I need a laptop! Help!!!

jusfonzin · 10-21-2003, 01:10 PM

Hey all-

I need a laptop. Here are my requirements:

1. Cheap (I don't care if it's the newest model)
2. Reasonably fast processor
3. Thin and Light (I travel with it a lot)

Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $1,000. I would really appreciate any suggestions as well as places you think I should shop. Also, what are your opinions on refurbished laptops? Is it too much of a risk not to buy new?

Thanks!!

RoniMan · 10-21-2003, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jusfonzin
Hey all-

I need a laptop. Here are my requirements:

1. Cheap (I don't care if it's the newest model)
2. Reasonably fast processor
3. Thin and Light (I travel with it a lot)

Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $1,000. I would really appreciate any suggestions as well as places you think I should shop. Also, what are your opinions on refurbished laptops? Is it too much of a risk not to buy new?

Thanks!!

just a fyi, gam will prob move this to the "need deals?" section

jusfonzin · 10-21-2003, 01:17 PM

Why Got Deals? If anywhere, it would be Need Deals, but I'm not just looking for a cheap laptop. I also need advice on what to look for.

RoniMan · 10-21-2003, 01:18 PM

oops, changed it.

Jeffbx · 10-21-2003, 02:03 PM

The deal on thr front page for the IBM ThinkPads is a good one to look into:

Quote:

Overstock - Hot Deals on Reconditioned IBM ThinkPad T Series Thin & Light Laptops (Posted by: Apex)
IBM ThinkPads are some of the sweetest laptops around. These are refurbished, and a little older, but they`re built very very well (with titanium casing). Shipping comes out to just $2.95 for your entire order normally, but there`s FREE shipping on these laptops. All products are good while supplies last.

Start here with a $20 off a $250+ purchase coupon (expires 10/31/03). COUPON
Get a reconditioned ThinkPad T22 900Mhz Laptop with a 14.1" TFT, DVD, 20GB HD, 56k, 10/100 for $729.99 after coupon. To find it, search for: 934528
Get a reconditioned ThinkPad T21 800Mhz Laptop with a 14.1" TFT, DVD, 20GB HD, 56k, 10/100 for $679.99 after coupon. To find it, search for: 927636
Get a reconditioned ThinkPad T20 700Mhz Laptop with a 14.1" TFT, DVD, 12GB HD, 56k, 10/100 for $629.99 after coupon. To find it, search for: 932262

jusfonzin · 10-21-2003, 02:06 PM

I saw that one, but do you think I should be concerned that it is refurbished? And as far as processors go, aren't those kind of slow?

blueindian · 10-21-2003, 02:24 PM

try some dell..

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...1100sapp&s=bsd

it's cheap and resonably fast. the thin and light part are going to most likely push you over the $1k mark

LPMiller · 10-21-2003, 03:52 PM

that's the thing, you can pick any two: good battery life, light, and cheap. The cheaper it is, the heavier it is going to be, the less battery life it will likely have.

However, even that isn't all that heavy. The Dell Inspiron 1100, which I have, is 7 pounds, but frankly you get used to it. You MIGHT be able to find some HP +1800 or better laptops for under 1000, they tend to run between 5.5 and 6 pounds, depending - check their site out for details. They will run hotter though. The Dells are nice and run cooler, but are heavier and don't support Speed Step when using the Celerons.

As long as you are buying a factory reconditioned laptop, refurbs can be just fine - a lot of the times, there never was anything wrong with it anyway, it was just replaced under warranty for dumb reasons.

As for speed, it depends what you are using the laptop for. If mostly for work - Word, Excel, etc, you don't need a fast machine. 1Ghz is all anyone needs to surf the web and do spreadsheets, as long as you have a lot of memory. If you plan to do other things, then shoot for around 2 Ghz - again, memory is very important in a laptop.

Jeffbx · 10-22-2003, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jusfonzin
I saw that one, but do you think I should be concerned that it is refurbished? And as far as processors go, aren't those kind of slow?

I buy refurb equipment all the time & I have really good luck with it. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a refurb Thinkpad because those things last forever.

As far as the processor speed, like LPM said it all depends on what you want to do with it. For regular office apps & web surfing, the Thinkpad would be perfect. However, you're certainly not going to be able to do any decent gaming on it.

rajatQ2 · 10-24-2003, 05:48 PM

see the dell inspiron 1100 on today's deals page

10-21-2003, 01:10 PM	#1
jusfonzin Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NYC Posts: 143	I need a laptop! Help!!! Hey all- I need a laptop. Here are my requirements: 1. Cheap (I don't care if it's the newest model) 2. Reasonably fast processor 3. Thin and Light (I travel with it a lot) Ideally, I'd like to spend less than $1,000. I would really appreciate any suggestions as well as places you think I should shop. Also, what are your opinions on refurbished laptops? Is it too much of a risk not to buy new? Thanks!! __________________ "Ralphy, this stranger is offering you a treat." -Chief Wiggum

10-21-2003, 02:24 PM	#7
blueindian Vice Admiral Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: down in the ghetto Posts: 4,142	try some dell.. http://configure.us.dell.com/dellsto...1100sapp&s=bsd it's cheap and resonably fast. the thin and light part are going to most likely push you over the $1k mark __________________ yeah, pretty much we missed the boat on that one. but it's still here. get you some.

10-21-2003, 03:52 PM	#8
LPMiller Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,161	that's the thing, you can pick any two: good battery life, light, and cheap. The cheaper it is, the heavier it is going to be, the less battery life it will likely have. However, even that isn't all that heavy. The Dell Inspiron 1100, which I have, is 7 pounds, but frankly you get used to it. You MIGHT be able to find some HP +1800 or better laptops for under 1000, they tend to run between 5.5 and 6 pounds, depending - check their site out for details. They will run hotter though. The Dells are nice and run cooler, but are heavier and don't support Speed Step when using the Celerons. As long as you are buying a factory reconditioned laptop, refurbs can be just fine - a lot of the times, there never was anything wrong with it anyway, it was just replaced under warranty for dumb reasons. As for speed, it depends what you are using the laptop for. If mostly for work - Word, Excel, etc, you don't need a fast machine. 1Ghz is all anyone needs to surf the web and do spreadsheets, as long as you have a lot of memory. If you plan to do other things, then shoot for around 2 Ghz - again, memory is very important in a laptop. __________________ lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes

10-24-2003, 05:48 PM	#10
rajatQ2 Commander Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: boston, ma Posts: 1,020	see the dell inspiron 1100 on today's deals page __________________ Find some free Comcast or Verizon on-demand movies to watch at home tonight: www.movie-cat.tv

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10-21-2003, 01:17 PM	#3
jusfonzin Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NYC Posts: 143	Why Got Deals? If anywhere, it would be Need Deals, but I'm not just looking for a cheap laptop. I also need advice on what to look for.

10-21-2003, 01:18 PM	#4
RoniMan Admiral Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Temple City, CA Posts: 5,140	oops, changed it.

10-21-2003, 02:06 PM	#6
jusfonzin Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NYC Posts: 143	I saw that one, but do you think I should be concerned that it is refurbished? And as far as processors go, aren't those kind of slow?

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