Is there such thing as a 'season' for laptops?

March 13, 2009 9:59 AM

Is there any specific time during the year that laptops or computers seem to be cheaper. I have heard of this occurring when it comes to car prices in the winter (I don't know if even this is true though), and wondered if it applied to computers too. I will be looking to buy a new laptop in the few months post Windows 7 launch, but would wait for a cheaper season.
posted by tumples to computers & internet (12 comments total)

Black Friday, and immediately after Macworld.
posted by box at 10:12 AM on March 13

They're always cheaper a day after you buy one.

It's been a while since I followed closely, but if you are interested in Dell, they used to mark their computers down at the ends of their quarters (Jan, Apr, July, Oct) to look good for investors. They also run weekly specials on their Home and Small Business sites; check both sides because prices can vary from one to the next. The specials used to change every Thursday; don't know if that's the day they still do it.

I'd also keep an eye on the big two bargain sites (Fatwallet and Slickdeals) for computer deals. I don't recall anything earth-shattering lately, but good deals come up pretty frequently.
posted by MegoSteve at 10:19 AM on March 13

I wouldn't be surprised by a dip in prices when the stimulus checks/tax rebates start coming out this year.
posted by Benjy at 10:21 AM on March 13

Oops, forgot to mention (first post and all) that I'm British and live in England, so any answers specific to there too would be great. Cheers guys :)
posted by tumples at 10:37 AM on March 13

The best time to buy computers is pretty much always now, because prices are always cheaper than they've ever been. Technology keeps improving, driving up performance and driving down cost. Basically buy whenever it's convenient for you financially, because there will always be a better deal next week/month. Shop around for whatever seems to be the best bet when you're ready to buy and go with it.
posted by valkyryn at 11:07 AM on March 13 [2 favorites]

I've noticed that on newegg and some other sites, a price will drop slightly on the weekends.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:15 AM on March 13

If you are a student, it goes without saying that they are much cheaper around the time schools open. I don't know how that works in UK but asking someone who's a student at a college to pick one up for you from their computer store might also work.
posted by the_dude at 11:35 AM on March 13

I've always heard august (before school) and may for dell. I'll throw GotApex onto the bargain hunting site list too.
posted by syntheticfaith at 11:42 AM on March 13

I've been watching laptop deals for about the last year or so and other than blackfriday/xmas season deals they seem pretty static. Other things like the global ram market can affect prices though. I'll add xpbargains.com out as another deal listing site.

As an ASIDE I will bring up that it is my understanding that W7 is rumored to be coming out sometime in 2010, with some saying a 2009 xmas launch - not in a few months as you mentioned.
posted by Big_B at 3:24 PM on March 13

Here's some UK sites:
Hot uk deals usually has some computer bargains posted.
Dmx dimension lists Dell offers.
MCS have refurbished Dells, often with 3yr dell onsite warranty (i've bought from them before and have had great service)
For time of year, Dell often have bank holiday weekend offers.
posted by JonB at 4:11 AM on March 14

The best time to buy computers is pretty much always now, because prices are always cheaper than they've ever been. Technology keeps improving, driving up performance and driving down cost. Basically buy whenever it's convenient for you financially, because there will always be a better deal next week/month.

That's an interesting take; I've always interpreted those facts as evidence that the best time to buy is always in the future. I mean, obviously at some point you have to bite the bullet, but I'm under no pretense that it's not a bullet I'm biting ;)
posted by pwnguin at 2:12 PM on March 14

the best time to buy is always in the future

The formula I've heard, and which seems to hold true, is that you should be able to recoup your computer's cost in newly created value -- using the computer to create some kind of valued product -- within six months.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:47 PM on March 14