Laptop Choice?

I think ubuntu is great, you wouldn't need to spend 1k to get a very good ubuntu laptop. I'd probably stick with windows though as you've expressed a need for .exe files and wine won't run everything (at least it didn't when I used to toy with it) is portability an issue? If not you could get a 17inch running SSD for OS and another internet HDD for storage.

I use Ubuntu day in day out on two computers and am happy with it. Occasionally something annoying will come up, but that's normally something like syncing with Apple.

Wine works ok with most things, but you could always leave a windows partition on there if you fancy.

Windows partition sounds good.
I really dislike windows- we have it on all the university computers.

Needs to be very portable- I tend to be between Derby, Mansfield and Nottingham during the week, and then London, Oxford or Devon during the weekends.

Having never looked at laptops before properly- it seems a bit alien all of a sudden- and I have no idea what companies to go for, etc.
So a shortlist would be really helpful- I guess.

Specs of the Mac its replacing:
Mid 2010 Macbook Pro.
13.3" 320GB
2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3
NVIDIA GeForce 320M 256 MB

I'm not upto date with current laptops, but I'd be thinking high end thinkpad?

HP envy also?

Thinkpads are really well built, I'd have no concerns chucking it in a bag if your travelling a lot. Don't they do a nice 13inch one too? Stick a 256gb SSD in it and you'll be laughing.

Looks tidy,

http://www.sharms.org/blog/2012/03/ubuntu-12-04-and-the-hp-envy-15/

Oh, and as VB has testified in the past, more people are using Mint over Ubuntu these days.

Right, I'm going to put this on hold till June 1. And then it is decision time.

Mint doesn't look quite as pretty though.

Pfft. you don't go the linux route for prettyness!

Mint works well out the box and suits people who didn't get on with Unity.

I thought ubuntu linux looks the best out of all the OS's
What is unity?

Unity is pony.

This.

Mint beats Ubuntu since Unity came in (Ubuntu UI). Mint is Ubuntu with different windows manager, UI and even more compatibility. Everything you can do on Ubuntu you can do on Mint, in fact all of the guides on how to install something for Ubuntu apply perfectly to Mint as Mint IS Ubuntu.

X220 is the best Thinkpad available all things considered, and is available within your budget and is fuly supported by Ubuntu (and Mint). They are work machines and stunning industrial design. The keyboards are second to none, and if you like to gloat to Mac users you can always opt for the IPS screen and get a battery slice to take the battery to silly lengths. As a base package though, it's incredibly light and portable without cutting corners.

Right, I'm going to put this on hold till June 1. And then it is decision time.

The new HP Ultrabooks launch in Europe on June 8th. The Spectre XT is a really nice bit of kit with some pretty great features. Going to be ~€1k or £900 which would fit your budget...

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-envy-spectre-xt-1079516/review
http://h41112.www4.hp.com/promo/spectre/uk/en/overview-xt.html?k_clickid=EMEA|442dd7e6-51f6-0d68-73d6-000009274a68#.T6plEuhWovU?jumpid=se_r11264_uk/en/hho/psg/pla_se_pay_aw_dst_pdl/ultrabook-envy_central/ymd

Might be worth considering.

Thanks for explaining. What's so bad about the Ubuntu UI then (this is a question not a statement)

£400-450

Want to buy a laptop for an elderly relative who knows how to wordprocess, email and browse (and unfortunately Skpe). Their old one takes 15 mins to boot up and is 8/9 yrs old now.

I've not bought a laptop for ages and wondered what sort of things a decent at this price laptop would have.

I'm keen to get them something that will last a while and won't run out of steam in a few years. Any suggestions?

Thanks for explaining. What's so bad about the Ubuntu UI then (this is a question not a statement)

It's small things.

Example: If I have 4 terminal windows open, I don't see them as separate open windows in my task area, it's just a glowing terminal icon on the left hand side with four little highlights.

So if I want to switch from term window 1 to term window 3, I cannot do so instantly. I instead have to animate the display to show all of the windows beside each other and then choose the one I want.

Things like that. Small annoyances which get in the way of productivity as you fumble about trying to do something simple and that was second nature.

Unity is a result of Ubuntu pushing towards tablets and touch based interfaces, but the majority of computers are still mouse/trackpad based and the interface has actually reduced usability somewhat for the majority of users. Eventually, when everything is touchscreen, perhaps history will say Ubuntu were right. But right now, it's really jarring and has annoyed a lot of the userbase (in part because it was pushed on to the community).

Mint is a balance between the old way of working, whilst keeping some of the newer features (which aren't all bad).

So Mint is a fine halfway point. No loss in productivity or "death by a thousand paper cuts", but still an eye on the future.

£400-450

Want to buy a laptop for an elderly relative who knows how to wordprocess, email and browse (and unfortunately Skpe). Their old one takes 15 mins to boot up and is 8/9 yrs old now.

I've not bought a laptop for ages and wondered what sort of things a decent at this price laptop would have.

I'm keen to get them something that will last a while and won't run out of steam in a few years. Any suggestions?

I always think that this is the sweet spot for an iPad to be honest.

^good point - that never occurred to me.

Might be a 'challenge' for him though as I think he likes (and understands) Windows - but I'll run it by him. His son has one so I can get him to play with that first...

iPad with bluetooth keyboard - job done!

^good point - that never occurred to me.

Might be a 'challenge' for him though as I think he likes (and understands) Windows - but I'll run it by him. His son has one so I can get him to play with that first...

The great thing about an iPad is that they really can't fuck it up. With only one button and no access to all the system files etc, even my mum hasn't managed to wreck hers.... yet.

The keyboards are second to none

Fn key bottom right = automatic fail at being a proper machine.

Thinkpads can GTFO until they put CTRL where it should be >>>

The new HP Ultrabooks launch in Europe on June 8th. The Spectre XT is a really nice bit of kit with some pretty great features. Going to be ~€1k or £900 which would fit your budget...

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/laptops-portable-pcs/laptops-and-netbooks/hp-envy-spectre-xt-1079516/review
http://h41112.www4.hp.com/promo/spectre/uk/en/overview-xt.html?k_clickid=EMEA|442dd7e6-51f6-0d68-73d6-000009274a68#.T6plEuhWovU?jumpid=se_r11264_uk/en/hho/psg/pla_se_pay_aw_dst_pdl/ultrabook-envy_central/ymd

Might be worth considering.

I'm far from an expert, but I wouldn't buy anything from HP. Out of the three people I know who have had them (inc me) there have always been issues.