Best Black Friday laptap deal

[Dakota731]

I'm looking for a new laptop for college aged daughter at the best price?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

It really depends how she will be using a laptop. If it's just word processing and internet browsing, I suggest a chromebook. You can get one for under $200 any time of year. If she needs more, such as graphic design or compiling software, then you might want to do more research.

 

[got2sammies]

Last year I got the toshiba 15"(?) from Walmart for $159 for my 15... So far so good.. Been a good laptop

 

[Dakota731]

I suggest a chromebook.

I am not too tech savvy so what's the difference between a laptop and a chromebook?

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

A chromebook is a laptop that runs Chrome OS, google's operating system. Low cost and easy to use. Good for kids and college students.

https://www.google.com/chromebook/

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I'm looking for a new laptop for college aged daughter at the best price?

I would be cautious with Black Friday deals. Laptops are competitively priced for quality. When you buy a BF special, it is lower quality for the lower price. You will not see that item, with same specs priced any higher. This is true with all electronics. Dollar for dollar you are not getting the best buy. Check with Consumer reports, and Cnet for a continually high rated purchase.

When you see a past black Friday item and compare it to a better seller, it's not going to get the rave reviews. This information is out there on CNet too I believe that is where I read it.

 

[MillauFr]

Ditto. I wouldn't buy any of the black Friday laptops on special. I would go to Costco and buy one.

 

[colormegreen]

I would be cautious with Black Friday deals. Laptops are competitively priced for quality. When you buy a BF special, it is lower quality for the lower price. You will not see that item, with same specs priced any higher. This is true with all electronics. Dollar for dollar you are not getting the best buy. Check with Consumer reports, and Cnet for a continually high rated purchase.

When you see a past black Friday item and compare it to a better seller, it's not going to get the rave reviews. This information is out there on CNet too I believe that is where I read it.

Would this apply to Apple too?

 

[jesse8931]

Would this apply to Apple too?

No.

Most of the hp's and toshiba's on Black Friday are so poorly made they break long before the first 6 months.

I fix computers for a living and I refuse to buy Black Friday electronics because of the quality.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Would this apply to Apple too?

I only would advise,
Watch were you buy it from. You want to be able to have support and not a refurb on a discount site.

 

[MillauFr]

Costco is great because you get a free two year warranty included in the price.

 

[manning]

Costco is great because you get a free two year warranty included in the price.

If you are looking at Dell buy direct from them and get the premium plan. They will take over (with your permission) the computer and fix any problems you have.

Costco is great because you get a free two year warranty included in the price.

If you are looking at Dell buy direct from them and get the premium plan. If you have a problem they will take it over (with your permission) and fix it. Boy that has made life easy for me.

 

[KKB]

Apple lover here--we kept trying to cut costs & buy non-Macs...lets just say we have gone through 3 PC laptops (hp, toshiba) in the same time we have had Macs for work. My parents Dells have gotten viruses twice in the last several months...I know I was often resetting things due to viruses on our PCs. (I don't know if PC is the correct terminology--I just mean non-Apple laptops). We NEVER have viruses on our Macs. (I read recently that about 85% of malware/viruses out there are for non-Apple devices). DS got a Mac Air before Freshman year in college. Have NEVER had one issue. DD wants a Macbook Pro.

I realize these run about $1000, but I want to tell you, they are worth it.

Our district is phazing in Chromebooks for our students (phazing out Dells). They are cheap...don't love them yet.

 

[mousestruck]

I would not recommend a Chromebook for a college student. It cannot be loaded with Microsoft Word and is limited in capabilities. My daughter has one for high school and it is frustrating at times. I have a low-end Toshiba and have had some problems with it, so I would not recommend that brand. Consider the laptop an investment. You don't want to have to buy another one before college ends! Check out some of the Black Friday websites, which have buying guides and recommendations. (Just Google "Black Friday 2015.") Good luck!

 

[Ranger111]

DO NOT under any circumstances buy a Chromebook for a college student.

Yes, I am repeated what mousestruck said. It bears repeating. Basically, and I know some people will argue, the Chromebook is mostly good for web browsing.

It will not run the programs you need for college classes.

And, as others said, I would avoid the BF deals.

Right now there are terrific prices on decent laptops -- laptop prices have been down significantly for several months. If you want to save cash, check out the refurbished models at Dell. My children -- one a college sophomore and the other a second-year master's student -- have been perfectly happy with the refurbished dells I bought them before they left for college -- and they still work well.

But, if you want new/new there are good deals now. Check out the dell education portal/web site for deals tailored to students. I think HP also has an "education" web site. Sometimes the deals/packages are better through the education portals, sometimes not.

I buy my work laptops through Dell's small business portal -- but anyone can buy this way -- you do not need to be a small business.

Right now, laptops are up to 50+ percent off:

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/d...63903095617039628#!dlpgid=laptop-tablet-deals

Techbargains is one web site that collects deals on laptops. I have always found it very helpful.

Good luck, no Chromebook!

 

[LeslieG]

I'm looking for a Surface Pro 3. Can someone who is a Costco member tell me what their bundle price is? I've been considering joining, and if they have the Surface Pro for a great price, may go ahead and sign up. I didn't realize the website didn't show prices unless you logged in as a member.

 

[havaneselover]

I'm looking for a Surface Pro 3. Can someone who is a Costco member tell me what their bundle price is? I've been considering joining, and if they have the Surface Pro for a great price, may go ahead and sign up. I didn't realize the website didn't show prices unless you logged in as a member.

$1399.99 until 11/30.

 

[LeslieG]

I just saw their pre Thanksgiving sale has a price of 1149 minus 250 savings for a total of 899. Not sure if that's the same bundle that you're seeing for 1399. Black Friday the deal is 300 savings.

 

[Dentam]

Apple lover here--we kept trying to cut costs & buy non-Macs...lets just say we have gone through 3 PC laptops (hp, toshiba) in the same time we have had Macs for work. My parents Dells have gotten viruses twice in the last several months...I know I was often resetting things due to viruses on our PCs. (I don't know if PC is the correct terminology--I just mean non-Apple laptops). We NEVER have viruses on our Macs. (I read recently that about 85% of malware/viruses out there are for non-Apple devices). DS got a Mac Air before Freshman year in college. Have NEVER had one issue. DD wants a Macbook Pro.

I second this! My first laptop was an HP - the screen died after about 2 years and I was told it would be cheaper to just replace the laptop. Prior to that it was constantly having issues with viruses and then the antivirus software became like a virus itself. I've had my Macbook for 6 years and haven't had anything done to it. No viruses or antivirus software and the only thing I've replaced is the power cord. The battery doesn't last as long as it used to and it's slowed down a bit, but I also have 25,000 photos on it and have put it through a lot in six years. I would highly recommend going with a mac - they will last a long time making it worth the extra money upfront. They also offer an education discount which I got when I bought mine since I worked at a university.

 

[havaneselover]

I just saw their pre Thanksgiving sale has a price of 1149 minus 250 savings for a total of 899. Not sure if that's the same bundle that you're seeing for 1399. Black Friday the deal is 300 savings.

I guess there are two depending on the processor. The $1399.99 one also has more memory and and storage.