budget laptop

[mtquinn]

Happy New Year to all!

Looking for a decent, new laptop that has Windows 8, Word and hopefully Office...also with a good processor.

Am I asking too much for a budget price? Brand doesn't matter, as long as it performs well.

Thoughts?

 

[Judique]

What's your idea of a budget price. I've bought 2 laptops since Monday.

Both have windows 8 and were clearance models.

The one that I think I'm keeping has a touch screen. The first one doesn't and it seems to me that windows 8 works easier with the touch screen.

 

[gracie1]

Depends on what your price is. I would check staples and also walmart normally has some great deals.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Just bought (November) a Toshiba with Windows 8 -- $350 (6 GB RAM, Intel Pentium 2.40 GHz, 500 GB storage, extended keyboard) at Best Buy. I had to replace quickly, so I didn't search too hard. If I'd planned better, I might have gotten the touch screen version.

If you're not too picky, Woot often has refurbished laptops (don't know about Windows 8, though).

 

[vacationer1954]

I would be careful with how cheap you go. We bought a budget Windows 8 desktop a year ago for about $350 and most things worked fine but some software kept crashing including Quicken Deluxe when using some of the premium planners built into it. There was nothing wrong with the computer. It was just that it was cost reduced so much that it couldn't do some advanced financial planning.

We would have returned the computer after realizing that it was too cheap to do everything we needed it to do, but it wasn't worth the restocking fee. So if you are going to buy a cheap computer you will want to make sure that it has a very liberal return policy with either no or a very small restocking fee, and once you get it you will want to try out all the most important and advanced software you plan to use on it before the return period ends.

 

[mtquinn]

I am not sure Windows 8 is a necessity. This is for my DD, age 12, who needs a laptop with Word to do homework. The only computer in my house with Word, sadly, is my old Mac and it sludges up the computer when it runs. Very frustrating. So, I think her older laptop needs replacing.

Don't need a newest and greatest laptop. Just something that will allow her to watch dvd's, web surf, and use Word easily. I think Windows 8 will frustrate her so Windows 7 is ok.

Been looking around and lots are priced over $400, and I can't do that. Looking for around $300-$350 and, hopefully, with a promo code or sale to knock that down.

Any advice would be appreciated. Happy New Year!

 

[gracie1]

I am not sure Windows 8 is a necessity. This is for my DD, age 12, who needs a laptop with Word to do homework. The only computer in my house with Word, sadly, is my old Mac and it sludges up the computer when it runs. Very frustrating. So, I think her older laptop needs replacing.

Don't need a newest and greatest laptop. Just something that will allow her to watch dvd's, web surf, and use Word easily. I think Windows 8 will frustrate her so Windows 7 is ok.

Been looking around and lots are priced over $400, and I can't do that. Looking for around $300-$350 and, hopefully, with a promo code or sale to knock that down.

Any advice would be appreciated. Happy New Year!

You could also buy refurbished from Best Buy. They have a refurbished Samsung on their website with windows 8 for $299 (15.6 screen). I'm not sure if their warranty is like a new one or not but it's worth checking in too!

 

[JB2K]

Don't need a newest and greatest laptop. Just something that will allow her to watch dvd's, web surf, and use Word easily. I think Windows 8 will frustrate her so Windows 7 is ok.

Windows 7 would work just fine for that sort of thing -- in fact, big business and government have recently migrated over to Windows 7 (since the older Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft, later this year).

I have an older Dell laptop in the closet that I am going to upgrade, soon (it runs Vista, which was a flop) -- if anyone has an older Dell lying-around doing nothing, you can easily upgrade the RAM (memory) and the Hard Drive, which, along with Windows 7, would put you close to "new" as you can get...

 

[kayladan04]

Windows 7 would work just fine for that sort of thing -- in fact, big business and government have recently migrated over to Windows 7 (since the older Windows XP will no longer be supported by Microsoft, later this year).

I have an older Dell laptop in the closet that I am going to upgrade, soon (it runs Vista, which was a flop) -- if anyone has an older Dell lying-around doing nothing, you can easily upgrade the RAM (memory) and the Hard Drive, which, along with Windows 7, would put you close to "new" as you can get...

Where can you find Windows 7, I dislike 8 so much!

 

[JB2K]

Where can you find Windows 7, I dislike 8 do much!

New, legal copies of Windows 7 can be purchased at both Amazon.com and eBay...

 

[Fantastic4]

Where can you find Windows 7, I dislike 8 do much!

Make sure you CAN put 7 on your system before you buy. We bought an HP that came with 8 it's not compatible with my dh's work and were told we can't take 8 off to put 7 on. Something about it not being the pro version or something like that.

 

[PA Princess]

Walmart carries refurbished laptops for low prices ($300 to $350). Acer laptops usually fall into that category and cost in that same vicinity. Unfortunately, neither of these options usually includes Word so that is an additional $100.

Are you sure she needs Word? Google Drive offers similar Word applications and is heavily used by schools (includes Docs and presentation format like PowerPoint).

Another option in your price range is the Surface tablet. This does include Word, and it was the device of choice for our 7th grader this Christmas. You unfortunately may have missed the best price points for the device, but it will still fall into your budget not reduced. Our 12 year old really loves hers.

 

[mtquinn]

I saw the Surface, and it looked cool, but this would actually be my purchase and my DD would use it for homework and keep her old laptop. My laptop is an older Mac and it is on it's last legs for sure.

I like Ipads and my Kindle, but for my everyday computer I think I prefer a typical laptop with keyboard. I think...

Walmart carries refurbished laptops for low prices ($300 to $350). Acer laptops usually fall into that category and cost in that same vicinity. Unfortunately, neither of these options usually includes Word so that is an additional $100.

Are you sure she needs Word? Google Drive offers similar Word applications and is heavily used by schools (includes Docs and presentation format like PowerPoint).

Another option in your price range is the Surface tablet. This does include Word, and it was the device of choice for our 7th grader this Christmas. You unfortunately may have missed the best price points for the device, but it will still fall into your budget not reduced. Our 12 year old really loves hers.

 

[Judique]

I saw the Surface, and it looked cool, but this would actually be my purchase and my DD would use it for homework and keep her old laptop. My laptop is an older Mac and it is on it's last legs for sure.

I like Ipads and my Kindle, but for my everyday computer I think I prefer a typical laptop with keyboard. I think...

I'm with you on the typical laptop with keyboard. That's what I was looking for as my 7 year old laptop is having issues with me. It's not dead. I just broke some keys and the battery is long gone,etc and it is not new anymore.

So I went looking for the same thing in a new package.

I found windows 8 on everything. I found touchscreens and laptops that could be converted to tablets and LED screens and LCD screens. I found Intel i3, i5,i7 and amd quad core and all kinds of 'new' stuff. I found a price range from here to eternity.

Finally I focused on what I need a laptop for and went from there. My high end was about $800. But - I didn't NEED an $800 laptop. I need one at home for email, message board reading, shopping at amazon and looking stuff up. Occasionally I have to review a document from home on my work website email.

I found a hp touchscreen with a terabyte of hard drive space, 8gb ram, amd quad core, and a 14 inch screen for $549.97 at Costco on clearance and of course return in 90 days and 2 year warranty included. This the one I am keeping.

I took home a $750 computer from Best Buy for $600 clearance price. I used it for 3 days and was not comfy with windows 8 at all on it.

When I switched to the touch screen windows 8 is perfectly fine - just my experience. Your mileage may vary.

I was lucky in that I could return to Best Buy with no problem as I bought on the last day of the holiday return policy so had til the 15th to return with no fees.

Good luck with your choice. I use Dells at work and wish I could use this one now!

Edited to add: I also like the touchpad mouse with separate right and left keys. I did not like the laptops that had the touchpad all in one even though it would probably stay cleaner.

 

[IDoDis]

I checked on dealdump and this HP seems like a good deal at $350.00 at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavi...&ci_src=5784816&ci_sku=2854029&ref=25&loc=PGR

 

[wiigirl]

New, legal copies of Windows 7 can be purchased at both Amazon.com and eBay...