Where to buy an affordable laptop?

[droopydrew19]

I am looking to get my 11 year old daughter a laptop for her birthday.

I am seeing a lot of small netbooks for around my price cap ($300) but I think I would like to get a full sized one that can play dvd's etc.

I have searched all the big box stores (Best Buy / The Source / Walmart)

Anyone have some recommendations on where I might find an affordable new or gently used one?

Thanks

[drew24]

At Dell.ca you should be able to get a Inspiron 15" Laptop for a little over 500. I understand it's more than you want to pay. I just thought I'd put it out there.

http://www1.ca.dell.com/content/prod...=dhs&cs=cadhs1

If that is more than you want to pay for you might want to look at these.

http://www1.ca.dell.com/ca/en/home/L...adhs1&ref=lthp

I'm not quite sure if 11 inches classifies as a netbook, but if i recall correctly it's not that small. My sister has a 12 inch screen I do believe, and it is big enough to watch movies on. I'm sure you looked at them at Best Buy so you'd know if 11 is too small for your purposes.
I'm pretty sure you can custom colour those laptops too.

If that screen is too small then I would look for used 15 inch screens. I wouldn't buy a 2 year old laptop because computers seem to crap out within 3-4 years. And I wouldn't know where to get used laptops. I'd check kijiji. Should be able to find some around 300 with a good screen. Other than that I have no idea.

I don't know how helpful this was.

Good Luck.

[HOOT]

In Victoria we have some stores called Laptop Depot, Computer Depot, or something like that and my buddy says they are pretty good for used laptops. I'm sure a city like Calgary would have something like this as well, maybe check the yellowpages.

I bought an HP through my work when they had a deal and I have been very impressed. I thought for the price I was going to be getting some cheap little thing but it has been good to me, I lug it around every where with me maybe see if they have any New Year specials online.

[RW99]

www.apple.com Ha!

But seriously, if you are thinking netbook remind yourself that it can not replace a computer. If you try using it for anything multimedia it's limitations will stop you in your tracks. I'd say get a used laptop first.

[PIMking]

Okay I will tell a short story that happens to help you.

Monday morning (to me I work 3rd shift so 3pm) the fiance decided to wake me up by bitching at me and blah blah blah something about something on the internet on my net book (acer inspire one I bought when they first came out) well I dont tend to be excited to be woken up and to be woken up and yelled at so I took the laptop and spiked it like a football breaking it. All is good though because I was going to get another one in a week or so becuase the power plug in was bad and it had to be in the slot perfect for it to charge.

So I went to best buy to look at another "net book" because I really just use it for the net while I'm at work to watch movies online and such. well most net books are $350 US and I wondered over to the regular laptops and found the one I'm useing now. It's a Compaq regular laptop with windows 7 and disc drive and a number pad on the side.

I tried to look up reviews on said computer while at best buy by looking up its code on best buy and it didn't bring it up.

I paid $359 total after taxes for the laptop. So far its great. Comes with windows 7 and the normal stuff.

I'm pretty sure this is it, wont be able to be 100% until I get home to get the serial number

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/hp-c...-33496182.html

[Hack&Lube]

Get her a netbook and an external USB powered DVD writer (~$50). I have one of those writers for sale if you want.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by HOOT

In Victoria we have some stores called Laptop Depot, Computer Depot, or something like that and my buddy says they are pretty good for used laptops. I'm sure a city like Calgary would have something like this as well, maybe check the yellowpages.

I bought an HP through my work when they had a deal and I have been very impressed. I thought for the price I was going to be getting some cheap little thing but it has been good to me, I lug it around every where with me maybe see if they have any New Year specials online.

My experience was quite different. I bought a laptop from them and had nothing but problems with the damn thing and the company. I wouldn't buy anything from them ever again. Pay a little extra and buy a new laptop.

[MickMcGeough]

tigerdirect.ca often has refurbs for just over $300.

[droopydrew19]

Thanks for all the suggestions. PimKing... was that compaq at best buy?

[PIMking]

Yes it was at Best buy. I checked the web site again and it's not on it for some reason. I know the one in tuscaloosa is.

I should of bought another one lol.

[burning_acid1]

Check out Laptop depot