17 inch if you want it to be portable.

15.4 inch, but my father's Vaio is a 17 incher, so I know how big it'll be. I can live with the size. Interestingly, they sell a 19" laptop too...

The company though... Never heard of them personally, but if they have a factory outlet it atleast means you can talk to someone who knows something to get if fixed, rather May-Ark from Bay-ern-sly.

Yeah. Talking to people down the phone for help now is ridiculous. Trying not to be racist or anything, but the amount of foriegn people that answer the phone - mainly from India - don't know a thing. I'd rather take the Laptop into the outlet and get them to look at it.

 

[Evolution.]

Never heard of them myself, but if you really want to look for customization, IBuyPower has quite a few options to customize. They are primarily gaming PCs/Laptops, but you can customize the internals to your likings.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Yeah. Talking to people down the phone for help now is ridiculous. Trying not to be racist or anything, but the amount of foriegn people that answer the phone - mainly from India - don't know a thing. I'd rather take the Laptop into the outlet and get them to look at it.

Yeah same here.

After phoning up Orange support the women then asked how I was twice and how my day went 3 times. I had no problem getting the job done. In contrast when I phoned another Orange line I got through to a British lady who joked about how hard Welsh streets were to say.

 

[Pebb]

Don't get Windows XP for you're future Laptop, because you might as well go with Home Premium, unless you a bit strapped for cash.

 

[DuckRacer]

Don't get Windows XP for you're future Laptop, because you might as well go with Home Premium, unless you a bit strapped for cash.

If by "home premium" you mean Vista, I agree. You're spending a buttload for it already, you may as well wait and spend a little more for the good stuff.

 

[G.T]

Yeah, by the time I get it, Vista will probably be available. I'll probably go for the Premium, as the Basic one is too scant and the Ultimate too expensive for what it is...

 

[Pebb]

Yeah, by the time I get it, Vista will probably be available. I'll probably go for the Premium, as the Basic one is too scant and the Ultimate too expensive for what it is...

Basic is even worst then XP, but if you want to keep your data safe and backed up and want better networking then get Ultimate. Also remember Premium saves money on buying Media Center, since it already has Media Center built into Premium and Ultimate.

 

[skip0110]

Yeah, I did that with "Novatech Laptop Reviews", and not much popped up.

Full disclosure: I have no experience with the brand what so ever; this is just a collection of some Google browsing.

http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/misc-systems/novatech/441818/ "If you're placing an order that you want fairly soon (say, in the next month ha-ha-ha) then PHONE THEM FIRST to make sure it's actually in stock!"

http://www.ciao.co.uk/novatech_co_uk__5329303 Pretty good reviews here.

http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=20814&sid=0875e64c5b35e8ce4b3a57571cdce6ce "In June 05 I got a maverick laptop 19months on my 5th laptop has just blown up." (from their very own forums!)

http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=2& Actually, their forums seem quite scary. You might want to post there and get some opinions straight from the horse's mouth.

 

[G.T]

I didn't know they had their own forums. I'll definitely have a look.

Thanks for the other links as well. I did see those, but I was also looking for professionally reviewed articles. But as they aren't well known outside of the UK, I guess there hardly is any. I'll have to browse through some magazines to make sure.