Laptop for $200 - recommendations?

[RadioFanatic]

We want to get a laptop for our almost 5 year old but just want something cheap for him - just needs wifi and a disc player so he can watch movies - any recommendations? I see walmart has one on thanksgiving for $179 but would love to avoid going out for it. If less than $200 -even better! thanks!

 

[Dish]

Have you checked Amazon yet? I've seen some cheap deals around there.
Maybe wait for Black Friday.

 

[TrueLove's1stKiss]

Honestly I would ask my computer repair person. That is what I did when I went back to school & needed a laptop. It has everything I need, it was used but like new for $150! The cheap ones that you can get for those prices are junk according to my computer guy.

 

[timmac]

Do NOT fight with a black friday crowd for a laptop. They're almost never worth it. In spite of being a loss-leader item, the reality is they're usually crappy machines (very low end processor, limited memory... some have even been known to have only one internal speaker instead of two to reduce manufacturing costs, etc, etc)

For the requirements you list, if I were to buy one myself today, I'd get this one:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=D630-C2D200-MAR-16R&cat=NBB

It's an older-model, almost certainly an off-lease refurb, but a solid machine (I've gotten several of the same line, from this same store, in the past year or two). Not a ton of storage space, but that's not what you're after right now anyway.

 

[arthuruscg]

Have you though about asking a family member if anyone has an old laptop or will be upgrading this Christmas?

The really cheep one are usually not work the hassle.

The other option is to get a Nexsus7 tablet and rip the dvds for him.