Topic Wiki

Please, when posting a link to a laptop listing, make sure to include the price at time of posting. It helps.
Requesting help with a purchase? Please post here: https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=135662.msg2794782#msg2794782

Dell:
Precision - Very powerful desktop replacements - great warranty, ridiculously expensive - Usually overpriced or overkill

Latitude - Good Laptops - Great warranty! Highly recommended for any Business environment - Sometimes expensive.

Vostro  - Lower end Business Machines - Better Priced - still durable - Usually 1 Year warranty.

XPS - The nicer looking dell machines, Some are better than others...

Inspiron - YMMV Every model is different

(Plain) Insprion Series - Dells lowest end laptop
(R) Insprion Series - Perfect Home use, dependable, decent build quality, recommended
(Z) Insprion Series - A little slimmer than the R series, Some are Ultrabooks (Very often don't include Optical Drives)

HP:

Spectre - Top of the line personal (dragonfly is the top of the line for business) - lightest laptops, and beautiful!

Pavilion - YMMV (Some better than others)

Probook - Stable durable business systems - Usually a little on the heavy side.

Elitebook - Business Higher end systems, usually pretty expensive

ENVY - Used to be the HP sleek and nicer systems, they pretty much replaced most of the standard pavilions now and call them either ENVY or sleekbooks

Sleekbook - like it sounds slimmer line of laptops

Lenovo:

Thinkpad Series - Very Dependable Business Machine, Expensive (Not Pretty but Durable)

IdeaPad Series -

S Series
U Series - Usually the slimmer line Ultrabooks, Doesn't always include DVD Drive
Y Series - Nice machines with good specs and features (Cool Backlit Keyboards)
Z Series - Step up from the G Series, all around decent build, priced nicely, great home use laptop
G Series - Lower end

Samsung:

Series 3
Series 5
Series 7
Series 9 - The nicest, sleekest looking laptops I've seen in a long time - Can pass for a Macbook!!


HT: Dh Data Recovery & Name Changed


A great post by caliheat:
I believe that there are many factors when deciding what laptop to purchase.
1) What is your intended use and necessary features. e.g. light use vs. heavy use & optical drive, computer speed etc.
2) As mentioned several times in this thread, RAM itself is very easy to upgrade after you purchase.
3) Brand - IMHO this is pretty important as well - which do your prefer vs. which brand do people recommend.
4) Price - you should decide a price range that best suits your needs.
5) Operating System - Many people like myself prefer Windows 7 vs. 8.1, so this would be another consideration.
6) Warranty - does it include 1 year or more, cost for extending warranty.
7) Detailed Specs:
  Processor  - model and speed i3, i5, & i7 2.0 Ghz, 3.0 Ghz etc.
  RAM - This IMHO should be minimum 8GB, especially if running 8.1, however can be added easily.
  Hard Drive - SATA vs. SSD, the latter being much faster. SATA itself offers 5400 RPM vs. 7200 RPM again, the latter being faster.
  Screen Size - this is a personal preference as you can always attach a larger screen in an office setting.
  Battery & Weight - overall laptop weight preference & battery life.
  Graphics - Integrated graphics vs. dedicated graphics, e.g. Intel 4400 vs. Nvidia GTX etc.

In summary, you have to decide what are you priorities, what can be upgraded and what you are flexible on.



Excellent article about the differences between the Intel processor suffixes.

Excellent "Laptop Buying Guide" by @dailykasha, written for Black Friday 2021, updated for holidays 2023

Author Topic: Laptop Deals Master Thread  (Read 3185809 times)

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2600 on: January 28, 2013, 09:42:01 AM »
Looking for a lightweight laptop with an optical drive (those are two most important factors and it should have windows 7). Guy I'm buying for wants to get aToshiba portege R935-P326 however it seems like  crime to pay so much for an i3 with 4gb ram. I would
More looking without optical drive recommend the Portege R935-P332 which upgrades to i5 and 6gb ram but i can't find it for sale anywhere. Any suggestions for a comparable laptop? Thanks
Now looking without optical drive, windows 7
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2601 on: January 28, 2013, 10:20:07 AM »
Both of the options you mentioned are pretty expensive imo

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2602 on: January 28, 2013, 10:21:43 AM »
We had a few deals lately on lightweight machines like the dell 13z and the lenovo u410. You can install windows 7 pretty easily on these machines.

Offline Name Changed

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 4831
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Avis Presidents Club, National Executive Elite, Hertz Presidents Circle, Sixt Platinum, SPG Gold, eBay Platinum
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2603 on: January 28, 2013, 10:38:13 AM »
I actually find the Samsung and Dell 14z to be decent prices.

He is looking for w/ an optical drive which the 13z and U410 don't have.

Its hard to find an ultrabook with optical drives


Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2604 on: January 28, 2013, 10:55:10 AM »
His updated post was doesn't need optical drive. You can get a u410 with an i7 3rd generation for $699 so I don't think i5 2nd gen for $629 is that great

Offline Name Changed

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 4831
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Avis Presidents Club, National Executive Elite, Hertz Presidents Circle, Sixt Platinum, SPG Gold, eBay Platinum
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2605 on: January 28, 2013, 10:58:05 AM »
Now looking without optical drive, windows 7
His updated post was doesn't need optical drive. You can get a u410 with an i7 3rd generation for $699 so I don't think i5 2nd gen for $629 is that great
I missed that :)

+1 om the U410

Offline szportsphan218

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 59
  • Total likes: 7
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: CA, USA
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2606 on: January 28, 2013, 12:08:16 PM »
Hi,
I'm looking for a new laptop to replace my 5 y/o Dell Inspiron 14.
Looking for a quality WINDOWS 7 laptop with a 14in screen. i5 or i7 processor. At least 6gb ram. At least 750gb HD..Good graphics card and good battery life....
Any deals out there for something like this (under $1000)
Thanks!!

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2607 on: January 28, 2013, 12:09:45 PM »
His updated post was doesn't need optical drive. You can get a u410 with an i7 3rd generation for $699 so I don't think i5 2nd gen for $629 is that great
Thanks. installing windows 7 won't happen. Doesn't need to be a metzia of a price. Do you have a specific link you can recommend?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2608 on: January 28, 2013, 12:20:31 PM »
Thanks. installing windows 7 won't happen. Doesn't need to be a metzia of a price. Do you have a specific link you can recommend?
Do you still need windows 7 though?

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2609 on: January 28, 2013, 12:34:30 PM »
Yes. And the guy won't know how to install it
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2610 on: January 28, 2013, 01:05:26 PM »
If its local or he wants to ship it to me, I can install windows 7 for him. You end up with much better options - since most if the current deals are windows 8. (unless you check Dell outlet or Lenovo Outlet - You may get some good deals there)

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2611 on: January 28, 2013, 01:28:52 PM »
How much would you charge?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2612 on: January 28, 2013, 01:32:16 PM »
$50

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2613 on: January 28, 2013, 01:35:19 PM »
OK. Including shipping? And what laptop would you recommend
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 823
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2614 on: January 28, 2013, 01:46:16 PM »
any laptops to consider comparable to the U310?

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2615 on: January 28, 2013, 02:08:06 PM »
Samsung Series 9?

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2616 on: January 28, 2013, 02:11:11 PM »
Samsung Series 9?
OK, but this one is sold out

Amazon and Newegg have this Samsung Ultrabook on sale again for $699!!

Intel Core i5-2537M 1.40 GHz
4 GB DDR3
128 GB SSD
13.3-Inch Screen
Windows 8

Great Price and really nice ultrabook

The Newgg price is slightly more - after shipping, but with Newegg you have cashback options
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Name Changed

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 4831
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 13
    • View Profile
  • Location: Lakewood
  • Programs: Avis Presidents Club, National Executive Elite, Hertz Presidents Circle, Sixt Platinum, SPG Gold, eBay Platinum
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2617 on: January 28, 2013, 02:21:27 PM »
Samsung Series 9?
Will you be able to download to win 7 on this one?

OK, but this one is sold out

I have if you want

Offline Ergel

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Jun 2010
  • Posts: 13070
  • Total likes: 905
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2618 on: January 28, 2013, 02:22:05 PM »
Will you be able to download to win 7 on this one?
I have if you want
Can you put windows 7 on it? How much total?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline DH Data Recovery

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 4559
  • Total likes: 6
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 64
    • View Profile
Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2619 on: January 28, 2013, 02:26:09 PM »
Not the Samsung - I don't think it will work.