Where to get the cheapest name-brand "centrino"?

[Biggs]

I'm looking for a "branded" (e.g. IBM, Dell, Toshiba, HP, Compaq) one which is at least a 1.3GHz Pentium-M, 256MB RAM, 40GB Hard Drive. Where is the best place online to get one? My budget would be about $1000 (give or take). Thanks.

 

[hcarlson]

I think you just missed a deal (ended today at 11pm CST) with a Dell 1.3 ghz centrino lappy that was $1199 after a $300 rebate. That is the best deal I have seen, you will have to wait a lil longer if you want one for around $1000, they just aren't that cheap yet.

 

[kayatai]

If you don't care about gaming and other intense graphics performance, you could go with the dell inspiron 500m which comes close to your price range (although I think your harddrive upgrade is what pushes it out of reach)

 

[jimmyl930]

The Acer Travelmate 290 base model is $999 with Centrino technology.

TM290Xi

SKU# LX.T3505.061

Processor Intel® Pentium® M processor 1.30GHz

Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Memory 128MB

Hard drive 20GB

Optical drive CD-ROM

TFT Display 14.1" XGA

Graphics Intel® Extreme Graphics 2

Connectivity Wireless and 10/100 LAN, V.92 modem

 

[jschuk]

I'll second Acer.

 

[Matt84]

If you get the Acer, get a RAM upgrade as well. 128MB doesn't cut it under XP, 256MB gives you a noticeable boost in overall system responsiveness.

 

[Byte]

i've been looking at lappys for a while and the Acer TravelMate 800XCi LX.T2506.057 is pretty crazy with a Radeon 9000 great for most gaming. You can prob get one for $1200-1300 which is pretty decent.