Cheap Laptop Suggestions.

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GregM · #1 Post by **GregM** » Mon May 01, 2006 3:23 pm

Friends,

A co-worker is asking me to recommend a cheap laptop. I have NO idea. I love my ThinkPad, but she doesn't want to spend over $1,000. She is a very basic user, and doesn't need anything super fancy. Built in WiFi would be good.

Any suggestions? Gateway? Dell?

Any help is greatly appreciated,
Greg

#2 Post by **dorronto** » Mon May 01, 2006 3:28 pm

When you talk cheap laptops (price, of course), DELL always has a weekly special......But then, on the other hand, why not a used IBM laptop..........Now there's quality..........My opinion..............

Good luck,
Ron

#3 Post by **Kyocera** » Mon May 01, 2006 4:00 pm

When people ask me that i usually ask the obvious like "what are you going to use it for blah, blah, blah, and unless they already have a brand name in mind or model i always recommend a thinkpad, new or used, certified used whatever. I like to recommend what has worked for me in the past.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Mon May 01, 2006 4:10 pm

Office Depot has the Pentium M R50e 1842-STU (SKU 613-156) for $949.

They also have a Celeron M R50e 1842-T4U (SKU 613-149) for $699.

I would prefer either of the above to a Dell (generally speaking). You can get these and other models for even less at other outlets. Cost Central has some good deals (I bought my new T42 there). You can also check on http://www.pricegrabber.com/ to find good prices.

#5 Post by **Kyocera** » Mon May 01, 2006 4:18 pm

Check the IBM web for the certified used t series also. My t30 is an excellent work machine, and had a 3 year warranty that had been purchased by the original owner that came with the machine when I bought it. It was under $800.

johnchan · #6 Post by **johnchan** » Tue May 02, 2006 12:25 pm

check out the sale (ends may 15) on lenovo.com. t42s for 1100...

pizzahut88 · #7 Post by **pizzahut88** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:09 am

why not get the cheapest R-series there is?
Then overclock it . . . ?
Cheapest price is around 800US, good enough?

#8 Post by **K. Eng** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:53 am

There are some really good deals on T42s right now:

link

BigWarpGuy · #9 Post by **BigWarpGuy** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:43 pm

http://www.tigerdirect.com has some low priced notebook computers.

I bought my refurbished Thinkpad from Shoppers Advantage.
http://www.shoppersadvantage.com - IIRC on the URL.

krma-thkpds · #10 Post by **krma-thkpds** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:52 pm

What do you think about the new Lenovo 3000 series? Not too expensive, well configured...

GregM · #11 Post by **GregM** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:55 pm

Thanks everyone. The consensus seems to be ThinkPad or die. What else would I expect on a ThinkPad forum?

Hey, I am with you, loving my T42. She doesn't think it's "cute" enough, however ... another factor I wasn't expecting.

Lenovo 3000 did cross my mind, they have fantastic deals going on right now. Any thoughts on these?

Greg

#12 Post by **schen** » Wed May 03, 2006 2:40 pm

If you need cute, you can take a look at the Zs with the Titanium lid, but they are pricier. In a general sense, cute's not really a ThinkPad thing (IMHO of course).

If you really want to go that route, you'd have to do an iBook or an Averatec or God Forebid.... Sony!

I like to think of ThinkPads as more like BMW vs. Apple's VW Bug. Or Darth Vader vs. Princess Leia. It goes on and on.....

mattfromomaha · #13 Post by **mattfromomaha** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:40 pm

I've recommended the new Lenovo laptops to a couple of friends, but they haven't purchased any yet so I can't tell you how I like them firsthand.

#14 Post by **underclocker** » Fri May 05, 2006 4:29 pm

R series are excellent and available for under 1K. On eBay brand new R51's are available for considerably less. Make sure you go with a Pentium M for long battery life.

#15 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:26 pm

GregM wrote:Hey, I am with you, loving my T42. She doesn't think it's "cute" enough, however ... another factor I wasn't expecting.

Well if this doesn't light up her eyes, I don't know what will. What she really wants is a Tulip E-Go!

[Caveat: You may have to hock some of your mother's China first.]

christopher_wolf · #16 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:56 pm

If you want cute in a Thinkpad, the X Series Thinkpads are hard to beat...Unless you get a PC110, S30, S31, or 600 and shove it full of features.

pianowizard · #17 Post by **pianowizard** » Fri May 05, 2006 9:45 pm

The TP240 is the cutest Thinkpad I have seen (which is why I have bought three of them!), and it's well within your coworker's budget. However, she may not like the small display.

Jiro · #18 Post by **Jiro** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:27 pm

what about a fujitsu lifebook

#19 Post by **underclocker** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:06 pm

Moving beyond ThinkPad's, this ought to do it...

http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/

#20 Post by **draco2527** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:23 pm

underclocker wrote:Moving beyond ThinkPad's, this ought to do it...

http://www.oqo.com/hardware/basics/

LOL!

That is like $1,500 for the "entry" model, I got to play with one of them from the Microsoft rep. at work, it is a NICE device; but too expensive at the momement, I rather have a T41X for that kind of coin!!

Cheap Laptop Suggestions.

Cheap Laptop Suggestions.

perhaps perhaps perhaps

Tiger Direct

Cute

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