eMachines dual core (T4400) laptop $298 @ WalMart 2/28

[qliveur]

Close. The Acer uses DDR2 and has a webcam.

 

[Meghan54]

Close. The Acer uses DDR2 and has a webcam.

I'll bet it's like the WM spec list, incorrect as to the RAM used. Since it's the same exact machine, albeit with a webcam added, it's reasonable to assume it also has DDR3 memory in it, too.

 

[alkemyst]

Is the deal still on? Inventory is showing but they told me on the phone I have to come in for a price check (website says prices vary).

 

[kwatch]

Is the deal still on? Inventory is showing but they told me on the phone I have to come in for a price check (website says prices vary).

I just purchase one this afternoon. I paid $298 plus recycling fee and tax.

 

[Mitch101]

The question to ask is where is it not on sale for the advertised price?

Around me in Charlotte I picked up one. When I got to the store they said someone bought them all out yesterday. They also looked in the back room but couldnt find any. They offered me the display model and I asked if there would be a discount for the display because the software has already started its trial and the laptop named walmart. Remember its walmart not computer experts so yes I know how to rename the PC but they might not. They asked the manager who said they have a whole bunch of them in stock.

So If online it says in stock but at the store they tell you sold out. Ask them to check the camera cage. Thats where the manager said they were keeping them because they can lock up that area.

Im still charging mine before I start it.

I checked performance numbers and performance in most parts is in the mid 5's like CPU but the graphics get a 3.3 score. Expected because its an Intel graphics chip. Overall the keyboard feels cheap but its a good size a really its a cheap laptop what do I expect gaming keyboard inside? The one at the store felt nice and the screen is nice. Time will tell if its a good purchase and personally acer/emachines have been good to me. Seems they know where to cut corners and when not to. Just my 2 cents.

 

[DocSparky]

I think this sums it up very well.

I checked performance numbers and performance in most parts is in the mid 5's like CPU but the graphics get a 3.3 score. Expected because its an Intel graphics chip. Overall the keyboard feels cheap but its a good size a really its a cheap laptop what do I expect gaming keyboard inside? The one at the store felt nice and the screen is nice. Time will tell if its a good purchase and personally acer/emachines have been good to me. Seems they know where to cut corners and when not to. Just my 2 cents.

I've uninstalled all of the "trash" on it (which wasn't really a lot) and am now applying OS updates. Next it'll be time to put Chrome on there and do a backup to my home server. It's a little bigger than I wanted, but the price is great.

 

[Petro89]

I got one at the location on Adams Rd. in Rochester, MI. They had one more left afterwards. That was this mirning around 9AM.

I am playing around with it right now, and I'm definately very happy with the purchase. I uninstalled the junk and its quite snappy. The screen is beautiful, and overall its just the right size...not too big and not too small. The keyboard is definately something I'll need to get used to as it is different than my old laptop, but its not too bad, and for the price what can you expect. The speakers are the only other thing that I think is sub par but they definately could be a lot worse. I have the brightness on 7/10 and while surfing I'd imagine 3 hours would be a good estimate of battery life.

It is definately a nice, noticeable upgrade over my old laptop... an inspiron 1501 with Turion 2ghz. I upgraded that one a few years back with a 250gb 7200rpm HD, so I may make the switch to that drive. But seriously, anyone in need of a good all-around lappy simply cannot go wrong at this price. I'll be letting a few friends know about it as the site says there are a few stores left with stock available.

Thanks for the heads up! This is definately a hot deal.

Good luck all!

 

[GCS]

Grabbed 2 tonight as well (1 for Dad and 1 for Sister). Haven't cracked the seal but they had plenty in the locked cages with the other laptops. No display unit and there wasn't any signage so unless you come in looking for it you aren't going to know about it.

 

[balloonshark]

Is it possible to run older games that run on 32bit XP home on this Win7 64bit rig?

Edit: nm, the answer is yes.

 

[Executioner]

I just purchase one this afternoon. I paid $298 plus recycling fee and tax.

Same here. Picked one up this evening. Seems like a nice deal for the price. Thanks OP.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

is the deal still alive? i noticed they changed it on the website from "298" to "price varies by store". was this a sale price or a regular price?

 

[GCS]

You have to check your local store for stock but yes it is still alive.

They changed the price to vary by store because from what I understand places like Michigan are selling it for $398 due to have a law about not selling items at a loss.

Greg

 

[rsolomon]

Is it possible to run older games that run on 32bit XP home on this Win7 64bit rig?

Edit: nm, the answer is yes.

Well, just do understand that it does NOT support hardware virtualization so you cannot run things which need "XPmode" (distinct from XP compatibility settings) - but games probably aren't a good choice for that anyway

Richard

 

[Mitch101]

Well, just do understand that it does NOT support hardware virtualization so you cannot run things which need "XPmode" (distinct from XP compatibility settings) - but games probably aren't a good choice for that anyway

VMLite XP Mode Version 3.1.2 for Windows 7 is ready
http://www.vmlite.com/

 

[rci2990]

i cleaned the crap out,put wow on and suprisingly it plays fine.even tolerable in dalaran.not bad for onboard graphics.

 

[balloonshark]

Well, just do understand that it does NOT support hardware virtualization so you cannot run things which need "XPmode" (distinct from XP compatibility settings) - but games probably aren't a good choice for that anyway

Richard

The games I was talking about were puzzle type and light action games. The type that mothers would play.

I did pick up two of these laptops last night and opened one. I think the back light was dead as I could barely see the screen. I called support and we did a quick troubleshoot of the problem and they wanted me to send the lappy in. I just told him I would take it back to walmart.

I'm going to take that as a sign and return both of them and get my money back.

 

[funboy6942]

I picked one up today and I have mixed feelings about it. One is I cannot walk and move the mouse at the same time (Max Payne) it just will not do it, have to stop walking then I can move. Also the website has xp drivers for it, but when I try to install xp I get the BSOD when it tries to start windows. Not a huge fan right now of win 7 for I have programs that dont have drivers for win 7. And lastly for the life of me I cant get the speakers to get loud enough to hear them. I tried to find the setting for the wave level and I cant find jack shit on that so that I can make the speakers louder. I mean they sound VERY low and all the settings I can find show they are all turned up to the max. Havent tried it with headphones yet but feel these should go MUCH louder somehow. And yes I FN and up arrowed to max speakers out as well.

Having said all that, it is a very nice laptop for the price without a doubt, I will just have to get used to win 7 I guess. Its quiet and there has to be a setting in it somewhere so I can boost the volume up more, just havent come across it yet. The screen is plenty bright for me, but I must say this is my first "real" new laptop I have ever owned, especially new, I just couldnt pass up the price.

My walmart said they has 32 of them yesterday and when I got there they only had 4 left. Specs on this rig is amazing for $300 bones. Dual core, lots of memory, decent size hard drive, dvdrw, what more can you really ask at that price point, other then I wish I could load xp on it. Gonna have it for some time now that I got funds rolling in, I wont have to sell it to get something else, so first one I will get to keep

Thanks op for the heads up on this. I normally buy used or refurb, but this was too good to pass up.

 

[balloonshark]

funboy6942, try this and see if it helps your volume. This is a quote from the SD thread.

"Best audio setting I've found and for those you haven't figured out how to adjust the sound: Go to Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, click Sound, double click Speaker Icon, click Enhancement tab, put a check next to Equalizer, highlight Equalizer, go to Setting towards bottom and click on down arrow, click on LIVE, click Apply, then OK.

I found the Loudness Equalization reduces the sound level as well."

 

[cookj]

I told my daughter about it today and she picked one up. Can't beat the price.

 

[funboy6942]

funboy6942, try this and see if it helps your volume. This is a quote from the SD thread.

"Best audio setting I've found and for those you haven't figured out how to adjust the sound: Go to Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, click Sound, double click Speaker Icon, click Enhancement tab, put a check next to Equalizer, highlight Equalizer, go to Setting towards bottom and click on down arrow, click on LIVE, click Apply, then OK.

I found the Loudness Equalization reduces the sound level as well."

Well I fixed it. Found out their driver is almost a year old, so I updated it to the newest and now its very loud. So I suggest if anyone is having the same problem just update to the newest HD driver and it should fix it. Next Im updating all of the drivers for it.

 

[cubeless]

sigh... just found the weakest link... didn't pay attention to it in the specs, but the wired lan is just 100mbs... oh well...

 

[rsolomon]

Put mine on the scale this morning: 5lbs 8oz. (Laptop only, with battery installed but not including power brick or power cord.)

Just an FYI since we were discussing the weight a few pages back and I don't recall the unit weight being specified.

Richard

 

[Lanyap]

Well I fixed it. Found out their driver is almost a year old, so I updated it to the newest and now its very loud. So I suggest if anyone is having the same problem just update to the newest HD driver and it should fix it. Next Im updating all of the drivers for it.

Did you get the driver from emachines or the vendor?

 

[funboy6942]

Did you get the driver from emachines or the vendor?

Vender. The one on the site is from 2009. I also just updated my video as well of Intel's site. Havent tried anything yet to see if anything plays better, but I do know both 1&2 of Max Payne settings on high works fine on this. Including Psyonauts(sp) works fine on it to if you cut everything down. I need to get a different mouse and another xbox 360 receiver for this as well to play my games on it. Im really loving it and its pretty fast at converting dvd movies to Mpeg4 as well. Def a great buy for me, thanks again op. If I had the money Id buy one of these for my wife. Hopefully next third they will still have these.

 

[cookj]

Im having trouble finding the sound driver update, could you pm me a link? My internet is a little iffy today also