So I've looked around at many "find out what is best for you" sites and haven't been successful in finding a laptop that would work for me.
I'd be using it mostly for music/web surfing and maybe a small amount of editing.
Price range I can go up to around £500 but obviously wouldn't mind less.
Also impartial to refurbished ones. Any advice would be awesome; thanks!
A refurb is generally a used laptop that was cleaned up, or if they actually repaired something, odds of it failing again for the same issue are above average. USB and DC input ports and HDD are the highest failures, and a refurb/used laptop has these things worn. Besides which, in the UK/EU, there's a 2 year warranty of fitness on new goods sold, and even if only a 1 year warranty, you can often return them to the store for up to 2 years. Refurb is typically 90 days.
Almost all laptops have cheap speakers. You benefit from external speakers or a headphone. Some Asus and HP Envy have better audio, and Apple has better audio, but not in the up to £500.
General brand ratings and CPU performance are key. You do not show gaming so integrated graphics is fine if decent.
http://www.rescuecom.com/...14-q2.aspx
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/...u_list.php
Let's start with one decent choice:
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/59422759-Lenovo-Flex-2-14_1656495.html
£487.87 delivered
Lenovo Flex 2 14 59422759
Has a 1920x1080 display
Touch screen and swivel hinge
i5-4210U scores 3483
1TB HDD, but only 4GB RAM as adequate but not great but should be upgradable.
Intel HD 4400 graphics
Gigabit ethernet when cable connected
2.3 kg weight (but may be lighter acc'd to Lenovo web site)
2 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB 3.0
Audio output is a combo-jack that is common now.
So, it sets a start as to one you could get.
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NX.MNXEK.010-Acer-Aspire-E5-771_1651716.html
A little cheaper Acer (lower reputation) as a 17.3" Full HD (1920x1080) with a little slower CPU i3-4030U 2751 score has 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, DVDRW,
close to 3kg weight is a large heavier system.
is a little lower in price. Does not have gigabit ethernet.
£500 HP Pavilion is brand better than Acer but below Lenovo.
Has subwoofer audio. No gigabit ethernet. 15.6" x768 Touch Screen, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1000GB HDD, DVD Rewriter
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/G7V76EAABU-HP-Pavilion-15-p099na-BEATS-Special-Edit_1630798.html
A8-5545M is a slower CPU 2523 score as not as responsive. Although graphics processor is good, that is not a use for you. It's an OK choice. Weight 2.72kg
Toshiba Satellite Pro at 470 quid is a standard laptop of decent features and OK quality track record
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/PSSG0E-009001EN-Toshiba-Satellite-Pro-R50-B-123_1663718.html
Has the same CPU as the Lenovo, but no touch screen or hinge display-tablet design. Does have 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, gigabit ethernet.
Has DVDrw, a decent weight and appears to be a good battery life.
and a similar Asus with a little faster CPU and smaller HDD but does have a low end graphics card not much better than the integrated graphics
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/X550CA-XX101H-ASUS-X550CA-XX101H_1599435.html
Buying cheap, laptops tend to fail more often. Given laptop recent history, I believe the Lenovo or Toshiba are probably your best choices unless you can find something at a great sale at another store.
The HP CPU is a bit sluggish and you need to spend more as over budget to get an i5 in a similar laptop.
I don't trust the flood of cheap Acer:
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/NX.M8EEK.029-Acer-Aspire-E1-572_1642097.html
If you want to take a risk in quality to save money, it can be done.
There are many choices around.
Touchscreen is really only good in a tablet mode, and Lenovo does show a stand-up tablet convert.
There isn't one that is much better, but instead you decide what interests you.
If the HP was an Envy I would trust it more.