TR Forums

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Refer to someone else for the specs required for what your father needs.

When I buy computers, I wait for coupons from Dell Outlet. The computers are already discounted, but then you get a coupon on top of that. Currently they have a 15% off coupon, although sometimes they have 25% off coupons. Some models are scratch and dent, some are "refurbished" which means they were used less than two weeks by someone else, returned, wiped clean, and the Dell people can't find anything wrong with it. I buy all the computers for my workplace this way, including personal computers for my coworkers.

For example, I ordered an Ivy Bridge i3 laptop for my boss, 8 GB of RAM, 720p 14" screen, Windows 7 Professional. Tax included and shipping free, with a 25% off coupon applied, the order was just under $400. Then I put a 120 GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD in (now selling for $90), and it's crazy fast for that price. And I ordered an identical one for $15 more that had an Ivy Bridge i5. But since RAM is a touch more expensive now, the prices aren't quite as good as that.

Note, the Dell Outlet search and filters are absolutely horrible. Clicking on i7 processors only, for example, will eliminate 95% of the options that actually have i7 processors. And if you filter by a particular model, it will only show you a small sliver of that they actually have for sale for that model. It's just dreadful. What I do is click "compare all desktops" or "compare all laptops", ignore all filters, sort my price, and scan through the pages until I find the cheapest one that has the specs I want.

Because they are scratch and dent or refurbished (they tell you which, and the two are priced differently), there's very limited selection of what you can get. The computers go fast, so if you find one you like, put it in your cart right away, and buy it before it kicks back out of your cart.

Let me know if you want my coupon code (which expires in a few days anyway) for the 15% off.

conlusio wrote:

Ok Gerbils -

My father needs a new laptop. He does light video editing, moderate photoshop but he has some stringent requirements - he wants a 17" screen and he wants it to have full HD (1920x1200 or 1920x1080). I've found a customized Toshiba L70 with an i3-4000 that meets those requirements but I'm completely unfamiliar with the brand and I'm afraid the Intel HD 4600 graphics will not keep up with what he wants to do. I'd like to keep the cost under <1k, better if it's closer to $800.

My window to purchase the Toshiba closes today - I've scoured the interwebs for better deals and come up short. I'm hoping all of you are smarter than I am and can recommend something or reassure me that I'm not wasting my money on the L70.

Thanks!

If he is doing some video editing and photoshop, the first thing IMO would be to confirm that the screen is an IPS panel and not a TN panel. Also once you have a 17" 1080p laptop with an IPS screen, you are probably looking at more than 1K+
http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/articles/la ... _parts.htm
A 15.6" screen could help reduce costs also.
Some models of Dell Precision and HP Elitebooks have IPS screens

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Google-Sea ... 6j137728j3

good luck