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 3152638 times)

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: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #220 on: December 11, 2011, 08:25:21 PM »
would you say this is a good price for these specs?

Yes, this was written about in older posts.

Its a great price for the specs

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5401
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #221 on: December 11, 2011, 08:26:12 PM »
Yes, this was written about in older posts.

Its a great price for the specs
Would it be good for graphics?

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: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #222 on: December 11, 2011, 10:23:51 PM »
Would it be good for graphics?

Basically NO

What graphics use?

For graphics use need more that the standard graphics card. This computes processor is better with with graphics than the older ones.


Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #223 on: December 12, 2011, 12:19:30 AM »
Lenovo B570 Intel Dual Core 2.1GHz 16" Laptop = $329.99 + Receive a Free 8x8 Photobook

Includes:
Intel Pentium Dual-Core B950 2.1GHz "Sandy Bridge" processor, 15.6" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, 802.11n wireless, Gigabit Ethernet, fingerprint reader, media card reader, webcam, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home
Do these laptops come with a free 30 day trial of Microsoft office?

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: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #224 on: December 12, 2011, 12:32:52 AM »
Do these laptops come with a free 30 day trial of Microsoft office?
It comes with With Microsoft Office Starter 2010


"Microsoft Office Starter 2010, a new base productivity suite that replaces Microsoft Works, consists of limited-functionality versions of Word and Excel and includes advertising. It does not include PowerPoint or Outlook."

"Office Starter 2010 is not a trial–it has a perpetual license that does not expire. Office Starter 2010 is an advertising-supported base productivity suite that is available only on new PCs. It must be preloaded on new PCs at the point of manufacture. Office Starter 2010 is not available for existing PCs at any time after manufacture; for example, Office Starter 2010 cannot be installed on new PCs being sold by resellers, even brand-new PCs. It will not be sold through distribution or available to end users as a standalone product.:

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5401
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #225 on: December 12, 2011, 01:01:02 AM »
Do these laptops come with a free 30 day trial of Microsoft office?
you could usually find a trial download online. (the upside of those is that office 2010 works as a reader once it expires).

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #226 on: December 12, 2011, 01:04:12 AM »
(the upside of those is that office 2010 works as a reader once it expires).
What do you mean 'works as a reader'? Thanks

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5401
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #227 on: December 12, 2011, 01:04:43 AM »
aka word viewer

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #228 on: December 12, 2011, 01:06:38 AM »
aka word viewer
You mean that if someone sends me a word document, I can read it? 
Can I also compose a document?

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5401
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #229 on: December 12, 2011, 01:08:45 AM »
No composing only opening and reading, or you can just download this, but then you need a separate program for power points, spreadsheets etc..

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #230 on: December 12, 2011, 01:13:09 AM »
No composing only opening and reading, or you can just download this, but then you need a separate program for power points, spreadsheets etc..

But if I have Microsoft Office Starter 2010, why would i need to download that?

Offline elikay

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 5401
  • Total likes: 38
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #231 on: December 12, 2011, 02:18:30 AM »
But if I have Microsoft Office Starter 2010, why would i need to download that?
No in that case you don't need that.

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #232 on: December 12, 2011, 03:01:02 AM »
It comes with With Microsoft Office Starter 2010


"Microsoft Office Starter 2010, a new base productivity suite that replaces Microsoft Works, consists of limited-functionality versions of Word and Excel and includes advertising. It does not include PowerPoint or Outlook."

"Office Starter 2010 is not a trial–it has a perpetual license that does not expire. Office Starter 2010 is an advertising-supported base productivity suite that is available only on new PCs. It must be preloaded on new PCs at the point of manufacture. Office Starter 2010 is not available for existing PCs at any time after manufacture; for example, Office Starter 2010 cannot be installed on new PCs being sold by resellers, even brand-new PCs. It will not be sold through distribution or available to end users as a standalone product.:

Missed this comment. Thanks

Offline Deal Guy

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2009
  • Posts: 4957
  • Total likes: 131
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 9
    • View Profile
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #233 on: December 12, 2011, 03:01:14 AM »
No in that case you don't need that.
Thanks

Offline U-no-me!

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 1538
  • Total likes: 13
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Location: "Elvis Has Left The Building"
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #234 on: December 12, 2011, 05:22:31 PM »
Toshiba Satellite AMD Dual 1.6GHz 16" LED Laptop = $299.99

Includes:
AMD E-350 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 15.6" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD, 3GB RAM,
320TB hard drive, AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics, 802.11n wireless, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7.

It is currently backorderd, but can still be purchased.
Vote U-no-me '14!

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #235 on: December 12, 2011, 06:25:54 PM »
Toshiba Satellite AMD Dual 1.6GHz 16" LED Laptop = $299.99

Includes:
AMD E-350 1.6GHz dual-core processor, 15.6" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD, 3GB RAM,
320TB hard drive, AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics, 802.11n wireless, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7.


Big hard drive :P

Thanks for posting deals. Just waiting for the right one.

Anyone have thoughts on this for a sub-$500 lappie (bump):

Toshiba Satellite Core i5 Dual 2.4GHz 16" LED Laptop with FREE 8x8 Shutterfly Photbook = $449.99


Includes:
Intel Core i5-2430M 2.4GHz dual-core processor, 15.6" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, 802.11n wireless, media card reader, 6-cell battery, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #236 on: December 13, 2011, 12:11:34 AM »
Big hard drive :P

Thanks for posting deals. Just waiting for the right one.

Anyone have thoughts on this for a sub-$500 lappie (bump):

The Toshiba for $299 isnt really worth anything... the processor is horrible - Bench marked at 726 (the i5 one is bench marked at 3476)

Toshiba is making pretty decent laptops these days... For a second laptop the $449 one is deff a decent deal

Offline AJK

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 20K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 25419
  • Total likes: 721
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United Concierge Key; Delta Global Services; American Chairman; US Airways 1K; Hilton Sapphire; Hyatt Tritium; Marriott Californium; Starwood Kryptonium; Hertz Plutonium; National Adamantium, Avis Executive Proactanium
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #237 on: December 13, 2011, 12:18:35 AM »
Thanks!
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline U-no-me!

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 1538
  • Total likes: 13
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 7
    • View Profile
  • Location: "Elvis Has Left The Building"
Re: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #238 on: December 13, 2011, 06:06:02 AM »
HP ENVY 14 Core i7 Quad 2.2GHz 15" Laptop  Original $1410 + Instant rebate of $250 + Code "LR255AV" = TOTAL $909.99

Includes:

Intel Core i7-2670QM 2.2GHz quad-core Sandy Bridge processor,
14.5" 1366x768 LED-backlit widescreen LCD,
8GB RAM, 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive,
dual layer DVD burner, AMD Radeon HD 6630 1GB video card with switchable graphics,
802.11n wireless, Bluetooth, webcam, 8-cell battery,
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Adobe Premiere Elements 9, and Windows 7 Home 64 bit.

Ends December 18.
Vote U-no-me '14!

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: Looking for cheap good Laptop deal
« Reply #239 on: December 13, 2011, 08:24:15 AM »
HP ENVY 14 Core i7 Quad 2.2GHz 15" Laptop  Original $1410 + Instant rebate of $250 + Code "LR255AV" = TOTAL $909.99
Great Price!!