Scrolling through the highstreet yesterday I noticed an Advent 7006 laptop in Dixons (also availble in PC World). I don't like buying from Dixons and PC World usually but their Advent line of products are very good, I had an advent PC a few years ago (pii 333) and it was very nicely put together, standard atx mb and easy access case etc..., in addition the price hit me.

It has an Intel Pentium 4 1.8ghz (non mobile edition), 512mb Ram, dvd/cd-rw, 16mb graphics, 30gig hd, 14.1 tft, sound, etc.. looks nice too.

http://www.adventcomputers.co.uk

Documented weight: 2.95kg; battey-life: 1.5hrs.

A price of £1299 (probably get it down to £1225 after a bit of talk and pretending to walk away). What does everyone think?

PC World :puke: wish there was some easy alternative.

I bought an Advent laptop with DVD and had problems with battery, marking to keyboard front and screen hinge broke. I recently checked the P4 2G Advent advertised at £1499 in the national press but on display at local PC World at £1799!!!

Not very robust equipment IMHO - PC World own label.

Thanks grandad,

Can you shed some more light on the battery problem?

Faulty within 2 months (wouldn't maintain charge) and all of the usual hassles with PC World - "not our problem", "call our premium rate support line", "you'll need to buy another one". I eventually took it back and after being brought to boiling point left the shop and the laptop telling them to sort it out. They kept my machine for 2 weeks for alleged repair, later found it had never left the shop! Eventually sent back to "manufacturer" (PC World!) and resolved.

Resolved only after 10 months of hassle - typical PC World customer service.

<edit - and yes I did do a battery refresh - edit>