How to find a cheap laptop on black friday? (Columbus Ohio)
November 26, 2015 9:36 AM Subscribe
I am willing to buy online or in a brick and mortar store, I just want a low to mid end laptop for as cheap as possible (Under $300?) I wanna watch netflix and check my e-mails on it. How do I go about finding a very good deal laptop on black friday? I'm in Columbus Ohio. Thanks
For brick and mortar you could try going to Microcenter on Bethel Rd. on Friday to see what sort of deals they have. They already have a flyer out with what you can expect.
If you are willing to order online Dell Outlet has some good deals if you poke around.
If you just want to watch Netflix and check email instead of a standard laptop you could also consider a Chromebook. Dell Outlet has their Chromebook 11 for less than $300.
Also, Kindle Fire tablets can handle Netflix and let you check your email as well.
posted by dgeiser13 at 10:08 AM on November 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
If you are willing to order online Dell Outlet has some good deals if you poke around.
If you just want to watch Netflix and check email instead of a standard laptop you could also consider a Chromebook. Dell Outlet has their Chromebook 11 for less than $300.
Also, Kindle Fire tablets can handle Netflix and let you check your email as well.
posted by dgeiser13 at 10:08 AM on November 26, 2015 [3 favorites]
Came to suggest Microcenter on Bethel.
posted by ChuraChura at 10:19 AM on November 26, 2015
posted by ChuraChura at 10:19 AM on November 26, 2015
Response by poster: I specifically want a laptop not a tablet. I already have a tablet. Microcenter flyer doesn't seem to have any exceptional deals. Just $50 off retail.
posted by crawltopslow at 10:41 AM on November 26, 2015
posted by crawltopslow at 10:41 AM on November 26, 2015
Lenovo's outlet often has good deals.
posted by idb at 12:01 PM on November 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by idb at 12:01 PM on November 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Micro Center might not have the best deals, but their people are (were? It's been a few years since I've been there) super knowledgeable, so even if they don't have what you're looking for, they will probably point you in the right direction.
My other suggestion would be Sam's Club. The one on Hilliard-Rome Road always has cheap electronics, and Walmart always does big Black Friday stuff. A membership is only like $35, and their meat is good, so you'll make it back.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:14 PM on November 26, 2015
My other suggestion would be Sam's Club. The one on Hilliard-Rome Road always has cheap electronics, and Walmart always does big Black Friday stuff. A membership is only like $35, and their meat is good, so you'll make it back.
posted by kevinbelt at 1:14 PM on November 26, 2015
Honestly? You're not going to find a great laptop at this price. If you could, everyone would have one. Most of the low end models are cloud/chromebooks (compromising functionality), large/heavy (thus defeating the purpose of a laptop), have crippled processors and low quality screens (which, if you're going to spend more than an hour at a time looking at it, makes a huge difference in user comfort).
The only model remotely near your price point that has the specs you need (and that I know of) is the Acer Aspire E5. $420 currently on sale, has an i5 Broadwell (which means good multitasking and 5+ hours of battery), a dedicated low end video card and 8gbs of ram (necessary smooth steaming in HD). It also has an 1920x1080 screen which is easier on the eyes. This is 100% your best bet to get a decent machine IMO.
If you're scanning the ads in your area, try to look for a latop with:
- an i3 or i5 Broadwell (5000 series)
- Intel 5000 series graphics or a low end Nvidia card (920M - 940M)
- a matte screen and/or a 1600x900/1920x800 screen (your eyes will thank you)
- 8gbs of ram, or a ram slot (laptop ram is cheap, so if you find one with the above specs and low ram, it's worth it to upgrade later)
Wirecutter also has a budget latop guide that may give you some helpful hints.
posted by givennamesurname at 1:58 PM on November 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
The only model remotely near your price point that has the specs you need (and that I know of) is the Acer Aspire E5. $420 currently on sale, has an i5 Broadwell (which means good multitasking and 5+ hours of battery), a dedicated low end video card and 8gbs of ram (necessary smooth steaming in HD). It also has an 1920x1080 screen which is easier on the eyes. This is 100% your best bet to get a decent machine IMO.
If you're scanning the ads in your area, try to look for a latop with:
- an i3 or i5 Broadwell (5000 series)
- Intel 5000 series graphics or a low end Nvidia card (920M - 940M)
- a matte screen and/or a 1600x900/1920x800 screen (your eyes will thank you)
- 8gbs of ram, or a ram slot (laptop ram is cheap, so if you find one with the above specs and low ram, it's worth it to upgrade later)
Wirecutter also has a budget latop guide that may give you some helpful hints.
posted by givennamesurname at 1:58 PM on November 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
Addendum: the Asus F555LA at $320 meets all the above criteria except ram (it comes with 4gbs, but is upgradable). The battery life is pretty abysmal - around 3 hours - which might be a dealbreaker for you.
posted by givennamesurname at 2:46 PM on November 26, 2015
posted by givennamesurname at 2:46 PM on November 26, 2015
When I was in a similar situation, I went with a nicer Chromebook instead of a cruddier cheap laptop, and I'm very happy with it.
posted by redsparkler at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2015
posted by redsparkler at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2015
You can get a pretty amazing refurb laptop for $200. You could upgrade that laptop to 8gb of ram for $32.
posted by gregr at 4:28 PM on November 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by gregr at 4:28 PM on November 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you need to buy new, a Chromebook will be a better laptop than a Windows laptop at the same price. You can always load Ubuntu or Mint or whatever if you need it to do more stuff.
If you really need Windows a used, but still in warranty, Lenovo from eBay is the way to go. You can extend the factory warranty to 3 years for about $100, and they will fix anything you find that is wrong with it when you get it. That NewEgg refurb gregr linked is also a good option, but would be great with another $150 worth of RAM and SSD upgrades. (Given that I need to buy a new laptop soon, I may well get in on that action myself)
posted by wierdo at 10:42 PM on November 26, 2015
If you really need Windows a used, but still in warranty, Lenovo from eBay is the way to go. You can extend the factory warranty to 3 years for about $100, and they will fix anything you find that is wrong with it when you get it. That NewEgg refurb gregr linked is also a good option, but would be great with another $150 worth of RAM and SSD upgrades. (Given that I need to buy a new laptop soon, I may well get in on that action myself)
posted by wierdo at 10:42 PM on November 26, 2015
Almost anything made today will do what you want pretty well. Both the Dell and Lenovo online outlets will have things cheaper than a brick and mortar. Go to either site and look up laptops in the desired size that you want (e.g. 12 inch, 15 inch, etc.). There will be some in your price range. Take the specific model and look up reviews to make sure there's nothing really terrible about them. If there's not, buy one.
posted by Candleman at 10:53 PM on November 26, 2015
posted by Candleman at 10:53 PM on November 26, 2015
« Older Is there a trick to moving virtual hard disks? | How do I roast two things that need different... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ananci at 10:03 AM on November 26, 2015