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In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother

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jqp

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In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« on: 6 Dec 2006, 01:33 am »
She has a refurbished Dell desktop. My stepfather wants us to get her a laptop so she can stay in the TV room with him...

I saw that there was a Walmart laptop a few weeks ago for 400. Anyone know about that?

Any other deals out there?

Not for gaming, doesn't have to be a racehorse at this price...
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F-100

Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #1 on: 6 Dec 2006, 02:09 am »
How about this one posted on Techbargains.com couple days ago?

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=series_detail&category=notebooks&series_name=V3000Z_series&aoid=35252
HP V3000Z 14in Notebook $399, Dec. 3

Free Vista upgrade
HP Home Store has their V3000Z Notebook 5.3lb Mobile Sempron 3400+ 1.8Ghz, 14in WideScreen, Free 512MB/40GB, CDRW/DVD, 802.11g on sale for $679.99 - $180 discount - $100 rebate = $399, $69 shipping.
Free HP F380 All in 1 printer after rebate.

Select Free 512MB. Faster Turion 64 MK-36 2Ghz +$60

$100 rebate Exp 12/16/06
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jqp

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #2 on: 6 Dec 2006, 02:16 am »
Looks good and will check it out in more detail.

The Toshiba Satellite Celeron 410 is $399 at Best Buy and Circuit City
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Thump553

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #3 on: 6 Dec 2006, 10:32 pm »
The $400 laptops you saw were probably all Black Friday deals-the type where you have to stand in line all/most of Thanksgiving night for.

The laptop at Best Buy that is currently $400 is basically the same one as what they had for $179 or $279 on Black Friday (it now has Win XP Media Center, instead of Win XP Home, is the main difference I'm told).  I read at least one post on a Hot Deals forum that complained about mediocre battery life.  Supposedly even with the display turned all the way down, and all power gobbling options off, the person was reporting one hour to 1 1/2 hours battery life for simple browsing.

How old is your mom?  Will her eyes and fingers be able to handle the smaller display and keyboard?
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jqp

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #4 on: 6 Dec 2006, 10:48 pm »
Sorry the Best But laptop is the 420:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8132914&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat103700050018&id=1158321661486

it has a 15.4" screen and looks like a standard laptop. I'm going to check it out tonight.
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shep

Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #5 on: 6 Dec 2006, 10:51 pm »
that would have been a laptop to die for a few years ago! Keyboard and screen are the most important elements. These new Celerons are very fast.
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jqp

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #6 on: 6 Dec 2006, 10:57 pm »
ouch apparently this is sold out already - was available only in stores even though it is still advertised on their site
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Rob Babcock

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #7 on: 7 Dec 2006, 02:01 am »
What will she use it for?  I bought a cheapish ($600 or so) Gateway laptop earlier this year.  I really like it in a lot of ways, like the 15" Widescreen monitor, but it's a bit underpowered which is annoying.  I only use it for portable music and surfing the net, but McAfee really bogs it down.  Plus startup takes an eternity.  I sort of wish I'd have spent a bit more and got something with a little more horsepower.
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jqp

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Re: In search of the $400 Christmas laptop for my mother
« Reply #8 on: 7 Dec 2006, 02:52 am »
She is not a power user - email, the web, card games, mah-jong, maybe word.

It looks like there are no $400 laptops left. The sales after the Thanksgiving sales have led to the sold out items in all the electronics stores. We may have to get her the $600 Dell, which is probably worth $600.
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