What do I need to look for in a laptop? (For my son)

In My Humble Opinion
1

So I’m browsing through Amazon for laptops and it occurred to me I have no idea what I’m looking for.

Basically, the only thing my son likes to do with a computer is surf the web. I’d say 75% of this is watching streaming videos on youtube. The rest is used to play flash games.

So what are the basics that I need to look for? Also, is it safe to assume all laptops come with wifi built in? Because a lot of the computers I’ve looked at so far don’t indicate that they have wifi in them.

Thanks for any help.

(ps I’d like to keep the price under $400)

2

This is about what you get for $400.

Frankly, in my opinion, there isn’t a lot of difference from machine to machine in this price range, which is about the low end for laptops. I am too old to know what a “flash game” is but if it’s those kids’ games over the net like MiniClip, I think this device should be fine. Its WiFi is b/g and not n; if you have n at home, it might make a difference but probably not for him (and the b/g will still work on your n network).

I’ve never seen a new laptop without any WiFi, but make sure.

Basic stats are Processor, RAM, Video subsystem and Hard Drive. It won’t be worth sorting them out the Processor and Video subsystem at this price level, again in my opinion. And for what he does, Hard Drive size is unimportant. More RAM will speed it up with Windows 7 more than any other single parameter, assuming equivalent processors. And at this price point, the processors are all going to be about the the same.

Sometimes what I do is spec a machine out online then go to Best Buy or Fry’s or Costco to see what they have equivalent to it.

3

Look what I just found on Amazon for $143, including shipping.

I just ordered one just for fun, although there must be something wrong? If it actually comes, gonna give it to my nephew.
It’s listed for $645 on the Beach Camera site itself, so I suspect a mistake. I bet it’s supposed to be $643. We’ll see.

Here is the review and specs.

4

Holy COW! That’s interestingly awesome…and I ordered one for my kids, too.

5

That must indeed have been a misprint - I just clicked on that link and it was for an HP G60-530 laptop at $560 (list $630). Hope your order went through and they honor the misprint.

6

I’m still seeing $143 from the link. :stuck_out_tongue:

Course, I got my order in 4 or 5 hours ago…so it may be cached.

7

Wow. What a huge price mistake. Will probably get canceled, but it might be worth a try. Still showing up as of a minute ago.

8

I agree with this. If the budget is under $400, the OP is probably going to be looking at netbook systems, which have small screens and small keyboards. And I think it’s a good idea to play with it for a while to see if that’s comfortable. But if this is for a kid, that might not be a problem. And if it is for a kid, it might be better to get one that’s running Linux instead of Windows. (Although I’m not finding any running Linux on the Best Buy website. They have 14 under $300 and 39 between $300-400.)

9

If you look around, you can get a notebook with a 15" screen and fullsize keyboard for $400. I got this one for my wife for Christmas, and it’s on sale for that again right now.

10

It’s showing 599.98 at 10:44 Pacific time.

11

And it ships from a different company. Still no telling if they’re out if stock or if it was a mistake.

12

Hope it works out, but I see the offer no longer works on Amazon, so I am not counting my own chickens. I do have a confirmed order in at $143.
If you get a steal on this, and I hope you do, how about a favor?
Pretend you would have spent at least $200 and send the $50 to Haiti in honor of a a lucky day on the Dope.

13

Oh, we give. Don’t worry.

14

For this, you do not need the newest, fastest machine. You don’t even need a new machine at all. I would skip Amazon and search Craigslist for a good used machine in your town. Then you can actually meet & let your son try it out for a while before you spend your money.