Is There A Place To Buy Cheap Laptops

UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">you know, without 1GB of RAM I wont need</div> I'm going to Germany in September (for a semester in college); unfortunately that leaves me with little ability to bring my desktop computer, and therefore I'm looking for a laptop. A cheap laptop - but it seems <i>no one </i> under the sun sells laptops from 3 years ago at reduced prices. They just want to pressure that whole "get 2GB or RAM you'll never use - and a DVD writer! OMG, you'll never use it, but buy it anyway!"

I do not need a $1400+ laptop; that's three times as much as the computer I'm using right now - 2 years ago.


I'm looking for a computer that can:
-use CDs or DVDs (DVDs not really too important <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
-preferably an AMD processor
-hold at least 20 GB
-128/256mb of RAM, depending on OS
-preferably pre-XP OS
-ethernet port (required <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )

-the ability to play simplistic games like Civilization 2, Sim City 2000/3000 and maybe AvP


Note: the only thing it will be used for is writing papers, maybe playing music, going on the internet and playing old school games from before 2001.



So can anyone point me to an area where I can buy a laptop like this fairly cheap? Preferably under $500 or something.
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Comments

  • Nemesis_ZeroNemesis_Zero Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    Derailing upon the first post - which uni are you going to grace by your presence?
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  • raz0rraz0r Join Date: 2003-07-24 Member: 18395Members
    The cheapest laptop from Dell is $549, and i doubt you'll find anything much cheaper than that.
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    Well, Acer makes relatively cheap laptops. If you can find them, Elitegroup (ECS) are also relatively cheap, or else I'd suggest finding a second-hand laptop, but CHECK IT BEFORE BUYING. That includes battery, screen, and all the adaptors and stuff, because laptops are fragile.


    What's your price range? (this thread interests me because I'm a bit in the same case <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> )
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  • theclamtheclam Join Date: 2004-08-01 Member: 30290Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-raz0r+May 21 2005, 03:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (raz0r @ May 21 2005, 03:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The cheapest laptop from Dell is $549, and i doubt you'll find anything much cheaper than that. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, I'd go with a Dell. If you need to go lower than $549, then use eBay.
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  • BaconTheoryBaconTheory Join Date: 2003-09-06 Member: 20615Members
    <a href='http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/search_results_pc_laptops.asp?bin_id=world' target='_blank'>http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/search_...sp?bin_id=world</a>

    RetroBox has all kinds of old computer stuff for cheap prices. Tons of inventory with laptops that have just the essentials.
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  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-BaconTheory+May 21 2005, 04:09 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BaconTheory @ May 21 2005, 04:09 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <a href='http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/search_results_pc_laptops.asp?bin_id=world' target='_blank'>http://www.retrobox.com/rbwww/home/search_...sp?bin_id=world</a>

    RetroBox has all kinds of old computer stuff for cheap prices. Tons of inventory with laptops that have just the essentials. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    With that, I'm a bit confused as to what their "Power Adapter not included" thing is; do they mean they don't provide the AC charging cable? I'm not aware that they sell those; other than that it seems like a decent site (aside from the fact I don't know what a laptop expansion slot is for, or PCM slots. Of course, if AC adapters have stayed the same through the last 11 years I do have one from a different laptop. I'm also not quite sure what I'd do if the screen is wrecked (or other miscellaneous problems), as my experience with laptops is very limited, and I'm not sure what to look for (and that site seems a bit keen on dropping you after your purchase despite their "30 day warranty."

    My preferred price range is 200-400, but ~550 would probably work as well. Of course, on that RetroBox site, I'd need to subtract ~$109 off of that, since they don't have an OS installed.




    ...and it would be the Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg. I also hear it's the ...1200th or something anniversary of the city this year.
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  • Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
    My mom bought a semi-used Dell laptoop from dell outlet store for like 250, everything u said, 256MB ram and 40GB hdd. The ethernet was put in place of the extra battery. Dell Inspiron 5100, i think, shes in AZ and im in GA, so i cant really see it, but check dells web site for outlet store that sells refurbished computers.
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