$299: ASUS 14" Sandy Pentium Dual-Core DDR3-4GB Wireless-N 4.1lbs FS@BestBuy

[TJCS]

ASUS X401A-RBL4 14" [Color: Matte Deep Blue Square]@ Bestbuy

Quick Specs:

• Intel Pentium processor B970 (2.3GHz, 2MB L3, 1333MHz Bus Speed, 32nm 2nd Gen Sandy Bridge)
• 4GB DDR3 Memory
• 14.0" Display 16:9 HD (1366x768) LED Backlight
• Intel HD Graphics
• 320GB HDD (5400rpm)
• Built-in 0.3MP Webcam w/ Mic
• Digital media reader
• 1 x USB 3.0 and 1 x USB 2.0 port
• Wireless LAN (802.11n)
• Integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps Fast Ethernet LAN
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium x64
• Weighs only 4.1 lbs. and measures just 1.3" thin
• ENERGY STAR qualified
• Note: No Optical Drive Included

 

[killster1]

dont know what a good deal is.. seems like the quad core one for 330 is better? wonder what the realistic battery life is and how to get around 2 usb ports if use a mouse and external webcam..

 

[AlexAL]

The quad core is better unless you mind the 7.3 pounds weight. This one is just (a lot) lighter and has a USB3 3.0.

 

[Leymenaide]

The quad core is better unless you mind the 7.3 pounds weight. This one is just (a lot) lighter and has a USB3 3.0.

The quad core is a refurb.

 

[Roland00Address]

The quad core is a refurb.

Yes the other model referenced on anandtech is an acer refurb. That said if you don't mind spending less than a $100 more you can get a similar computer new for example

$69 more than the best buy pentium, Samsung A6, 4 GB of ram (1 4gb stick with 1 open slot so you can go 8gb dual channel), 15.6", 5.07 lbs, 320 gb hard drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834131323

Newegg also has an acer 15.6 for $79 more and tigerdirect has a couple a6s for $100 more.

 

[Kaido]

Wow, that is a really thin laptop for $299. Does it take standard 2.5" drives? They have the 120GB Mushkin SSD's on sale for $85 over at Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226236

That'd be a pretty slick setup...thin dual-core, 4GB RAM, SSD, 3-4 hour battery life.

 

[wirednuts]

dont know what a good deal is.. seems like the quad core one for 330 is better? wonder what the realistic battery life is and how to get around 2 usb ports if use a mouse and external webcam..

i thought the new processors shut off cores that are not under load

and theyve been making usb hubs since the mid 90's

 

[Tdavis5432]

How does this Samsung compare to the other Samsung? (not the original OP BB laptop) It has a diff CPU and graphics and a bigger HDD same price, I'm thinking the CPU is slower because its not quad core and the graphics are Intel 3000 instead of the AMD video card... I'd like to do a little gaming which would I be better off with? I plan to replace the HDD anyway with an SSD, thanks for input!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834131324

Yes the other model referenced on anandtech is an acer refurb. That said if you don't mind spending less than a $100 more you can get a similar computer new for example

$69 more than the best buy pentium, Samsung A6, 4 GB of ram (1 4gb stick with 1 open slot so you can go 8gb dual channel), 15.6", 5.07 lbs, 320 gb hard drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834131323

Newegg also has an acer 15.6 for $79 more and tigerdirect has a couple a6s for $100 more.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

comparing a 5-6lb 15.6" laptop to a 4lb 14" is apples to oranges for people who need a portable laptop to carry around.

Sure you can find a faster laptop for a $100 more, and if it's going to sit on a desk or next to a couch than by all means go that direction. But what you're sacrificing is battery life, screen sharpness (1366x768 on a 15" screen is NOT pretty), and did I mention portability?

 

[Roland00Address]

How does this Samsung compare to the other Samsung? (not the original OP BB laptop) It has a diff CPU and graphics and a bigger HDD same price, I'm thinking the CPU is slower because its not quad core and the graphics are Intel 3000 instead of the AMD video card... I'd like to do a little gaming which would I be better off with? I plan to replace the HDD anyway with an SSD, thanks for input!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834131324

That is a misprint on neweggs website, the b970 does not have intel hd3000 instead it has intel hd graphics (a renamed hd2000 with a max turbo of 1100 mhz while intel hd2000 has a max turbo of 1350 mhz.) Go to intel ark for more info.

Personally I would not spend 370 for a pentium. You can often find 2nd generation i3s in this price range, for example I just posted an acer timeline i3 for 349 on the main page (timelines are 14" with dvd, good battery life 7 hours+, and about as thin as you can make a computer with a 9mm tall hard drive, all these ultrabooks use 7mm or 5mm hard drives.)

 

[AMDBOY]

Laptops cheaper later this year??
I heard Clark Howard -" how to spend less, save more" http://www.clarkhoward.com/ say on a local radio show that laptops will be pretty cheap towards the end of this year. I believe Windows 8 is supposed to be released for general availability on October 26, 2012? He stated laptops that currently have Win7 may drop sharply, even with vouchers for Win 8.
I like cheaper, but if one needs a laptop for school now. Thanks for the laptop 411 deals.

 

[Gillbot]

what about this one: http://www.microcenter.com/product/394499/X54C-RB01_156_Laptop_Computer_-_Black

 

[Ashenor]

This still live?

At work and can't check best buys site.

Thanks