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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Warning: most of the wiki that follows was written a very long time ago and the information on it can be outdated.

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 3660796 times)

Offline Deal Guy

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Laptop Deals Master Thread
« on: November 13, 2011, 01:47:23 AM »
I'm looking for good serviceable 15.6 inch (or bigger) laptop in the $250-$450 range due to the holiday season, normally priced $400-$600.
I want it to be useful for browsing the internet, word, excel and quickbooks. Preferably 3gb or more and duel-processer or better.

Dan usually posts on the main site ,the $1300 ones that are on sale for $800. I'm looking for a lower end one, but a good deal nevertheless.

If you see one on sale, or one that will be on black friday, please post it here. Thanks
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, 11:01:25 PM by Dan »

Offline Yeki89

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2011, 01:47:59 AM »
send a PM to "name changed" he helped other before

Offline Deal Guy

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2011, 02:06:34 AM »
send a PM to "name changed" he helped other before
Even better if someone can post the links here.

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2011, 07:40:36 AM »
You could get a dell 15r
Specs - i3-2330m, 4gb ram, 500gb hd, 15.6 inch screen, webcam, bluetooth

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?reconfigure=true&vw=icon&cart=ActiveCart&id=5c1a2d07-75ad-4f74-9370-9d2ad9eea0c3&ecomm=ecomm.dell.com&c=us&l=en&cs=6099
R
The price is $579 -the instant savings of $90 = $489

You could get a coupon for $5 https://m.saveology.com/deals/national/dell-coupon that will take off 25%, that will bring the price to $435 -the coupon only works off the main price (it doesnt include the instant savings)

You could purchase from www.dell.cashstar.com a  promo code, so $435 -$75=$360

This is an amzing price forthis laptop

Btw the only way you could pay with the  $400 and  $75 is on the phone with a rep


Offline Yeki89

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2011, 08:49:43 AM »
i wasn't crazy

Offline MnM1130

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #5 on: November 13, 2011, 08:54:44 AM »
You could get a dell 15r
Specs - i3-2330m, 4gb ram, 500gb hd, 15.6 inch screen, webcam, bluetooth

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?reconfigure=true&vw=icon&cart=ActiveCart&id=5c1a2d07-75ad-4f74-9370-9d2ad9eea0c3&ecomm=ecomm.dell.com&c=us&l=en&cs=6099
R
The price is $579 -the instant savings of $90 = $489

You could get a coupon for $5 https://m.saveology.com/deals/national/dell-coupon that will take off 25%, that will bring the price to $435 -the coupon only works off the main price (it doesnt include the instant savings)

You could purchase from www.dell.cashstar.com a  promo code, so $435 -$75=$360

This is an amzing price forthis laptop

Btw the only way you could pay with the  $400 and  $75 is on the phone with a rep


your link 4 the comp dont work... and also the 25% off 4 5$ does that apply to all dell comps? would it work 4 the comp on dans main page as well? thnks

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #6 on: November 13, 2011, 09:20:23 AM »
Here is a working link...

The 25% only works off the Market value... the one on DD's Market Values is $918, and the 25% only works on dell epp
« Last Edit: November 13, 2011, 12:56:25 PM by Dan »

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #7 on: November 13, 2011, 03:00:27 PM »
You could get a dell 15r
Specs - i3-2330m, 4gb ram, 500gb hd, 15.6 inch screen, webcam, bluetooth

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?reconfigure=true&vw=icon&cart=ActiveCart&id=5c1a2d07-75ad-4f74-9370-9d2ad9eea0c3&ecomm=ecomm.dell.com&c=us&l=en&cs=6099
R
The price is $579 -the instant savings of $90 = $489

You could get a coupon for $5 https://m.saveology.com/deals/national/dell-coupon that will take off 25%, that will bring the price to $435 -the coupon only works off the main price (it doesnt include the instant savings)

You could purchase from www.dell.cashstar.com a  promo code, so $435 -$75=$360

This is an amzing price forthis laptop

Btw the only way you could pay with the  $400 and  $75 is on the phone with a rep


Thanks for posting. I'm looking into getting all the details together now.

Offline Deal Guy

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #8 on: November 13, 2011, 03:09:18 PM »
You could get a dell 15r
Specs - i3-2330m, 4gb ram, 500gb hd, 15.6 inch screen, webcam, bluetooth



You could purchase from www.dell.cashstar.com a  promo code, so $435 -$75=$360

This is an amzing price forthis laptop

Btw the only way you could pay with the  $400 and  $75 is on the phone with a rep


How does it work with CASHSTAR? Is it buying gift cards? That may be a problem, since I want the Laptop to be on my spg card for the extended warranty.

Offline Saver2000

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2011, 03:21:07 PM »
How does it work with CASHSTAR? Is it buying gift cards? That may be a problem, since I want the Laptop to be on my spg card for the extended warranty.

Your answer can be found here.  .

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=11293.msg141225#msg141225

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2011, 03:31:40 PM »
Thanks for posting. I'm looking into getting all the details together now.

The saveology coupon is only for sale for today and tomorro

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #11 on: November 22, 2011, 03:07:10 AM »
I'm still looking, if someone sees one not too expensive as I wrote earlier. Thanks

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #12 on: November 22, 2011, 08:31:28 AM »
I'm still looking, if someone sees one not too expensive as I wrote earlier. Thanks

The original deal of using the 25% percent coupon is the best u'll get. I just checked and dell lowered the market value of the 15R, so the price would be, if you stack it with the $75 coupon - $292!!!

This is hands down the best price u'll ever get on these specs

Clich here to see the laptop

Saveology isnt selling the coupon anymore, so if you didnt buy it, its too late to get this deal


Offline AsherO

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #13 on: November 22, 2011, 10:11:46 AM »
The original deal of using the 25% percent coupon is the best u'll get. I just checked and dell lowered the market value of the 15R, so the price would be, if you stack it with the $75 coupon - $292!!!

This is hands down the best price u'll ever get on these specs

Clich here to see the laptop

Saveology isnt selling the coupon anymore, so if you didnt buy it, its too late to get this deal



Great deal, at $292 it's a real steal.

(for the record, @ $292 you're still stuck with $140+ in Dell credit, so you're still ~$400 out of pocket...)
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline Shmelly

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #14 on: November 22, 2011, 10:32:13 AM »
Apparently I missed this deal. I would have bought this in a heartbeat had I seen it. Oh well.

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2011, 10:53:44 AM »
Apparently I missed this deal. I would have bought this in a heartbeat had I seen it. Oh well.

Got anything else up your sleeve Name Changed?
+1

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #16 on: November 22, 2011, 03:45:35 PM »
is this a good deal ?
Compaq black 15.6 CQ57-319qm Laptop PC with AMD Dual-Core C50 Processor and Windows 7 Home Premium $198 from Walmart

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #17 on: November 22, 2011, 03:48:55 PM »
is this a good deal ?
Compaq black 15.6 CQ57-319qm Laptop PC with AMD Dual-Core C50 Processor and Windows 7 Home Premium $198 from Walmart

Ram?
Hard drive gb?

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #18 on: November 22, 2011, 04:03:18 PM »
Compaq 15.6" CQ57-319WM Laptop PC:
Key Features and Benefits:
AMD Dual-Core C-50 processor
1.0GHz, 1MB L2 Cache
2GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory (expandable to 8GB)
Gives you the options for surfing, video conferencing, documents, basic photo editing and simple computer tasks
250GB SATA hard drive
Store 166,000 photos, 71,000 songs or 131 hours of HD video and more
SuperMulti DVD Burner
Watch movies, and read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats
10/100Base-T Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Connect to a broadband modem with wired Ethernet or wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal or hotspot with the 802.11b/g/n connection built into your PC
15.6" HD BrightView LED-backlit display
AMD Radeon HD 6250 Discrete-Class Graphics with up to 949MB total graphics memory

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Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #19 on: November 22, 2011, 04:04:56 PM »
Compaq 15.6" CQ57-319WM Laptop PC:
Key Features and Benefits:
AMD Dual-Core C-50 processor
1.0GHz, 1MB L2 Cache
2GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory (expandable to 8GB)
Gives you the options for surfing, video conferencing, documents, basic photo editing and simple computer tasks
250GB SATA hard drive
Store 166,000 photos, 71,000 songs or 131 hours of HD video and more
SuperMulti DVD Burner
Watch movies, and read and write CDs and DVDs in multiple formats
10/100Base-T Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN
Connect to a broadband modem with wired Ethernet or wirelessly connect to a Wi-Fi signal or hotspot with the 802.11b/g/n connection built into your PC
15.6" HD BrightView LED-backlit display
AMD Radeon HD 6250 Discrete-Class Graphics with up to 949MB total graphics memory
1999 wants their computer back.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.