# So, where did Lauren walk in and buy a HP 4gb notebook w/ a 17" monitor for $699? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 28, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135 "2009-03-28T23:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/1 "2009-03-28T23:54:59Z")
…because I’m not seeing that in my searching online. I can find a refurb for that online, and that’s fine, but I’m thinking that that commercial is disingenuous (big surprise there, huh?). But I may be wrong. So, can anyone find me a brick and mortar store where a brand new 4gb HP notebook with a 17" screen goes for $699? I put it into the pit, because I hate commercials and I think this is bullshit, but I’d love to be proven wrong. Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckcuntcuntcuntcunt (pit tags). ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/2 "2009-03-29T00:01:10Z")
You must realize that Microsoft is a word that’s short for “half baked in the microwave”. $699 was probably the deposit at the home furnishings rental store. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/3 "2009-03-29T00:15:23Z")
You can actually get one from HP directly for under that price. The G70t has a $150 instant rebate on it, and I configured one with: Vista Home Premium 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 4 gig DDR2 memory 160 gig hard drive On-board graphics 17 inch screen DVD/CD drive (writeable) Mic/Webcam Wireless-G MS Works That cost just 679.99 after the instant rebate. I’m assuming that some resellers might even discount it below HP’s price, so it’s definitely doable. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/4 "2009-03-29T00:19:59Z")
Wouldn’t want to put a stop to a potential MS bashing fest, but I even found you one in a big box store. This is likely the one from the commercial. [17 inch laptop](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373) ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/5 "2009-03-29T00:34:46Z")
That commercial is so fucking annoying. It’s like Kia giving some girl $10,000, and then shooting an ad of her walking out of a BMW dealer. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/6 "2009-03-29T00:41:37Z")
Who is Lauren and what commercial are we talking about? ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/7 "2009-03-29T00:45:01Z")
Motherfuckin’ micro$oft a$$holes are fucking dickheads for goddamn advertising and then having the balls to sell a fucking $699 laptop! Those absolute douchebags… what the fuck are they going to do next? It’s like MS gave some girl $700 dollars and then shot an ad showing her walking out of a fucking Best Buy with a decent laptop made by HP. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/8 "2009-03-29T01:11:02Z")
Wife got a 17" HP AMD based system for 599 a few weeks ago. Staples has it at that price about every six weeks or so. Office Max has about the same thing with a Blu Ray drive for the low 700 range. 4Gb, 320Gb drive, Vista Home Pro 64bit. I’m not hearing my name being taken in vain, so something is going right… ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/9 "2009-03-29T01:41:30Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Who is Lauren and what commercial are we talking about? > **[New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices](https://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-campaign-targets-mac-prices/)** > > Microsoft has begun a new ad campaign focused on pricing differences between Macs and PCs. The most prominent piece of the campaign deployed so far has been a TV commercial in which "Lauren" is given a $1000 budget with which to find a 17" notebook... Lauren is not cool enough to be a ‘mac person’ but she is cool enough to drive a VW Beetle. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/10 "2009-03-29T02:22:14Z")
> [@Amblydoper](#): > > Lauren is not cool enough to be a ‘mac person’ but she is cool enough to drive a VW Beetle. She doesn’t seem like the brightest bulb on the tree. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/11 "2009-03-29T02:46:48Z")
[She is apparently an actress, too.](http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10205852-71.html?tag=newsFeaturedBlogArea.0) ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/12 "2009-03-29T03:09:26Z")
> [@Absolute](#): > > That commercial is so fucking annoying. It’s like Kia giving some girl $10,000, and then shooting an ad of her walking out of a BMW dealer. Yeah, fuck those Kia assholes too! Damn all manufacturers of inexpensive products for the working class! ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/13 "2009-03-29T03:27:55Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > [She is apparently an actress, too.](http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10205852-71.html?tag=newsFeaturedBlogArea.0) Next you’ll tell me that Justin Long isn’t actually a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/14 "2009-03-29T03:27:55Z")
Hmm… she got “everything she wanted” for under $700. Is she aware that computers need software? I mean, beyond the operating system, assuming she knows what THAT is. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/15 "2009-03-29T07:13:21Z")
What is it that she needs that isn’t available for free? I’m guessing she’s not looking to level her Night Elf Druid. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/16 "2009-03-29T10:18:40Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Hmm… she got “everything she wanted” for under $700. Is she aware that computers need software? I mean, beyond the operating system, assuming she knows what THAT is. Dude. That’s what open source is for. But don’t tell Microsoft. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/17 "2009-03-29T11:04:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Hmm… she got “everything she wanted” for under $700. Is she aware that computers need software? I mean, beyond the operating system, assuming she knows what THAT is. Maybe that _is_ all she needs? Not everybody needs special software to enjoy their computer. OS, internet connection? Countless possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/18 "2009-03-29T11:35:00Z")
I’m not a big fan of Microsoft, but the point of the ad is hardly outrageous, which is that you can get a workable PC for a lot less money than an Apple. I suppose the ad is aimed at urban hipsters, who are now known as swipples in some circles. > **[\#40 Apple Products](https://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/30/39-apple-products/)** > > It is surprising that it took all the way to #40 to call out Apple products. Initially, we were planning for an entire week on Apple products, but that would just be over kill. Plain and simple, wh… ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/19 "2009-03-29T12:31:40Z")
More importantly, what is the process for acquiring someone like Lauren on Craigslist? Admittedly, I’m watching it with the sound off, so she might have a voice like a brain-damaged chipmunk on helium, but still…I’m willing to take the chance. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Batfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Batfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batfish)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135/20 "2009-03-29T12:41:33Z")
> [@brazil84](#): > > I’m not a big fan of Microsoft, but the point of the ad is hardly outrageous, which is that you can get a workable PC for a lot less money than an Apple. Bingo. To carry the point further, even an obviously hip Lauren is concerned about price and the premium price for the Apple is mostly for the status symbol. The ad’s point, not mine. Of all the truly objectionable ads on TV why pit this one? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-did-lauren-walk-in-and-buy-a-hp-4gb-notebook-w-a-17-monitor-for-699/491135.md?page=2)