I want a laptop for christmas, and I keep looking them up on Ebay and Compaq.com and everything. The problem is, my family only has a budget of like, 1000 dollars for christmas presents (I THINK). So, I have to look for a laptop for 500 dollars and cheaper. I really really want one bad, and I was wondering if someone could tell me where to find some so I could tell my mom? (I know I might sound selfish, but I'm trying to think of Awesome gifts for my family, too, so please don't say "Think about what the real meaning of christmas is", and stuff like that, bcuz I already KNOW all of that, and I know that giving is the best gift of all and all that, but please, could someone help me? Acer would be OK if it had, like, 2 or 4 gb of memory so it would go fast. Links would be really nice!!!!!!!! This is my last question I can ask today so please answer it!!! Thanks in advance!!!
2007-11-30 14:00:03 · 19 answers · asked by You Know You Love Me <3 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
Before the mac addicts post, I suggest you take a look at this:
Dell Inspiron 1720 - 17" - $1674
-Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7700 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/4MB cache)
-Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
-2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
-320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
-256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
-CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
-Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
-Built-in Bluetooth capability (2.0 EDR)
-High Definition Audio 2.0
-Weight: 7.6 pounds
Apple MacBook Pro (17" ) - $2,949.00
-2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4MB L2 cache
-Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
-2GB (two SO-DIMMs) of PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2
-250GB Serial ATA Drive @ 4200 rpm
-256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
-SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
-AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
-Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
-Integrated Audio
-Weight: 6.8 pounds
2007-11-30 14:03:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Warning; the cheaper you go, the higher the possibility that you'll buy a piece of junk. Also, cheaper may involve shorter , or no warranty periods, and shorter or no tech-support.
If yer okay with that; check Wal-Mart. I heard from several friends that they are dirt-cheap, and you can get good name brands like Sony, Toshiba, etc.
Try Refurbished-units, or store display units, or open-box/returned units. These are usually cheaper than "brand new". Be sure to open them and check for ALL included accessories and documentation BEFORE leaving the store! These are sold As-Is; what you get when you get home is all you get without fighting the store or the manufacturer, and without paying more for what you should've gotten with unit in the first place!
If you go to EBay, even if the Seller says they are an authorized retailer, be prepared for gettin' screwed. You take yer chances because ANYBODY can sell on EBay. Sony sometimes will not honor the manufacturer's warranty if you bought it from EBay.
What are you planning to do with the PC? Cheaper PCs mean not-so-powerful units. Don't expect to be able to play high-end PC games on a cheap unit. If you're a cheapskate like me, and just buy the $10 and lower PC games, then you should be okay with a cheap system. Check the recommended specifications for the PC games that youwant to play, and shop for PC accordingly.
Hope this helps.
2007-11-30 22:17:38 · answer #2 · answered by pisa 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got mine from http://www.dellauction.com/?Krypto=DGfrYMXLyzLhtjhhFs5jcegg%2FBgh9tdu2nA4WFiF4rs%3D a few years ago. I reccomend this over ebay. For less than $500, you will get a computer that is in some cases just a year old. Why is this so great? Well, I'll tell you. Most laptops that have problems, are going to have the majority of them the first year. If they make it through that, they usuallt last 5, or sometimes 10 years after that. Another advantage over ebay: they are REFURBISHED. not used. They've been taken apart, cleaned out, fans replaced, at the Dell factory. I bought one there 3 years ago and just sold it, getting most if not all I paid for it back.
Not that ebay is alltogether bad, The laptop I have now I got from ebay. Cheap though.
2007-11-30 22:20:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You're not going to get a decent laptop with 2 or 4GB of ram for $500.
This should do just about everything a LAPTOP should be able to do. Remember, a LAPTOP is not a DESKTOP - it won't be as capable, especially on that kind of budget.
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AS5050-3371-R&cat=NBB&cpc=NBBbsc
This place is pretty good to find good deals. Refurb's are usually OK, and with a 90 day warranty, you'll have time to find out if it's going to have a problem or not.
To get a decent laptop in that price range, go refurb'd with a warranty.
Hope that helps.
Jason
Free e-mail tech support for anyone, anywhere, anytime.
techsupport@onestoptechnologyshop.com
Custom computer systems built to your specifications.
sales@onestoptechnologyshop.com
15 years in computer service and sales.
2007-11-30 22:18:09 · answer #4 · answered by radsystemzjason 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A good laptop like what you want is going to be difficult to find for under $500. If you didn't mind looking on Ebay for laptops try going to the "Craigslist" for your area. It's a site that offers multiple services like a newspaper, but they don't charge you to post anything because they're a non-profit organization. Just go out to Google and enter Craigslist. Who knows you might even find gifts for your family while you're there.
Happy Holidays!
2007-11-30 22:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you'll be hard-pressed to find a laptop that already comes with 2-4gb of ram for under $500. you could opt for something with humbler specs and upgrade later on.
compaq presarios and some sony laptops usually go on sale right before christams for under 400 actually.
try some local retail stores like best buy, fry's or circuit city. they usually go fast though so go early.
typical specs of laptops under $500:
hdd: about 60-100gb
ram: 512mb
maybe a core2duo processor
probably running vista home basic (or premium even)
2007-11-30 22:09:09 · answer #6 · answered by jc 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I got Compaq Presario C501NR Notebook PC on March 5, 2007 for $499.99 and a computer case for $24.99 at Best Buy! The total came up to $561.73!
2007-11-30 22:06:26 · answer #7 · answered by ~Katie~ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check out these laptop's from TigerDirect.com. Check into some of the refurbished also. I believe these fall closer to the $500.00 budget you were indicating.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=17&name=Laptops-Notebooks I see Gateway, Toshiba, HP, etc. Some are a litle higher for AMD dual core, and Intel Core2 Duo. Some new, some refurbished. TigerDirect!|
2007-11-30 22:07:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't try ebay you'll get robbed.
If your going to buy a laptop i recommend sony, toshiba, Hp, or a dell...
Frist you need to learn how to buy a laptop:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,125647-page,1/article.html
Heres a list of laptops under $1000.00
Most of them are pretty good and have 1gb of ram...
You'll find something!
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Laptop-Computers/sem/rpsm/catOid/-12963/Ns/net_price%7C0%7C%7Caccm_grs_mgn_dllr%7C1/link/ref/N/20012961+20012963+2777+312963001/link/ref/rpem/ccd/categorylist.do
By the way your probably not going to find a laptop with 2gb or 4 gb of ram for at least $500...
2007-11-30 22:12:03 · answer #9 · answered by Yoyo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
toshiba and compaq make good quality cheap laptops for $5oo or less. just remember that if you get vista you need at least 1gb of ram to be happy. if the laptop you want only has 512mb of ram then add another 512 or a 1gb stick.
2007-11-30 22:04:52 · answer #10 · answered by crackpac 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would suggest a MacBook at edu prices
http://store.apple.com/1-800-780-5009/WebObjects/EducationIndividual?type=higherEd
MacBooks are much cheaper than MacBook Pros.
They run Windows too.
2007-11-30 22:06:20 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋