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Need inexpensive laptop (NIB) recommendation for friend

MichaelD

MichaelD

Lifer
I've got a friend with a very limited budget who needs to buy a laptop ASAP.

She'll use it strictly for internet access, Word, Excel and email. Shared video memory is just fine.

She's not a techie at all (the power button will be difficult for her to locate) so the laptop needs to be NIB with a warranty.

I know Dell's got some screaming deals going right now, but Dell's quality control on laptops has been less than stellar in the past years.

Budget is capped firm at $700; should be able to still get something decent for that much coin. Less money would be good to.

Suggestions please? Thanks very much.
 
I've had the HP NC6000 since December 2003 at work. It's been a great laptop. I had the hard drive crash once, but other than that it's been a solid laptop. <knocks on wood>
 
http://www.gotapex.com/

HOT! HPHomeStore - Compaq Presario V2000Z Notebook with AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14" WXGA, ATI Radeon 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40GB HD, DVD/CD-RW, and FREE All-in-One Printer for $349.98 After Rebate!

Can you believe you can get a laptop for just $350 now? But unlike other cheap laptops, you can actually upgrade the system to fit just about whatever you want. The V2000Z comes with Mobile AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14.0 WXGA Widescreen 1280x768, ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, FREE Upgrade to DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Integrated 56K Modem + 10/100 Ethernet LAN, and FREE HP Deskjet F380 All-in-One. Some of the upgrades are very good too, like a 60GB hard drive and 802.11b/g wireless for just $25 each! Thie whole thing for just $349.98 plus shipping.
Click to expand...
 
I've used IBMs for work for a while, but you can't find them under $1000.

I recently picked up a Toshiba Satellite w/ Duo-Core for $715 out the door through pricematching at Best Buy. I upgraded the memory myself for $40. Has integrated video, works great. No problems.
 
:Q Whoa! Definitely gonna check that one out!!! Thanks, RossMAN!


Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.gotapex.com/

HOT! HPHomeStore - Compaq Presario V2000Z Notebook with AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14" WXGA, ATI Radeon 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40GB HD, DVD/CD-RW, and FREE All-in-One Printer for $349.98 After Rebate!

Can you believe you can get a laptop for just $350 now? But unlike other cheap laptops, you can actually upgrade the system to fit just about whatever you want. The V2000Z comes with Mobile AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14.0 WXGA Widescreen 1280x768, ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, FREE Upgrade to DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Integrated 56K Modem + 10/100 Ethernet LAN, and FREE HP Deskjet F380 All-in-One. Some of the upgrades are very good too, like a 60GB hard drive and 802.11b/g wireless for just $25 each! Thie whole thing for just $349.98 plus shipping.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

 
Originally posted by: Nebor
I've used IBMs for work for a while, but you can't find them under $1000.

I recently picked up a Toshiba Satellite w/ Duo-Core for $715 out the door through pricematching at Best Buy. I upgraded the memory myself for $40. Has integrated video, works great. No problems.
Click to expand...

IBM makes great laptops, but yeah, they're outta her price range. Thanks for the Toshiba suggestion. 🙂
 
Check your local CC, CUSA, BB, OM and OD ads. Compare them all to one another. See who has the best deals going. That's your best bet to get a good deal. Buying a sunday paper could save you a lot more than $1.50. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: Nebor
Check your local CC, CUSA, BB, OM and OD ads. Compare them all to one another. See who has the best deals going. That's your best bet to get a good deal. Buying a sunday paper could save you a lot more than $1.50. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

You know, that's a really good idea. :thumbsup:

My big worry though is that they'll steamroll her and she'll either get ripped off or pissed off and walk out and not buy anything.

She uses a desktop just fine and knows how to surf the net, but she's a technophobe.

When I lived in the same city, she would give me the money and I'd go buy her computer parts/software because she's flat out afraid of doing it herself.

But I WILL check the ads. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.gotapex.com/

HOT! HPHomeStore - Compaq Presario V2000Z Notebook with AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14" WXGA, ATI Radeon 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40GB HD, DVD/CD-RW, and FREE All-in-One Printer for $349.98 After Rebate!

Can you believe you can get a laptop for just $350 now? But unlike other cheap laptops, you can actually upgrade the system to fit just about whatever you want. The V2000Z comes with Mobile AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8GHz, 14.0 WXGA Widescreen 1280x768, ATI RADEON XPRESS 200M, 256MB DDR SDRAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, FREE Upgrade to DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Integrated 56K Modem + 10/100 Ethernet LAN, and FREE HP Deskjet F380 All-in-One. Some of the upgrades are very good too, like a 60GB hard drive and 802.11b/g wireless for just $25 each! Thie whole thing for just $349.98 plus shipping.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

oh my goodness.... that's awesome!
 
Originally posted by: cirthix
refurb dell from outlet.dell.com low end e1505s go for ~700
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but refurb or used is out. We're talking about someone who looks for the "Any Key" on the keyboard. She needs something new and reliable...or at least with a full warranty. Refurbs have what, 30-60 days?
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: cirthix
refurb dell from outlet.dell.com low end e1505s go for ~700
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, but refurb or used is out. We're talking about someone who looks for the "Any Key" on the keyboard. She needs something new and reliable...or at least with a full warranty. Refurbs have what, 30-60 days?
Click to expand...

I think its 90 from Dell. But yeah, you would want more than that for her.
 
Michael....don't rule out a Dell. I picked up a Inspiron 9300 over a year ago, and it's still like new even with me taking it all over the country on installs for work. I would just avoid Dell's bottom of the barrel lappies.

Check out here for some awesome deals...

They have a nice Inspiron with a WS and a core duo for $629 shipped right now...

Features Include: 1.60GHz Core Duo Processor
Windows XP Media Center
15.4-inch Widescreen XGA Display
512MB Memory
60GB Hard Drive
24x CD Burner / DVD Combo Drive
Dell 1390 Wireless Network Card
1 Year Warranty
 
I would also suggest checking out Dealnews. I go there just about every day. RossMan's suggestion of Got Apex is a good site too. And of COURSE, check out ATHD just right over <------------
 
Thanks, Insane3D and sinucus. I've got like 10 sites bookmarked right now. 😕

This is going to turn into another "building a computer for a friend" deal, I just know it. She doesn't know how to use things like Dell/HPs "configure your laptop" utilities. It would be easier if I just ordered it for her, but I'm far away and shipping it to me, then to her would be a PITA.

Good thing I'm such a nice guy! 😀
 
14" or 15.4"?

14" Lenovo N100 (same company that makes Thinkpads, IBM sold that business over a year ago): Celeron M 420 (1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB, 65nm, 1.60GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM, a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 1 year warranty with the same U.S. based support Thinkpads get all for $599; $200 more will upgrade you to Core Duo and other goodies
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/3000/n-series/nseries_byo_n100_14.html

15.4" Lenovo N100: Celeron M 420 (1MB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB, 65nm, 1.60GHz), 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, CD-RW/DVD-ROM, a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 1 year warranty with the same U.S. based support Thinkpads get all for $649
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/3000/n-series/nseries_byo_n100_15.html

The ship date on the 15.4" is 3-4 weeks though, so that will probably be too long. Frankly you can't beat those features in anything else listed here. The Celeron M 4-series are more powerful than the previous Pentium M's and are very power thrifty, add in a spacious HDD, decent RAM, Bluetooth+WiFi, and US-based top notch support. Not even a choice IMO...🙂

EDIT Doh, both prices are after $100 MIR. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Michael....don't rule out a Dell. I picked up a Inspiron 9300 over a year ago, and it's still like new even with me taking it all over the country on installs for work. I would just avoid Dell's bottom of the barrel lappies.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

I loved the 9300. Finally sold mine as my MacBook Pro does the business now.

It's a wonderful lappy.
 
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