Budget Laptop Recommendations

[suse920]

I'm looking to buy my mother a new replacement laptop for Christmas.
Her 6 year old dell is limping along, but I think it's time has come.

I'm looking now because I'd prefer to purchase a laptop with Windows 7.
I don't think she is going to want to learn a new interface.

The requirements are very minimal here. She uses her iPad for nearly everything, and takes it with her for travel. The laptop will rarely leave the house and will be used primarily for printing documents, skype, and web browsing.

I don't see any reason to spend 1k on a macbook when I know it will get such limited use.
I'm looking to spend between $400-$600 on a 14inch+ laptop.

I know this is a low price point, but I'd like to get some opinions on brand and/or specific models.

Thanks!

 

[postmortemIA]

did you try to buy just a SSD for her old laptop? my 6 yrs old Dell is 'doing fine' with it 🙂

 

[suse920]

did you try to buy just a SSD for her old laptop? my 6 yrs old Dell is 'doing fine' with it 🙂

No, but that's a thought.
I'm sure the cost of an ssd+new battery is far less than that of a new laptop.

Although I hate to sink any money into a laptop this old. Especially with the low prices of budgets machines now.

 

[pelov]

http://outlet.lenovo.com/SEUILibrar....detail?GroupID=445&Code=4236XN4#.UIMhoMXA8sA

Cheap, reliable and she might appreciate the 1600x900 resolution at sub-$600 price.

 

[kbp]

+ ^ .... Got one for wife's mom and thru in a 128GB SSD. . . Very nice laptop.

 

[RossMAN]

Do you have a Fry's Electronics near you? They usually have $299 - $399 laptops on sale 2-3 times a month, usually with 4GB RAM, Windows 7, WiFi, 1 year warranty, 14" LCD.

If you don't, I would register for and search SlickDeals.net for a good deal.

This laptop for $258 would have been perfect for her but it is refurbished and 15.6", however bang for your buck is awesome.