Can't decide on a laptop, ARGH!

[Thalin]

Hi,

I'm looking for a new (well, first ever) laptop for uni this year. I am an art student so will be using it mainly for graphics software, image editing, and the normal music listening etc. Power to run games well would also be a plus. So I guess it's mainly a multimedia laptop. I don't want to be spending any more that 400/450 pounds to be honest.

I have my eyes mainly on http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126338 , and http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/128979

The last one looks good, and it has XP rather than Vista, which is a plus for me (i'm sure many others would also agree), although I don't know much about the HP brand or the graphics card. The first also looks good, but I am worried about the lack of dual core, and whether it would really be an improvement over the HP one. Maybe another laptop would suit me more.
I've been advised towards Mac's, but would rather go with a Windows laptop to be honest.

Any advice is very much appreciated.

 

[Dark Night]

If I were you I would get the second one, by the looks of it it is for you.

 

[Istonian]

Actually I like vista over Xp. I would get the first one.

 

[Dark Night]

Yea but he could just get Vista.

 

[Anubis1980]

i have the acer aspire 9301awsmi very similar specs to the acer on ebuyer. ITs a great laptop, (well was until my stupid puppy pulled it off table cost me 200 to fix it :| broken power pluf inside, she stuffed up speakers too...)

it does feel a little cheap and plasticy in places but nice big screen!! firs thing i did was upgrade to 2gb of ram for vista tho needs it!

the HP is dual core though , might be better cpu wise, but smaller screen, and if ur an art student bgger screen wud be better imo.