What is the best inexpensive Laptop?

[Barbara Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbara]

I need to get a new laptop and don't know where to start, so naturally I came here for information and advice.
I want something to use for email and internet when traveling. If would be nice to have a wireless ability and a CD/DVD for digital pictures & movies.
I would like to keep costs low and would consider a reliable refurbished one but am afraid of getting one with problems.
Anyone have suggestions or information for me?
Thanks.
Barbara

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

I just saw a Dell on www.dealcatcher.com for $629. Free shipping, too.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

From what I have seen Some of the good deals on dell are for older units. You could get a faster lap top but not as well put together with a Emachine. Gateway was also running some good deals a few weeks back, MY SIL bought a gateway desktop which came with a 19 in HD LCD screen.

[shopgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shopgirl]

Gateway laptops have some huge problems, according to my daughter who manages the technical support staff for the United States Post Office. She has been doing tech support for many years and would recommend a Dell above any other. I love their website.

I am typing this on a six-year-old Dell laptop with 80211g wireless router and card. That tech stuff doesn't make sense so maybe I am wrong. Anyway, the Dell is going strong and will continue for a few more years, then I will buy one for $469 or the like, from the Dell site.

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

Buy a used IBM, T series, now Lenovo. Check out ebay. Very reliable.

Phil

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Buy a used IBM, T series, now Lenovo. Check out ebay. Very reliable.

Phil

Agree. The best made and longest life laptop made. Also check TigerDirect as they often have deals on the Thinkpad line.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Gateway laptops have some huge problems, according to my daughter who manages the technical support staff for the United States Post Office. She has been doing tech support for many years and would recommend a Dell above any other. I love their website.

Yep this I can say is partly true. At one time Gateway was the best laptop out there. They were well built and top in there class.
Then Dell came out and into the picture, and Gatway feel apart trying to compeat and started making there laptops cheap. Now from what I hear they are trying to get better but it might be to late as many no longer feel that the company can be as good as it was.


BTW I got this email from www.refurbdepot.com


Top 6 Notebook Deals
HP PAVILION DV4307CL
Intel Pentium M 740 1.73GHz, 1024MB RAM, 100GB HD, DVD+R/RW and CD-RW Combo, 15.4" WXGA HD BrightView Display, 802.11b/g wireless, 56K, 10/100, WIN XP COMPAQ PRESARIO V2401CL
AMD Turion™ 64 ML-32 1.8GHz, 512MB DDRAM, 80GB HD, DVD+R/RW Combo, 14.0" WXGA HD BrightView Display, 802.11b/g wireless, 56K, 10/100, WIN XP Pro
Sale Price $699.95 Sale Price $599.95
TOSHIBA M55-S3294
Intel Pentium M 760 2.00GHz, 1024MB DDRAM, 100GB HD, DVD+RW DVD-SuperMulti Drive, 14.0" TruBrite LCD Display, 802.11b/g wireless, 56K, 10/100, WIN XP HP PAVILION DV8233CL
Intel Centrino Core Duo T2300 1.66GHz, 1024MB RAM, 200GB HD, DVD+R/RW Drive, 17.0" WXGA HD BrightView Display, 802.11b/g wireless, 56K, 10/100, WIN XP
Sale Price $879.95 Sale Price $1049.95
SONY VAIO VGN-FJ250W
Intel Pentium M 740 1.73GHz, 1024MB DDRAM, 100GB HD, DVD+RW SuperMulti Drive, 14.1" XBRITE LCD Display, 802.11b/g wireless, 56K, 10/100, WIN XP Pro AVERATEC AV4155-EH1
AMD Turion™ 64 MT-30 1.6 GHz, 512MB DDRAM, 80GB HD, DVD+RW/CD-RW combo drive, 13.3' WXGA TFT, 56K, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11g wireless LAN, WIN XP
Sale Price $899.95 Sale Price $669.95
Top 6 Desktop Deals

[The Conch Man Past Goumba President & BigFrank's Cigar Buddy! Find all posts View Profile Close The Conch Man]

Stay away from Toshiba & Gateway ~~ Sony Viao is the way to go ~~ When I was workin ~~ which was a long time ago ~~ Gateway was good ~~ Like Shop Gurl said ~~ Dell has taken them out of the pic ~~ I would also recommend a Dell ~~ Just depends on whay=t you are lookin for & what you want to do on the laptop ~~ There will always be different opinion's when you ask that question ~~ Try to narrow it down ~~ Ifin its price ~~ Then there is a bunch of cheap laptops out there for you to buy ~~ In the long run ~~ You will be sorry ~~

[hope54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hope54]

Agree. The best made and longest life laptop made. Also check TigerDirect as they often have deals on the Thinkpad line.

We are looking into a Thinkpad laptop. Does TigerDirect have a good reputation?

Hope

[Steamboat Bill Banned Find all posts View Profile Close Steamboat Bill]

I love my HP laptops....

Check out HP Pavilion dv1710us Entertainment Notebook PC

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pa...oductDetail.do

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

We are looking into a Thinkpad laptop. Does TigerDirect have a good reputation?

Hope

They are an authorized outlet for Thinkpad both new and refurb. I haven't heard anything negative about them.

[Barbara Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbara]

I love my HP laptops....

Check out HP Pavilion dv1710us Entertainment Notebook PC

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pa...oductDetail.do

I actually came close to purchasing a HP Pavilion DV2020US widescreen notebook yesterday. It was a display model for $899 ($200 off reg. price) plus if purchased by 9/2 (today) there would be another $200 in rebates.
It was at Office Depot.

[Barbara Member Find all posts View Profile Close Barbara]

After reading posts here, I am leaning towards the thinkpad T series but worry about getting a refurbished laptop with problems.

Did anyone here ever get one?