Good Laptops $1000 or less

[Tresdrez]

I am looking for a good quality, cheaper priced laptop.

Primary function:

Internet (Ethernet)
Office Apps

Secondary: (Not required, but would be nice)
DVD w/decoder
Sound
3D Video

As I have never bought a laptop before, I do not know what companies are good, and what companies to avoid like a plague.

By going to sites such as Winbook, Dell, Gateway, etc.... I see many laptops starting right at the $1000 line.

Is this system decent?

Toshiba
Intel Celeron 1.5Ghz
256MB PC2100 DDR
20GB HDD
DVD-ROM
16MB ATI Video Memory (1024 x 768)
14.1" Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Ports: (1) Parallel, (1) Monitor, (3) USB, (1) RJ-11, (1) RJ-45
Card Slots: (2) Supporting 2-Type II or 1-Type III Cardbus
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Limited Warranty: 1 Year (12 Months) on Parts, Labor and Battery

 

[Soulkeeper]

good luck
look for a tualatin P3 based laptop
they are pretty good

try to get atleast GF2 go or radeon 7500 graphics
doubt any of the P4 laptops will go that cheap
unless you get one used

 

[coolVariable]

Winbook has a very nice looking one starting at 1399,- (the X4).
At least its a very slim and leight laptop.
I can't understand why most laptops are so fugly.
Can anyone recommend any other good (thin/leight) but cheap laptops? (Preferrably with metal [eg. magnesium?] cases)

 

[brtspears2]

You can get a nice P4 dell laptop for about ~$1000 if you use coupons creatively

 

[MadGaMeRz]

Try Dell refurbished laptops, they are cheap, powerful and have good support

 

[Tresdrez]

I looked at refurbished, remanufactured, and used machines. The biggest problem I have with those, is many times you pay almost as much as you do for a new machine. In many cases a computer I couldn't give away as a desktop (P1xx) still costs $300 as a laptop.

I found several ads in today's paper with laptops right around the $1000 mark. I am leaning towards getting the Compaq, wondered if anyone has any comments on either of these.

Dell Inspiron 2650 C Notebook

Mobile Celeron 1.5GHz-M
14" XGA+ Display
20GB Hard Drive
128MB DDR PC2100 SDRAM
24x CD-RW or 8X DVD-ROM
Internal 56K modem & Network Adapter
Sound Blaster Compatible
16MB DDR nVidia GeForce2 Go 100 AGP 4x Graphics
Windows XP Home

$899.00

E-Value Code 13772-D81208d

Compaq Presario Notebook Model 906US
Mobile AMD Athlon XP 1500+ 1.33GHz
14.1" XGA TFT Display
256MB DDR 266Mhz SDRAM
20GB Hard Drive 4200 RPM
8X DVD-ROM/8x8x24 CD-RW Combo Drive
Internal 56K modem & Network Adapter
JBL Pro Performance Sound
16MB ATI Radeon Integrated Video
Windows XP Home

$749.99 after rebates - Best Buy (CompUSA has same computer at $849.97)

 

[yellowperil]

The Compaq looks good. I ordered an Inspiron 2650 for ~$800 AR about 1 1/2 wks ago, I might have gone for the Compaq (better specs for less $) but it required more money tied up in rebates. I don't know if I'll keep the Dell when it arrives (7-7.5 lbs. sounds like a beast)

I would also check eBay for the IBM store - they have some new laptops under $1000

 

[Soulkeeper]

yeah that Compaq Presario looks nice
it's one of those athlon laptops with the ati chipset
also buying an upgrade to the mobile athlons is easy/cheap newegg sells them

a Mobile Celeron 1.5GHz-M is cheesy and would prob perform as good as a 1ghz P3 if that
they crippled the Celeron P4's

 

[BeauJangles]

will this do?