ultimate low-end laptop, IdeaPad, 15" screen, 1366x768, N4020 (2C/2T Atom), 128GB eMMC, Windows 11 (probably S-Mode).$169 newegg 3rd-prty

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.newegg.com/p/1TS-000E-19KC4?Item=9SIB0GJK7X4894&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=promo&utm_campaign=EMC-Automation040424-USA_PromotionDeals_LandingPage-_-EMC-040424-Index-_-Laptops/Notebooks-_-9SIB0GJK7X4894-_-USA_PromoEmail_20240404_05&ignorebbr=1&cm_mmc=EMC-Automation040424-USA_PromotionDeals_LandingPage-_-EMC-040424-Index-_-Laptops/Notebooks-_-9SIB0GJK7X4894-_-USA_PromoEmail_20240404_05&ignorebbr=1&cvtc=LandingPage

Sold and shipped by: PCOnline US

 

[manly]

If you want to commit seppuku, here's your chance!

 

[VirtualLarry]

*shrug*

Haven't been many deals on under-$200 laptops lately. Hot deals is kinda slow, I figured I'd post it, even though overall it sucks as a deal. But if you need a laptop, and only have $180... ok, refurbs with 8GB / 256GB SSD are also kind of around this price-point, but refurb laptops are so hit-or-miss with me lately. Been way too many problems with them.

 

[Torn Mind]

Hmm, I question the accuracy of that laptop actually having full Windows 11 and not S mode....

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/lenovo-ideapad-1-15

The official Lenovo site has an AMD version also S mode.


Seems just too good to be true to be a complete Windows 11 install.

Best Buy has similar.

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-laptop-intel-celeron-4gb-memory-128gb-emmc-natural-silver/6569837.p?skuId=6569837

It is progress though. Those things used to require 400-500 dollars....

 

[VirtualLarry]

It is progress though. Those things used to require 400-500 dollars....

I don't think an N4020 laptop was ever THAT expensive.

 

[igor_kavinski]

If you want to commit seppuku, here's your chance!

I have a N2840 (I think) 10-inch HP laptop with a 320GB HDD meant for children. Tried updating Windows 10 on it and left it running over the weekend. Had to forcefully shut it down on Monday morning coz it had hardly progressed. Maybe an SSD will do the trick?

It cost me $136. A decent SSD would be like $50 or so. Will it be worth it? Probably not. Would just upgrade it for kicks to imagine the torture Intel is putting the underprivileged through all around the world.

 

[Torn Mind]

I don't think an N4020 laptop was ever THAT expensive.

https://camelcamelcamel.com/product/B07YN926Z7

Before Chromebooks comeptition, these really were $400.


HSN also does charge that much for some of their Atom selections. https://www.hsn.com/products/hp-stream-14-touchscreen-laptop-woffice-365-and-deskjet/23064346

 

[jiffer]

There are probably some 4-core laptops in that price range that would feel a lot less bottlenecked or even smooth enough for basic use. You can't expect too much from a 6W processor&GPU. This is the first one I found on Amazon (with a Celeron N4120), probably available for less somewhere else:

Amazon.com

[Edit]
Also at Best Buy:
64GB: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-...-emmc-snowflake-white/6499749.p?skuId=6499749
128GB: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-...b-emmc-natural-silver/6569837.p?skuId=6569837

(I just noticed that the 128GB silver one was already posted by Torn. I thought he was talking about a dual-core laptop; this one is a quad-core.)

Not a recommendation, just an example.

 

[Torn Mind]

There are probably some 4-core laptops in that price range that would feel a lot less bottlenecked or even smooth enough for basic use. You can't expect too much from a 6W processor&GPU. This is the first one I found on Amazon (with a Celeron N4120), probably available for less somewhere else:

Amazon.com

[Edit]
Also at Best Buy: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-14-...-emmc-snowflake-white/6499749.p?skuId=6499749

Not a recommendation, just an example.

I have an N4000 predecessor from HP. The newer ones may or may not be better, but the screen on the old one is perpetually "grey" all over. The user also said it was breaking down...I think it was screen coming in and out although I didn't observe it yet.

There is also the jump Alder Lake N provides, like the N100. The laptops are about double the price, but more usable.

ExpertBook B1 (B1502, 12th Gen Intel)

Enterprise-grade security with fingerprint login, a webcam shield, Kensington Nano Security Slot™, and TPM 2.0 chip US military-grade durability: MIL-STD 810H standard Sustainable design and manufacturing with EPEAT Gold certification

shop.asus.com

Intel introduces Alder Lake N-series chips for laptops priced below $400 - Liliputing

Intel introduces Alder Lake N-series chips for laptops priced below $400

liliputing.com

 

[jiffer]

If you're willing to pay double the price, there are many more options.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, I would recommend N200-based or i3-111G4-based laptops. (But with a minimum of 8GB RAM and a 1080P screen.)

 

[Torn Mind]

If you're willing to pay double the price, there are many more options.

Yeah, I would recommend N200-based or i3-111G4-based laptops. (But with a minimum of 8GB RAM and a 1080P screen.)

I've been out of the loop, so I am indeed not aware of all the selections. But I'll still point a few things about the Expertbook.
1. Comes with Win 11 Pro, so no unlock premium need
2. Keyboard is probably much better(this is an educated guess based on me typing on the i5 Expertbook at a Micro Center)
3. Swappable RAM.
4. Ethernet Port

For the N200s, there is one on sale in the $250 range in S mode.

Robot or human?

 

[VirtualLarry]

For the N200s, there is one on sale in the $250 range in S mode.

Yeah, I think that's somewhat list price. I saw a few during BF for $199.

 

[manly]

I have a N2840 (I think) 10-inch HP laptop with a 320GB HDD meant for children. Tried updating Windows 10 on it and left it running over the weekend. Had to forcefully shut it down on Monday morning coz it had hardly progressed. Maybe an SSD will do the trick?

It cost me $136. A decent SSD would be like $50 or so. Will it be worth it? Probably not. Would just upgrade it for kicks to imagine the torture Intel is putting the underprivileged through all around the world.

Not for $50. If you really needed to get the machine running, you could pick up a used SSD for cheap.
As a reference point, I used an old Core 2 Duo system daily up until 2017. It was usable, except having 3GB of RAM really sucked. But software (and web sites) are heavier in weight today. Our standards might be a little too high, but I think a reasonable lower limit for acceptable system perf. is something like Broadwell 4 cores (8GB RAM/SSD goes without saying). I don't think any of us can recommend a 2c Atom "netbook" in good conscience.

As for ultra low end laptops, about 10 years ago I bought a new 15" Celeron based unit for $228 I think. It sucked ass and I didn't keep it, but cheap laptops have existed for a very long time. If all you can afford is $200, then probably off-lease makes the most sense. There was actually a Dell Refurbished deal yesterday, but the comments were that it's crappy. But I'll link it here anyway just as an example:

Dell Coupon: 50% Off Refurbished Latitude 5411 Laptops (10th Gen Intel Core i5) from $164.50 + Free Shipping

deal [dellrefurbished.com] in cart, apply coupon code YEAREND5411 for an extra 50% off. Prices start from $164.50 + free s/h and will depend on config and specs. 100 day warranty (details [dellrefurbi

slickdeals.net

 

[Torn Mind]

Not for $50. If you really needed to get the machine running, you could pick up a used SSD for cheap.
As a reference point, I used an old Core 2 Duo system daily up until 2017. It was usable, except having 3GB of RAM really sucked. But software (and web sites) are heavier in weight today. Our standards might be a little too high, but I think a reasonable lower limit for acceptable system perf. is something like Broadwell 4 cores (8GB RAM/SSD goes without saying). I don't think any of us can recommend a 2c Atom "netbook" in good conscience.

As for ultra low end laptops, about 10 years ago I bought a new 15" Celeron based unit for $228 I think. It sucked ass and I didn't keep it, but cheap laptops have existed for a very long time. If all you can afford is $200, then probably off-lease makes the most sense. There was actually a Dell Refurbished deal yesterday, but the comments were that it's crappy. But I'll link it here anyway just as an example:

Dell Coupon: 50% Off Refurbished Latitude 5411 Laptops (10th Gen Intel Core i5) from $164.50 + Free Shipping

deal [dellrefurbished.com] in cart, apply coupon code YEAREND5411 for an extra 50% off. Prices start from $164.50 + free s/h and will depend on config and specs. 100 day warranty (details [dellrefurbi

slickdeals.net

I remember the times when $300 was the hard price floor for new laptops.

Way back in the day, it was an acquaintance that goaded my mother into buying a netbook. We went to Best Buy, saw an open box Nehalem i3 with missing keys with a few dollars more...regrets not getting the i3.... I think the Toshiba was 289 before tax or something while the open box "real" core was 309 or 319.