Cheap route to decent laptop?

[Escher]

Need a cheap way (~$500) to get a decent laptop and was wondering if building one from scratch would be cheaper than buying one from BestBuy/CompuUSA/Dell/etc ...

If so, where do you even pick up the parts? I've looked around and found not much in my range after adding CPU/HD/RAM/optical drive.

Or should I just wait for one of these insane deals to come around again?

Primary use would be for my wife (so email, maybe light Photoshop work, web, etc), but I'd also probably load MSDEV on it as well to do some light coding while I watch TV or the kids.

 

[Escher]

Oh, and I don't need any software. I've got spare copies of OS & apps that I can use to help shave off a few pennies (if it'll help).

Thanks!

 

[sin01]

you and me both

 

[BladeVenom]

When I got my last laptop, ordering one that was on sale was cheaper than making it myself, at least for what I wanted.

 

[Cowcaster88]

From my understanding its usually harder to find OEM parts to piece together a laptop like a desktop. You probably would be better off finding some super cheap laptop and gutting it. Might want to look at Price Watch because they sell laptops without an OS installed.

 

[sin01]

any other helpfull hints?

 

[ne1wantaride]

http://www.dfsdirectsales.com/dfsdirect/

 

[GiRaff3]

goto www.dell.com

then to the outlet section, look under inspiron laptops and you can find all kinds for under 500 bux, some are actually really nice for the price. they are refurbs and orders that fell through, so they get repriced really cheap!

 

[SJetski71]

goto www.dell.com

then to the outlet section, look under inspiron laptops and you can find all kinds for under 500 bux, some are actually really nice for the price. they are refurbs and orders that fell through, so they get repriced really cheap!

yes, though make sure to check back several times a day since the better deals are snapped up not too long after they're posted.

OP another idea is to check out all the hot deal websites. You can get a killer price on a new lappie that way. Dell coupon codes can be found on ebay for a just a buck or two as well .


Originally posted by blip:

Links thus far [updated Nov 12]

http://www.spoofee.com/
www.fatwallet.com
Anandtech Hot deals
www.bargainshare.com
www.techbargains.com
www.bensbargains.net
www.dealnews.com
www.fatwallet.com/forums/categories.cfm?catid=18
www.rasputinj.com/
www.jumpondeals.com/
www.savinghunter.com/index.php3
www.secretcoupons.com/deals.cfm?m=1
www.slickdeals.net
www.ableshoppers.com
http://www.edealinfo.com/DDCategAll/harddrives.shtml
www.gotapex.com
http://www.xpbargains.com/sitedeal.php
www.everydeal.com
www.redflagdeals.com
www.pricenetwork.ca