59 replies to this topic

[Brad]

As always, we have several dedicated threads for the hotter items each Black Friday. Please try to keep all discussion related to these items in their official threads. Other threads posted will likely be merged into this main thread.

Edited by Brad, Oct 3, 2011 - 10:21 am.

[erinjoy510]

I want to get a Macbook Air. I would like to get it now but I can wait to see what kind of deals will be available in the coming month or two. Does anyone know what kind of deals have been available in the previous years from any retailer on line or in store? Trying to decide if it is worth waiting or not. Thanks!

[nirvana4all]

Here is a sale from BB last year from a laptop with better specs than the Macbook, so that should give you a guesstimate? 2010 BF BestBuy AD - HP 15.6" Core i3 Laptop w/ 4GB, 500GB, DVD+R, WiFi - $499.99 That being said, as most people who buy a lot of PC's know, apple does not often discount it's fruit, and not much at all when it does. More often it will attach a gift card to itunes or something like that to give you a deal, but in the end get you to buy more "i" stuff.

[FatRocky]

Will there be a Desktop Thread this year or should that discussion go here? That is kind of what I am in the market for this year.

[nirvana4all]

We normally have a desktop thread. I have been having good luck with buying new or refurbished HP desktops from buy . com
They normally need a nicer video card for gaming, but what non-custom rig doesn't.

example: http://www.buy.com/p.../223330800.html

[tsjbenny]

Is the netbook that CVS has on sale occasionally a good idea for a 14 year old boy(internet and facebook)? Promised him a netbook but I do not want to get one that does not function properly. Also, I do not want to pay much for it.

[Lawdog]

Well, if this thread isn't a barometer! Look how few replies compared to tablets and such. Interesting!

[Mandy4Matt]

I'll be needing a laptop for a preteen boy myself this year. I'm looking for something that can run games and iTunes and such..hopefully nothing over $500..and I would prefer to order online. Can't wait to see the deals roll in!

[someguynamedmat]

For the poster inquiring about MacBooks, I saw you didn't get a decent answer so I will try as best as I can. Retailers cannot advertise a price different than what Apple tells them, so the price is typically fixed. However, most retailers will sweeten the deals by offering carrying cases, bags, iTunes/iBooks/other app $ cards, or other accessories. So don't spect a price drop. As a side note they just did a refresh to the entire MacBook air/ pro lineup and are releasing a new MacBook soon, so the prices will not be fluctuating anytime soon. In the past the ad was very basic for anything apple, but after bf many retailers will do a bundle to push macs for Xmas. The typical bundle will save you ( because of accessories) anywhere between 25-250 bucks. But as always ymmv. Hope that helps.

[nirvana4all]

I'll be needing a laptop for a preteen boy myself this year. I'm looking for something that can run games and iTunes and such..hopefully nothing over $500..and I would prefer to order online. Can't wait to see the deals roll in!

Just picked this up for my bosses kid for $379 no tax, no shipping and a 5% cash back on the credit card.
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16834215163
if you can get this type of deal now, should be able to find something nice for Black Friday.
Keep eyes open and the deals will be there.

[scrappinmomto3]

Hi all - I am going to be looking for a laptop for my soon to be college bound daughter - I have put in a call to the IT dept of her college of choice to see what specs I should be looking for. Any thoughts on what an adequate one might be? - Thanks in advance!!!

[bpr]

The IT techs will tell you to buy a top of the line machine and the college store has just the model you need, lol. Mostly college students only need enough to surf the net and Word documents and such. They don't need a top of the line laptop unless they are into video editing or heavy gaming. Your basic $350 or so laptop should fill about 90% of all college student's needs. My son is in his second year and he just does papers on it. Hope that helps.

[bpr]

I'll be needing a laptop for a preteen boy myself this year. I'm looking for something that can run games and iTunes and such..hopefully nothing over $500..and I would prefer to order online. Can't wait to see the deals roll in!

You just need a $350 laptop for your son unless he is playing some graphic hogging game. No need to spend a lot and you can catch that $350 price now if you shop around a little.

[bpr]

Well, if this thread isn't a barometer! Look how few replies compared to tablets and such. Interesting!

Wait until the ads come out; it'll pick up .

[SweetCanela]

Just need Target and Best Buy now and we are all set.
Were any of the laptop deals available online last year? I haven't gotten one in 4 years and I went for the second best deal at best buy online when I did.
How early do you think you'd have to be in line for the Wal-Mart Laptops?

[bluebear]

Okay, I'm hard. As usual. I need a laptop with a video card, at least an i5. I was hoping that Best Buy maybe would have something, but doesn't look like any of those have video cards. Was hoping to stay closer to $500-600, but I guess I'll be closer to $700. Found a couple for $650 or so at NewEgg, but the best deal so far I've found is directly from Dell at $693. If anyone has any ideas or sees anything good anywhere I've missed...

[tyreejames]

Just need Target and Best Buy now and we are all set.
Were any of the laptop deals available online last year? I haven't gotten one in 4 years and I went for the second best deal at best buy online when I did.
How early do you think you'd have to be in line for the Wal-Mart Laptops?

I got 2 of the $250 Toshiba laptops from Best Buy last year on Thanksgiving Day. Had to get up at like 3 am to do it but they're still running great and were worth it.

[tehlilone]

I'm actually really disappointed in prices for laptops this year. None of the laptop prices are spectacular. They're pretty much the same prices you could have gotten anytime since the middle of this past year.

[phlip]

Okay, I'm hard. As usual. I need a laptop with a video card, at least an i5. I was hoping that Best Buy maybe would have something, but doesn't look like any of those have video cards. Was hoping to stay closer to $500-600, but I guess I'll be closer to $700. Found a couple for $650 or so at NewEgg, but the best deal so far I've found is directly from Dell at $693. If anyone has any ideas or sees anything good anywhere I've missed...

Here is the best thing I could find for you. The refurb even comes with a 3 month warranty for under your budget.
http://www.google.co...63636015249697#

[Venusaur]

So what do people think of the $179 laptop at Best Buy? I think that's the cheapest BF laptop (not netbook). I did some googling and one article said it doesn't have an HDMI port so you can't connect the laptop to your TV, but is there no other way to connect it to a TV?

Edited by Venusaur, Nov 12, 2011 - 7:58 am.

[rubyrain]

hi everyone! i need some help please, i am a computer geek wanting to but my daughter, who will be starting collage a laptop for christmas, so am looking for one that isnt to basin, would like at least 4gb or higher and 500 or higher ram, out of all the sales which store has the best deal??? thanks

[tehlilone]

So what do people think of the $179 laptop at Best Buy? I think that's the cheapest BF laptop (not netbook). I did some googling and one article said it doesn't have an HDMI port so you can't connect the laptop to your TV, but is there no other way to connect it to a TV?

There were adapters to connect your laptop to tv before the convenience of a HDMI port. It uses different cables though. I suggest you look it up and see if they match. I'm not really familiar with it but yupp you should be able to find something.

[phlip]

hi everyone!
i need some help please, i am a computer geek wanting to but my daughter, who will be starting collage a laptop for christmas, so am looking for one that isnt to basin, would like at least 4gb or higher and 500 or higher ram, out of all the sales which store has the best deal???
thanks

Best Buy has this Gateway now as a ship to store with a Core i5 4gb RAM and 500gb HD for $450. http://www.bestbuy.c...teway&cp=1&lp=4

Gottadeal has a comparison chart for all Black Fri. laptops to help you look at your options. www.blackfridaycharts.com!

I think you definately want to look for a Core i3 or i5 processor.

Edited by phlip, Nov 12, 2011 - 2:37 pm.

[nirvana4all]

Best Buy has this Gateway now as a ship to store with a Core i5 4gb RAM and 500gb HD for $450. http://www.bestbuy.c...teway&cp=1&lp=4

Gottadeal has a comparison chart for all Black Fri. laptops to help you look at your options. www.blackfridaycharts.com!

I think you definately want to look for a Core i3 or i5 processor.

You want a i3, i5, Phenom x4, or an A8 processor. the laptop listed above from best buy at $449 is a decent price.
After tax, that runs you $480 here in FL.
The computere listed here: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16834215209
is just as quick, powerful, and since there is no tax or shipping, it is over $50 less.

[MANTI5]

Which is better between the BestBuy Lenovo and the Walmart Compaq?

[nirvana4all]

The e300 processor in the Lenovo is a better processor ( http://www.anandtech...00-and-c60-apus ), the lenovo comes with W7HP, I think the the Compaq may come with W7S ...not sure on it though.
If you have to get something this basic and cheap, at least get the Lenovo.

[mominsmalltown]

I haven't seen anyone address the HP laptop and HP touchpad that Walmart is offering, Bad or Good deal? I so do not know anything about computers.

[racerfan]

Can anyone help me out. I am looking for a laptop for DD13 to research for school, Facebook (messaging no games really), emails, type up papers(already have Microsoft Student) She is in 8th grade and her laptop has started running really hot and shutting down. She is not like her brother and will be doing Engineering next year in HS, she is thinking of maybe doing a photography class as an elective.

Which one of these would be ok for her. The first one is at Best Buy now in their guarantee in stock promotion for $269

http://www.bestbuy.c...aptop&cp=1&lp=1

In the Best Buy Black Friday ad there are 3 laptops I am looking at also. The Samsung for $299, The Gateway (secret price) and the 17inch Toshiba for $349.

Thank you so much, I most likely will be at BB on BF since there are several other items I would like to get and if I cant online will have to be on line early. I posted this on another thread also.

[cfoley]

The IT techs will tell you to buy a top of the line machine and the college store has just the model you need, lol. Mostly college students only need enough to surf the net and Word documents and such. They don't need a top of the line laptop unless they are into video editing or heavy gaming. Your basic $350 or so laptop should fill about 90% of all college student's needs. My son is in his second year and he just does papers on it. Hope that helps.

Thanks - Actually a student in the IT dept called me back & appeared at least to be pretty honest. He told me really all she needs it for would be doing papers, checking grades, and using a search engine. He said that sometimes the cheaper ones are actually better if she's the kind of student who types faster than she writes & would being it to class - so he said weight and size might be a factor. I know I want her to have a webcam so that we can skype. I'm thinking of the Toshiba that Best Buy has - although I won't spend the night there to get it....I'll pay the extra $ to get something reasonable from my comfy couch on Thursday at midnight!

[MANTI5]

The e300 processor in the Lenovo is a better processor ( http://www.anandtech...00-and-c60-apus ), the lenovo comes with W7HP, I think the the Compaq may come with W7S ...not sure on it though.
If you have to get something this basic and cheap, at least get the Lenovo.

Thank you, it'll be for the wife and she doesn't need anything great. She's on a 4 or 5 year old compaq now that's barely alive.