Any Cheap Laptop Deals?

[grumpy]

My daughter's iBook has died. The repair shop wants $400 to fix it. We bought it used two years ago for $650 and it previously needed $200 of repairs so it looks like time for a new laptop. She is leaving on a nationwide tour of the show Hairspray next week so we need to get something quick. She is open to Windows or Mac machine. Needs to have wireless web, combo CD/DVD drive. She would prefer small (12") screen for better portability.

Anybody aware of a cheap deal? Best we have seen locally is arond $600 but all the stores have are 14" screens.

Grumpy

 

[Leonidas]

I don't think you will find an Apple cheap unless you buy used and I'm not an Apple guy so I can't help you there. But Windows machines like she wants are definitely out there. I like Pricewatch.com to search by different specifications. Looking there this morning I found the cheapest machine with her specs was a Dell D400, with a 12.1 inch screen, with wireless, DVD drive, 20MB HD, and 256MB of memory for $494.95 (includes shipping).

 

[Nords]

20MB HD, and 256MB of memory for $494.95 (includes shipping). 

Win XP with those specs? Yikes.

 

[Leonidas]

Well, I didn't say I would buy it, just that it was the cheapest. It's bound to be a might slow, but I got the impression that price below $600 and 12 inch screen were the two musts on her list. Of course computers are like fast cars, "how fast can you afford to go?"

 

[HFWR]

Win XP with those specs?  Yikes.

FWIW, my laptop has a 40G HD, which is not yet full of porn even close to full, and I added 256M memory (to the 256M original) for about $40. Mine, though, has Home edition of XP.

 

[Billy]

$ 450.00  http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4856340

Billy
RetireEarlyLifestyle.com

 

[spideyrdpd]

Costco now lists refurbs on their website. Samsclub has the auction site.
Although its a problem that time is an issue

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Seems like office depot is clearancing some laptop or other every week or two. You might find a 12" model but those are going to be tough to get cheap.

OD's return policy stinks.

If you might want to try it and take it back if you hate it, buy it from costco or sams club. Last time i checked its at least a six month no questions asked return policy.

My recent experience with Dell was two thumbs down. Way down.

Averatec has some cheap 12" laptops, but I wouldnt recommend them. I bought one and took it back. Lots of pretty cheap parts and some driver problems, no support whatsoever.

 

[yakers]

New Apple MacBook, got my wife one of the expensive one with full RAM, DVD, bluetooth, large/fast HD and the like but the base model is about $1.1K. Not all that expensive if you consider the software that comes with it, the software you probably own already and an operting system that is familiar.
A few days ago I helped my sister (who has plenty $) buy the latest & greatest Sony VAIO laptop to replace an aging desktop. Still took us most of the day to get her up and running, files transferred, printer drivers installed, ect. My wife's MacBook just worked out of the box. And we can run Windows if we want.

 

[Indexter]

Why aren't there more laptops at garage sales?

For my post-retirement needs, a minimal laptop that's a few years old will do fine. I could get a new Dell that would suit me for about $499.

So I'd expect to see laptops at garage sales or on craigslist for about $40, but I rarely come across one.

 

[dex]

Take a look at Lenovo products - they bought IBM laptop.

Lenovo just came out with a 12" that I wish was out when I was buying - I got the 14" for $1K

www.insight.com