Can anyone recommend a decent Windows laptop for under $400.

[richorlin]

A friend asked if I would help her pick out a new laptop. Unfortunately, it has to be a Windows laptop. She's not ready to switch and her budget is no more than $400, less if possible. I haven't bought a Windows computer in over eight years.
What do you all recommend to fit in my friends budget? Thanks.
Also, since I'm going to have to do it, what's the easiest way to handle the data transfer from the old to the new laptop?

[Buzz]

hehehe... somebody used "decent" and "Windows" in the same subject line...
somebody is clearly playing very fast and loose with the word "decent"...
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[silvarios]

Web browsing, Office, etc?

[richorlin]

Web browsing and email. Can't think of anything else she would use it for.

...and yes, "Windows" and "decent laptop" can be used in the same sentence. There are some decent Windows laptops out there. However, I don't know if they exist in the $400 price range.

[Racer X]

Well, try for a Windows 7 loaded laptop. Now is a good time. Try and get on NewEgg's mailing list for their Black Friday pre sales specials. Lots of options in the sub $400 category.

[clay]

Chromebook? Not windows, but could fit the bill.

[Numo]

If she's just using it for web browsing and email, why does it have to be a Windows laptop?

[Filliam H. Muffman]

With some discriminating shopping of closeouts, you can get better specs in a $400 laptop than a 2012 Mac mini. I would call that decent.

[Michael]

I have to have a PC for my work, so I buy the cheapest Dell Inspiron that I can find and treat them as disposable. They typically last me 3-4 years and when they get at all wonky and are out of the 1 year Dell and additional year AMEX warranty I just drill the hard drive and recycle the whole thing and do it again.

I have an Inspiron N5110 that's 2.5 years old that I payed somewhere in the $300 range for and it's started going to sleep when I move it around. I can keep it from doing it if I use it on a lapdesk but it's beginning to irritate me. I'd bet I caused some sort of a short in the laptop from repeated placing and lifting it from the floor to my lap while the screen was open, holding it by the corner. I'm trying to remember to always close it before I put it down and when I replace it I'll try to do the same thing. I'll replace it as soon as Windows 10 comes out and looks stable (if the current reports of it being WAY better than 8 are true).

That said, if I needed a new laptop today, I'd buy this one for $250: http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-15-353...fncwc3001h&model_id=inspiron-15-3531-laptop

I don't want a touch screen on my laptop; that's what my iPad is for. I'd buy something with Windows 7 if I could find it cheap, but they are getting expensive. You can also get one with a permanent copy of Office installed for more. I don't need that since my college has a license that allows me to load it on a personal computer.

[rz]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
With some discriminating shopping of closeouts, you can get better specs in a $400 laptop than a 2012 Mac mini. I would call that decent.

Yeah, but it would run Windows. I have a souped up Core i7 Windows laptop that I have to use for work. I'd rather use my 2006 C2D Macbook than that thing.