Input needed: I'm buying a laptop tonight

After a series of unfortunate events, I am buying a new laptop. And, because we're leaving on vacation tomorrow and I need to have it in hand as soon as we arrive home, I'm buying it tonight.

I knew this purchase was inevitable as the problems with my laptop have continued to increase and the 3-year warranty is almost expired. The plan was to buy one before the end of the year and I have had the money set aside for it for a number of months.

Being the frugal person I am, though, I held out for as long as possible but the time has come to hold out no longer since my laptop is completely shot. (I'll spare you the extensive run-down of problems it's experiencing, the biggest of which is that you cannot get on the internet and it randomly freezes up after around 2-3 minutes of use.)

So, Jesse and I will be ordering a new laptop online tonight and I thought I'd ask all of you bargain-shoppers here for some input on how I could snag the best deal. I'm really great at scoring grocery deals, but electronics are a bit out of my league.

I'll be getting a Dell (sorry, Mac people, it's impossible to change my mind so don't even try!) and I need something that can withstand lots of use and abuse and last me for at least a few years.

Where should I look? What should I get? And how can I score the best deal? Any and all feedback is welcome and appreciated.

Comments

[Michelle]

I had a dell notebook for years until the motherboard went out! The motherboard costs as much as a new computer...ouch! We ended up buying a gateway notebook way which is wonderful! We bought it Presidents day weekend and got a hefty rebate. If you really want to save look for rebates, use ebates of course and search online for coupon codes to cut your cost.

[dymphna zaydon]

Hi Crystal, I know you want to buy online but we always get great deals with "open-box" items. You just go to any electronics store (e.g. Best Buy) and you ask them if they have any open-box computers.

Thank you for your wonderful website. I have not fully implemented the suggestions but I'll get there. I go to your website every day and yesterday I wasn't able to because I was babysitting a friend of mine's daughter and I had to keep her and my two daughters busy and safe. I missed out on your $5.97 deal, which I would have definitely done.

Good luck and God bless... Regards, dymphna, mother to Sophia (almost 4) and Sienna 20 mo

[Melissa]

I use multiple resources when I am making a purchase like this, such as buy.com & overstock.com. Also - Don't forget to check out Dell's website directly... They should have a "Clearance Center" which has discontinued products, returns, refurbs... People often shy away from these, but they generally still come with a full warranty, they are the equivalent of new, and you get more bang for your buck. Also, don't forget to check into corporate discounts... does your husband have any? I know that even with my part time home based business (Avon) I get discounts on everything under the sun, including Dell PC's... Hope this helps & Good luck!

[Jennifer]

I bought my first laptop ever this year and the best deal I found was at Staples. I got a Compaq for around $450 (with some rebates) and also got a free HP printer with it. It's not the fanciest printer, but it prints coupons just fine and that's mostly what I use it for! The people at my Staples were very helpful, and I have been very pleased with the computer so far. I know this is not the brand you said you wanted, but I mentioned it because it was the best price I found anywhere at the time, and the service was great. One of my rebates would not go through, so the manager gave me the cash in the store. Hope you find a great deal!

[Elizabeth]

I would look at slickdeals.net if you want to buy online. If you want a dell you can go to their website and use the small bus. discount since you run a home-based bus.

[Jenn]

Ahhh, we are in the same boat! I bought a new Dell - Inspiron 1525 yesterday. Dell is currently running a sale - buy one Dell, get one 1/2 off. Another great way to get a discount with Dell is to go through an academic institution. If you (or a close family member who owes you a favor) are enrolled in an academic institution (or teach for one), you can get 12% off of your order, plus free shipping. That's what we did and get a great deal!!

Good luck!

[Liz]

Our household has both Dell and Gateway notebooks. Four years later - my Dell has just about died and the Gateway is still going strong. I guess it depends if your decision is more geared towards durability or price.

[Eden C.]

WHAT? You don't like macs? ;) Just kidding...I just happen to love them, but that's fine with me!

My brother bought one on ebay for pretty cheap, however you really have to watch out what for frauds. He almost got suckered into getting one from someone who was just frauding.

Craig's list is a great one too.

[Robin]

Oh Crystal, you're missing out by not considering a MAC. All the schools are on MAC.

You take it out of the box, plug it in and it works. No set up, no viruses, few problems. And any Apple Store can help you with whatever...free!!

I switched a few years' back and would NEVER go back to PC.

Good luck with whatever you choose, though.

Robin

[Rose]

I just purchased a new Dell about a month ago and I searched flamingoworld.com and also couponcabin.com and one other - can't remember...and found the best $$/off coupons I could find (I used a $350 off any Dell Inspiron of $1000 or more) for Dell.com, then of course, I ordered after going through ebates.com to get a small rebate back too.

[New England Girl]

We got our desktop on the dell.com site from the Dell Outlet section of the Small Business site. We got a great deal on a refurbished computer that had a few extra bells and whistles that we didn't really need but were happy to have, and it's done very well for us. Definitely look there. And I know you're looking to buy tonight, but if you had the time, it's worth browsing it for a few days until you see exactly the computer you're looking for, since new computers show up on there all the time.

[Dana]

We've had several Dell computers (desk top and lap top) and have been very happy with them. But there has been a problem with the Dell laptops overheating after awhile. This has happened to my almost 3 year old Dell and for now we got a laptop fan it sits on to keep it cooled. My husband owns a technology company and after researching the problem, found that overheating does happen frequently to laptops after so much use but especially to Dell laptops. He bought a HP laptop last year that got better reviews but I believe they are slightly higher in price. We've found great deals ordering directly from Dell and HP. Good luck!

[Alisha]

Good Luck with your hunt. I am no good at finding electronic deals either...HOWEVER, I am a MAC owner and LOVER! My first MAC was purchased 10 years ago and it was excellent. We upgraded at the beginning of this year to a newer one but I still use the older one too. I don't plan on having to upgrade for a really long time, maybe even another 10 years on this one.

I have never, ever, ever had a problem with my MAC computers. They are sleek and beautiful and do an abundant amount of things that PC's cannot.

Good luck and I can't wait to hear about what you find.

[Shayleen]

This may not work since you have to buy a laptop tonight, but www.slickdeals.net has lots of great deals on Dell's. It might be a site that you need to track for a bit to get the best deal though. Good luck!

[Renee]

My husband is a techbargains.com junkie. It is our homepage! LOL Anyway, check their b/c they have the best deals on the web.

[TheAngelForever]

I highly recommend buying a Dell notebook from their online outlet store. My husband purchased mine (an Inspiron)there and we received an amazing deal. Most of the items there are computers that were canceled and they have to sell them cheap. A few may be refurbished, but they also indicate that and will guarantee it 100%. Good luck and happy hunting.

[deano]

Maybe you've heard, but not everybody likes (read: lots of people hate) Windows Vista. There's a bit of a backlash at Vista going around. If you can't buy one that can downgrade on purchase to WinXP, try to find one that is still compatible with XP and find a friend to help you reload it with XP.

To run XP, you'll need half the memory which will save you a decent amount of money. Trust me, the memory usage headache is just the beginning...

If you have to get it with Vista, 1GB of RAM is MINIMUM to just get started, go for like 2gb for best results.

And, just for me, try looking to HP. Broaden your horizons. You'll get better support too. And you won't end up with a "computer from Dell"... ;-)

[Jennifer]

If you or anyone you know has a AAA membership, you can order through AAA and get a 6% discount on Dells on top of the lowest advertised price you can find. I did this for my own laptop for Mother's Day last year and then again for my father-in-law late last year. Just go to the AAA website to get the number to call, tell them the advertised and they'll tell you your new price after discount. It was easy!

[Marli]

We've always gotten Dell products. However, our dell laptop has been the biggest pain. Although their customer service has always been exceptional. The first laptop we bought had problem after problem, they sent out replacement parts, technicians etc to fix the problem but nothing ever helped. So they completely replaced our laptop..with a new version b/c ours didn't exist anymore (even loaded with new software! This is a blessing!) Since then we've had a few problems and they've always sent us replacement parts (AC adapter, helped us fix our DVD drive etc). So be warned, you may experience troubles but as long as it's under warranty they are great about getting it fixed. I'd rather not deal with the trouble in the first place though. Our PC on the other hand has never had ANY problems! And on another note: if I ever get a new printer, it won't be a Dell, I'm tired of having to order my ink (yes I know Staples has it but it is much more expensive!)

JMHO!

[Janell]

Check out the inventory Dell has on their outlet page. Our last 3 laptops we have bought were refurbished Dells. They have the standard 1 year warranty included (you can also upgrade the warranty) and they last just as long as the ones you buy brand new. You just get a lot more computer for your money when you buy refurbished! http://outlet.us.dell.com/ARBOnlineSales/topics/global.aspx/arb/online/en/InventorySearch?c=us&cs=22&l=en&lob=INSP&MODEL_DESC=Inspiron%201420&s=dfh

[gina]

I got mine at Staples store last year with a mail in rebate. Don't know where you are located, but SC & GA are tax free days this weekend for Back to School shopping. A computer would certainly fall into that category! Good luck.

Thanks for all your great advice...am newbie to living super frugally, but am loving it!!

[Becky]

Crystal,
If there is any way you can wait until tomorrow - it is tax free weekend this weekend and you would save a good bit of money. Computers count and I'm pretty sure Dell lets you do it online.

[Arlecchina]

Hi, Crystal, sorry to hear about your laptop! I used to work for an IT consulting company and we always used Dell laptops. There are a few retail sites I can recommend that have good deals on electronics and are completely aboveboard. You might take a look at MWave.com, Newegg.com, and TigerDirect.com. Best of luck!

[Trina]

I just forwarded an email to you that I get from Dell with their current sale. Check your inbox.

[Amy]

Crystal, my Dad and I both have Dell B130 laptops. You can customize them for exactly what you need. His only has Microsoft Works while I had Microsoft Office put on mine since I needed it for school and now for teaching. He's had his for three or four years now and I've had mine for almost two years. I would recommend them.

[rachel]

Isn't the MO tax free weekend this weekend? I would wait to purchase a laptop until that takes effect.

[momof5]

I second dymphna zaydon's comments about the clearance center. I am really pleased with my outlet Inspiron from Dell. I ended up with a lot more stuff for less money and the warranty is the same as on the "new" ones. I figured if it was sent back for a problem, they went through the whole thing to fix it, so it should be fine. And it has been. Good luck with your decision! And thanks for the time you spend keeping your site! I love it!!! :)

[Iva]

If I were you and didn't have a tech savvy hubby (which I do), I would go to C/Net shopper to compare Dell Notebook computers.

http://shopper.cnet.com/?tag=hd_ts

Good luck!

[Kia]

Don't know if this is helpful but we're in that market as well and have been looking into buying from www.powernotebooks.com as they have been highly rec'd by Christian Computing Magazine. (www.ccmag.com).

[Barbara]

My best suggestion is to be sure to get a laptop with a sufficient amount of memory because in the long run thats going to be your biggest issue. Be sure to look for some codes.

[SophiaOnFire]

First, consider getting something refurbished with a guarantee - much cheaper!

To find the best deals online and in-store at this moment, I highly recommend combing the posts at these sites:

Slickdeals Homepage: http://www.slickdeals.net/

SlickDeals Forums: http://forums.slickdeals.net/forumdisplay.php?f=9&sduid=0

DealNews Laptop Page: http://dealnews.com/categories/Computer/PC-Computers/PC-Laptop/49.html?exp=N

Maybe even before you look at the deals, definitely look at the reviews:

CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/?tag=promo.lt)

Consumer Reports (if you have a subscription)

I personally highly recommend Lenovo (IBM) brand laptops. They tend to be really lightweight, tough, and have the best tech support I've experienced so far. (http://stores.channeladvisor.com/LenovoOutlet)

Good luck!

[Kate]

Get a Dell 1525 w/Core 2 Duo for $600 at Bestbuy. Most stores will have the bacl one in. I got one there a month ago and I love it. My husband is a network administator, so anything that he says is good (that he'll let me buy ;-)) is good.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8880874&st=dell+1525&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1210982227895

[Jennifer]

I purchased a Dell this past Christmas thru Dell online. I have a refurbished unit that came with a warranty. They have a whole page on their website devoted to scratch and dent and refurbished units. I paid a fraction of the cost of a new unit and didn't have to compromise with the accessories, it is fully loaded.

Another site that helps me in searching for great prices on electronics is Buy.com.

Good luck.

[Julie Gildea]

My husband just purchased a new dell computer a couple of weeks ago online. Here are some tips from him.
Where should I look:
My husband suggests googling dell special offers and pick out 2 or 3 of the codes. Dell allows you to stack codes so you can use 2 or 3 on the same computer. If you don't need the absolute latest model there are alot available on ebay so you can compare prices that way. He suggests buying new, not refurbished

What should I get:
If you are not a gamer, you only need a computer that surfs the net and does word processing etc. Like I mentioned if you don't need all the bells and whistles there is alot available. IBN lenobo was one my husband was looking at

How can I score the best deal:
Using the codes. My husband got free shipping, plus $150 off, plus a printer for $30. The codes change everyday so good luck!

[Dona]

We bought two at the same time about 6 months ago from dell directly. My husband delt with them over the phone, and he haggled haggled haggled. We ended up shaving about 1200 off the price. We got two laptops for around 1000.00--my husband is big time computer geek--he is a database manager for the US gov. works specifically on stuff for the white house--so he knows a lot about computers and he got ours with all the stuff we needed, would use and none of the extra junk they try to throw at you. He also souped them up with memory and hardrive space. I know he was on the phone a good 3 hours but the money we saved was worth the time. His brother listened to the entire conversation with his mouth hanging open at the deals my husband scored. So know your stuff and what you are willing to spend and call and haggle....that is the best advice I can give you. Good luck!

[Patrick]

You're shopping at a good time. This is back to school season and there are deals to be had. I would shop solely on the way that you intend to use the computer. If you need to lug it around a lot, go as light as you can. If you think it's going to take abuse, go as cheap as you can. Pretty much any computer you buy these days will have the horsepower to do your day-to-day things. I don't think you're looking at hardcore gaming or video processing.

Someone else mentioned slickdeals.net... I kind of prefer fatwallet.com, just because I've been there longer.

Oh, and Robin and Alisha, it's a "Mac" not a "MAC." "MAC" is something you put on your face. :D

[Beth H]

My hubby is a computer tech and we just scored a SUPER DEAL on a wonderful laptop last night at Office Max. It's not a Dell (which we also usually buy) but an HP and my educated and oh so frugal hubby says it's a steal of a deal for the quality of the laptop. It's the HP Pavillion with a 17 inch screen for $679.00!!!! They also have the smaller screen for $649.00 (both are originally in the $800's but there is an instant $200 rebate)Lots of memory and a great PC.
It's worth a look...or a trip to Office max for sure.

[Sherry]

I agree with the previous poster. I have ALWAYS used CNet. You can input your zipcode and it will find local deals (as well as online, if you were to have enough time to do that).

I think they give great advice, both Editor as well as User reviews. Used them for digital cameras, laptops, desktops and printers.

I found a printer for work that was $300 cheaper than the other we were previously looking at with more add-ons and it is working great.

I'm a big fan of CNet.com

[Colleen]

I have to put in a vote for HP laptops. I've banged mine around for the last two years and haven't seen so much as a hiccup -- I suspect I'll have it another two. They're easy to find, and there are lots of great deals on them at the big box stores like Circuit City, Best Buy, Office Depot, etc.

[Melanie @ NotebookLearning]

I don't have a lot of advice, but this is a great time to buy computers, since every major retailer is having back to school sales.

[Mandi]

I know you said you're set on a Dell, but I would strongly urge you to reconsider. As a WAHM, I put a lot of hours on my computers before replacing them, and while I LOVE my 8yo Dell desktop, their laptops are not up to the same standards.

I just replaced my last Dell with an HP Pavilion on the recommendation of a couple of good friends who are very experienced computer geeks, and I LOVE it. The HD BrightView screen is AMAZING!

My best advice is to get the biggest hard drive you can afford but the cheapest amount of RAM because it's much cheaper to upgrade that yourself yourself.

[momoftwoboys]

Have you checked costco.com? They usually have Dell deals or coupons going. Especially with back-to-college now, they probably have laptop deals too.

[Dana~]

This is perfect timing as I'm also looking to buy a new laptop - and would love to find THE*BEST*DEAL=) I don't have the time crunch you do - but it's tax-free weekend here - which has me motivated! =) Please keep sharing all the great ideas!

[Jon]

After watching Dell's quality and customer service go steadily downhill, I bought a Mac about 3 years ago. Having been on both sides of that fence, my recommendation is to buy an HP laptop. Dell brought their customer service back over from India, but there are still plenty of "quirks" we run into every day with them at work. Our HP servers have yet to let us down and we're counting the days til the contract on buying workstations from Dell ends.

The best thing I can say if you're dead set on buying Dell is that at least they fixed the battery bursting into flames problem.

keep in mind also, that in most cases, you can't buy an OEM computer with Windows XP anymore unless you want to pay a downgrade upcharge. Vista has been through it's requisite year of patching and updating so give it some serious thought before paying the extra money to go back a step in your operating system.

[shorty]

I didn't read the comments but thought I would pass along where my hubs gets all his great deals for electronics. newegg.com

good luck
shorty

[Rachael]

I always search the hot deals forum at http://forums.anandtech.com/

I've gotten great electronics deals from there.

[Dearest jessica]

I just heard that August 1st is a tax free day on laptops..not sure if its true, but it's worth cheching into and waiting until Friday.
Let us know the deal you find...I am in the market for one too!

[Melinda]

I just wanted to remind you that Aug 1-3 is tax free weekend at least in KC. I think it's state wide, but I don't know for certain. Anyway. You can a little by waiting.

Hugs,
Melinda

[Mandi]

My husband is in the IT field and often helps friends and family members with their computer purchases.
He ALWAYS goes to the Dell refurb or outlet computers. Apparently they aren't always returns. Alot of the times they are just cancelled orders and since they allow you to customize they then can't sell it on their main page.
Hope that helps. Good luck.

[Sheri]

I bought 2 new Dells at Staples. We got a great deal on both of them. I will never shop anywhere else for a laptop. The service is great and so are the prices. When you buy one, they offer 3 additional computer items at 20% of the price. That included our computers and the protection plan!

My previous computer totally crashed and I received good service. They couldn't fix it so I received a gift card for my next one. We used that to purchase 1 of the Dells.

So my recommendation is go to Staples!