Compaq Presario $100 off @ CostCo.com starts TODAY!

[RossMAN]

I just received my Member Passport to Savings Summer 2002 coupon book from CostCo via snail mail.

Here are the two laptop deals:
1) Compaq laptops $100 off all models only available through CostCo.com NOT at CostCo B&M, only valid between dates of August 12 - August 18, 2002.
Coupon is located 4th page from the back.

2) Toshiba laptop $999.99 - $100 coupon = $899.99 available at both CostCo B&M and CostCo.com, only valid between dates of August 26 - September 1, 2002.
Coupon is located 2nd page from the back.

The only details listed for the Toshiba laptop are:
Toshiba Notebook Computer
Intel Celeron 1.13 GHz
256MB RAM
20GB HD
DVD (not DVD/CD-RW combo)
NIC
14.1" Display
Item 13976

Here's where the fun starts.

Visited Toshiba.com and I'm guessing this is the Satellite series laptop. At first I thought it was the 1800 series, none of the specs matched up because there were 3 discrepencies:
1) Toshiba.com shows a 1.1 GHz CPU where as the CostCo coupon book says 1.13
2) Toshiba.com shows a combo DVD/CD-RW drive where as the CostCo coupon book says DVD.
3) We do not know the OS it's probably Windows XP Home but could be XP Pro.

Then I called 1-800-TOSHIBA spoke with a sales rep who says this is probably a discontinued model but could be one of these 3:
Toshiba Satellite 1800-S207 with XP Pro
Toshiba Satellite 1805-S207 with XP Home
Toshiba Satellite 1800-S274 with P3 not Celeron

I'm hoping it's the first or last laptop, if the last comes with XP Pro that'd be great. However since the coupon book says Celeron I'm guessing it's either the first or second choice.

Called my local CostCo B&M membership services provided them with their item number 13976 all they saw were the specs listed above with no manufacturer's model number listed. They suggested I call 1-800-PRI-COST which I did, they said since this item is so new and won't be available for another 2 months that they also have no model number but suggested I call their corporate headquarters and speak with a buyer. I called their Washington corporate headquarters and spoke with a friendly buyer who said the only details she has are:

Part: PS110U
Satellite 1105

The above mentioned part number resembles the Toshiba Satellite 1000 Series, so it could be that series also.

Anyone wanna help identify which Toshiba Satellite laptop this could be?

If I were to call the CostCo buyer back what specific questions should I ask her? I think next time I'll ask her to list (or even fax) the COMPLETE SPECS of what she has.

If you have considered buying a Compaq laptop from CostCo I would strongly suggest waiting until 8/12 so you can use the $100 coupon. I have in the past been able to buy something at regular price, then a coupon book is released, I bring the CostCo sales receipt to membership services who gives me the cash difference of the coupon amount.

Looks like I might actually buy a laptop since $899 is well within my price range. Just need a decent 802.11b WiFi setup then I'm good to go!

8/12 UPDATE - It looks like the deal is ALIVE at CostCo.com here's a direct link or you can enter through CostCo.com.

 

[Scorpi0]

RossMan - Just out of curiosity, how many laptops have you bought in the last 24 months man?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Scorpi0
RossMan - Just out of curiosity, how many laptops have you bought in the last 24 months man?

Laptops drooled/agonized over: 20
Laptops purchased: 0

 

[Valvoline6]

That sounds like the Toshiba laptop that was going around here a couple months ago. Basically if you have to have a laptop but have no money it will serve it's purpose. The screen is iffy, the video card is integrated, the system is not upgradable, and no cdrw. I think it's basically a "get what ya pay for deal". Not bad but not great. I hope no one thinks this is thread crapping, just giving my opinion on this system based on past experience..

 

[hoihtah]

wow... rossman...

i'm impressed. i thought you had a half dozen lappies

 

[RossMAN]

Valvoline6 - Thanks for the information, that's by no means a thread crap. Nice sig BTW

hoihtah - Everyone assumes that I own half a dozen laptops but I own zero, zilch, nada although I wish I had jumped on the last Dell Inspiron 8100 deal which was awesome. But you know the old saying, you snooze, you lose.

 

[Entity]

Sounds like a good deal, but you have to wait until August? Seems to me like prices will be much lower by then...

Rob

 

[bonk102]

yeah, won't most prices drop by then?

 

[sat4fun]

Gotta love the Costco return policy on laptops though, a new Laptop every year is worth a little more in inital price.

 

[CplHicks]

That $100 coupon could come in handy if CostCo is offering a good deal on Compaq laptops during the time the coupon is effective. To those of you who've been lurking around waiting for a laptop I just want to say I'm with you all. I'm going to Ireland in the fall to study for a year and I need to get a laptop before I leave so this deal will hopefully help me out. I think I'm best off waiting until the end of the summer before picking up my laptop so I can (hopefully) get the best value.

 

[RONType1]

that toshiba laptop described by the product number is the one that was selling for 799 @ amazon (shipped) and at OD after rebates (1105-s157 or 1105-s158). the model described has a NIC though, the one I got only had a 56 modem (there is an option for both). ONE BIG THING TO KNOW: it uses NiMH batteries! It's got a big beautiful screen, nice speedy processor, interchangeable floppy/DVD, but *poor* battery life. There is no option to get a LiON battery.

Part: PS110U
Satellite 1105

good luck and maybe this is a different laptop, thus a better deal!

 

[grinwell]

The 1805-177 (Celeron 1.13) was selling for $899, then $999 (-$100 rebate) at Best Buy (online and B&M) as recently as last month. There's still one available at the B&M near me, but it's only a display model and it's all cruddy.

 

[RossMAN]

RONType1 - Thanks for the info, other than the poor battery life what other gripes/complaints that you're aware of?

How's the display, keyboard, tracking pad, DVD playback, processor speed (for playing movies and non-demanding games), weight and other things of that nature?

 

[thetoad]

RossMan: you didn't get in on any of the IBM ebay store deals?

I thought I remember you buying. <shrug> I still think that the IBM deal was one of the hottest deals of the summer (perhaps including the almost free HP DVD-CDRW, though it doesnt work to rip DVDs so well)

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: thetoad
RossMan: you didn't get in on any of the IBM ebay store deals?

I thought I remember you buying. <shrug> I still think that the IBM deal was one of the hottest deals of the summer (perhaps including the almost free HP DVD-CDRW, though it doesnt work to rip DVDs so well)

Nope although I was tempted a few times (I have a soft spot for the ThinkPad T and R series). Although the IBM eBay deals aren't nearly as hot as they were before, they're still going on over at IBM's eBay store.

I've come close to buying a few laptops but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I still think the most recent Dell Inspiron 8100 deal was one of the HOTTEST.

 

[thetoad]

the 8000 series is just too damn big. I lug my laptop everywhere with me (people joke that its like another limb).

My Laptop being the p3-800 (128MB of ram (upgraded to 384), 20GB, DVD) that they were selling for $1300 last summer. (when I was interning at IBM research, and it was cheaper by like $500 than the IBM employee price). What's pathetic, is that a year later one can get a laptop that is barely better for at best the same price (or even a bit more) from the same store. I guess figured they were underselling the laptops.

I was looking at the R series. I'm confused by it. What exactly is it. It seems very similiar to the T in specs.

it used to be simple, you had the I series (cheapy laptops), X series (tiny laptops), T series (full featured, yet light laptops) and A series (desktop replacement laptops). Is the R series "the cheapy" thing?

 

[RossMAN]

Yes it used to be quite simple, I dunno where exactly the R series fits in but I know I don't want cheap (I) or desktop replacement (A) so that leaves T and R.

 

[dentalboy]

good find hope i get my costco coupons soon

 

[grinwell]

The Toshiba 1805-S177 was NOT NiMH.

Here was the discussion on Ben's Discount: Discussion link

How hot were the IBM deals??? I'm seriously considering a T-series one right now. Even though it's a little pricier than HP or Compaq, it's about the same price as a Dell when you consider the 3-year warranty.

Seriously, though, what were the old deals like? Because if they were good once, there's the chance they'll be good again.

BTW, I think the R series is the new cheapo series since it only comes with a 1-year warranty, unlike the 3-years for the A and T lines.

 

[thetoad]

my laptop typing on now.

Thinkad T21- P3-800 14.1" display (1024x768, not the 1400x1050 ones)
128MB of ram, 20GB HD, DVD.

$1300 (+ shipping).

this was about $1800 with shipping on the employee purchase site last summer (employee prices from experience bring the laptops into "dell" territory (i.e. an equivalent inspiron 4000 for an equivalent T in price, though still somewhat higher), so it was an amazing deal on thinkpads (but thinkpads are always more expensive than other laptops)

 

[SuperCyrix]

dan it this deal is hot. To bad I have two laptops already from dell and they're both setting in the closet.

 

[bossmansmith9369]

How about a scan of the page in the coupon book, then we can all hunt down exactly which model and how good of a value it might be. We have time until the sale to see if it is worth the wait.

 

[CKDragon]

I got in on the Toshiba deal for the 1805-S177 deal from 3 months ago at Best Buy for $899. The laptop does use LITHIUM ION BATTERIES. The 1.1 Ghz Celery processor in it is a desktop processor, so it tends to get a little hot, but it's not bad. It does have TV-Out, but not through S-Video, just the plain old yellow component TV-Out. It works well enough for everything I use it for (School notes/Word Processing, Coding C++, Mobile DVD/Divx player).

I don't game on it, those all go on my desktop. I've never even tried to put a modern game on it only because it has a Trident Video card which by default uses 24 MB of the system RAM but it was talked about in that thread that if you upgrade to certain drivers, it allows you to utilize up to 48 Megs of system RAM. (I wasn't interested in doing this so I didn't follow up on it).

Also, there was a complaint about the screen. I'm no laptop veteran, but I've never had a problem with it. It's plenty bright and is easy on the eyes.

It did, unfortunately come with Windows XP Home, which kind of sucks. As soon as it starts to give me problems I'm not going to hesitate to nuke this install and get XP Pro or Win 2K on there.

As long as you're not looking for a desktop replacement you'll be satisfied. I love my little, cheap laptop.

Hope this might have helped someone

CK

 

[after5cst]

Thanks for the info, Rossman. I'm just as interested in getting a laptop as you, and apparently just as picky about wanting a hot deal. When this comes to be, I'd appreciate some more input from you on it ( making sure it's an extra-toasty deal ).

 

[RossMAN]

Sorry I don't deal with extra toasty deals but I do deal in lightly toasted deals, hopefully that's to your liking.

I hope we can eventually confirm which Toshiba laptop they'll have on sale, who knows maybe I'll upgrade to a nice Compaq.