Good low end laptop?

[Lmandrake]

A friend has asked me to help with buying a laptop. It only needs to be useful for basic tasks and watching DVDs and needs to be cheap.

I found a Dell Celeron lappy at Dell for about $650 after a rebate and coupons, but can't find anything else even close to that cheap.

Can anybody offer any tips or links to vendors?

Thanks

[wvjohn]

the dell is decent for the money - check gotapex daily for the latest special

once in a while there is an equivalent HP machine avail through specials at staples or omax

always check the dell reburb listings too - some times there is good stuff there cheaper and it carries the same warranty usually

I have two hp's - and this is one area I wouldn't stray to far from the dell,hp,ibm brandnames

[FlyingPenguin]

Dell sells refurbished laptops for a good price and they come with a one year warranty. The cheapest one you can buy is the Inspiron 1100. Go here: http://www.dell.com/html/us/outlet/redi ... p_icon.htm

Select Notebooks, Choose Inspiron, then View Inventory on the 1100. Click the Price column header and it'll sort from lowest to highest price. I see a couple under $700 off the bat.

Keep in mind that the inventory is updated every 10 minutes or so, so if you don't see a good deal try later. You can only keep an item in your shopping cart for 15 minutes though so when you spot a good deal grab it.

The 1100 is nice for a budget lappy, and the battery lasts an incredible 4 hours. I just bought one and I'm very happy with it. Plus Dell doesn't load it down with a ton of background apps unlike Toshiba and Compaq.

Definately don't settle for anything less than 256Mb though, and keep an eye out for one with a 5400rpm drive - makes a big difference in performance.

Also make sure to click on the system identifier and read the system details. Most of these lappies come with extras - mine came with a wireless NIC. Since many were returns they get sold with whatever they came back with.

Sometimes you get some nice bonuses like a laptop bag and a mouse, wifi nic, etc.

I don't know if they have free shipping on refurbs this week, but if not wait until they do (they change the sale every week and usually offer free shipping at least one week out of the month).

[BillyGoat]

as per fearfoxs nitemare id be wary of the hp's

[FlyingPenguin]

I don't like HP lappies at all. Compaq used to make some decent lappies if you bought the right model, but now that their part of HP dunno.

Toshiba's are nice.