Solved New Laptop for Wife

[Solarstarshines]

Hello everyone I was wondering if there are any decent laptops for under $450.00 that is pretty decent and will last for atleast 3-4 years

This Laptop would be for my wife for she doesn't game or do any major work besides burn movies pictures music and web cam to the phillipines on skype

Im assuming she wouldnt need a ultra powered system but i do want to get her something with in medium range that will get her going with no hang up I am looking into more of a AMD laptop so if anyone out there has a few suggestions please post


specs and price preferably

cpu 2ghz to 2.6 ghz

dvd/cd burner no need for blue ray at the moment but if it is a combo drive that supports all three fine

250 gb hd up to 350 fine

don't need to worry about graphics to much

wifi and windows 7 of 64 bit

ram atleast 3 gbs will also take 2 gb if i cant find anything with 3 in my price range

display atleast a 15.1 medium size

thank you whom ever replys i want to keep it under $500.00 that would be encluding the tax

once again she only does pics burn cd's /dvd's and web cam to native country

 

[Petey7]

I'd look at the Dell Inspiron 1525. They start at $400 and you customize it how ever you like. With the requirements you give, it looks like it would cost $424.99, before tax and shipping. Unfortunately, Dell only does free shipping on systems that cost $600 or more.

The Dell Online Store: Build Your System

EDIT: its an Intel CPU. Forgot that fast you said AMD. Most Dells are Intel. I'll keep looking around to see what else I can find for you.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Laptops from Toshiba Direct | Netbooks, Notebooks & Laptop Accessories
Just make sure of their return policy and warranty.
I like the box stores like Sam's Club, Staples, Office Depot as they don't have a 15% return to stock policy. IMO

 

[Bill2]

Inspiron 15R Laptop Details | Dell~~

Slightly above your budget at $499 though.

 

[Petey7]

After following THWs link, it looks like this is exactly what you're looking for. And I've only heard and seen good things when it comes to Toshiba laptops.

 

[Solarstarshines]

thank you all im looking at the link and if you still have more suggestions please feel free im basicly looking to get this laptop early august prett much the next 2 weeks i want to have it ready for her

thanks a bunch and still any other suggestions welcome

and this is one of the laptops i came up with
Satellite C650D-BT2N11 399.99

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Here's another link to add to your confusion.
Best Laptops Under $500 - Yahoo! Shopping
I usually check Sunday's paper for tech item sales. Just to see what is out there.
I am sure whatever you get your wife she will appreciate it.

 

[whs]

This looks like a decent deal: Newegg.com - ASUS P50IJ-X3 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T4500(2.30GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory 320GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M But I also like Toshibas. Check with BestBuy (Sunday ads). They usually are very competitive.

 

[The Howling Wolves]

This looks like a decent deal: Newegg.com - ASUS P50IJ-X3 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T4500(2.30GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory 320GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M But I also like Toshibas. Check with BestBuy (Sunday ads). They usually are very competitive.

whs,
I like Best Buy too but they have that darn 15% return to stock policy and the extended warranties are expensive. IMO

 

[whs]

This looks like a decent deal: Newegg.com - ASUS P50IJ-X3 NoteBook Intel Pentium dual-core T4500(2.30GHz) 15.6" 4GB Memory 320GB HDD 5400rpm DVD Super Multi Intel GMA 4500M But I also like Toshibas. Check with BestBuy (Sunday ads). They usually are very competitive.

whs,
I like Best Buy too but they have that darn 15% return to stock policy and the extended warranties are expensive. IMO

True, the 2 week free return is cutting it close. Office Depot has 4 weeks, I believe.

 

[CarlTR6]

If you have a CompUSA store near you, check them out. You can also shop online with them. CompUSA.com - Computers, Laptops, Televisions, Software, and Electronics from the All-New CompUSA!

 

[Solarstarshines]

yeah i hate the return policy thats why im not going to buy online to be shipped more worried about they won't let me return and loosing more then getting what i paid i know one place fry's electronics they dont do a 15% best buy i think is a little bit over priced on some items but im willing to look since i can't build i laptop myself

I just dont want to be caught in a situation where i would have to tottaly loose my mind to get justice I basicly going to scout from what i hear from the forum and see if i can get the same price at a retailer that way i know i can take it back immediatly and with a reciept in thiere face they have to eat it which in the long run helps me since they are shipped in multiples to these companies

so im going through walmart.com bestbuy.com staples even sams club the best deal so far was the toshiba

seems like toshiba might be the choice after thinking about it more i can probally stretch another 150.00 just because most of the better one's are near the 600.00 dollar range but even with that increase im still round a 550.00 budget because im still keeping in mind the taxes are atleast another $ 60.00 on top of the $550.00

 

[Solarstarshines]

compusa had a pretty good deal on a refurbished celeron 900 but would it even be wise to go that route i mean that is a single core cpu isnt it ? CompUSA.com | RB-PSLY0U-03F02F | Toshiba Satellite L455-S5000 Refurbished Laptop PC I also was pondering this one as well CompUSA.com | PSLU0U-08D035 | Toshiba Satellite L505-LS5014 15.6 Notebook PC also im not really finding any deals with a amd based laptop intel seems to be dealing these pretty steadily http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6304471&Sku=T71-15630

ok can someone tell me from highest to low on the rating wise or what would be more prominant choice

 

[The Howling Wolves]

Celeron is the bottom of the barrel for computers. IMO
Refurbished...BE CAREFUL. Might be buying someone else's problems even tho they have been checked out.
Take your time as you have over 2 weeks to make this big call.

 

[Solarstarshines]

that is very true i apreciate the wisdom

The right choice always leads to a happy day or rest of my anniversary lol

 

[whs]

I have never seen a decent PC in Walmart - so better obstain. The Lenovo looks OK, but I would not buy from CompUSA. NewEgg is the most decent company on the web. I never had any trouble returning things to them. I draw your attention again to the Asus from NewEgg that I posted earlier.

 

[Solarstarshines]

@whs are there any laptops with a higher rpm5400 i know im starting to relize that is pretty slow I wonder how fast startup would be ?

are most laptops drives at those speeds 5400rpm looks like alot of them are rated at that

 

[Petey7]

5400 rpm is normal for a laptop. Start-up is fine on my computer. I don't see any slowdowns that I think a higher RPM would fix.

 

[whs]

@whs are there any laptops with a higher rpm5400 i know im starting to relize that is pretty slow I wonder how fast startup would be ?

are most laptops drives at those speeds 5400rpm looks like alot of them are rated at that

Yes, laptops with 7200RPM disks do exist. But they are outside your price range. There are even 17" HPs that have 2 disk bays so that you can add a SSD or fast HDD for the OS. The cost around $750 (last time I looked in BestBuy.
But I would not worry too much about the load time. Granted it is a little slower, but it is not a world of difference. On 2 of my 3 laptops I replaced the HDD with a 80GB SSDs because I had only 1 bay. But that costs another $150 (appr.).

 

[Solarstarshines]

@whs and petey7 Im so glad you guys are schooling me on this a desktop i could put together in my sleep but a laptop is a whole other animal

I used to think laptops were easy to choose from but as i find out more and more there are little details i have to consider very much unlike my desktop

Im very apreciative of this whole thread i been helped pretty much with the questions i will repost when i buy the laptop of course and show you what i ended up with