HOT? Super cheap notebooks! Legit?

[5mudge]

Riznick:

The line item, "Microsoft® Windows ME installed (CD and manual for extra charge)" might mean that the vendor images every box that leaves the door with a freshly installed copy of MS Windows ME.

Then when you receive the unit and power it on the first time, you would be confronted with a prompt to enter a legit CD key for MS Windows ME before you can use the OS. That is probably why the shrink-wrapped OS is offered as a separate line item for the normal retail price of $89.00.

If true, the good thing about all of this is that you don't have to pay the Microsoft tax, especially if you don't plan to use WinME anyway (e.g. you'll format the box upon reciept and throw Win98 SE or a Linux variant on it).

Of course, I'm just postulating. It could also be that when you boot the box, it will come right up, but then if it crashes some time in the future and you need to install the OS from a fresh CD (and not the *.cab files on the HDD), you're screwed. Of course, by that time, WinME might only cost $50.00 or $60.00.

Personally, I wouldn't feel too comfortable buying a laptop like this, especially if it's using a desktop CPU. If I were trying to save money on a PC, I would pick up a refurb Dell Latitude C-Series notebook instead.

 

[slappy76]

My friend has one of the ProStars and he did LOTS of researching at the time and it was one of the best deals out there.. He paid $2500 or so for his 800mhz.. I dunno how they can be so cheap with a 1 Ghz. My friends has 256MHz and DVD-ROM and an extra battery.. still.. this is almost $1000 cheaper.. He really likes it BTW except for a 1 blown pixel but that's normal on a TFT.

 

[slappy76]

My friend has one of the ProStars and he did LOTS of researching at the time and it was one of the best deals out there.. He paid $2500 or so for his 800mhz.. I dunno how they can be so cheap with a 1 Ghz. My friends has 256MHz and DVD-ROM and an extra battery.. still.. this is almost $1000 cheaper.. He really likes it BTW except for a 1 blown pixel but that's normal on a TFT.

 

[Boooya]

I know for a fact that there are not any 1Ghz notebook processors in distribution. Production of these processors is still in development, and customer product has not been shipped. Note: 1Ghz mobile processors have been developed, but the production process is still being worked on, and are far from distribution yet.

These are either overclocked 850's, or desktop processors. Either way, I would highly discourage purchase. Heat problems and possibly battery life at those speeds will be terrible in a notebook environment.

 

[dafatha00]

LOL, i emailed them asking if i could stop into their warehouse to pickup a notebook rather than paying by credit card and they never responded =oP

 

[DongTran]

5mudge:

...or, the distributor could have an ITM release of WinMe that supports like a million users and pays on a per license use. OR, like most new computers nowadays, the CD-Key (which really isn't a valid name for it anymore, it should be called a product key because a lot of times, it doesn't come on CDs) is on a small Microsoft sticker on the unit, and you would be required to entire that number into your machine once you power it up for the first time after it's been sysprepped or been "System Prepared."

 

[echozero]

i dunno... it looks kinda shady to me too.

 

[ksherman]

my guess is that they are refurbished

 

[KBtn]

sounds pretty shaky to me!!!

 

[jeepers94]

I watched this site for about a month.They have a sale,that ends on monday,then wednesday then friday,then monday! Get my drift? Also the
models they sell,have been discontinued! Do a search on the web,you can
do better!There are lots of Prostar/Sager dealers that sell newer units
for this price.I just bought a NEW A21P IBM with 850mhz,32gig,8xdvd,15"tft,
256megs,free printer and full 3 year warranty for $2100.I think it was a
pricing error,since it is now $3100,but I have it in hand for the quoted
price!

 

[ksherman]

i email them to ask a few questions about warranty, if it actually uses a desktop processor and about the o/s. heres what they said:

"Yes, it comes with a 1-year manufacturers warranty.
It is a desktop Pentium III 1GHz processor. The
Windows O/S must be installed with your CD or we'll
have to charge $70 to include a new CD."

my guess is that it comes with an empty hard drive. i replied asking if the processors melt or damage anything inside the notebook and if these are actually discontinued. ill let you all know what they say...

 

[ksherman]

i got they reply very fast... about 10 min tops... heres what they said:

"Kevin,

Our customers have been very pleased with the quality
and reliability of ProStar laptops that utilize these
Intel processors. To our knowledge, there has been no
problem with overheating."

"To our knowledge..." sounds kinda ify. sound like a hint of irratation in the message eh?

 

[Sigity]

I was reading a column on another site.

a guy there pricematched with sears...didn't pay shipping or anything else due to the pricematch.


that is the best way to get around illigitimate businesses-take thier price somewhere else-other stores are sure to honor it.

good luck

sig.

 

[ksherman]

from SEARS? they were selling these notebooks?

 

[ksherman]

i would love to see someone (on anandtech) buy one "prepay" and see what happens. im woundering if they even have any laptops. that would explain a lot of things....

 

[KR]

In reading the site's descriptions of most of the major name notebooks, they are refurbs which is stated at the bottom of the description IN VERY LARGE BOLD TYPE. The advertised Sony's are discontinued models and I suspect that is true for the majority of the Top brand name notebooks. The Sager and Pro-whatever are the generic devices that have been marketed by private labelers for years.

The prices seem reasonable for refurbs/discontinued devices. Very reasonable for some, average for others. Check around and you'll find similar pricing, these guys just seem to have a connection with a bunch of OEM's - and seem to have a pretty broad selection of mfr's and configurations.

As for preloaded software and paying extra for the disk and manual - that's pretty standard for the bottom dollar sellers and OEM's. For years Toshiba and others have delivered notebooks and desktops with Windows preloaded and the .cabs on the HD (sometimes tucked away in a hidden partition). Only problem with this approach is if you munch your hard drive or the system cab partition takes a hit, you've lost your system source. The extra $50 - $70 gives you a full CDROM version for later use. OEM's are able to get a really low cost license for a non-portable copy of the O/S for use in 1 machine. Basically, you get this version for free - want a portable copy, pay a few dollars more for the end-user license version and it's all yours in CDROM version.