Inexpensive laptop computer

J

jimmyjazz

2,500+ Posts
My wife is starting a new business and needs a laptop computer. She's a complete neophyte as far a using a computer goes, so I can't imagine she'll ever use it for anything but internet & email, MS Word, maybe MS Excel, and Quicken.

All of our computers at the house are Windows-based, so I'd probably prefer to stick with that platform, particularly since we don't want to spend much money.

CostCo has a Dell laptop for $900 (Intel Core 2 Duo 2 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 320 GB HD, 14.1" widescreen monitor, Vista Home Premium). I don't know if that's a good computer or not -- my kids have a Dell and it seems decent, and I had a Dell laptop that lasted for 5 years.

Is there anything out there that doesn't suck, costs less, yet would still be adequate for her needs? Assume I know nothing (which is pretty close to the truth). I bought a very cheap Compaq about 15 months ago, and it's already lost its wifi functionality, so I'm disinclined to go that route unless I can be convinced I just happened to get a lemon.
 
i don't know much about non-Mac products these days, but from past experience, stay away from compaq/hp. before i moved to Mac, i ran through 3 hp laptops in about 2 yrs. they use bad parts in important places.
 
Jimmy I have a Dell XPS 1530 and so far I really like it, however I've only had it around 2 months. Depending on your wife's bookkeeping needs, I would strongly suggest QuickBooks for her accounting. I use QuickBooks Pro for my business and love it. I think they offer diffrent versions to fit a smaller business's needs.
 
Our office uses and online version of QB and it's great. Our bookkeeper can log in and make changes without any backups or hassle. It's a monthly fee, but imho, it's worth it.
 
Jimmy,
Compaq is usually reliable. You may have a lemon. The Dell's have a far better record for quality and is what I usually recommend to home users and home businesses. The Dell you described is extremely powerful and may be more computer than you need. However that is a great price on a quality pc with Dell and Costco standing behind it. You could do a LOT worse than that.
 
You can get a pretty good notebook these days for 700.
You can get a really pretty good notebook these days for 900.
You can get a really pretty darn good notebook these days for 1100.
Your wife doesn't need a notebook >$1100.
 
Almost every Sunday, there are some sub 500$ laptops available.

I have two Toshibas that I picked up this way. They have worked welll. The oldest is almost 6 years old.

Still running all the basics you described.
 
Why don't you visit the Dell.com site and click on small/medium business sales and look at the Vostro line of laptops. You and your wife can build her a great system that will fit her needs for well less than $900. 4gigs of Ram and a 320 gb hard drive is nice, but probably not necessary for what you described. Plus when you order a business class model, they don't put all those annoying software specials or ads that are on the consumer models. Take a good look at the Vostro 1510 or similar and I know your wife will be happy, and you can save some money.

Good luck.
 
I have been looking as well, Here is what I found to be the best at a decent price. These are from the Dell Outlet store, are pre set up, and carry full factory warranty....

Dell Outlet

You can scroll down on the selections for Vostro or other laptops...

Hope you have good luck...
 
Similar website from Lenovo. It is updated at odd times. Read the details on redistributed versus refurbished. I have ordered several redistributed systems for family members with no issues other than 2-3 week delivery. Also you can usually still get Windows XP
Forgot add - for what you described you do not need to spend a lot. Expensive graphics adapters are nice but not for what you described. Don't get hung up on memory and disk - these are cheap upgrades. I would make sure it has a DVD writer though.
The Link
 
How does 40% off a new Dell Sound?
The Link
gotapex.com has Dell Coupons and this one for 40% off a lattitude is the largest discount I have ever seen. but expires on September 3rd.
 
I’ve been a satisfied Toshiba customer for about 2 years. I have 3 machines:

Satellite A305-S6839
Core 2 Duo T8100 @2.1 GH
3GB RAM, 320 GB HDD
OS - Windows Vista Premium (32bit)
Cost - $849 @ Army Air Force Exchange - May 08

Satellite A305D-S6831
MD Turion 64 X 2 Dual Core TL-64 Gold
3 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD
OS – Windows Vista Premium
Cost - $799 @ amazon.com – July 08

Satellite M55-S3314
Can’t remember Proc type but 1.7 GH
1 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD
OS – Linux (Fedora 8)
Cost – 1,095 @ Army Air Force Exchange – May 06 (Tikrit, IZ)
I keep this one to play around with Linux and b/c I purchased it while deployed and it handled all the rugged/dusty conditions.

At work I have an old Dell D600, D90 and a new Dell Precision 4300. It’s not fair to compare these with my Toshibas due to all the military bundled crap on them. But the old Toshiba has been a solid reliable machine that just keeps going after way too much abuse. My D600 takes a crap if I type too fast.
 
My sister handed off her 2000 Toshiba Satellite to me in about 2004. It lasted about 3 more years until the f'ers at London Heathrow made me check either my $200 computer or my $1,500 worth of camera equipment. I checked a majorly padded laptop and it lasted about 3 more days.

But it was pretty darned dependable.

I got a Lenovo R60e before coming down to Buenos Aires, because I heard that Lenovo's are built a little sturdier than most and I knew that I would be lugging it around in my backpack some.

It's worked well. I eventually upgraded the memory (from 1G to 2G). I also bought an external drive (250G) because the 60G that came with it filled up fast.

Acer is somewhat common down here. People from Bolivia, Germany (?), and other countries have Acer laptops. I think that they don't have name recognition in the States, so people don't buy them, but I've seen them down here. I think they are an international brand.

That's all I know. My brother is my tech and I teach English at a place that makes software/websites and has "Linux Evangelists". If I wanted to, they would switch everything I own over to Linux based open-source software tomorrow, but I'm not interested in learning a whole new system right now.

And that's all I know about that.
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Compaq has some $500 systems at Circuity City and Fry's with some mobile chips (Turion RM70) which blew me away that it was that cheap.

I just bought a Toshiba M305D at Circuit City last week for $700 after rebate. But the Compaq was there for $500.
 
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