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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
Warning: most of the wiki that follows was written a very long time ago and the information on it can be outdated.
[Deleted post based on DH Data Recovery's experience dated 2013. Maybe I'll take a stab at replacing it with something similar at some point.]


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. EDIT: Unless there are no RAM slots for upgrading.
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 3734851 times)

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14240 on: December 10, 2023, 01:16:18 AM »
Inspiron 15 with Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB upgradeable RAM, 256GB SSD, $280 at Dell.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nbnn3525glhlh

Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14241 on: December 10, 2023, 06:00:41 AM »
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-Nitro-16-AN16-41-AMD-Ryzen-7-7735HS-3-2-GHz-Win-11-Home-GeForce-RTX-4070-16-GB-RAM-512-GB-SSD-16-IPS-2560-x-1600-WQXGA/2478197518?athbdg=L1800&from=/search
$1030
Acer Nitro 16, 35W Ryzen 7 7735HS, 140W RTX 4070, good screen for gaming though not OLED, 16:10 screen ratio and good battery life. Only chisaron seems to be weight? Excellent price for these specs. 16GB RAM is upgradeable and has two M2 slots.
Review here: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Nitro-16-AN16-41-review-An-RTX-4070-gaming-laptop-with-good-battery-life.726387.0.html
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

Offline sol19

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14242 on: December 13, 2023, 08:10:50 PM »

Dell G15 15.6" FHD i5-13450HX, RTX 3050 6GB, 8GB DDR5, 512GB SSD $599.99
13th Gen Intel Core i5-13450HX (20 MB cache, 10 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.60 GHz Turbo)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6
15.6" FHD 1920x1080 120Hz Non-Touch
8GB DDR5 4800MHz
512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14243 on: December 14, 2023, 04:46:10 AM »
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14244 on: December 14, 2023, 11:32:53 AM »
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14245 on: December 14, 2023, 12:11:23 PM »
Inspiron 15 with Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB upgradeable RAM, 256GB SSD, $280 at Dell.
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/inspiron-15-laptop/spd/inspiron-15-3525-laptop/nbnn3525glhlh

I'm seeing these Inspiron models consistently having issues with the hinges...have you heard of this improving, or any way to deal with this?

Offline AsherO

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14246 on: December 14, 2023, 03:49:32 PM »
If you want a relatively basic latest-gen LG gram (for the ultra-lightweight), Costco has it for $600 https://www.costco.com/lg-gram-15.6%22-touchscreen-laptop---13th-gen-intel-core-i5-1340p---1080p---windows-11.product.4000218364.html
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Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14247 on: December 15, 2023, 03:22:52 AM »
I'm seeing these Inspiron models consistently having issues with the hinges...have you heard of this improving, or any way to deal with this?
No, but I have heard such issues with all laptops. Unless you are talking about more than usual...
We need a laptop feedback page. I get feedback from my people but not regarding every laptop in existence.
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

Offline sguitarist18

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14248 on: December 15, 2023, 08:51:48 AM »
This is definitely more than usual. I've bought 5 or 6 entry-level models at work, never saw this issue with other models - with almost every single one of the current-design Inspirons, it happens.

The hinges start to rip themselves off the body, and it starts to pull apart the trim from the screen, as well.

There's a picture on this thread that shows what starts to happen as the trim pulls away from the screen.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/inspiron/problem-with-hinges-inspiron-3511/647f9864f4ccf8a8deb8160a

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14249 on: December 15, 2023, 09:20:30 AM »
This is definitely more than usual. I've bought 5 or 6 entry-level models at work, never saw this issue with other models - with almost every single one of the current-design Inspirons, it happens.

The hinges start to rip themselves off the body, and it starts to pull apart the trim from the screen, as well.

There's a picture on this thread that shows what starts to happen as the trim pulls away from the screen.

https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/inspiron/problem-with-hinges-inspiron-3511/647f9864f4ccf8a8deb8160a
Last I remember something like this (ie serial hinge problem) was with several early (when they first started selling) ASUS models.
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14250 on: December 17, 2023, 12:52:21 AM »
Now Back to $600. https://www.ebay.com/itm/295678662864
(13") Thinkpad X1 Nano with 11th gen i7 for $879, new.
Target audience: Someone who uses a computer for work and needs a very light and very small computer that travels well. Note that some really long flights will be too long for the battery. See below.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125533439255

No personal experience with it, but based on reviews:
Pros: 2 pounds, tiny profile
16:10 screen
Despite this, decent battery life:


Cons: Shallower keyboard than other Thinkpads
Old. (This will be fast only for office work - don't expect stellar performance for anything intense.)
For the serial upgraders among you, the RAM is soldered and the SSD takes only M2 2242. With all the new SSDs for the Steam Deck, you can actually buy decent replacements, but they cost more than conventional M2 2280s.

Full review here: https://www.notebookcheck.net/Lenovo-ThinkPad-X1-Nano-Laptop-Review-Less-than-1-kg-for-the-Business-Subnotebook-with-LTE.517858.0.html
I would get this over the XPS any day.
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

Offline Benn

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14251 on: December 17, 2023, 05:42:00 PM »
I am looking for a good and affordable laptop

I type a lot, so I need a good keyboard
A 2-in-1 or yoga is a plus, touch is a plus,
So is slim and lightweight.
Quick delivery (less than a week) a must.

I thought that Thinkpad is a good idea and I put my sights on this one being advertised as %78 off, but here they dissuaded me from the L series.
Can anyone please advise me?

Thanks in advance!

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A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14253 on: December 18, 2023, 03:55:13 AM »
$600: HP Pavilion Plus 14, Ryzen 5 7540U (Zen 4), 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD. 3lbs and excellent battery life and build. Direct from HP and ships immediately. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-pavilion-plus-laptop-14-ey0047nr#techSpecs
Now $580. Still great value. One chaver bought one and got it two weeks ago, is ecstatic.

$607 - Thinkpad T14S with Ryzen 5 5650U, 8GB upgradeable RAM, 256GB SSD. For @Benn if he wants Lenovo's famous keyboard. Do NOT buy the cheaper versions from the snake-oil salesmen, only the one sold by Newegg.
https://www.newegg.com/p/2WC-000J-018C7?Item=2WC-000J-018C7&SoldByNewegg=1

$700 - Zenbook 14X, 14.5" 2.8K screen, 35W i7-13700H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Evo certified.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbook-14x-14-5-2-8k-oled-touch-laptop-intel-evo-platform-i7-13700h-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-inkwell-gray/6543526.p?skuId=6543526

$715 shipped from Costco, phenomenal price - Acer Swift Edge 16, 4K OLED screen, Ryzen 7 7735U, 16GB RAM, TB SSD, weighs only 2.58 lbs. Battery life is the only chisaron at this price, only 7-8 hours, the fault of the screen. https://www.costco.com/acer-swift-edge-16%22-4k-oled-laptop---amd-ryzen-7-7735u---windows-11.product.4000154421.html
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14254 on: December 18, 2023, 08:18:48 AM »
$607 - Thinkpad T14S with Ryzen 5 5650U, 8GB upgradeable RAM, 256GB SSD. For @Benn if he wants Lenovo's famous keyboard. Do NOT buy the cheaper versions from the snake-oil salesmen, only the one sold by Newegg.
https://www.newegg.com/p/2WC-000J-018C7?Item=2WC-000J-018C7&SoldByNewegg=1
@mevinyavin Thanks a million!!
How would you compare their Thinkpad options?
The $606 one is advertised as half price, but I have a small preference to black color
And in the bottom of the $606 one they have "MORE BUYING OPTIONS" to buy it from Beach Audio for $521, are they snake oil?

I see now that they have a lot of Thikpad yoga touchscreen for very cheap, some of them 4 RAM but RAM I can add on afterward, no?

Thanks!!
« Last Edit: December 18, 2023, 08:26:34 AM by Benn »

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14255 on: December 18, 2023, 10:29:02 AM »
@mevinyavin Thanks a million!!
How would you compare their Thinkpad options?
The $606 one is advertised as half price, but I have a small preference to black color
And in the bottom of the $606 one they have "MORE BUYING OPTIONS" to buy it from Beach Audio for $521, are they snake oil?

I see now that they have a lot of Thikpad yoga touchscreen for very cheap, some of them 4 RAM but RAM I can add on afterward, no?

Thanks!!
The T14S here is a bit cheaper than usual - maybe $75 less - and only because it is an old model. This should not bother you because it has sufficient power for your needs.
If you buy from Beach Audio, you cannot trust that you are getting a brand-new laptop (ie you may be getting a refurb or a model that they upgraded). That is less likely in this case, because the specs are pretty minimum, but would you buy from a store that does that yet lists the model as new, even if yours is fine? Hence my advice, that it is not worth it.

Regarding the TP Yogas you found: You cannot always add RAM - particularly common on cheap models. And it is funny how if you toggle "sold by Newegg" to on, suddenly the cheapest model is $1500. To be fair, Lenovo sells through Newegg too, and there are L-series from $763 (again, not that keyboard) and X13 gen 3 for $850 that will not tell you how much RAM it comes with (those are non-upgradeable for sure). Something wierd about the listings and that is too much money to throw out on a sofek. Believe me, I went through all the stores for you and I listed options I would be happy with and confident in. Take my advice or leave it.  ;D
Quote from: ExGingi
Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Echo chambers are boring and don't contribute much to deeper thinking and understanding!

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14258 on: December 18, 2023, 03:28:53 PM »
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-yoga-9i-2-in-1-14-2-8k-oled-touch-laptop-with-pen-intel-evo-platform-core-i7-1360p-with-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-oatmeal/6533953.p

Yoga 9 on sale for $1050 or $840 open box.

full specs
https://psref.lenovo.com/Detail/Yoga/Yoga_9_14IRP8?M=83B1001WUS

~~~~

I'm looking for a higher end chromebook, SSD not emmc, 8gb ram, normal processor, good screen.
The Acer 714 or one of the high end asus would be perfect but they're not on sale now, and I prefer 15 inch. Anyone have any recommendations?

ETA: I;m considering this one, https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-chromebook-plus-515-15-6-full-hd-laptop-intel-core-i3-1215u-with-8gb-lpddr5x-128gb-ufs-steel-gray/6551627.p but I'm not sure the screen brightness and battery capacity, and it's ufs. also not touch
« Last Edit: December 18, 2023, 03:33:35 PM by Chuchum Ainer »

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #14259 on: December 18, 2023, 08:30:51 PM »
Nice deal:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-zenbook-14x-14-5-2-8k-oled-touch-laptop-intel-evo-platform-i7-13700h-16gb-memory-512gb-ssd-inkwell-gray/6543526.p

ASUS - Zenbook 14X 14.5" 2.8K OLED Touch Laptop - Intel Evo Platform i7-13700H - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD

That NumberPad 2.0 feature looks nifty too, if you use the numeric keypad a lot.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2023, 08:34:25 PM by AsherO »
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