What do you think of these <$800 laptops?

[FearM9]

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?Ne=5000000&N=4017745+5000031&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|0||P_SignDesc1&whse=BC&topnav=
I'm *thinking* of maybe trying to spoil myself this Christmas with a new laptop. My Dell Inspiron is on it's last legs.

Couple of things....
I'm not a big computer guy.
I obvioulsy don't have a big budget.
I'm not a gamer.
I am pretty sure I'm buying from Costco (HUGE FAN!).
I don't have DSL at home (I live out in the sticks). Damn that sucks.
My max budget is $800.

I really don't do too much with my current laptop. Surf the net, do some simple spreadsheet stuff...that's about it.

Of the ones shown, which one looks like the best bang-for-the-buck?

Mahalo!

[Kryptonite]

Do you need a laptop, or would a desktop suffice? If you're that much budget minded, you can get Dell desktops for under $500 (according to their website). AFAIK, desktops are still a bit easier to upgrade than laptops.

[FearM9]

I don't NEED a laptop, but I would prefer one over a desktop. The main reason is space...or really lack of...on my desk in my bedroom. Also I tend to move the laptop from my bedroom to the kitchen counter every couple of weeks.

On a somewhat related note....

If a coffee shop is advertising that it has free Wi-Fi hookups...does it necessarily mean that their connection is high speed?

[Kryptonite]

If a coffee shop is advertising that it has free Wi-Fi hookups...does it necessarily mean that their connection is high speed?

It's probably a safe assumption. I'd hate to think of a shared dial-up connection.

[Stogey23]

http://www.costco.com/Common/Category.aspx?Ne=5000000&N=4017745+5000031&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|0||P_SignDesc1&whse=BC&topnav=
I'm *thinking* of maybe trying to spoil myself this Christmas with a new laptop. My Dell Inspiron is on it's last legs.

Couple of things....
I'm not a big computer guy.
I obvioulsy don't have a big budget.
I'm not a gamer.
I am pretty sure I'm buying from Costco (HUGE FAN!).
I don't have DSL at home (I live out in the sticks). Damn that sucks.
My max budget is $800.

I really don't do too much with my current laptop. Surf the net, do some simple spreadsheet stuff...that's about it.

Of the ones shown, which one looks like the best bang-for-the-buck?

Mahalo!
BUMP!

I'm looking at the same thing, FROM Costco too. Anyone provide any recommendations?

M9, look here http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
Costco has a $100 coupon there on an HP laptop.

[FearM9]

M9, look here http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/
Costco has a $100 coupon there on an HP laptop.

What do you guys thinkof these? (these are cheaper on Black Friday thanks go Stogey's link):
http://www.bestbuy.com/olspage.jsp?id=1158317794220&ref=39&loc=01&skuId=8103535&type=product

http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?id=1158317794220&skuId=8103535&type=product

[That Phat Hat]

It's probably a safe assumption. I'd hate to think of a shared dial-up connection.That's what I'm thinking too, but I think your mileage may vary depending on the place. For example, a mom & pop coffeeshop might use a residential-grade DSL and might not be able to handle peak traffic, and it could be as slow as using dial-up. And pay-per-use deals like Starbucks (T-Mobile) might be a T-3 connection.

[FearM9]

Hey Stogey did you see this one...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?id=1158322071456&skuId=8135564&type=product

It's gonna be going for $380.

[Stogey23]

Hey Stogey did you see this one...
http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?id=1158322071456&skuId=8135564&type=product

It's gonna be going for $380.
Went to Best Buy at 4:45am this morning for this one. There were literally about 800-1000 people in line for the 5am opening. I figured these would be gone so I went home. :(

[FearM9]

Black Friday SUCKS ASS!!!!

Went to Best Buy at 4:45am this morning for this one. There were literally about 800-1000 people in line for the 5am opening. I figured these would be gone so I went home. :(

I pulled onto the street that Best Buy is on and knew I was pretty much SOL when I was driving in on the freeway at 4:30am cuz it looked like my damn morning commute!!!

Drove by Best Buy and the strip mall it sits in was packed to the gills. There was also a Cabelas and office supply store opening at the same time (5am). The line to get into Best Buy from what I could see went to the back of the building. I ran into a coworker later that morning and he said that the line went around the back of the building and over to the back of Cabela's. YIKES!!!! He was one of the first in line and said he scored pretty good. I went into Best Buy and the lines for the registers reached into the back of the store. A coworker late told us that her husband (who works there) said it was a three hour wait!!! NO THANK YOU!!!

I ended up prodealing a Dell Inspiron through REI (where I work parttime). Paid alot more than I had budgeted for, but oh well.

[CutePuppy]

I think with some risk you can just ebay it....

[Reis710]

tthe non refurbished toshiba is really good for your conditions.