How to Buy a Bargain Laptop 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have both come and gone, but there are still plenty of flyers advertising inexpensive laptops out there. I often get asked my opinion of this advertised system or the other. Computer geeks are like car aficionados - we prefer to spend more for speed and quality. But, as a bargain hunter myself, I certainly understand the lure of the ads!

Although there is no need to spend thousands on a new laptop these days, bargain systems often have compromises in build quality or specs. Here's how I look at a bargain to see if it's actually a good value.

Brand - I prefer Dell, HP, and Lenovo, although Asus has some very good specs for the dollar. I really don't like Samsung or Acer, and have had a lot of bad luck with Toshiba. However, remember that just like with cars, there can be good and bad models in every brand. Check out the rest of the specs as well.

Build Quality - This is one of the most important factors, and requires a bit of hands on time with the laptop. Although the most expensive laptops are famously thin and light, this is not necessarily a plus in the lower price range - you want the system to feel substantial. Look for hinges that open and shut easily and allow you to adjust the screen to a comfortable viewing angle. Look for a keyboard with enough give in the keys to type comfortably. Look for more metal than plastic. 

 

CPU - Look for an Intel CPU, not AMD. However, not every Intel CPU will do. You want to find one with the label i3, i5, or i7. In general, the higher the number the faster the CPU. Avoid Intel CPUs that say Pentium or Celeron - those are older branding labels and signify very slow, under-powered processors

 

Hard Drive - Most bargain laptops have high capacity standard hard drives - either a 500GB or 750GB, maybe even more. Any drive over 250GB should be sufficient for most normal user's needs. You are unlikely to find a bargain system with an SSD in it, but if you do, it will most likely be a very small one. I have seen several bargain systems with 32GB SSDs - that is a VERY small drive, and really insufficient for a modern laptop. Don't believe the guy at BestBuy, who will tell you that you are keeping everything in the cloud anyway - that drive just plain old won't do. 

 

By the way, you can almost always upgrade a bargain laptop with an SSD, which will markedly increase the speed and performance of any computer.

RAM - Look for 8GB, which is the current sweet spot. You can get by with 4GB, but some bargain laptops don't let you upgrade RAM, and more is better!

In general, if you find a great deal on a laptop that meets the specs listed above, you will probably be OK. Some other tips to ensure you end up happy:

• Follow the ads for a few weeks before making your decision. There's always a new "doorbuster" next week. If you go over the offerings carefully you will be able to spot value

• You might have to purchase a new copy of Office, or a new anti-virus program, but don't let the salesperson load you up with extras. Store warrantys are generally a very poor value, as are the high end cables they often tell you that you need.

• Rather than buying the store's warranty, purchase your bargain with an American Express card, or another premium credit, that will double the manufacturer's warranty. This gives you some purchase protection in case your bargain turns into a lemon

• In that same vein, Costco has very generous return policies, so check out their bargains as well. Wherever you buy your system, make sure you know their return policies, especially if it's a gift and won't be opened for a few weeks

• Once you open your new system, make sure to test every aspect of it while still in the return period, to make sure nothing is defective and to ensure it will meet your needs