| How Much Does a Notebook Computer Cost? |
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| Typical costs: | - It's possible to get a budget laptop for $500-$600. They usually come with a 14" - 15.4" screen, 256-512 MB of RAM,40-80GB of disk space, and a low-end processor, like an Intel Celeron M. They may come installed with little to no application software. Examples include the Thinkpad Lenovo R60e, Dell Inspiron 1501, and the Compaq Presario V6000.
- Multimedia and workhorse laptops cost $700 - $1,300. These laptops have 15.4" - 17" screens, which may be widescreen and can come with 512+ MB RAM, 40-80GB of disk space, and a mid-to-high range processor such as an Intel Core or Intel Dual Core processor. Examples include the Sony Vaio FJ, the Thinkpad T Series, and the Dell Latitude. A midrange Apple laptop is the MacBook.
- Lightweight laptops can cost from $700 to $2,000+. They can range from budget computers to high-end computers, usually at a premium. Be sure to compare actual weight; some laptops advertised as lightweight weigh only a fraction of a pound less. Examples include the Sony Vaio TX, Thinkpad X Series and the Dell Precision Mobile Workstations.
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| What should be included: | - Current software usually takes at least 512MB to operate efficiently. Get at least 512MB, and consider getting 1GB.
- Almost all current laptop or notebook computers come with a built in 802.11g or b wireless capability to connect to wireless networks.
- They should typically come with at least Windows XP (or Macintosh OS X) software, and basic applications.
- They should come with at least 90 days of parts, labor and basic support. A midrange computer should come with at least 1 year of warranty and support.
- They should come with a battery, a plug adapter, and a CD-DVD combo drive, which will enable you to watch movies while traveling.
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| Additional costs: | - Upgrading memory, application software, or warranties are common. They can cost $100-$250+ each.
- For laptops and notebooks, it's quite common to buy a higher end spare battery with a longer life.
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| Discounts: | - Manufacturers and discount electronic stores regularly feature a model on sale. Shop around; prices on the same system can vary by hundreds of dollars. It's often possible to get older, refurbished models for several hundred dollars less.
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| Shopping for a notebook computer: | - Dell PCs are built-to-order and you can order their PCs directly from their websites.
- Compaq, Lenovo Thinkpad (formerly IBM Thinkpad, Sony and Apple are all available through retail channels. You can look at Best Buy, J&R Computer World, Office Depot and your local electronics discount store for specials. you to check whether stores near you have computers in stock.
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Article updated November 2006 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $1,350.00 |
Love my Thinkpad T60
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| Posted by: PCGuyinCali in San Jose, CA. | Purchased: June, 2006 |
| Manufacturer: Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad | Model: T60 T2300 |
| Store: PCSuperStore.com |
| For laptops, I always get Thinkpads because they are pretty reliable. My last one had only one problem (a noisy disk drive) over four years. I got the T2300 512MB 80GB XPP 14.1 SXGA Combo because I wanted the optical fingerprint reader (faster to login) and I wanted a 1400x1050 display (to do more work). So far, the machine has been great. I did run out of the 512MB memory it ships with, so I ordered another 1GB of memory for $183 from ANTOnline. I saved a couple hundred over ordering directly from Lenovo by using PCSuperStore.com. I was a little worried about the warranty/return policies ordering, but there were no problems. |
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