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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

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 3211714 times)

Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2280 on: December 24, 2012, 10:05:47 AM »
Btw - for a new laptop its cheaper to get the $25 keyboard from HP, then to replace it yourself
he was referring to a laptop already purchased.
here's the deal with backlit keyboard - most of them use an extra flex cable that provides the backlit part - so if the motherboard has the extra place for the cable you can add one later, otherwise....

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2281 on: December 24, 2012, 10:09:43 AM »
he was referring to a laptop already purchased.
here's the deal with backlit keyboard - most of them use an extra flex cable that provides the backlit part - so if the motherboard has the extra place for the cable you can add one later, otherwise....
I know thats why I said Btw ;)

Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2282 on: December 24, 2012, 10:13:24 AM »
 :D

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2283 on: December 24, 2012, 11:49:46 AM »
Is this good for $299  + $20 UR points if you use ink
HP Pavilion 14-b010us 14" Laptop
   
 2nd generation Intel® Core™ i3-2377M 1.5GHz 3MB L3 Cache Processor
    4GB DDR3 SDRAM Memory, Expandable to 8GB
    500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

I had actually bought an HP Pavilion G4 from Bestbuy (link is from HP because Bestbuy doesn't have it anymore). When I saw this I returned it - excellent returns policy at BB btw, used it for a week and they took it back for a full refund no problem - and reserved the laptop from above at a nearby Staples. It was the same $381 out the door (after tax) for both laptops, but this one has the $50 Easy Rebate over the $20 Amex credit on the BB one. Plus, even though I was losing out on CB because I wasn't shopping online, I was only getting under 2% online + the 1 or 2% on the actual card for the BB laptop. Even in-store I'm getting more than that (5%) because it's office supplies, so winner all around.

That's all before we get to the actual laptops. The reason I was even looking was because I saw on http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ that the processor in the BB laptop was pretty crappy, while the Staples laptop CPU is almost 70 spots higher. Now that I have the laptop though, the advantages of the sleekbook aspect (weight and thickness being the big ones) are what make it a real steal.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2284 on: December 24, 2012, 12:04:03 PM »
That's all before we get to the actual laptops. The reason I was even looking was because I saw on http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ that the processor in the BB laptop was pretty crappy, while the Staples laptop CPU is almost 70 spots higher. Now that I have the laptop though, the advantages of the sleekbook aspect (weight and thickness being the big ones) are what make it a real steal.
An i3 Processor will almost always be more productive (for the common computer user)

This Sleekbook, isnt even HP's real Sleekbook. Check out the ENVY Sleekbook :)

Offline mmermss

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2285 on: December 24, 2012, 12:10:15 PM »

This Sleekbook, isnt even HP's real Sleekbook. Check out the ENVY Sleekbook :)
It's a shame it has an AMD processor...it looks pretty sleek
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2286 on: December 24, 2012, 12:20:46 PM »
It's a shame it has an AMD processor...it looks pretty sleek
Most of the Ultrabooks, have the mobile version of the i3, i5, i7

These 2 processors are pretty comparable

Intel Core i5-3317U @ 1.70GHz
AMD A8-4555M APU @ 1.6 GHz

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2287 on: December 24, 2012, 02:05:53 PM »
Most of the Ultrabooks, have the mobile version of the i3, i5, i7

These 2 processors are pretty comparable

Intel Core i5-3317U @ 1.70GHz
AMD A8-4555M APU @ 1.6 GHz

NM, Is that really you writing this or did someone hijack your DDF nick..?? :P

Offline skyguy918

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2288 on: December 24, 2012, 02:44:36 PM »
An i3 Processor will almost always be more productive (for the common computer user)

This Sleekbook, isnt even HP's real Sleekbook. Check out the ENVY Sleekbook :)

That's actually not the case in terms of my thought process on this one. I saw it was an A6, and assumed it was quad-core, which would definitely be an upgrade over the i3 I got. The first generation of mobile A6's were in fact quad-core. Problem was I didn't realize I was getting one of the new mobile A6's, which are dual-core and definitely worse than the i3 I ended up with.

As far as the sleekbooks, mine comes in at .83in thick and 3.96lb. The ENVY Sleekbook you linked to is very slightly thinner (.78in) but heavier (4.53lb). Even the lightest 14" ENVY Ultrabook is similarly sized to mine: .78in/3.86lb. Similar specs on the 14" Spectre. I don't think I'd notice the difference much to the high end models, at least not like the drop from 1.41in/4.83 lb. Of course they also have better overall specs and a higher price tag, so either way I'm not complaining.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2289 on: December 24, 2012, 03:38:59 PM »
if the laptop is a model that has that option, you can buy a backlit keyboard on ebay and replace the original one with backlit
how do i know if its able to put in a backlit keyboard, never thought about it but its true its so annyoing lol

i have a hp G60-630US
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2290 on: December 24, 2012, 04:00:18 PM »
No baclit keyboard for your model

Offline mmermss

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2291 on: December 24, 2012, 04:54:25 PM »
No baclit keyboard for your model
How about Toshiba Satellite L355?
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

Offline DH Data Recovery

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2292 on: December 24, 2012, 05:03:58 PM »
Some can have one, gotta check the motherboard. If you know how to remove your keyboard, checkif you see a spot for an extra cable in the motherboard. If you do, you can prob use a backlit keyboard

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2293 on: December 24, 2012, 05:06:39 PM »
Some can have one, gotta check the motherboard. If you know how to remove your keyboard, checkif you see a spot for an extra cable in the motherboard. If you do, you can prob use a backlit keyboard
Like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-L500-L500D-L550-L550D-L350-L350D-L355-US-Keyboard-backlit-/271025477545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1a6097a9

Offline mmermss

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2294 on: December 24, 2012, 05:08:47 PM »
Some can have one, gotta check the motherboard. If you know how to remove your keyboard, checkif you see a spot for an extra cable in the motherboard. If you do, you can prob use a backlit keyboard
No clue how to check mother board.
Like this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toshiba-Satellite-L500-L500D-L550-L550D-L350-L350D-L355-US-Keyboard-backlit-/271025477545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1a6097a9

I see my model number there...that still doesnt for sure mean I can have one?
FWIW my full model number is Satellite L355-S7915
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2295 on: December 24, 2012, 05:31:04 PM »
exactly. So if you look at the ebay itme, the keybiard has an extra thin cable, You have to make sure you have somewhere to plug that in

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2296 on: December 24, 2012, 06:08:20 PM »
No baclit keyboard for your model

thanks so much! really appreciate the time u put in
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2297 on: December 24, 2012, 06:16:27 PM »
exactly. So if you look at the ebay itme, the keybiard has an extra thin cable, You have to make sure you have somewhere to plug that in
Hmm..I'm sure you explained it very well..it's me that has no clue about inside a computer.  But..
thanks so much! really appreciate the time u put in
It's not about the quantity of your posts.  It's about the quality.

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2298 on: December 24, 2012, 07:17:33 PM »
Here is an example of what I mean, The wider cable is the typical keboard cable, The other skinny one is the backlight cable. Make sure the motherboard has an available connection for a backlit keyboard

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Re: Laptop Deals Master Thread
« Reply #2299 on: December 25, 2012, 05:27:48 AM »
can any of the pros tell me if this is a good deal?

http://www.frys.com/product/7340324?source=googleps

Edit: it looks like its the same price on amazon