Members J. Posted December 1, 2008 Members Share Posted December 1, 2008 I've decided not to replace my desktop until Winblows 7 comes out and I can get a decent package bundled with that OS. Anyway, I've always wanted a laptop for occasional use - no gaming, just basic internet, office programs, and porn. Well, evilBay has a deal with Microsoft's Live.com where you can get 40% off of certain items. I missed the black friday one, but this cyber Monday one looks like a decent deal. Anyway, any recommendations? I'm looking to keep prices low (total laptop cost under $600 before discount). I might even think about "downgrading" the OS to Winblows XP Professional, as I believe Vista is this generation's Windows ME. Any help would be appreciated. Only certain laptops apply - they have to offer PayPal as a payment option and is has to be Buy-It-Now. The deal expires midnight tonight. Here's what I'm looking at: http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-HP-Laptop-notebook-G50-109NR_W0QQitemZ280290082750QQ http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Compaq-Presario-C770US-HP-Laptop-NIB-Gift-30_W0QQitemZ250335722120QQcmdZViewItemQQ http://cgi.ebay.com/HP-Compaq-CQ50-215NR-Laptop-Notebook-2GB-Ram-160GB-HD_W0QQitemZ320322242877QQcmdZViewItemQQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 not to add fuel to the fire but, you can pick up a thinkpad that will outlast and positively smoke the ones you linked for alot less money : http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T42-1-7GHz-1GB-XP-WiFi-DVD-CDRW-14-laptop_W0QQitemZ370120587608QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item370120587608&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1199|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308 http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T43-PM-760-2GHZ-1GB-40GB-COMBO-LAPTOP_W0QQitemZ350133493688QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item350133493688&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1309 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zon5string Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Yeah, but... those IBM/Lenovos are Pentium Ms, while the HP comes with an AMD something-or-other, it IS a dual-core, as is the Centrino in the Compaq. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 not to add fuel to the fire but, you can pick up a thinkpad that will outlast and positively smoke the ones you linked for alot less money : http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T42-1-7GHz-1GB-XP-WiFi-DVD-CDRW-14-laptop_W0QQitemZ370120587608QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item370120587608&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1199|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-T43-PM-760-2GHZ-1GB-40GB-COMBO-LAPTOP_W0QQitemZ350133493688QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item350133493688&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1309 I just pulled the trigger on a thinkpad the other day, should be here next week hopefully! Its one of the new T series, the T400. It's built on Intels new Montevina platform and has the new DDR3 RAM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Here's a new Thinkpad T61 for not much more than that HP. This is a good buy. Look at the refurbs and the redistributed units, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 I just pulled the trigger on a thinkpad the other day, should be here next week hopefully! Its one of the new T series, the T400. It's built on Intels new Montevina platform and has the new DDR3 RAM. that's awesome man let us know how you like it. i've been a thinkpad convert for a couple of years now and wouldn't use anything else. call me a fanboy but, not many other things piss me off worse than a non- repairable laptop and all my thinkpads have been workhorses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Yeah, but...those IBM/Lenovos are Pentium Ms, while the HP comes with an AMD something-or-other, it IS a dual-core, as is the Centrino in the Compaq. sorry man - the links i posted are just the first two cheap ibm buy it now's i saw that are suitable for the op needs. compaq and hp laptop motherboards are both junk and the added heat from the faster processors is bad news in a laptop enclosure.both those companies graphics chips have a tendency to go belly up from the heat and flimsy enclosures ( the motherboards flex and break the connection to the chip rendering the motherboard unfixable) and i just hate to see anyone sink 6 bills into something that's not gonna be able to be fixed 2 years down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 that's awesome man let us know how you like it. i've been a thinkpad convert for a couple of years now and wouldn't use anything else. call me a fanboy but, not many other things piss me off worse than a non- repairable laptop and all my thinkpads have been workhorses. Will do! I'll post a thread when I get it. Heard a few dodgy things about the keyboard but apparently (hopefully) it's been sorted in the latest models. But worse case scenario is I spend $30 on a T61 keyboard for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 So Lenovo is the way to go then? I'll check a few out. The trick is, it has to be on eBay so I can get the $$$ back award plus 10% off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Does it have to be a T-series, or are the other Thinkpad series just as good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guttermouth Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Does it have to be a T-series, or are the other Thinkpad series just as good? all the ibm/lenovo stuff is good quality. the t series thinkpads are my personal fave. just keep in mind with any laptop - the more bells and whistles - the more things in it to kick off or go bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpsands Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 I own an HP DV5T, and love it. It's heavy, but solid, and plays Fallout at medium settings at 40-50fps (9600M Gt and the 2.53Ghz core 2 duo). There are only a few rules for laptops these days:1) do not pay for lots of ram (ram for laptops is cheap and installing it is a breeze -- i put 4gb in mine for like 60 bucks).2) do buy intel processors. do not buy the 5xXX series. You want 7xxx, 8xxx, or 9xxx.3) do buy Nvidia video cards4) do not buy from Ebay I got my DV5T loaded as hell for 900 bucks from the factory, with no screwing around on ebay. the same laptop I got woulda been 1200+ at Ebay. go to http://www.gotapex.com and wait for the right deal to pop up. Dell, HP, Lenovo are allf requenc contributors there with amazing deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Thanks for the advice. You know, I've noted that prices on eBay are high. There's also a lot of fly-by-night businesses selling used computers for rip-off prices too. The only reason I was considering it was because eBay had a 10% off coupon last night, and Live dot com was offering another 30% cash back on BIN items. Of course I could've avoided all this if I would've been aware of the LIVE dot come 40% cashback deal on Black Friday. If you bought anything at HP's online store, they kicked in 40% cash back. A $1000 machine suddenly became $600. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Does it have to be a T-series, or are the other Thinkpad series just as good? My daughter has a R61E which is not as thin and elegant as a T-series but still real nice. My X-series is very small and light (less than 3lbs) but still offers a 12" screen, wireless, Bluetooth, FireWire, flash slot, 1Gb LAN, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 I just pulled the trigger on a thinkpad the other day, should be here next week hopefully! Its one of the new T series, the T400. It's built on Intels new Montevina platform and has the new DDR3 RAM. Waiting on my new Thinkpad SL 500 here. Had it configured so it may take a while. maybe not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ec437 Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Wow... That whole thread, and not a single mention of mac, book, i, apple, osx, white, or shiny. Am I on the right website? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Waiting on my new Thinkpad SL 500 here. Had it configured so it may take a while. maybe not. :eek: OMG!!! *In Transit* MACON, GA, US 12/02/2008 8:16 A.M. OUT FOR DELIVERY 12/02/2008 6:04 A.M. ARRIVAL SCAN ATLANTA, GA, US 12/02/2008 4:04 A.M. DEPARTURE SCAN 12/01/2008 3:53 A.M. BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED Relax Robin! It's only the easy-sync data migration cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassesofalessergod Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 HP makes a good product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 ...There are only a few rules for laptops these days: 1) do not pay for lots of ram (ram for laptops is cheap and installing it is a breeze -- i put 4gb in mine for like 60 bucks). 2) do buy intel processors. do not buy the 5xXX series. You want 7xxx, 8xxx, or 9xxx. 3) do buy Nvidia video cards 4) do not buy from Ebay... 1) I opted for 3 Gb of ram 2) Went with Intel's Core 2 duo 7370 processor 3) Standard video, not Nvidia - good enough for me 4) Bought from Lenovo - over $200 in Black Fri. and other discounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J. Posted December 2, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 In the end I decided to hold out and not make an impulse buy. I don't really need a laptop right now, so buying one on impulse would probably leave me with a few regrets. Either way, I'll continue keeping my eye open for deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lug Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 In the end I decided to hold out and not make an impulse buy. I don't really need a laptop right now, so buying one on impulse would probably leave me with a few regrets. Either way, I'll continue keeping my eye open for deals. The Compaq is only $379 at Oraface Despot but only for one more day... http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/430180/Compaq-Presario-C771US-15-4-Widescreen/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members misterhinkydink Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 In the end I decided to hold out and not make an impulse buy. I don't really need a laptop right now, so buying one on impulse would probably leave me with a few regrets. Either way, I'll continue keeping my eye open for deals. Keep an eye on the Lenovo outlet site. Last Christmas I picked up my wife's loaded T61 for $600 new and my daughter's R61E for $500.00 new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Robin Posted December 2, 2008 Members Share Posted December 2, 2008 Keep an eye on the Lenovo outlet site. Last Christmas I picked up my wife's loaded T61 for $600 new and my daughter's R61E for $500.00 new. You did well there. Good deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.