Looking to get a laptop or Netbook for under $400. Need advice please :)

Trusty Mutsi

Trusty Mutsi

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Our desktop PC died recently, and my wife has been thinking about a netbook or laptop. We have a little 20 month old boy, and she needs to be with him, but also would like to get a little freelance work done while he's playing. He's too young to leave in a room by himself.

She only really needs to use a word processor program (like word or open office), get on the web, and have something to organize her music with. I wouldn't MIND having something that played games, but it could be older games, like freespace, or Fallout 1 or 2.

We have a budget of $400, but would rather spend more like $200. Are there any good netbooks or laptops that would work for us?

I'm thinking of going out on black friday, but REALLY dread it and don't want to see people at their worst. I'm wondering if there will be any deals online. OR if there are any non-black friday deals that are comparable.

Thank you for ANY help!

I've been looking on bfads.net, and have seen these:

BEST BUY:

Compaq Netbook - Atom Processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, XP Home $179

Dell Netbook - 10.1" Widescreen LCD, 1GB Memory, 160GB HD $379

Sony 15" Laptop w/ Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 $399

Toshiba Laptop - Intel Core 2 Duo, Windows 7, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD $399

DELL:

Dell Inspiron Mini 10.1" Netbook w/ 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD & Windows XP $249

RADIOSHACK:

Acer 15.6" Laptop - AMD Athlon 64 Dual Core, Windows 7, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD $399

Acer Aspire One 11.6" Netbook - Atom, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista $249

WALMART:

eMachines 15.6" Laptop - 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD (eME627) $198

HP G71-329wm 17.3" Laptop Computer $398

HP Laptop - Celeron, 3GB Memory, 250GB HDD (G60-519wm) $298

And here's a good link to a spreadsheet on netbook deals: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvEllvbap6DmdHNWNUlXUldIbURxdVNIZ0VybkRKLXc&hl=en
 
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Regarding the laptop I highlighted below, I have a Dell XPS1210 that's 3yrs old with a dedicated graphics cards(forget how much memory). It's Intel Dual Core also with 2GB RAM. I can play COD4 and Left4D 1 on it and low settings. This just gives you an idea of what you can play nowadays. I'm sure the dedicated graphics card makes a huge difference, but I love the laptop. Maybe check Dell refurbished outlet, that's where I got mine back then.


[quote name='Trusty Mutsi']Our desktop PC died recently, and my wife has been thinking about a netbook or laptop. We have a little 20 month old boy, and she needs to be with him, but also would like to get a little freelance work done while he's playing. He's too young to leave in a room by himself.

She only really needs to use a word processor program (like word or open office), get on the web, and have something to organize her music with. I wouldn't MIND having something that played games, but it could be older games, like freespace, or Fallout 1 or 2.

We have a budget of $400, but would rather spend more like $200. Are there any good netbooks or laptops that would work for us?

I'm thinking of going out on black friday, but REALLY dread it and don't want to see people at their worst. I'm wondering if there will be any deals online. OR if there are any non-black friday deals that are comparable.

Thank you for ANY help!

I've been looking on bfads.net, and have seen these:

BEST BUY:

Compaq Netbook - Atom Processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, XP Home $179

Dell Netbook - 10.1" Widescreen LCD, 1GB Memory, 160GB HD $379

Sony 15" Laptop w/ Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 $399
Toshiba Laptop - Intel Core 2 Duo, Windows 7, 3GB RAM, 250GB HDD $399

DELL:

Dell Inspiron Mini 10.1" Netbook w/ 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD & Windows XP $249

RADIOSHACK:

Acer 15.6" Laptop - AMD Athlon 64 Dual Core, Windows 7, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD $399

Acer Aspire One 11.6" Netbook - Atom, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, Vista $249

WALMART:

eMachines 15.6" Laptop - 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD (eME627) $198

HP G71-329wm 17.3" Laptop Computer $398

HP Laptop - Celeron, 3GB Memory, 250GB HDD (G60-519wm) $298

And here's a good link to a spreadsheet on netbook deals: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AvEllvbap6DmdHNWNUlXUldIbURxdVNIZ0VybkRKLXc&hl=en[/QUOTE]
 
[quote name='kube00']Acer Aspire netbook $229
Specs

  • Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz
  • 1GB DDR2 Memory
  • 160 GB 5400RPM Serial ATA Hard Drive
  • Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  • 10.1" WSVGA CrystalBrite LED Display (1024x600)
  • 802.11 b/g Wireless Network
  • Built In Webcam
  • Windows XP Home
  • 3-Cell Battery (3+ Hours)
  • Weight: 2.4 lbs

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1258830...1,p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER&bbn=1232596011&sort=price[/QUOTE]

I actually got this one at Target for $200 :)

A few questions now:

Which anitivirus/security programs should I get?

If anything DOES hapen to it (no CD/DVD drive scares me), how can I install windows xp on it again?

Anything else you recommend I get for it?

Thanks!
 
[quote name='kube00']hmm you could use an external usb CD/DVD drive

Anti Virus I'd go with Avast or Antivar[/QUOTE]


Agree. You should buy an external USB DVD drive. You can probably get it for about $80.

Kube, what about AVG antivirus? I haven't used any other within the last few years so I'm wondering if things have changed.
 
[quote name='kube00']I'd stay away from emachines, gateways, and hp/compaq[/QUOTE]

You forgot Dell.
 
Thanks guys! I'll try out Avast, after McAffee runs out and I go through the strenuous process of trying to remove ALL of it from my netbook (I hear it's not easy).
 
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