Need ideas for laptop under $300 for web browsing

jeepcacher

Estimable
Sep 19, 2014
3
0
4,510
My current laptop went fying across the room like a hockey puck last weekend, and the screen is all washed out. It is a basic Dell from Walmart that cost like $250 4 years ago. 98% of the time all I ever use the computer for is browsing the internet in many tabs, and playing games on facebook. The other 2% of the time I use Excel or Word. The games I play on Facebook are Candy Crush, Pet Rescue, and put jigsaw puzzles together. I actively use all 6-8 tabs at a time (usually in Firefox), flipping back and forth a lot. I can't keep my mind on any single task. I don't travel with the computer, it mostly sits on the edge of my couch and is plugged in, so battery isn't important either. Also Hard Drive size isn't important.

1. What is your budget? $300 max (yes, I know that doesn't get me much) :)

2. What is the size of the notebook that you are considering? 15" 'ish

3. What screen resolution do you want? 16:9

4. Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop? laptop that will never leave the edge of my couch

5. How much battery life do you need? doesn't matter, will be plugged in

6. Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)? Just facebook games

7. What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo/Video editing, Etc.) 98% of my use is browsing in multiple tabs in Firefox. 2% is Microsoft Word or Excel

8. How much storage (Hard Drive capacity) do you need? Doesn't matter

9. If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post their links. I am trying to find one local (only options are Staples, Walmart, Kmart, Sears). If I can't find what I am looking for tonight, I will order from anywhere with a good reputation and decent priced warranty.

10. How long do you want to keep your laptop? 4 years

11. What kind of Optical drive do you need? DVD ROM/Writer,Bluray ROM/Writer,Etc ? Not important

12. Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons. I have been burned a lot by Compaq and HP, with computers that were lemons from the start, or died right after a year. I will not buy either again. My current budget Dell has been a good computer until it went flying across the room last weekend.

13. What country do you live in? USA

14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.

From what I have gathered in research the following is what I should try to get (that fall in my price range):
Intel i3
4GB hard drive
Wifi (is essential)

I have had a lot of issues in the past with budget laptops that had Celeron processors. I am not sure if it was the fault of the Celeron, or that those computers were HP and Compaq. Those computers had a lot of problems, not just the processor. I have avoided HP, Compaq, and Celeron for 6 years. I will not consider HP or Compaq, but I would consider Celeron if given good reason.

The one computer I am considering is $298 from Walmart. Dell Black 15.6" Inspiron i15RV-1334BLK Laptop PC with Intel Core i3-4010U Processor, 6GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive and Windows 8.1

Thank you for all your help, in advance
 

Bolin

Estimable
Sep 8, 2014
312
0
5,010
First, let's start with a few things:

"3. What screen resolution do you want? 16:9"

16:9 is a relationship of 16 pixels wide for every 9 pixels height (x, y). As I don't know if you can put half pixels on a screen I guess the worst resolution is 16x9.

"14. Please tell us any additional information if needed.

From what I have gathered in research the following is what I should try to get (that fall in my price range):
Intel i3
4GB hard drive
Wifi (is essential)

I have had a lot of issues in the past with budget laptops that had Celeron processors. I am not sure if it was the fault of the Celeron, or that those computers were HP and Compaq. Those computers had a lot of problems, not just the processor. I have avoided HP, Compaq, and Celeron for 6 years. I will not consider HP or Compaq, but I would consider Celeron if given good reason. "

i3s are out of your budget. I don't think there are notebooks with 4GB HDD FYI. Every today's notebook has wifi support but thanks for pointing out.

Let's get now to the search:

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.MMLAA.015
windows 8.1 (it's not a chromebook and you can install office)
Celeron CPU that should fulfill your needs
4GB DDR3l Memory
500GB Capacity HDD
HDMI
1y warranty
USB 3.0
Wi-Fi
16:9 (1366*768) res
15,6''
bt 4.0
Probably the best for 300$ budget
SOLD IN SEARS (look at the retailers below the specification)


 

jeepcacher

Estimable
Sep 19, 2014
3
0
4,510
Did you see that I modified this thread about 5 min after I posted? I included the following, The one computer I am considering is $298 from Walmart. Dell Black 15.6" Inspiron i15RV-1334BLK Laptop PC with Intel Core i3-4010U Processor, 6GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive and Windows 8.1"




 

Bolin

Estimable
Sep 8, 2014
312
0
5,010


well, that's a good find. I could only find refurbished i3s http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%204018%20600003986&IsNodeId=1&name=Intel%20Core%20i3
 

jeepcacher

Estimable
Sep 19, 2014
3
0
4,510
The one I posted for Walmart says it's out of stock at both local Walmarts, though that is often incorrect. I will check Sears for the one you posted, if Walmart doesn't have that one. Thank You for your help. I will update tonight, if I need additional help, for an online buy. Can anyone see a reason not to buy the Dell, assuming I can find it?
 

Bolin

Estimable
Sep 8, 2014
312
0
5,010
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Dell-Black-15.6-Inspiron-i15RV-1334BLK-Laptop-PC-with-Intel-Core-i3-4010U-Processor-6GB-Memory-500GB-Hard-Drive-and-Windows-8.1/34467624
I think you can put your zip code and it'll list you the walmarts it's available in that are near you
I found the same model on amazon but it's 80$ over 300$ (new), 50$ (refurbished) and -0,02$ (Used).

edit: The walmart site doesn't tell you what store the notebook is in, but you can purchase the product and they'll make it available in the store you tell them