Good cheap laptop

AWILLIAMS64 2008-06-21 19:22:45 UTC #1

i was in best buy today and saw this laptop http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8780081&productCategoryId=abcat0502001&type=product&tab=2&id=1204332500697#productdetail . I really was not in the market for a laptop, but i have been "wanting" one for a while. This seemed like a good deal. I just wanted a basic laptop to connect to net while traveling and do basic things. It was a definite impulse buy. I did buy an extra 1g stick for $30. I have to take 1 of the 512 out to put in the 1 gig to make it 1.5g total. Is this a decent laptop for the money? I have not opened yet in case I find out it is not a good deal. Any input??

dreamliner77 2008-06-21 21:09:15 UTC #2

Personally, I’d spend a few extra $$ and get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834101152&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL062008&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL062008--LaptopsNotebooks--L0A-_-34101152

There’s a $100 promo code if you’re a newsletter subscriber: http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/June-0-2008/Promo062008in/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL062008&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL062008--email--E0A-_-notebook

AWILLIAMS64 2008-06-21 22:02:45 UTC #3

that one does look nice, but i was trying to stay in the $450 range. that one would be $599 even with the $100 off

AWILLIAMS64 2008-06-21 23:04:48 UTC #4

just my luck, i was looking around for some memory and saw that they dropped the price another $20 on this making it $399. Does anyone know if they will refund the difference since i just bought it? I could not wait and already opened it so i have to keep it now. also i bought this memory http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7644196&type=product&id=1134699426321 and now this memory is on sale for the same price, is the pny a better memory?? if it is i could take back the other memory and if they give me the $20 back i would only have an additional $10 to get the 2 full gig of memory.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7963037&type=product&id=1153337017517

bigmike7 2008-06-22 02:10:35 UTC #5

Yo-

Hard to get a name brand laptop for under $500

This seems to have decent hard drive and dvd/cd drive.

I think that you are smart to upgrade the ram to 2gb - as Vista is gonna demand more ram. The processor is decent and you shouldn’t be able to outrun it unless you are into gaming-eh!!

etp 2008-06-22 02:51:10 UTC #6

Yes they price match! Take your receipt back and that was a good price for a laptop.

jhtalisman 2008-06-22 04:53:21 UTC #7

Should be a good laptop, but if you ever want to get internet service with a cell company or whatnot you’ll have to use a usb adapter.

Dr_Skull 2008-06-22 05:39:28 UTC #8

You definitely want 2Gigs for even normal operation under Vista.

UTR 2008-06-22 07:46:07 UTC #9

[QUOTE=AWILLIAMS64;2081447]i was in best buy today and saw this laptop http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8780081&productCategoryId=abcat0502001&type=product&tab=2&id=1204332500697#productdetail . I really was not in the market for a laptop, but i have been “wanting” one for a while. This seemed like a good deal. I just wanted a basic laptop to connect to net while traveling and do basic things. It was a definite impulse buy. I did buy an extra 1g stick for $30. I have to take 1 of the 512 out to put in the 1 gig to make it 1.5g total. Is this a decent laptop for the money? I have not opened yet in case I find out it is not a good deal. Any input??[/QUOTE]

For what you plan to use the laptop for, I think it will work fine. I use my laptop for about the same thing as you and I get by with a 2 ghz single core Turion CPU and 1 gig of PC2700 RAM (I run XP though). With the extra RAM you should be fine although I think 2 gig should be the minimum for Vista. IMO, you got a good deal. Especially if they price match at $399.

AWILLIAMS64 2008-06-22 20:25:49 UTC #10

I went back today and they pricematched it no problem. I also returned the 1 1gig memory i got and go 2 matching 1 gig pny sticks. I am now in the process of trying to remove all of the hp crap. Seems to be pretty good so far. And on the plus side, i put my old winbookxl today for $100! What a leap from an old p2 266 to this!

TCAS 2008-06-23 13:32:06 UTC #11

I have the same “Laptop” I bought a year ago from Staples with pricematched from Fry’s for $400. The machine is very good and reliable and been working ever since no trouble at all.

pfloyd1 2008-06-23 14:10:59 UTC #12

Not a bad price, but lacks important features. No firewire port, no PCMCIA slot for add on cards. Not too good for digital video work.

AWILLIAMS64 2008-06-24 02:20:44 UTC #13

yes it does lack all of those features. I got it mainly to surf the net and download pictures from my camera while on vacation trips. i have a usb card reader that will plug into it. From what i have seen so far i am totally happy with it. It is a good basic laptop for the money. It will be good for my daughter in a couple of years i hope.

bhome83 2008-06-24 14:55:32 UTC #14

nice thread cuz im in the market for a laptop between $500-600. I’d prefer one on the lighter side but i know those are hard to come by in this price range. I should buy from newegg.com considering i dont pay tax, but not positive what to get. Prefer a long battery life too…

sikoone 2008-06-26 17:15:35 UTC #15

This one will be $399 Sunday at BB. It’s a closeout item because the new models are coming in so it may be in short supply. This one will be $499 (also a closeout) and the replacement model of this one will be $599. The HD will be smaller and there may not be a webcam but it will have 3 gb of memory and be a Turion X2. A little insider info for those in the market ;).