mtn
mtn MegaDork
11/28/11 3:26 p.m.

Yep, ready to buy today. Must be a laptop. Most important thing is price. Next is screen size (prefer at least 15, won't go less than 13). It will just be an internet/music storage machine.

Go!

imirk
imirk HalfDork
11/28/11 3:28 p.m.

Lappy?

mtn
mtn MegaDork
11/28/11 3:30 p.m.

Laptop, yes. Edited first post.

CarRamRod
CarRamRod GRM+ Memberand New Reader
11/28/11 3:31 p.m.

Price range?

mtn
mtn MegaDork
11/28/11 3:36 p.m.

Like I said, price is the most important thing. So maximum is $300. I saw some black Friday deals in the papers for $180, 15 inch screen, 2gb ram, 120gb harddrive--that would be ideal if it exists for cyber Monday, but so far haven't been able to find any that good.

imirk
imirk HalfDork
11/28/11 3:36 p.m.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215190

Below $300 and you're looking at netbooks and recertifieds.

Keith Tanner
Keith Tanner GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/28/11 3:49 p.m.

Get a cheap laptop and a 1TB external drive for under $100.

ultraclyde
ultraclyde PowerDork
11/28/11 3:51 p.m.
imirk wrote: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215190 Below $300 and you're looking at netbooks and recertifieds.

Not necessarily, but they're out of them now

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834230129

Osterkraut
Osterkraut UberDork
11/28/11 3:57 p.m.

Best used/refurb Thinkpad $300 could buy. Price REALLY limits you if you're talking new.

Otto Maddox
Otto Maddox UltraDork
11/28/11 4:03 p.m.

Where is the sweet spot for price/value?

imirk
imirk HalfDork
11/28/11 4:52 p.m.

probably $500-$700

RealMiniNoMore
RealMiniNoMore PowerDork
11/28/11 5:03 p.m.
pigeon
pigeon SuperDork
11/28/11 5:07 p.m.

If you can live with a low-end AMD processor, this: Toshiba for $250 after coupon

If you want something that will last several years and run just about anything you throw at it, this Intel i5 model: Acer for $399 after coupon

I'd go with the Acer; in fact, I may grab one and return the similarly-spec'd Asus I bought last week for Christmas at Best Buy for $450

pigeon
pigeon SuperDork
11/28/11 5:10 p.m.
RealMiniDriver wrote: Asus. New. Not a Netbook. $330. 15.6" screen

Linky no worky

RealMiniNoMore
RealMiniNoMore PowerDork
11/28/11 5:13 p.m.
pigeon wrote:
RealMiniDriver wrote: Asus. New. Not a Netbook. $330. 15.6" screen
Linky no worky

Worky for me, on three different machines.

Derick Freese
Derick Freese UltraDork
11/28/11 6:20 p.m.

We picked up one of those $400 after rebate Acers. It should be here either tomorrow or Wednesday.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/28/11 6:27 p.m.
Osterkraut wrote: Best used/refurb Thinkpad $300 could buy. Price REALLY limits you if you're talking new.

That's what I would do - in fact that is what I do if/when I need another cheap Windows machine.

mtn
mtn MegaDork
11/28/11 9:51 p.m.

After reading these posts, I picked up another couple hockey games to ref and have increased my budget by... $50-$100, depending on what I find.

Can anyone give me a quick learn me on processors? Back when I actually was "into" computers the processors to have were the Pentium4 and Athlon64. So I've clearly been out of the game, and have no idea what is what anymore.

Sounds like Pentium i5 is the way to go? Is there a competitive AMD?

Patrick
Patrick GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
11/29/11 10:26 a.m.

picked up gateway laptop yesterday on bestbuy.com in the morning for $309 for my wife for christmas. plus $10 gift card so it ends up being 300. they sold out quick.

15", 2.13 pentium, HD led with hdmi output, 4gb ddr3, 500gb hd, etc...

looks like the most i could get for the $ and still have the hdmi output. they had a couple in the $270-280 range with 120gb drives and no hd.

Brian
Brian MegaDork
11/29/11 10:34 a.m.

I don't like keyboard feel on Acers, very flimsy, easy to lose keys. $400, i3, my Wife's Xmas gift.

Looks like it should arrive today. I may have to make it an early gift as a peace offering.

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