Cyber Monday?

[Jester]

Does it really exist? I have heard that right after Black Friday, there is "Cyber Monday," wherein a lot of techno stuff goes on stupid sales.

If so, I need it.

And I need your help, people.

My silly little niece Dragon managed to get her laptop stolen. (Don't ask. PLEASE don't ask.) So since she needs one for college, I am going to get her a replacement, either laptop, netbook, notebook, or tablet. Thing is, I am not exactly rolling in the buckage, so I need to find something for $300-400, tops. It can be used, it can be refurbished, it can be pink camo for all I care....but it has to work, and it has to be good for a college student. She is hoping for an iPad, but that simply may not be in the budget.

Anyone have any ideas, thoughts, suggestions, links, pointers, knowledge, etc? I could sure use it.

[BlaqueKatt]

check amazon, newegg, and tiger direct(amazon has been having deals all week)

[Kheldarson]

Best buy does cyber monday as well...

[Mytical]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+I...0928&cp=1&lp=1

Best buy does have some on sale, not sure how many they will have/how long it will be that way.

Here is a selection from Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=...ce=300&x=0&y=0

[Mytical]

I am still scouring the sites Jester, if I see an amazing deal I will pm you it or post it here.

[Jester]

Mytical, are those laptops any good? (I know nothing about this stuff, and my computer tech roomie is gone for the day....)

[Mytical]

For gaming? No. I will admit that they are a bit weak on that end. For homework, browsing the net, etc? I would say they are decent. Not amazing, but decent. Wouldn't try running something like Call of Duty or World of Warcraft on them.

[Jester]

Gaming is not a low priority, it is a non-priority. Because I don't think Dragon is that much of a gamer, and even if she was, I am buying this for her for college because it's a necessity for her for college, not so she can shoot zombies.

So it needs to be able to word process, connect to the net, shit like that and other shit that a college student would need (not want, NEED) from a computer. Gaming is completely unimportant.

[Mytical]

Dell's Cyber Monday Deals start in 10 hours. So can't say what they might offer .. yet. www.dell.com would be a good place to check to see exact start time, because you will want to jump in at the first moment to grab the best deals.

Edit : Then the computers I posted will do all that, and on a decent budget also.

[Sonoma]

Best Buy also has a laptop w/ double the RAM (short-term memory), and a little bigger hard drive (long-term memory) for $399

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dell+-+I...0928&cp=1&lp=7

I had a Dell years ago, and it was a decent machine.

They also have an HP with a little smaller screen, same hard drive & RAM specs, for $369

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/HP+-+Pav...928&cp=1&lp=12

Neither one would be a powerhouse, but for basic schoolwork/web surfing, they'll do the job.

[Jester]

I've been advised by more than one person to steer clear of HPs, as they aren't very good anymore. As for the Dell, well, I would rather not pay 4 bills if I can avoid it. Is it that much better than this? Because, if I can get that for that price, and it is worth a damn, I think I am going to.

Unless anyone has any better suggestions.

[Mytical]

Ok, Ram pretty much determines how many things your computer can do at one time. The more ram, the more programs you can have open at one time. So twice the Ram is a good thing. That is a little basic on how Ram works, but for this the example works. So over all the one with twice the ram and 150GB more space is better, and price wise it would be saving a bit if you bought the Dell I linked you and upgraded to the same specs as the one Moon linked you.

For a college student, either works just fine. Neither are absolutely amazing, but for that you will shell out a lot lot more. The $250 dell is a pretty good basic computer for just doing college work. So is the one Moon linked, though it is a bit better. It really depends on how much total (taxes, shipping, etc) you want to spend.

[Lyse]

http://tech.woot.com/offers/15-6-dual-core-i3-laptop

I've had good experiences with Asus.

[AccountingDrone]

I second the asus.

I use HPs, have for several years - but I also religiously use a cooling pad with them and I am accustomed to their foibles. [and I religiously take them apart and regoop the heatsinks and clear the dust bunnies out before they turn vorpal]
*HPs are noted for overheating even when not overclocked.

That being said, I frequently recommend Ubid.com, they deal in selling off off-lease business stuff, and refurbished. They obviously purchase job lots of used and refurbished stock as well as manufacturers over runs. The only issue I have had in 6 or 7 laptops was one that the number keypad was not working properly on a refurb and they took the return and sent out a replacement properly a couple years back on a dv6700.

[Seraph]

HP laptops aren't *that* bad...just get the nice ones, which unfortunately would be out of your budget there, and like AD says there...cool like crazy.