BleepingComputer.com: Need Help Choosing Bottom End Laptop

My budget for the new computer is:
Basically Im looking for a laptop under under $350

What are the primary uses for this computer (IE: mail, web browsing, programming, games, etc)?
Basically this will be used as a netbook. I know i should just get a netbook, but my mom prefers something with a bigger screen than the 10" being offered by netbooks. Basically the most rigorous thing this will be used for will be the browser and for accessing farmville on facebook.

What software do you intend on using on the computer?
standard things like AV, Firewall, Mallwarebytes

Do you play games? If so, what type of games?
yes. but mostly web based games. farmville, addictinggames

Do you tend to have a lot of programs running at the same time, or do you close every program when you are done using it?
not really no. just the basic Anti Viral programs

Do you store a lot of pictures or music on the computer?
Yes.

I basically have searched several sites and i have come up with several laptops priced at around the same range. I just need advice on which laptop im getting the most bang out of my bucks. if you know of another laptop i havent listed thats priced around the same range (below $350) i'd be very interested to hear about it. Thanks in advanced.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&A=compareChart&Q=&ci=6782&items=827050-REG%3B814312-REG%3B%3B827056-REG%3B%3B822808-REG

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=cat13504&type=page&pageIdentity=searchDriven&useProductString=true&productString=1218447376926*1218421869679*1218419327319&unProductString=1218429885329*1218413771184*1218402124648*1218426414716*1218413772650*1218408952017*1218447358882*1218441027420*1218429233176*1218424556948*1218421871958*1218452833547&catId=

I would get the Toshiba mainly because of the build quality and it's faster then one from Bhphotovideo.

Your other option is wait until Sunday and look at the sale circulars for Best Buy, Staples etc. and see if there is a nicer one on sale for the upcoming week.

That's what I did back when Win7 was just out and I bought a decent Acer laptop on sale at $329 with 15.6" etc. Which was a decent price for 2009. I have since also picked up a Used Toshiba laptop at a good price that went off of it's two year warranty this year that is faster.

Good Luck

Well...if I wanted a computer and wanted a reasonable bargain...I would not be shopping brick-and-mortar stores.

I think it's safe to say that you get a better deal on just about everything (other than food) if you purchase it online and you get more options if you shop online.

And two basic online vendors of systems and parts of all types/prices...would be www.tigerdirect.com and www.newegg.com.

I've also noticed that amazon.com seems determined to be a player in the electronics/computer/laptop market...I was a customer when all they sold was books , eons ago.

If you want to just have a search engine do all the work for you...try the www.bizrate.com website and you can do vendor comparisons for any system.

Louis

If you purpose is browsing & email checking then Netbook is sufficient. If you use laptop to play games then you need to go for high end configuration.

Linda.Christ, on 10 January 2012 - 03:42 AM, said:

The OP wants a screen that is bigger then 10" and the games played a web based games from Facebook, so it isn't necessary to get a high end setup.