Cheap laptop

[shelbyGT]

I'm expecting my holiday bonus to be about $400-$500 this year and with it, I was hoping to be able to pay for the majority of a laptop. I don't need anything high end for this, I have a desktop for that. But it would be nice to be able to wander around the house (TV) and work, surf the net and et cetera. Dell has some pretty cheap, low end laptops in the 5-600 range, and BestBuy usually has some Toshiba's that are about that end.

I was hoping some of you could point me in some other directions to go. I have no problem buying online, either.

thanks

[bgclarke]

Compaq/HP have some decent laptops that are not overly pricy.

Up here in the great white north, you can get a Compaq Sempron 2800+ (Model M210S) laptop for about $900 Canadian funds/$720 US funds.

Myself, I'm looking at some refurbs on EBay. I want a laptop for a secondary/portable machine so that I can do other stuff while my PC is busy rendering DVDs, etc.

[JSB1]

I don't need anything high end for this, I have a desktop for that. But it would be nice to be able to wander around the house (TV) and work, surf the net and et cetera.

What sort of work?

I used to use a Pent 1 with a HomeRF card... all for really cheap. I could surf the net ... used MS office ... no watching videos or newer games though. I think it was a HP 3300.

JSB

[shelbyGT]

Well, surfing internet, watching movies, not really for video games, probably burning cd's, networking and transferring files, able to handle openoffice software.

And eventually I'd like to be able to put vista on it if I have to (for work) so it can't be TOO low end, although I can just let Vista not run at full throttle.

[hudsonf]

Have you checked Wal-Mart? The local Wal-Mart were I live have a few laptops ats reasonable prices. You can also check office supply stores. I just got a Toshiba Satellite L25-S119 at Office Depot for $599.00 after a $150.00 rebate.

[ROF]

When it comes to buying a laptop the term "you get what you pay for" really holds true. Dell has some of the best performers and from my experience they have the least amount of downtime after 18-36 months of usage. Dell is followed by IBM in the quality department. I'd avoid Toshiba laptops. I am constantly fixing and replacing parts in Toshiba and Gateway laptops. Let's face it, laptops even with the best care experience some abuse. Quality construction is something to look for. Toshiba and especially Gateway sell laptops with shells that do not protect the screen very well. To see what I mean, make sure a sales rep isn't near and rub your finger across the top of the laptop behind the screen. See your finger in the LCD image? Not Good. Dell also does this with some of their laptops, but for the most part they are pretty well constructed. You have to press much harder to "leave your mark". In any case, that's not the only issue. Toshiba and Gateway laptop batteries are also quite expensive and generics can be hard to locate. The hard drives are one of the most replaced parts on these machines as well, but they are also prone to graphics subsystem failure and inferior memory included in them. Gateway for the most part uses proprietary memory which is quite expensive to replace.

I can recommend either Dell or IBM laptops. If you can find Acer laptop these are also very good. Walmart carries a complete line of them and working on them is a joy compared to all others. Another laptop brand to avoid is HP. All parts are proprietary which means you need to use genuine HP or risk damage to your laptop.

While maintenance or replacing dead parts may not be high on your priority list when you make your initial purchase, consideration of this important life factor should be right up there. You aren't buying the laptop for how it functions today, you're buying it for how it continues to function in the future when you need it.

[shelbyGT]

Looks like I could just wait for this:
http://news.com.com/Will+Wal-Mart+sell+398+notebooks%2C+desktops/2100-1041_3-5924640.h...l?tag=nefd.top

[JSB1]

You could always keep an eye on http://www.slickdeals.net ....

They usually have the scoop on Dell deals and such.

JSB

[bgclarke]

Looks like I could just wait for this:
http://news.com.com/Will+Wal-Mart+sell+398+notebooks%2C+desktops/2100-1041_3-5924640.h...l?tag=nefd.top

The config of the laptop sounds almost the same as the Compaq one I mentioned in my previous post.

[shelbyGT]

The only problem is it sounds like it doesn't have wireless built in, which I will say I want. I guess I could always buy the card... but what fun is that?

[JSB1]

The only problem is it sounds like it doesn't have wireless built in, which I will say I want. I guess I could always buy the card... but what fun is that?

The fun is when your 3 year old snaps the antenna off the card
several times.

JSB

[ROF]

it's probably an HP Pavilion ze2108 which has ethernet but no wireless of any type. If it is this laptop avoid it like it has bird flu. I've replaced two samsung Hard drives in those already and had to replace a graphics subsystem in one of those as well. the DVD/CD Drive will not play most store bought movies as well.

Another quality laptop from HP.

[bgclarke]

The only problem is it sounds like it doesn't have wireless built in, which I will say I want. I guess I could always buy the card... but what fun is that?

Yeah, I know. The more that is built-in, the better.

I have a Dell Latitude laptop from work, and it is bloody amazing. All the bells and whistles (Bluetooth, Wireless G, LAN, Modem, 4 USB 2.0 ports, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB HDD, DVD), and works much better than the desktop machine I had before.

I have no idea what they paid for it, and I know I couldn't afford one for myself - but I can always dream

[ROF]

The Latitude X1's are nice machines and can be found at relatively good prices although more than the original poster is looking to spend. They run rather hot because of no cooling fan, but they are light weight, built tough, include all kinds of bells and whistles even in the basic models. My only problem with them is that to repair or replace anything you have to take just about everything apart. for roughly the same price you can jump into a latitude D series and boost your hard drive speed plus these run cooler even without the cooling fan because of the design.

[bgclarke]

The one I have from work is a Latitude D610.

[ROF]

A well constructed notebook there. I've used both a D610 and it's predecessor. The 610 is much better built and includes an always on but quiet exhaust. These are a little out of the original posters price range though.